1 day Rwanda Gorilla Safari Tour
1 day Rwanda Gorilla Safari Tour
Trip Summary
1 day Rwanda Gorilla Safari Tour : A one day Rwanda gorilla safari is a quick way to visit the mountain gorillas and get back to your business in the country. The mountain gorillas of Rwanda are found in the Volcanoes national park in the north western part of the country. The Volcanoes national park is located 106.3 kilometers away from Kigali the capital city of Rwanda.
Kigali is the city where the international airport of Rwanda is sited and will be the first city international visitors will land at on arrival to Rwanda. The most used way to reach this national park is by a road transfer and this is an approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes’ drive from Kigali via Musanze.
A 1 day mountain gorilla trekking safari is only possible in the Volcanoes national park from Kigali as it is the closest among the other gorilla destinations like Uganda and the Democratic republic of Congo. The mountain gorillas of Uganda are located in the Mgahinga forest national park and the Bwindi forest national park which can also be accessed from Kigali but it will be a 4 to 5 hour road transfer from Kigali Rwanda. If you opt to trek the Uganda mountain gorillas from Uganda, you will either do a road transfer of 8 hours from Kampala to Bwindi forest or take on a 1 hour domestic flight to Kisoro and connect to the national park.
The Volcanoes national park of Rwanda is sitted on an area of about 62 square kilometers and that is the smallest of the other destinations. The Volcanoes national park is also a home to other primates and you can book a golden monkey trekking experience while in the Volcanoes national park.
This 1 day mountain gorilla safari is an ideal Rwanda safari for guests who have limited time in the country but would also love to visit the mountain gorillas. You would be expected to spare one day fully out of your schedule to take on this experience.
Trip highlights
- Mountain gorilla trekking
- Iby’iwachu cultural center
- Private guide service
Trip Description
Day 1: Kigali-Volcanoes national park-Kigali
As early as 5 am, your driver guide will be waiting at your communicated pick up location in Kigali. You will receive a briefing on what to expect for the day and set out to the Volcanoes national park. You will drive via the KN2 road straight to the Volcanoes park headquarters where the ranger guides will be waiting for you.
The knowledgeable ranger guides will share a few pointers and what to expect for the next few hours of the day. You will hire the porters and walking sticks if you see the need and follow your ranger guides into the forest in search of the mountain gorillas.
You will walk through the forest in search of the mountain gorillas and get to spot some birdlife along the trail and enjoy the scenic views. You will trek for about 2 to 4 hours depending on how far into the forest the mountain gorilla family that day will be. Trackers are usually ahead to guide you on this search. Once you meet the mountain gorilla family of the day, you will enjoy the magical hour in their presence taking as many photos and videos as you wish.
NB: The photography should be non-flash and no sound so that you do not agitate the gorillas in their natural habitat.
You will enjoy the gorillas and head out to exit the forest for lunch. After lunch, you will connect to the Iby’iwachu cultural center for a treat into the culture of the Rwandan people. Enjoy the cultural displays at the center and also be entertained by a group of Rwandan cultural dancers and also get an insight on the old way of Rwandan living and after make your way back to Kigali before it gets dark.
Your driver guide will drop you off in Kigali at your preferred drop off point either at your hotel or the airport for your flight out.
End of trip
Trip quotation to include
- Full time 4WD safari vehicle
- English/ French speaking driver guide
- Lunch
- Bottled water
- Mountain gorilla trekking permit
- Pick up and drop off
- Iby’iwachu cultural center visit
Trip quotation to exclude
- International flights
- Rwanda visa fees
- Accommodation and items of personal nature
- Optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary
