Rwanda Gorillas & Conservation Safari

Arrive Kigali - Kigali Serena

Upon arrival you will be met by your private guide and driven to the Kigali Serena. The rest of the day is yours to settle in and start thinking about the adventures that lay before you.

Overnight: Kigali Serena Hotel (D)

Kigali - Volcanoes National Park

This morning, you have the chance to explore the city and visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre. It contains a permanent and extremely moving exhibition of the Rwandan genocide. After lunch, you travel north to Ruhengeri and the Volcanoes National Park. A 'true island in the sky', the Volcanoes National Park is home to some of the world's few remaining mountain gorillas, which were first studied here in 1959 by George Schaller, and through the 1960s by Dian Fossey and her colleagues. You will arrive at Virunga Lodge where you will be introduced to the lodge and briefed on your stay, then be shown to your suite. In the evening, enjoy dinner and a talk with the Gorilla Doctors.

Overnight: Virunga Lodge (B, L, D)

First Gorilla Trek in Volcanoes National Park

Today will be spent tracking the world-famous mountain gorillas. The gorillas we are allowed to track belong to either one of ten habituated family groups. 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. You will be joined on your trek by a member of the Gorilla Doctors, who will explain more about their everyday experiences and challenges as they work to protect the mountain gorillas.

The gorillas 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.

In the afternoon, if time and weather permits, you will be able to visit the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo, or the local markets in the town of Musanze.

Overnight: Virunga Lodge (B, L, D)

Golden Monkey Trek

A relaxing day today 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 who 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, visit the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund Centre.

Overnight: Virunga Lodge (B, L, D)

Second Gorilla Trek in Volcanoes National Park

After an early breakfast, make your way to the park headquarters where you are assigned a ranger and a gorilla group. 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! Afterwards, spend the afternoon at leisure.

Overnight: Virunga Lodge (B, L, D)

Volcanoes National Park - Depart Kigali

Spend the morning at leisure at your lodge. Following lunch, drive back to Kigali and transfer to Kigali International Airport in time to check in for your flight home.