3 Days Rwanda gorillas and Dian Fossey hike
The 3 days Rwanda gorillas and Dian Fossey hike is an interesting safari that starts and ends in Kigali Rwanda. The safari will take you to Volcanoes National Park located in the northwestern part of Rwanda which is famously known for harbouring the endangered mountain gorillas and other primates like golden monkeys, black and white colobous monkeys, red tailed monkeys among others. During the 3 days Rwanda gorillas and Dian Fossey hike, you will be able to engage in an adventurous gorilla trekking activity where you will be able to spend one hour with the mountain gorillas in the habitat Dian Fossey hike where you will be able to learn about the works of conservationist and primatologist Dian Fossey.
Highlights of the 3 Days Rwanda gorillas and Dian Fossey hike
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park and Ibyi’wacu cultural tour
Day 3: Dian Fossey hikes and transfers to Kigali
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Depending on your location in Kigali on the first day of the 3 days Rwanda gorillas and Dian Fossey hike, you will be picked up in the morning from your hotel or Kigali International Airport by a driver guide from Achieve Global Safaris who will brief you about the safari and then go for a short city tour in Kigali where you will be able to visit the Kigali Genocide memorial centre, Kimironko market, art centres among others. After the Kigali city tour, you will have lunch and later start the journey to Volcanoes National Park which takes about 2 to 3 hours’ drive with stunning views on the way. Upon arrival in Volcanoes National Park, you will check into the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park and Ibyi’wacu cultural tour
On the second day of the 3 days Rwanda gorillas and Dian Fossey hike, you will have an early breakfast, carry your lunch box and later meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the park headquarters for a gorilla trekking briefing. After the briefing, you will be subdivided into groups of 8 people where each group will be allocated a habituated gorilla family to trek and an experienced park guide. Mountain gorillas trekking in Volcanoes National Park takes about 30 minutes to 6 hours depending on where the gorilla family/group is located because they like to move from one place to another in search of food. During trekking, you will be able to spot other primates like red-tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, and different bird species among others and once the mountain gorillas are located, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their environments which allows you to learn more about their habits, behaviours, watch them carry out their daily activities like feeding, playing, resting, breastfeeding, grooming young ones, take photos and record videos.
After the one hour with the mountain gorillas, you will trek back to the starting point where you will meet up with your driver guide to go for an exciting Ibyi’wacu cultural tour where you will be able to interact with the local people, learn about their culture, way of living, enjoy their traditional performance among others. After the cultural tour, you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight as above.
Day 3: Dian Fossey hike and transfer to Kigali
On the last day of the 3 days Rwanda gorillas and Dian Fossey hike, you will have breakfast and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Kinigi Park offices for a briefing about the Dian Fossey hike. After the briefing, you will be allocated an experienced park guide and drive 30 minutes to the starting point and start hiking where you will be able to view different wildlife species including forest buffaloes, elephants, primates like golden monkeys, spot different bird species, stunning views of the Virunga ranges, Democratic Republic of Congo among others. The Dian Fossey hike takes about 1 to 3 hours depending on your level of fitness and when you reach the campsite, you will be able to see her grave next to that of her favourite gorilla digit and many others. You will take pictures and later start descending back which takes about 1-2 hours to the starting point where you will meet up with your driver guide to return to the lodge for lunch.
After lunch, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to start the journey back to Kigali. Upon arrival, your driver guide will drop you off at Kigali International Airport for your departure flight or drop off at your hotel depending on your schedule.
End of 3 days Rwanda gorillas and Dian Fossey hike
Tour includes
- Gorilla trekking permits
- Ibyi’wacu cultural tour
- Dian Fossey hike
- Kigali city tour
- Professional English-speaking driver guide
- Full board accommodation
- Ground transfers (in a 4WD vehicle)
- Vehicle and fuel
- Bottled drinking water
Tour excludes
- International air flight tickets
- Visas
- Optional activities not included on the itinerary
- Life insurance
- Personal expenses like buying souvenirs, crafts, drinks, laundry services, hiring a porter, and tips among others.
