5 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking and Dian Fossey Hike
5 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking and Dian Fossey Hike is a fascinating safari which will give you an opportunity to explore Volcanoes national park. During the safari you will participate in different activities like gorilla trekking where you will be able to spend time with the endangered mountain gorillas, Dian Fossey hike where you will see the grave of the primatologist Dian Fossey who dedicated her life to gorilla conservation. You will also engage in the interesting golden monkey trekking, Ibyi’wacu cultural tour and Kigali city tour where you will be able to visit the genocide center, museum, Kimironko market among other.
Highlights of the 5 days Rwanda gorilla trekking and Dian Fossey hike
- Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Volcanoes national park
- Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park
- Day 3: Dian Fossey hike
- Day 4: Golden monkey trekking and cultural tour
- Day 5: Departure to Kigali
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Volcanoes national park, depending on the time of arrival at Kigali international airport on the first day of the 5 days Rwanda gorilla trekking and Dian Fossey hike, you will be welcomed by our driver guide who will brief you about the safari and then transfer to Kigali for a city tour. Kigali is the cleanest city in East Africa and some of the best places to visit are the craft centers, Kigali genocide memorial centre, Kigali museum where you will know more about Rwanda’s culture, Kimironko market among others. After the city tour you will have lunch in one of the restaurants and then start the journey to Volcanoes national park. On the way you will have great views of the rolling hills, local people, beautiful scenery, terraced farmlands among others. Upon arrival in the park you will check into the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park
Gorilla trekking, after an early breakfast on the second day of the 5 days Rwanda gorilla trekking and Dian Fossey hike you will carry packed lunch from the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Kinigi park headquarters for a briefing about the rules and regulations of gorilla trekking. After the briefing you will be grouped into 8 people, allocated a gorilla family to trek and a park guide who is well conversant with trails in the jungle. Trekking of mountain gorillas takes about 30 minutes to 7 hours depending on where the gorillas slept the previous night, during trekking you will have views of other primate species like red tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, different bird species, plants among others. Once the gorillas are found you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you an opportunity to observe their behaviors, watch them carry out their daily activities like breastfeeding, playing, feeding, take photos and record the incredible moments. After the one hour with the mountain gorillas you will trek back to the starting point where you will be awarded a certificate for participating in gorilla trekking, meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the lodge for an evening relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Dian Fossey hike
After breakfast on the third day of the 5 days Rwanda gorilla trekking and Dian Fossey hike you will carry your lunch box and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing about Dian Fossey hike. After the briefing you will drive to the trail head where you will be allocated a park guide, walking stick and you can hire a porter to carry your backpack. Hiking to Karisoke research center takes about 6 to 7 hours passing through lush forest where you will have great views of animals like forest elephants, giant forest hogs, primates, different bird species among others. Upon arrival at the research center you will be able to view Dian Fossey’s grave who was murdered in 1985 and buried next to her favorite gorilla friend digit and other 20 mountain gorillas some of which were killed by poachers and others died of natural diseases. You will be able to learn about Dian Fossey’s work and the legacy she left behind which still exists to date. After the Dian Fossey experience you will enjoy your picnic lunch and later start descending down to the starting point where you will meet up with your driver guide to return back to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Golden monkey trekking and Ibyi’wacu cultural tour
Golden monkey trekking, after an early breakfast on the fourth day of the 5 days Rwanda gorilla trekking and Dian Fossey hike your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge to transfer to Kinigi park headquarters for a briefing about the rules, regulations and expectations of golden monkey trekking. After the briefing you will be allocated a golden monkey family to trek and an experienced park guide who will lead you during trekking. Golden monkey trekking is an exciting and active activity which takes about 30 minutes to 3 hours depending on where the golden monkeys are located because they like to move from one place to another in search of food. During trekking you will follow trails of leftover bamboo shoots and once the golden monkeys are found you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their environment where you will be able to watch feed, play, them jump from one tree to another, take photos and record videos. After the face to face encounter with the golden monkeys you will trek back to the park headquarters where you will meet up with your driver guide to return to the lodge for lunch.
Ibyi’wacu cultural tour, after lunch you will go for an amazing cultural tour where you will be able to interact with the local people in the community. During the Ibyi’wacu cultural tour you will be able to learn about the people’s culture, tradition, way of living, visit their homesteads, farmlands, taste their traditional food, local beer made from bananas, listen to their ancient stories, take part in their traditional performances among others. After the cultural tour you will return back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Departure to Kigali
On the last day of the 5 days Rwanda gorilla trekking and Dian Fossey hike, you will have a relaxed breakfast, check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Kigali international airport for your departure flight or transfer to any place of advise in Kigali.
End of 5 days Rwanda gorilla trekking and Dian Fossey hike
The Safari includes
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Golden monkey trekking permit
- Kigali city tour
- Dian fossey hiking permit
- Ibyi’wacu cultural tour
- Services of an English speaking driver guide
- Full board accommodation
- Pick up and drop off
- Vehicle and fuel
- Bottled water
The Safari excludes
- Air flight tickets
- Visas
- Optional activities not included on the itinerary
- Life insurance
- Personal expenses like buying souvenirs, crafts, drinks, laundry services, tips among others.
