Thrilling 4 Days Rwanda Double Gorilla Trekking Safaris
4 days Rwanda double gorilla trekking offers you a great opportunity to enjoy thrilling encounters with the fascinating mountain gorillas 2 times in Volcanoes National Park which forms part of the vast Virunga Conservation Area (VCA).
It is a short package but special in that you have a chance to explore 2 different gorilla families and it also offers you opportunity to strike your imaginations with the beautiful golden monkeys that also live in only 4 parks or hike to Dian Fossey tomb site.
Volcanoes National Park is set in Ruhengeri Province northwestern Rwanda about 2-3 hours’ drive from Kigali in a comfortable 4×4 safari vehicle and from Kabale; it is about 3-4 hours’ drive. Your 4 Rwanda days double gorilla trek tour will start and end in Kigali.
Safari highlights for the 4 days Rwanda double gorilla trekking
• Kigali city tour
• Double mountain gorilla trek
• Ground transportation in a good and comfortable 4×4 safari vehicle
• Golden monkey trek/Hike to Dian Fossey tomb site
Brief itinerary of 4 days Rwanda double gorilla trekking
Day 1: Drive to Volcanoes National Park
Day 2: First day mountain gorilla trek in Volcanoes National Park
Day 3: Second day mountain gorilla trek in Volcanoes National Park
Day 4: Golden monkey trekking/Dian Fossey tomb site hike and return to Kigali
Detailed itinerary of 4 days Rwanda double gorilla trekking
Day 1: Drive to Volcanoes National Park
Get a warm welcome from our company representative upon arrival at Kigali International Airport or at a hotel after a delicious breakfast. You will be briefed on what your 4 days Rwanda double gorilla trek is all about and what follows will be a tour in Kigali capital city.
Places to explore on Kigali city tour include Kigali/Gisozi genocide site, craft markets and other cultural sites. After the city tour, have lunch in a hotel in Kigali preferably at Kigali Marriott Hotel or any hotel of your choice and then drive northwestwards to Volcanoes National Park which is set suitably in northwestern Rwanda about 2-3 hours’ drive.
Time travel-2-3 hours
Meal plan-Lunch and dinner
Accommodation options in Volcanoes National Park
Luxury-Mount Gorilla View Lodge/Bisate Lodge
Mid-range-Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge/ Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge
Budget-Muhabura Hotel/Kinigi Guesthouse
Day 2: First day mountain gorilla trek in Volcanoes National Park
Your second day will commence with early morning preparation and after, you will have the best taste of Rwanda coffee or tea at the lodge. Preparation here means you should be on your long sleeved shirts, trouser, socks, waterproof hiking boots and you have your have rain jacket, walking stick, camera, bottled water, energy giving snacks ready.
The driver guide will then transfer you to Kinigi park offices depending on the location of your safari lodge where you will be joined by other clients for briefing on gorilla trekking guidelines from park official. Briefing normally starts from 7:00am and you are expected to be park offices at least by 6:30am.
It is today that you will be assigned to only 1 habituated gorilla family to trek in a group of 8 trekkers. Note, Volcanoes National Park consists of 10 groups that is the Susa A, Karisimbi, Hirwa, Sabyinyo, Group 13, Bwenge, Kwitonda, Umubano, Amahoro and Ugenda gorilla group.
At 8:00am you will start your adventure to search for mountain gorillas and this can last for about 2 to 6 hours but this usually depends on a number of factors including your speed of hiking, nature of gorilla habitat and location of mountain gorillas.
You will be accompanied by an experienced and armed park ranger guide, trackers and possibly be joined by porters. You will have only one hour with gorillas and this covers magical encounter, learning how they behave and photography. After, you will return to the lodge to relax as you wait for next day gorilla encounter.
Meal plan-Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation options in Volcanoes National Park
Luxury-Mount Gorilla View Lodge/Bisate Lodge
Mid-range-Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge/ Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge
Budget-Muhabura Hotel/Kinigi Guesthouse
Day 3: Second day mountain gorilla trek in Volcanoes National Park
Wake up early enough and enjoy your breakfast at your safari lodge of choice. After, you will gather at Kinigi park offices to be briefed again on guidelines for gorilla trekking but with your bottled water, energy snacks ready.
After the briefing, you will be allocated to a different group from that you tracked the previous day. Still, you will have only one hour with these creatures and after, return to the lodge to relax.
In the afternoon/evening, visit Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village just outside the park for a cultural exploration; enjoy the thrilling dances, music performances, traditions and unique cultures.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation options in Volcanoes National Park
Luxury-Mount Gorilla View Lodge/Bisate Lodge
Mid-range-Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge/ Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge
Budget-Muhabura Hotel/Kinigi Guesthouse
Day 4: Golden monkey trekking/Dian Fossey tomb site hike and return to Kigali
Get up early in the morning to enjoy your cup of tea or coffee and after, you will be expected to at Kinigi park offices by 7:00am to catch up with briefing but today on the guidelines for golden monkey tracking or hike to the Dian Fossey tomb site. Later, you will get back to the lodge to check out and you will be driven back to Kigali.
End of 4 days Rwanda double gorilla trek
What is included on your 4 days Rwanda double gorilla trekking
• 2 gorilla trekking permits ($1500 per person)
• Golden monkey tracking permits/Dian Fossey tomb hike
• Transport in a 4 wheel drive safari vehicle
• Fulltime English speaking driver guide
• Accommodation and meals
• All safari activities in the itinerary
• Bottled water
• Relevant government taxes
What is excluded from your 4 days Rwanda double gorilla trek
• Visa fees
• Insurance
• Personal expenses such as airfares, alcoholic drinks, Laundry services, Additional activities and accommodation outside the itinerary.
Things to bring
• Rain jacket/poncho
• Waterproof hiking boots
• Waterproof day pack
• Camera without flashlight
• Long sleeved shirts/t-shirts, sweater, trousers, socks
• First aid kit
• Insect repellent
• Gardening gloves
• Hat and sun glasses
Gorilla trekking guidelines
• Persons above 15 years are eligible to purchase gorilla trekking permit
• Once you find a gorilla group, you are given only an hour to have face to face encounter with them
• You are advised to maintain a distance of 7-8 meters at all times away from gorillas. Do not touch gorillas even if they get close to you.
• Photography is allowed but do not use flashlight camera
• 8 visitors are allocated to only 1 gorilla family
• In case you are sneezing, please cover your nose and mouth when coughing
• You are expected to leave the habitat the way you found it.
