2 Days Gorilla Trekking Rwanda Tour
The 2 days gorilla trekking Rwanda tour in Volcanoes National Park is a life-changing experience. Gorilla trekking safaris in Rwanda are conducted only in Volcanoes National Park, northwestern Rwanda. Mountain gorilla treks in Volcanoes National Park start at Kinigi park headquarters which is 2-3 hours’ drive away from Kigali capital city.
2 days gorilla trekking Rwanda tour gets you a great chance to trek any one of the 10 habituated groups in Volcanoes National Park for you to get the best of your magical encounter. Your 2 days mountain gorilla trekking Rwanda safari covers a number of exciting activities including visit to the Iby’Iwacu cultural village, Kigali city tour, gorilla trekking among others. 2 days gorilla trekking Rwanda safari begins and ends in Kigali.
What to expect on 2 days gorilla trekking Rwanda tour
- Kigali city tour
- gorilla trekking in Rwanda’s Volcanoes national park
- Visit Iby’Iwacu cultural village
- Photography
Brief itinerary of the 2 days gorilla trekking Rwanda tour
- Day 1: Kigali city tour, transfer to Volcanoes National Park
- Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park and return to Kigali
Detailed itinerary of the 2 days gorilla trekking Rwanda tour
Day 1: Kigali city tour, transfer to Volcanoes National Park for gorilla tracking
Wake up early in the morning and have the best taste of Rwanda coffee or tea at your respective hotel or area of residence in Kigali. After, get a warm welcome from one of our experienced driver-guide who will brief you on what your 2 days gorilla trekking Rwanda tour covers. At 7:00 am, you will tour Kigali capital city-the renowned cleanest and also one of the safest cities in Africa.
Kigali city tour includes a visit to the Kigali genocide site for you to explore what took place during the 1994 Rwanda genocide. Later, drive north-westwards to Volcanoes National Park while enjoying the exceptional views of rolling hills, magical volcanoes, and valleys.
From Kigali capital city to Volcanoes National Park, it is 2-3 hours drive. Arrive early enough to check in at a hotel to have a rest and in the afternoon/evening, you will pay a visit to Iby’Iwacu cultural village to enjoy the thrilling dances, music performances, explore unique traditions and cultures.
Dine and spend a night at:
- Mountain Gorilla View Lodge/Bisate Lodge (Luxury)
- Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge/Le Bambou Lodge (Midrange)
- Kinigi Guesthouse/Muhabura Hotel (Budget).
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park and return to Kigali
Get up early in the morning and start your day with delicious breakfast at your preferred lodge. At 6:30 am have your packed lunch or energy giving snacks plus adequate drinking water ready and head off to Kinigi park headquarters to have a briefing by park official on the set gorilla trekking rules and regulations that you have to observe while on a gorilla trek. Today, you will be allocated to only one habituated gorilla family to trek in a group of only 8 visitors and be accompanied by an armed park ranger guide. Gorilla families to trek in Volcanoes National Park include the Susa A, Susa B, Agashya, Ugenda, Kwitonda, Umubano, Amahoro, Sabyinyo, Bwenge, and Hirwa gorilla family.
The actual gorilla trek starts at 8:00 am and your group will be led by an experienced park ranger guide. A trek to view mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park can take you about 2-6 hours although this depends on a number of factors including your hiking speed, location of gorilla and nature of the habitat. Along the way, there is a possibility of you to catch a glimpse at other primates and birds. On finding your gorilla group, you have only an hour of magical encounter, take photos, explore their behaviors and their unique body gestures. After, return to the lodge to have some rest and then check out ready to embark on a return journey to Kigali which is 2-3 hours’ drive.
End of your two days safari to Rwanda
What your 2 days gorilla trekking Rwanda tour includes
- Kigali city tour
- Gorilla trekking permit ($1500 per person)
- Visit genocide site
- Bottled water
- Accommodation for 1 night and meals
- Transport in a good and comfortable 4 wheel drive safari vehicle
- Full-time English speaking driver guide
What your 2 days gorilla trekking Rwanda safari excludes
- Personal insurance
- Personal expenses such as airfares, telephone calls, laundry services, visa fees, tips (for staff, driver guide, waiters, waitresses, and others), cigarettes, extra activities, accommodation and meals not included in the travel plan.
What to pack for the 2 days gorilla trekking Rwanda tour
Pack appropriately for your gorilla trek starting with essential items such as;
- Rain jacket/poncho
- Waterproof hiking boots
- Waterproof daypack
- Long sleeved shirt or t-shirt
- Gardening gloves
- Camera with no flashlight
- First aid kit
- Insect repellent
- Toiletries
- Hat
- Sunglasses
Gorilla trekking tips
- Walking stick should be a must to have to help you when hiking. Get one at the park headquarters or at the lodge.
- Hire porter in case of heavy luggage
- Photo taking is allowed but use a camera with no flashlight and if your camera has a flashlight, please turn it off
- Have adequate drinking water as well as energy giving snacks
- Have warm clothing or sweater because morning hours or evenings can be chilly
Rules and regulations for gorilla trekking
The set rules and regulations for gorilla trekking include;
- Only persons above 15 years are allowed to trek mountain gorillas
- You have only 1 hour of magical encounter
- Do not go for gorilla trekking if you are sick or not feeling well
- Cover your mouth when coughing or nose when sneezing
- Keep within your group and never surround gorilla family
- No flashlight camera is allowed when taking photos of mountain gorillas
- Keep a distance of 7 meters at all times away from gorillas
- Do not smoke, eat or drink near or in gorilla habitat
- Leave the gorilla habitat the way you found it
Best time to go for gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
The best time of the year to visit Volcanoes National Park for gorilla trekking is during the dry months of the year that is in June, July, August, September and December, January, February. The dry season is the best time to go for gorilla trekking because the trails are dry and passable.
The wet or rainy months of the year (March, April, May, and October, November) in Volcanoes National Park are characterized by heavy rainfall which makes the habitat muddy and steep slopes slippery. The wet or rainy season is perfect for bird watching.
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