3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Tour – Gorilla Trekking & Dian Fossey Hike in Volcanoes National Park
3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Tour – Overview
3 days Rwanda gorilla tour is a 2 nights/3 day Rwanda safari that starts and ends in Kigali. The trip takes you on lifetime experiences of mountain gorilla trekking and Diana Fossey hike in Volcanoes National Park.
This stunning park of 160km2 is home to five of the eight volcanic Virunga Mountains and around a third (300) of the world’s last remaining Mountain Gorillas.
Also within this park is the final resting place of the famous gorilla researcher and anti-poaching activist, Dian Fossey, a woman whose work raised awareness of the plight of gorillas and ultimately led to her murder in 1985.
You will undertake a hike to her tomb, which is both moving and inspiring. The hike is a good time to look out for other primates of the park, including the endemic Golden monkeys, plus other forest creatures such as forest elephants, giant forest hogs, buffalo, bushpigs, bushbucks, duikers, and around 200 species of birds.
This 3 days Rwanda gorilla tour can be specially crafted to suit your Rwanda safari interests, creating a memorable trip for you.
3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Tour – Prime Safari Activities
- Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes
- Dian Fossey Tomb hike
- Scenic drive from Kigali into the breathtaking Virunga Mountains
- Optional Kigali City tour and genocide memorial visit
- Optional visit to the Gorilla Guardian Cultural Village
- Optional Golden monkey tracking adventure
3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Tour – Featured Safari Destinations
Day 1 & 2: Ruhengeri – Volcanoes National Park
Day 3: Kigali – Depart.
3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Tour – Highlights
Day 1: Arrive at Kigali International Airport & transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Day 2: Do morning gorilla trekking & spend the rest of the day at leisure
Day 3: Hike Dian Fossey’s Tomb & drive back to Kigali
3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Tour – Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive At Kigali International Airport & Transfer To Volcanoes National Park.
At Kigali International Airport, you will be met by our tour driver guide with a very clean and comfortable 4×4 safari vehicle. He will brief you about the destination Rwanda and this 3 days Rwanda gorilla tour in particular.
Depending on your time of arrival your guide can take you on the Kigali city tour. This modern city is rated as one of the greenest and cleanest in the world.
The city features several points of interest, including the Kigali Genocide Memorial Center, an atmospheric market, art galleries, and craft shops among others.
From Kigali, embark on a 2-3 hour road transfer northwest through picturesque farming villages and terraced hills to your lodge near the majestic Virunga Volcanoes, where Volcanoes National Park is located
Covering 160km2, the park is home to around 300 Mountain gorillas and it is where Dian Fossey spent 18 years of her life studying and protecting these great mountain creatures – a lifetime of work that would inspire the well-known Hollywood, “Gorillas in the Mist” movie. Tonight you will relax and have dinner as you prepare for your thrilling gorilla trek tomorrow.
Highlight of the Day: – Driving through Rwanda’s beautiful, terraced hillsides
Accommodation:-
Luxury: – Mountain Gorilla View Lodge/Bisate Lodge/Virunga Lodge
Midrange: – Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
Budget: – Muhabura Hotel
Meal Plan: – Lunch & Dinner
Drive Distance & Time: – 116km/2-3 hours
Activities & Services:-
- Pick up from the airport
- Transfer to Volcanoes
Optional Activity: –
- Kigali city tour
Day 2: Do Morning Gorilla Trekking & Spend The Rest Of The Day At Leisure.
Gorilla trekking day! Have an early breakfast at 6.30 am and then transfer to the park headquarters to meet your excellent local guides for a briefing.
At 8 am, begin your gorilla trekking adventure. The trek can take from 1 and 7 hours to reach the mountain gorillas.
Although you should prepare yourself for muddy, humid, and perhaps challenging conditions, gorilla trekking through the montane rain-forest is possible for all healthy trekkers who are reasonably fit.
Your expert local guides will lead you to one of the 10 habituated gorilla families in the forest and you’ll be able to spend one full hour observing and photographing these incredible creatures as they feed, forage, play or interact in their natural habitat.
Although the gorillas will be the highlight, you’ll have an opportunity to encounter a multitude of other rare wildlife including the endemic and endangered Golden monkeys, not to mention the beauty of the park itself.
Once you have completed your gorilla trek, return to the lodge for a delicious late lunch. pend the rest of the day at leisure while reflecting on this truly magical encounter.
Highlight of the Day: – Trekking rare Mountain Gorillas
Accommodation:-
Luxury: – Mountain Gorilla View Lodge/Bisate Lodge/Virunga Lodge
Midrange: – Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
Budget: – Muhabura Hotel
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities & Services:-
- Gorilla trekking
Optional Activity in the Evening: –
- Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village tour
- Tour the beautiful Twin Lake lakes
Day 3: Hike To Dian Fossey’s Tomb & Drive Back To Kigali
After an early breakfast at 6 am, transfer to the park offices for a briefing from the park ranger guides. At 8 am, you embark on a hike to Dian Fossey’s Grave.
The hike is steep in places and takes 3-4 hours but it is doable by anyone with basic fitness. The average altitude of the trail is 2900m to 3000m above sea level.
During the hike, you have an opportunity to spot Forest hogs, buffalo, elephants, duiker, birds, golden monkeys, and even gorillas, in addition to enjoying the breathtaking natural beauty of this Rwanda National Park.
Your guide will give plenty of information about Dian Fossey and her work in saving the endangered Mountain Gorilla from extinction.
On reaching the site, see the ruins of her house and of course pay a visit to her grave. Lying next to her is the grave of her favorite gorilla friend, Digit, along with 20 other gorillas killed by poachers.
After this moving experience, head back down the mountain to meet your tour driver guide. Embark on a scenic drive back to Kigali to mark the end of the unforgettable 3 days Rwanda gorilla tour.
Highlight of the Day: – Insight into Dian Fossey’s life & work
Meal Plan: – Breakfast & Lunch
Drive Distance & Time: – 116km/2-3 hours
Activities & Services: –
- Dian Fossey tomb hike
Optional Activities:-
- Golden monkey tracking
- One-day hike on Mount Bisoke
End of The 3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Tour
Safari Inclusions
- Gorilla Permit (for gorilla trekking safaris)
- Full Board Accommodation on Safari
- Transportation in either 4X4 Safari Van or 4X4 Safari Land Cruiser all with Pop up roof & AC
- Fuel
- Professional English Speaking driver guide. Any other foreign language speaking guide can be arranged on request.
- Entrance fees to the tourist sites including Protected areas mentioned
- Activity fees of the tourist activities mentioned
- Bottled water while on safari
Safari Exclusions
- General tips for the driver guide, site guides, and service staff at the lodges
- Laundry Services
- Other Beverages/drinks of personal nature like Alcohol
- International Flights (Arranged on request)
- Domestic Flights (Arranged on request)
- Visas
- Optional Activity fees
- Other extras not mentioned in the Itinerary
- Airport Transfer (Arranged on request)
- Accommodation in Kigali (Arranged on request)
Gorilla Trekking Tips
- Carry a waterproof jacket/raincoat/poncho
- Pack a pair of strong hiking boots/shoes
- Sunglasses, sunscreen, and insect repellent are also recommended.
- Wear long trousers and a long-sleeved shirt over top of a t-shirt.
- Gardening gloves for protection against stinging plants
