Embark on a magical 4-day journey to the heart of Rwanda, home to the majestic gorillas. This unforgettable experience offers an up-close encounter with the mountain gorillas and golden monkeys in their natural habitat, allowing you to observe their unique behaviors and living conditions. You will also immerse yourself in the rich culture of Rwanda with a visit to the Iby’iwacu Cultural Village, where you can engage with local traditions. Additionally, a poignant city tour of Kigali will include a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial, providing a deep and moving understanding of the country’s history and the resilience of its people following the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. This is more than just a trip, it’s a journey of discovery, reflection, and connection with nature and culture.
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: airport pick up
Upon arrival at Kigali International airport. You will have a meet and great to welcome you in the country of thousand hills as Rwanda is known as, and go through the migrations processes. After then you will be transferred your Hotel for overnight stay.
Meal plan: dinner
- Standard: Quiet Heaven
- Midrange: Park Inn by Radison
- Luxury Hotel: Marriot Hotel
Day 2: City tour and Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Today with an early morning relaxed breakfast at you Hotel, your driver guide will pick you and head for a city tour whereby you will visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial which honors the memory of the more than one million Rwandans killed in 1994 genocide Against the Tutsi through education and peace-building.
You will be able to watch and listen to some video clips from some of the survivors of the incident. After then you will have a lunch at one of the local restaurants before travelling to Musanze in the northern part of the country where the Volcanoes National Park is situated. Arriving in Musanze you will check in at your Hotel and head for a visit to the Ellen DeGeneres campus of the Diana Fossey to learn from the conservation and protection of the gorillas. Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Meal plan: Full board
- Standard: La Palme Hotel
- Mid-range Hotel: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
- Luxury Hotel: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel
Day 3: Gorilla Trekking and Iby’Iwacu cultural tour
After breakfast, your driver-guide will transfer you to the park headquarters for a briefing on the dos and don’ts of gorilla trekking, accompanied by a refreshing cup of park tea. Following the briefing, you’ll be transferred to the starting point of your gorilla trekking adventure. Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park typically lasts between 2 to 6 hours, depending on the gorillas’ movement and the pace of your group. Once you encounter the gorillas, you will have one hour to observe these incredible creatures as they interact, feed, and play with their young.
After your memorable experience, you’ll return to the starting point, where your driver will take you to your hotel for a well-deserved lunch. In the afternoon, enjoy a cultural tour at the Ibyiwacu Cultural Village, where you’ll learn about local traditions and heritage. Return to your hotel for dinner and a restful overnight stay.
Meal plan: Full board
- Standard: La Palme Hotel
- Mid-range Hotel: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
- Luxury Hotel: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel
Day 4: Golden monkey trek, Transfer back to Kigali
After an early morning breakfast, you will be transferred to the park headquarters. You will meet with your ranger who will brief you about the code of conduct while you are trekking golden monkeys. You will then enter the forest in search for the golden monkeys. The trekking follows the same procedure as gorilla trekking though trekking golden monkeys is less tiresome. Meet and stay with them for one hour. After a great experience you will walk back to the starting point have lunch before embarking on a transfer back to Kigali for your flight back home. Depending on your flight time, you may also pass to a local market to buy some souvenirs.
Meal Plan: Lunch and dinner
End of service!
This safari package includes.
- Transportation in a 4×4 safari vehicle
- Accommodation and meals as per itinerary
- Gorilla permit ($1500 )
- Golden Monkey permit
- Iby’Iwacu cultural village entrance fee
- Services of English speaking driver/guide
- 1 litre bottle of mineral water per day per person during safari
The package excludes:
- Air fares and Visa
- expenses of personal nature like alcohol drinks, laundry, tips to local guides, telephone, porter fee while trekking, personal insurance, personal shopping bills and cigars.