Donal Boyd
“My aim is to spark an emotional response in viewers that causes them to reflect on their own connection to nature, their relationship with the natural world, and their role in protecting it.”
Your Expert Photographic Guide
Mountain Gorilla Photography
Rwanda
Details
7 DAYS FROM 10325 PP
Best time to go
08 - 14 May 2025
Mountain Gorilla Photography Safari
SMALL GROUP WITH DONAL BOYD
Nothing can prepare you for it; the moment you first encounter a mountain gorilla nestled amid the verdant Rwandan thicket. As soon as you step foot in the legendary Virunga Mountains, there’s a palpable sense of interconnectedness, rippling from the land to the wildlife, to the people.
Specialist-Led Photographic Safari
Travel “The Land of a Thousand Hills” and experience two mountain gorilla trekking experiences with our Specialist leader Donal Boyd on this exclusive 7 guest gorilla trekking photography safari.
The Mountain Gorilla
With just over 1,000 left in the wild after severe poaching and dwindling habitat, witnessing the few reachable groups in these areas is, for most, a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The gorillas we are allowed to track belong to either one of ten habituated family groups. They are by no means tame, and are completely wild animals. However, experienced guides will accompany you on your gorilla tracking, many of whom have been involved in the habituation process themselves. The guides will use their knowledge of the gorillas’ habits and information from the previous day to locate the group’s whereabouts.
Volcanoes National Park
A ‘true island in the sky’, the Volcanoes National Park is home to some of the world’s few remaining mountain gorilla, which were first studied here in 1959 by George Schaller.
Discover the National Park
Gorilla Trekking
Primates – and mainly gorillas - are where we started over 15 years ago. Specialising in primate and gorilla trekking safaris worldwide we were the sole global specialists in this field.
Read moreThe Safari
Day 1, 08 May - Arrive Kigali
Upon arrival you will be met by your private guide and driven to Kigali Serena Hotel. The rest of the day is yours to settle in and start thinking about the adventures that lay before you.
Day 2, 09 May - Kigali - Volcanoes National Park
This morning, you have the chance to visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre. It contains a permanent and extremely moving exhibition of the Rwandan genocide. After lunch at a local restaurant, you travel north to Ruhengeri and the Volcanoes National Park.
Day 3, 10 May - First Gorilla Trek in Volcanoes National Park
Today will be spent tracking the world-famous mountain gorillas. An early breakfast and you’re off to the park headquarters at Kinigi to register and be allocated your gorilla family for today. Once this is done, you set out by vehicle to the start of your gorilla safari. Tracking the gorillas can take anything from 4-8 hours in lush green, steep, muddy, terrain! It is, however, the experience of a lifetime... coming across these amiable primates in their natural surroundings is quite awe-inspiring as you watch them go about their daily lives, playing, grooming and eating!
Day 4, 11 May - Golden Monkey Trek
Another early start as you set off into the forest to track the golden monkeys. The golden monkeys (also known as blue monkeys) are a local subspecies of the Sykes monkey which are endemic to the Volcanoes National Park area. They are known for being cheeky, playful and inquisitive. There are currently two habituated groups and guests are allowed to spend 1 hour with one group. Please bear in mind that there is no limit to the number of visitors so it can be quite busy. In the afternoon, you will visit the Gorilla Doctors for an insightful talk on gorillas and conservation.
Day 5, 12 May - Final Gorilla Trek in Volcanoes National Park
Your final day of gorilla tracking! An early start to make your way to the park headquarters where you are assigned a ranger and a gorilla group. In the afternoon, if time and weather permit you can visit the twin lakes Burera and Ruhondo or the local markets in Musanze town. Return to the lodge later in the afternoon to relax, have a hot shower or massage and reflect on the day’s activities.
Day 6, 13 May - Day at Leisure
No activities are included for you today please let your destination specialist know in advance if you want to book anything in, or just take the day to relax after your adventure.
Day 7, 14 May 2025 - Volcanoes National Park - Depart Kigali
After breakfast this morning your guide will drive you back to Kigali, stopping enroute for photo opportunities. Depending on time you will be taken to a local restaurant where you can have a final meal or alternatively you will be driven straight to the airport for your departure flight.
Journey to the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project headquarters in Ruhengeri. It is here, to ensure their healthy future, that a huge amount of time and effort is put into caring for these critically endangered primates. You will spend time with the staff learning about how the gorillas are monitored, how life-saving medical care is provided; how health studies are conducted and how veterinary medicine and ecosystem health is taught. You will tour around the centre with one of the doctors and watch a presentation about gorilla conservation.
Contact a Rwanda Specialist Today
Your Accommodation
Kigali Serena Hotel
Conveniently situated in proximity to Kigali Airport and the vibrant city center, this luxurious five-star hotel boasts a total of 148 meticulously appointed rooms and suites, offering guests a lavish retreat that includes two exquisite restaurants, a rejuvenating spa, and a splendid swimming pool. Whether it’s the call of the wild or the allure of city life, Kigali Serena Hotel offers a harmonious balance of both, ensuring a memorable stay in this captivating corner of Africa.
Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel
This boutique hotel sits on the edge of the Volcanoes National Park, in the town of Kinigi. This town is at the foothill of the park entrance and headquarters, so from an accessibility point of view, the hotel makes the perfect base. Typically Rwandese in style, the stone cottages each have an en-suite bathroom and outdoor seating with views out onto the surrounding volcanoes mountain range. The design of the rooms are basic but offer everything that is required for a good night’s sleep after a day of trekking and excitement.
Client Reviews
Rated 5/5 based on 2 customer reviews
- —Pamela K , Rwanda: Gorillas, Chimpanzees & Games Drives Safari
I am very grateful to have worked with my destination specialist, David. I feel his hands-on experience in Rwanda and his enthusiasm for the country contributed greatly to the success of our trip. David was always available to answer questions and discuss details. I can’t say enough good things about all aspects of our trip. Rwanda is a magical country and because of David and NWS, I felt like I experienced the best of the best. I would love to travel again, I applaud the intimate knowledge of the countries NWS go to. Personalised itineraries with all aspects of the trip are taken into account, making it a very organised and efficient process.
- —Pamela T, Rwanda & Kenya: Primate and Game Drive Safari
We would love to travel again, amazing, seamless high-quality travel. Well planned.
Dates & Prices rwanda
| Date | Passengers | Trip Length | Trip Style | Prices from | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08 - 14 May 2025 | 7 | 7 Days | Photographic Safari | 10325 |