Trip highlights: 7 Days Extraordinary Gorilla Safari itinerary will take place in Rwanda; arriving and departing via Kigali International Airport. You will visit the foggy Volcanoes National Park home to the Great Apes and take part in the experience of a lifetime trekking the Mighty Mountain Gorillas, visit the Karisoke Research Centre – Dian Fossey fund and visit local village community living at the park boundaries and a local market.
Extraordinary Gorilla Safari Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival
After you arrive Kigali International Airport, clear with immigration and proceed to the arrivals where you will meet your driver guide who will transfer you to your hotel for overnight stay.
Accommodation: The Retreat by Heaven (high-end), Onomo Hotel Kigali (medium) or Five to Five Hotel (budget). Meal Plan: B
Day 2: Kigali – Musanze (Volcanoes National Park)
Breakfast at your hotel, along with your driver guide you will start your drive to Musanze. Lunch and dinner at the Lodge.
Accommodation: Sabinyo Silverback Lodge – Governor’s Camp (high-end) or Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel (medium) or Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge (budget). Meal Plan: B, L & D
Day 3: Gorilla Guardians Village Tour
After a relaxed breakfast you will proceed to visit the Gorilla guardian’s village for a cultural tour. Here you will learn various aspects of culture of this community and have an insight on their way of life. This community found at the park boundaries transformed from living on bush meat by poaching for generations. Return to the lodge for lunch and spend the rest of the day relaxing.
Accommodation: Sabinyo Silverback Lodge – Governor’s Camp (high-end) or Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel (medium) or Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge (budget). Meal Plan: B, L & D
Day 4: Gorilla Trekking
A very early breakfast at the Resort, with your driver guide proceed to the park headquarters for Gorilla trekking briefing and thereafter proceed to the starting point; trail heads for your amazing adventure. You will be trekking the Mighty Great Apes, the Mountain Gorillas in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. This activity could take between 2-6 hours. Rwanda has 12 habituated groups of Mountain Gorillas all over the Park. You will spend an hour with the Apes, watching the habituated group going about their normal day playing, eating… etc
You will then drive back to your Resort where you will have lunch and spend the rest of the day relaxing and enjoying their facilities.
Accommodation: Sabinyo Silverback Lodge – Governor’s Camp (high-end) or Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel (medium) or Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge (budget). Meal Plan: B, L & D
Day 5: Visit the Dian Fossey Fund
After breakfast, you will proceed to the Karisoke Research center. Founded by Dian Fossey in 1967 to study about the Great Apes the endangered Mountain Gorilla, This centre was located between Mount. Karisimbi and Mount. Bisoke from which its name was derived by combining both names. It is now found in Musanze town. Here you will get to know the projects on the survival of the Mountain Gorilla and its critical habitat. Due to the various plans and research projects conducted by this center and other conservationists, the population of the Great Apes has grown. This center has also contributed economically to the lives of the people living around it by employing them. Lunch, dinner and overnight stay at the Lodge.
Accommodation: Sabinyo Silverback Lodge – Governor’s Camp (high-end) or Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel (medium) or Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge (budget). Meal Plan: B, L & D
Day 6: Local Village and Market Visit
On this day too you will visit another local community and a market in this area.
Accommodation: Sabinyo Silverback Lodge – Governor’s Camp (high-end) or Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel (medium) or Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge (budget). Meal Plan: B, L & D
Day 7: Departure
After a relaxed breakfast at the lodge, you will be assisted with checking out; then you will start your drive to Kigali International Airport to catch your departure International flight. Meal Plan: B & L
Extraordinary Gorilla Safari Inclusions and Exclusions:
Includes
- Airport Transfers
- 6 night’s accommodation with meals as indicated in the itinerary above
- Activities shown in the itinerary
- Park fees
- Rwanda Gorilla permits $1,500 per person
- Gorilla Guardians village visit
- Village visit
- Market visit
- Dian Fossey fund tour
- Services of an experienced English speaking driver guide
- Transportation in a 4×4 safari vehicle
- Government taxes
Excludes
- International flights
- Visas
- Insurance
- Optional activities
- Tips
- Drinks
- Items of personal nature
