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Day 1: Kigali City Tour and Transfer to Volcanoes National Park

Our guide from Dav Safaris will be at your hotel early morning or airport for pick-up to start your tour. After the briefing about the tour from the company guide, you will start with a tour of the city of Kigali which will include the renowned Gisozi genocide memorial site where you will learn how over 300,000 people lost their lives in 1994. You will visit the rest of Kigali, local markets, the king’s palace, and then have lunch. After lunch, you will begin the 2 hours journey to the Volcanoes National Park. The beautiful mountainous countryside along the way will remind you why Rwanda is often called the “Land of a Thousand Hills”.

Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Da Vinci Lodge

Day 2: Mountain Gorilla Trekking and Iby’iwacu Cultural Village Tour

After yesterday's early rest, you should be ready for Gorilla tracking in Rwanda. Briefings for gorilla trekking are carried out by the head park guide at 7:00 am at the Kinigi park headquarters in Musanze. All trekkers must be at the park by this time and must attend the briefing. A gorilla safari in Rwanda offers you, several families, to choose from – select one based on fitness. After being assigned a gorilla family and hiring a porter, it’s time to head out to the forest for gorilla tracking. Gorilla trekking in Rwanda can be challenging but the experience of watching mountain gorillas makes all the effort worthwhile. A family of mountain gorillas is amazing, and you could spend hours just watching the little ones roll around and play. Mountain Gorillas are playful but also curious about humans often coming close. 3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trek. Listen to instructions from your guide, stay calm, and desist from making sudden movements. After your one hour with the mountain gorillas, return to the starting point where you will meet the company guide. You will be driven back to your hotel for lunch and rest. In the evening, you will be taken for a visit to the Iby’iwacu cultural village located in Musanze which is near the Volcanoes National Park.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Da Vinci Lodge

Day 3: Transfer back To Kigali

On this day, wake up and have breakfast at leisure as you also prepare for the trip back to Kigali. The driver will drop you at your hotel in Kigali or at the airport for your flight back home. If you missed the city tour on day 1, you will have it on the day before departure.

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: No Accommodation

A gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda costs $1,500 for foreign non-residents, and $300 for East African citizens and the Rest of Africa pays $500 per person. This fee includes entry into Volcanoes National Park, the services of experienced ranger guides, and an hour spent with the gorillas. The cost of the permit is higher as compared to Uganda, where the permit is $800 for foreign non-residents and $400-$500 for the Democratic Republic of Congo. Rwanda offers a discount on the permit (30% discount) to $1050 during the low season. However, this only works if you have booked a safari to either Akagera National Park or Nyungwe after the gorilla trek. 

Time of Visit: The cost can vary depending on the season. The high season, which runs from June to September and December to February, tends to be more expensive due to higher demand.

Tour Operator: Different operators offer various packages, ranging from budget to luxury options. It’s essential to research and choose a reputable operator that fits your budget and preferences. The packages are highly dependent on accommodation types.

Additional Activities: Many travellers combine gorilla trekking with other activities such as wildlife safaris in Akagera National Park or a visit to Nyungwe Forest for chimpanzee tracking.

Mountain gorillas are an endangered species that were almost extinct due to constant poaching from the locals, but with the coming and conservation ideas of Dian Fossey, gorillas survived. With the help of the government of Rwanda, some rules have been set up to continue conserving the natural habitat of the Mountain gorillas. The rules are to be followed by all who intend to go for a gorilla trek for your safety and the safety of the gorillas, and these include:

• Rwanda’s gorilla trekking age limit is 15 years, and no one below that age will be allowed to trek the gorillas.
• Feeding of the Mountain gorillas is prohibited.
• After locating the gorillas, the trekkers are allowed a maximum of an hour with the gorillas studying their behavioral patterns and taking photos and videos.
• You need to keep a distance of about 7 to 10 meters away from the gorillas.
• Gorillas are not used to flash photography, so make sure that you turn your camera flash off before taking photos.
• A maximum of 8 people is allowed to trek the assigned gorilla families.
• Holes 30 cm deep are to be dug and covered for hikers planning on using the toilet because there are no toilets within the national park.
• Avoid littering the national park with rubbish by leaving it the way you found it.
• Do not in any way get close to the gorillas to avoid passing on infections in case you are sick.
• No one can eat, smoke, or drink with the gorillas.
• Avoid staring at the gorillas in the eye, don’t put on sunglasses, and in cases where the gorillas approach you, follow the instructions given to you by the guides.

