Rwanda is also known as the land of a thousand hills because of the endless rolling hills that offer stunning landscapes views during tours and road transfers. 
They are one of the things to enjoy when driving to Volcanoes national park on a 3 day Rwanda gorilla trekking safari. The highlight for this safari is to trek for the endangered mountain gorillas but travelers also go for other memorable encounters including a city tour and a visit to the Iby’iwachu cultural village.
Gorilla trekking is a fascinating activity worth including on an African safari. The 3 day gorilla trekking touring Rwanda takes us to the jungle of Volcanoes in the North of Rwanda, hike around the lower slopes of the Virunga mountains in search for the apes.There’s a cultural entertainment to get a thrill out of at the Iby’iwachu village near Volcanoes national park. We include a city tour around Kigali to explore the beautiful things about it and access some souvenirs.
Highlights of the 3 day gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda
- Day 1: Pick up from the airport and (optional city tour), transfer to Volcanoes national park
- Day 2: Gorilla trekking and a visit to Iby’iwachucultural village
- Day 3: Return to Kigali
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Pick up from Kigali International Airport, transfer to the park
When you arrive at the airport, you meet our company safari guide who welcomes you, gives a briefing about what is to be done on this day before leaving the city for Volcanoes national park. You may opt to first do a city tour to interesting places like Kigali Genocide memorial centre and Arts and crafts centers and markets. Thereafter,exit Kigali for the 2 hours’ drive to the park. Check in at the lodge, relax and later on have dinner and rest.
Accommodation options: Bisate lodge-luxury, Le Bambou Gorilla lodge-midrange, Muhabura hotel-budget.
Day 2: Gorilla trekking and Iby’iwachu Cultural Experience
Gorilla trekking days start very early morning. Wake up and have breakfast while they also prepare lunch to go with for trekking since we are not sure of the duration of the trek as it is always determined by the location of the mountain gorillas. It can last for 2-8 hours.
We get to the park headquarters for briefing, get a group to trek with and gorilla family to search for is allocated. Hiking through the forest, we are likely to spot animals like monkeys, baboons and any other that the days’ luck brings. There’s an endless entertainment by songs of different forest birds. It is always exciting when the gorillas are spotted and trekkers take lots of photos for this memorable moment while learning about them and enjoying their actions and movements. We get back to the headquarters and return to the lodge.
We head out for a cultural experience in the nearby villages of Iby’iwachu. It is a great entertainment of cultural dances and other performances by the locals in these villages. We participate in dances when we get fully attracted and also interact with some of them to know about their social life.
Return to the lodge for dinner and the overnight.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 3: Return to Kigali
We take breakfast at our overnight lodge and check out. We happily drive back to Kigali after the safari. The driver drops off visitors to preferred locations in Kigali city or Kigali international airport.
Meal plan: breakfast and lunch
End of tour
The package includes;
- Transport from and back to Kigali
- 4×4 safari vehicle
- Professional driver guide
- Bottled drinking water
- Accommodation and meals mentioned in the itinerary
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Activities per itinerary