2 Days Gorilla Tracking Volcanoes National Park
2 Days Gorilla Tracking Volcanoes National Park
2 Days Gorilla Tracking Volcanoes National Park Tour offers a unique opportunity to track mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park, located in the northern part of Rwanda. The park covers 160 square kilometers and shares borders with Mgahinga National Park in Uganda and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Initially even larger, it lost some territory to Virunga National Park when DR Congo gained independence.
Dian Fossey, a renowned primatologist, established her gorilla research center in this park in 1967, contributing significantly to gorilla conservation. Her work made gorilla tourism possible by acclimating the gorillas to human presence. Despite challenges, her efforts helped protect the gorillas.
Beyond gorillas, visitors can also encounter golden monkeys, forest elephants, buffaloes, and hyenas. The park is home to five of the eight volcanoes in the Virunga range, making it a popular destination for mountain climbing after gorilla trekking. Karisimbi and Bisoke are particularly favored.
While gorilla trekking remains the key attraction, the park’s proximity to the capital, Kigali, and well-maintained roads make it a popular choice. Some visitors find booking safaris in Rwanda straightforward, and the ease of accessibility sets it apart from parks in Uganda and DR Congo.
For those with more time, the 3-day Rwanda gorilla safari includes a tour of Kigali, a visit to the Gisozi genocide memorial site, and ample time for gorilla trekking, allowing a selection from 10 habituated gorilla families. It’s advised to secure a Rwanda gorilla permit in advance due to high demand.
Full Itinerary
Day 1. Kigali city and genocide memorial site tour – Head to the Volcanoes National Park
A Driver/Guide from safari vacations and travel services will come to pick you at your hotel or airport early morning to begin your gorilla tour. The first activity is to tour the city of Kigali. You will go visit the renowned Kigali Gisozi genocide war memorial site to learn more about the genocide that took place in 1994. You will then go visit local markets in Kigali, the Kings palace and other interesting places. Afterwards, have lunch and start the 2-3 hours journey to the volcanoes national park. Along the way, marvel at the beautiful, mountainous and green countryside – You will agree that Rwanda is indeed a “The Land of a thousand hills”.2 Days Gorilla Tracking Volcanoes National Park
Day 2: Gorilla tracking at the Volcanoes national park – Departure.
Wake up very early and take quick breakfast as you wait for our guide. You will head to the Kinigi park headquarters for briefing on gorilla trekking. This briefing takes place at 7:00 am and is designed to share with you rules and requirements (Dos and DONTs) for gorilla trekking in Rwanda, You will be given an opportunity to hire a porter and choose a gorilla family among the 10 habituated gorilla groups in Rwanda.
Once that phase is done, you will begin tracking the gorilla group along with your porter and park guides. Depending on the location of your particular gorilla group the activity may take anywhere between 1 hour to 5 hours. Once you sight the gorilla group, take as many photos as you can. Follow instructions from your guide and stay calm even when a gorilla family member comes close to you.2 Days Gorilla Tracking Volcanoes National Park
Once your one hour is done, you will head back to the starting point where you will find our guide waiting to take you back to the lodge for lunch and rest. Later in the day, the guide will drive you back to Kigali and to the airport or hotel.
Tour Includes
- A 4X4 safari vehicle
- An English speaking Private Driver/Guide
- Fuel the entire tour
- Gorilla Permits
- Daily Drinking water
- Lunch en-route
- Pickup and dropping in Kigali
- Tour of Kigali city
Tour Excludes
- International flights
- Visas
- Personal expenses like tips, beverages, wines and Insurance
- Practical Guide
Gear for Gorilla tracking:
- Hiking boots
- Thick cotton gloves
- A raincoat
- Light snack and mineral water
- Porters to help with extra luggage
For the best gorilla trekking experience
- Be in good shape
- Wear proper footwear designed for difficult terrain
- Take rain into consideration
- Move with sufficient water and packed snack
- Reserve some tip for the guides and rangers. They make the entire experience worthwhile – 10usd is enough and can be paid in local currency
Important Notes
- Accommodation and Dinner is not included in the itinerary but can be included on request
- The minimum age for gorilla tracking is 15 years
- Clients should ensure that they know the visa and inoculation requirements including at transit points.
- You are required to have a yellow fever immunization card to enter Rwanda
- Depending on your country, Online Visa Application is a must before travel
Accommodation Facilities
Davinci Gorilla Lodge:
Davinci is a mid-range lodge built in Kinigi. It is close to the park headquarters and the offices of the Rwanda Development Board. Davinci Gorilla lodge has twin, double, triple and family rooms. The rooms are self-contained with hot showers, bathrooms, bathrobes, room service and free Wi-Fi. Each room has a balcony with great views of the Virunga volcanoes. Other amenities and services at the lodge include a children’s playground, barbecue, private parking, a restaurant and a bar. When going out for gorilla trekking, residents can request for packed lunch in advance from the restaurant. Davinci lodge stands out because it offers great value and at an acceptable rate when compared to other hotels in the area. The lodge is also very popular with tourists who have come to the volcanoes national park for mountain hiking, gorilla trekking and visiting the grave of Dian Fossey.
Virunga Hotel:
Virunga Hotel is arguably the best budget lodge within the Volcanoes national park area. It is located in the District of Musanze (84 kilometers away from Kigali) and is one of the oldest hotels in the area. It is built with 25 self-contained rooms and are categorized as single, double and twin. There are also family and executive rooms. Each room has free internet, a TV, towels, bathrooms, showers, a telephone and a refrigerator with refreshments. The executive room has a kitchen of its own, air conditioning, and workspace. Virunga Hotel is built within the center of Musanze town hence allowing resident to go for a tour of the town or access facilities like banks.
Bisate Lodge:
Bisate Lodge, named after the eroded cone of the volcanoes in Rwanda, is a top-tier Luxury Eco-lodge in East Africa. It offers six spacious rooms with breathtaking views of the Volcanoes National Park. The lodge is known for its warm and comfortable ambiance, furnished with high-quality local furniture crafted by skilled artisans.
Visitors can gather and share their safari experiences in the central lounge, which features a fireplace. The lodge also boasts a well-stocked bar with an excellent selection of wines. Additional amenities include storage for luggage, dressing lounges, coffee machines, a private butler, massage services, and laundry facilities.
For those interested in exploring the surroundings, private walks in the nearby forest and birdwatching excursions can be arranged. Guests can also visit a tree nursery, partake in tree planting, engage with the Bisate Village community, or venture into the nearby cave. An intriguing opportunity is to accompany the lodge’s chef on a trip to the local market for the purchase of fresh food, providing a chance to meet the local people.
Safari vacations and travel services designs itineraries in Uganda, Rwanda and the DRC with over 10 years of experience and we are proud of our reputation for executing some of the most highly-rated vacation experiences. Our local consultants plan with you your preferred itinerary using expert ground knowledge. We take care of all the local logistics like permits, accommodation, and transport. And also, manage your entire trip, from start to finish with others services like car hire services.
For inquiries, advice on how to plan for this safari, booking the hiking permits; organizing transport and accommodation, get in touch with safari vacations and travel services, we help you to avoid inconveniences after landing for the safari.