The best time to visit Rwanda for gorilla trekking is during the dry seasons, from June to September and December to February. During these months, the weather is more predictable, and the trails are less muddy, making the trek easier and more enjoyable. However, gorilla trekking is possible year-round, and each season offers its own unique experiences.

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is conducted in Volcanoes National Park, located in the northwestern part of the country. This Park is part of the larger Virunga Massif, which spans Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The park’s lush, mountainous terrain provides the perfect habitat for mountain gorillas.

Getting to the gorilla trekking site in Rwanda is relatively straightforward. Most visitors fly into Kigali International Airport, which is well-connected to major international hubs. From Kigali, it’s a scenic two-hour drive to Volcanoes National Park. Many tour operators offer transportation as part of their Rwanda safari packages, making the journey hassle-free.

While gorilla trekking is the highlight, there are plenty of other activities to enjoy on a Rwanda safari tour. You can go golden monkey tracking, explore the vibrant city of Kigali, visit the Nyungwe Forest for a canopy walk, or embark on a 3 days Akagera National Park wildlife safari. These activities provide a well-rounded experience of Rwanda’s diverse wildlife and culture.

Rwanda is dotted with curio shops and five-star hotels that offer a range of accommodations from luxury lodges to more budget-friendly options. These establishments provide comfort, proximity to Volcanoes National Park, and a touch of luxury, ensuring a restful stay after a day of trekking.

Packing for a gorilla trekking safari requires some careful planning. Here are some essentials to bring:

• Pack some warm clothes like sweaters for when the weather drastically changes.
• A raincoat is necessary whether you are travelling in the dry or wet season.
• Long-sleeved shirts and trousers protect your skin from insect bites, keep you warm, and protect your skin from tree scratches. The clothes packed should be neutral or in brown, khaki, and green colours. Avoid blue, any other brightly colored clothes, and black. Also, make sure to avoid jeans.
• First aid kit fully packed with all the medicines prescribed by your doctor, bandages, spirit, iodine, cotton, tummy ache medicines, pain killers, and other things needed to treat scratches during the trek.
• Gaiters, socks, and garden gloves are needed. The socks are used to keep you warm, and during the trek, trousers are tucked into the socks to prevent insects from crawling up your pants. The garden gloves and non-surgical gloves protect your hands from tree scratches during the trek, and the adjustable gaiters are mainly used during the wet season.
• Strong ankle-length boots are necessary to keep your feet steady on the trek, especially during the wet season. They should be well-fitting to avoid blisters and waterproof if you can get them.

Other items that you need to pack include a refillable water bottle, flashlight, extra batteries, camera and extra lenses, binoculars, wet wipes, biodegradable toilet paper, scarf, sandals, sunscreen, insect repellent, a sun hat, and toiletries, among others.

Choosing the right tour operator can make all the difference in your gorilla trekking experience. Dav Safaris offers expertly guided tours, ensuring a safe and memorable adventure.

Note that the Rwanda Tourism Board prints only 86 permits per day, so it is important to book early for your trip. After purchasing your permit, expect to track gorilla families in Volcanoes National Park, including the Hirwa gorilla family with 13 members, the Sabinyo gorilla family with eight members, Umubano with 11 gorillas, and Amahoro with 17 gorillas.

Whether you opt for a 3 days gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda or a longer itinerary, you need to book for the gorilla safari in advance because of the high demand for gorilla permits and easy planning.

Contact Us to help you book the gorilla permit and organize your entire safari to Rwanda, depending on your budget. Check out our reviews on TripAdvisor to make the right decision.