A 5 days Rwanda gorilla tour includes gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park and a game drive in Akagera National Park. Enjoy a gorilla tour in Rwanda as you meet the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat as well as encountering the big five mammals in Akagera National Park. Besides gorilla trekking, Volcanoes national also offers opportunities to see golden monkeys, a cultural experience and a visit to Dian Fossey grave among others. Whereas the Akagera national park is home lions, leopards, buffaloes, elephants, hyenas, zebras, bushbucks, oribis, Cape Eland, giraffes and a plethora of savanna birds among others.
Trip summary of the 5 days Rwanda gorilla safari
Day 1: Arrival at Kigali International Airport.
Day 2: Game Viewing and boat ride in Akagera National Park
Day 3: Leave Akagera National Park for Volcanoes National Park
Day 4: Gorilla Safari in the Volcanoes National Park
Day 5: Return to Kigali for your scheduled flight.
5 Days Rwanda Gorilla Tour in detail
Day 1: Arrival at Kigali International Airport
On arrival at Kigali airport, our tour guide holding a placard reading your name, will welcome and transfer you to your hotel in case you are you need to stay in Kigali for an overnight. If not, proceed to Akagera national park for an overnight stay inside the park as you experience wildlife at night. Overnight stay in Ruzizi Tented Lodge (High end) / Akagera Game Lodge (mid-range accommodation)
Day 2: Akagera National Park Game drive
An early start this morning as you join your ranger in an open vehicle for your safari into the Akagera National Park. A half day game drive offers you the opportunity to spot a variety of wild animals such as elephants, buffalos, lions, Masai giraffe, gazelles, impala, baboons, oribi, Butchel’s zebra, topi, bush baby, leopard and bushbuck. Return to the lodge for lunch.
Proceed for a boat trip along Lake Ihema, where you will have a closer look at water animals like Crocodiles and Hippos, coupled with large concentration of birds – over 525 species identified. Unique species such as Shoe billed stocks and papyrus gonolek can be encountered. Endemics include the jacanas, ibis, sand pipers and herons.
Return to your lodge for dinner and a chance to reflect on and discuss today’s sightings!
Day 3: Akagera – Volcanoes National Park
Start an early drive this morning after breakfast; return to Kigali and connect to Park National des Volcans (PNV) in the north for an absolutely unparalleled experience of Mountain gorilla tracking. Check-in at mountain Gorilla’s Nest or Kinigi Guest House near Kinigi station – Park Headquarters for lunch.
Take a walk through nearby forests or crater lakes for scenic viewing, bird watching and photography. Dinner and overnight at Mountain Gorilla’s Nest/Kinigi guest house.
Day 4: Gorilla safari in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda
At 7:00 am local time, breakfast at the lodge will be ready. 30 minutes will be enough for your breakfast and then transfer to the nearby park headquarters where you will be briefed by park ranger on how to carry out gorilla tracking. Hiking on the slippery and muddy Volcanoes slopes with nettles is quite challenging. But the encounter with mountain gorillas erase all the bad memories! You will be allowed to stay with these close relatives of ours (mountain Gorillas) for at least an hour for observation and photography.
In the evening visit the panoramic twin volcanic lakes of Burera and Ruhondo. Return to your lodge for dinner and folk tales at the fire place.
Day 5: Final Day of the gorilla Safari
After an early morning break fast, embark on a half day hike to Mt Bisoke, which is topped with a beautiful crater lake, take photos and later connect to Kigali International Airport for your flight back home.
End of the tour
Bookings and payment options
For gorilla safari bookings with Gorilla Trek Africa, call +256-705487517 or +256-776107004 or email us at info@gorillatrekafrica.com
- Our payments are preferred in US Dollars. Currency exchange rates vary daily based on the current international banking data available. We accept wire transfers and credit card payments. Payment by credit card is subject to a surcharge of 5%.
Tour Cost Inclusions
– Gorilla Permits
– Park entrance fees
– Accommodation & meals
– Full time English speaking guide
– Ground Transport
Miscellaneous
– Bottled Drinking water
– Government Taxes
Tour Cost Exclusions
– Alcoholic beverages
– Shopping
– Tips
– Extra activities not in the itinerary
Itinerary Map of the 5 Days Rwanda Gorilla Tour
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Volcanoes national park
Volcanoes national park is the most popular tourist destination in Rwanda. The park is commonly known for being home to the endangered primates which include mountain gorillas and golden monkeys. Majority of visitors to Rwanda end up at Volcanoes national park for the breathtaking experience of trekking the rare mountain gorillas. The park is located in the northwest of Rwanda along the borders with Uganda and DR Congo. It is one of the 3 national parks that make up the Virunga Mountains alongside Virunga national park in Congo and Mghainga gorilla national park in Uganda. There are about 360 mountain gorillas in Volcanoes national park which are visited every day by trekkers in their corresponding habituated groups.
Some of the habituated gorilla groups in Volcanoes national park include Sabyinyo, Susa, Karisimbi, Umubano, Amahoro, Kwitonda, Hirwa, Bwenge, Agashya and Ugyenda. Each gorilla family is visited once par day by a group of 8 trekkers who are permitted to spend an hour in their presence. In addition to mountain gorillas visitors can also see the endangered golden monkeys which are visited on a separate trip. Other wildlife species in Volcanoes national park include black-fronted duiker, Africa buffalo, forest elephant as well as 178 bird species. The park is home to 5 of the 8 Volcanoes of the Virunga Mountains. These include Sabyinyo, Karisimbi, Bisoke, Gahinga and Muhabura. The volcanoes in the park can also be hiked by interested visitors on a separate hiking trip. Volcanoes national park is home to the tomb of American primatologist Dian Fossey who started the work of protecting gorillas in the park in the mid 1960s. The tomb is also regularly visited by trekkers who come to pay tribute to the incredible conservation work she undertook amidst strong resistance from the poachers and other wild animals.
Akagera national park
Akagera national park is the second-most visited destination in Rwanda after Volcanoes national park. It is only the only savannah park in the country offering game drive experiences to the visitors. The park is located in eastern Rwanda along the border with Tanzania. Akagera is characterised by woodland, swamps, low mountains and savannah in which a variety of amazing wildlife species are found. Some of the most popular species in the park include zebras, giraffes, elephants, lions and hundreds of bird species, such as the rare shoebill stork. In addition to seeing wildlife, a boat cruise on Lake Ihema, located in the middle of park is another thrilling and relaxing experiences. Visitors are able to see a variety of aquatic species such as crocs, hippos, and abundant waterbirds while on the cruise.