3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Safari- Short Rwanda Gorilla Trek Tour
The 3 days Rwanda gorilla safari incorporates gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park and cultural encounter in Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village in the Northern Province of Rwanda. Mountain gorillas exist only in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Virunga National Park, Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. Volcanoes National Park is found in Northwestern Rwanda, about 2 to 3 hours’ drive from Kigali capital city.
Treks to view mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park is done in the 10 habituated gorilla families; Ugenda, Karisimbi, Sabyinyo, Agashya, Bwenge, Susa A, Hirwa which is currently in Mgahinga National Park, Umubano, Amahoro and Kwitonda. You will also come across other primates like blue monkeys, vervet monkeys, olive baboons, L’Hoest monkeys, bush babies; birds and plants. Your 3 days Rwanda gorilla safari begins and ends in Kigali.
Highlights of your 3 days Rwanda gorilla Tour
- Gorilla trekking.
- Visit to Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village.
- Travel in a 4×4 drive safari vehicle.
- Kigali city tour
Brief itinerary of your 3 days Rwanda gorilla safari
Day 1: Transfer from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park
Day 2: Gorilla trekking and visit to Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village
Day 3: Return to Kigali
Detailed itinerary of your 3 days Rwanda gorilla safari
Day 1: Transfer from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park
Fly to Kigali International Airport in Rwanda and on arrival, meet your driver guide who will give you a quick briefing on what you should expect on your Rwanda gorilla safari tour. After, embark on Kigali city expedition. You will have opportunity to visit Kigali/Gisozi genocide site for you to explore what took place during the 1994 Rwanda genocide, craft markets. Later, connect to Volcanoes National Park about 2-3 hours’ drive from Kigali capital city.
Accommodation in Volcanoes National Park
Luxury: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Bisate Lodge
Mid-range: Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge, Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge
Budget: Kinigi Guesthouse, Muhabura Hotel
Day 2: Gorilla trekking and visit to Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village
Have breakfast early in the morning and after, gather at Kinigi park headquarters for briefing. Please come along with a valid passport for verification purposes. You will be briefed about the safety measures you have to observe on gorilla trek. The park official will allocate you a habituated gorilla group and park ranger guide. The gorilla groups to track in Volcanoes National Park include Ugenda, Karisimbi, Sabyinyo, Agashya, Bwenge, Susa A, Hirwa which is currently in Mgahinga National Park, Umubano, Amahoro and Kwitonda.
The entire trek may cover 2-6 hours including 1 hour of a face to face encounter, photo taking and learning about their rare behaviors. Because it is a strenuous experience, make sure you have some packed energy giving snacks and bottled drinking water.
Day 3: visit Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village to Kigali
Have a hot cup of tea or coffee and later, visit Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village for cultural experience. Enjoy the unique dances, music performances. After, drive back Kigali and this marks the end of your 3 days Rwanda gorilla safari.
End of the 3 days Rwanda gorilla safari
3 days Rwanda gorilla safari inclusions
- Kigali city
- Visit Iby’Iwacu Cultural Vila
- Gorilla trekking permits.
- Bottled drinking water
- Relevant government taxes
- Accommodation for 2 nights and meals
- Fulltime English-speaking driver guide
- Activities in the itinerary apart from the optional ones.
3 days Rwanda gorilla safari exclusions
- Tips
- Personal insurance
- Laundry services
- Telephone
- Beverages
- Telephone
What to pack for gorilla trekking
- Long sleeved shirt
- Camera with no flashlight
- Valid passport
- Sweater
- Hiking boots (waterproof)
- Toiletries
- Insect repellents
- First aid box
- Gardening gloves
Gorilla trekking safety measures
- Always observe the distance of 7 meters from gorillas throughout your trek.
- Don’t go to track gorillas when you are sick.
- Keep the voice low through out but ask as many questions as you can.
- Please cover your mouth when cough and noise when sneezing.
- You have only one hour to be with mountain gorillas.
- One habituated family is trekked by 8 visitors.