3 Days Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park Gorillas Adventure

Upon arrival in Kigali, Rwanda, you will be welcomed by a company representative. Get to learn more about Kigali by embarking on a tour of the city of Kigali with a visit to the Genocide Memorial Museum. The museum is built on a site where over 250,000 people are buried after the massacre and exhibits the story of Rwanda, its history and the unfolding genocide. What an intense moment this will be when one of the guides relives those moments. Included are touch screens which have on them the testimonials of some of the survivors present during this turbulent time. Have lunch at a local restaurant before transferring to your lodge near Ruhengeri, in the northwest part of Rwanda.

We will drive you north later to embark on the planned gorillas in the mist adventure, driving through beautiful rolling hills towards Volcanoes National Park amidst forested slopes of the Virungas form a dramatic setting for the most poignant and memorable wildlife experience of a lifetime : gorilla trekking. The exhilarating climb to the gorillas’ habitat of shady bamboo forest offers fantastic views in all directions, before trekkers are immersed in the mysterious intimacy of the rainforest, alive with the calls of colorful birds and the chattering of the rare golden monkey.

Accommodation
Mountain Gorilla View Lodge comprises of 24 en- suite cottages made of stone-and-thatch. The lodge facilities include a restaurant and bar area, a small lounge with a fireplace, and a private veranda. The cottages are well-positioned to offer privacy and there is free 24/7 (WIFI) connected to cover the entire Lodge proximities including the Rooms. The lodge is located on the slopes of Mt. Sabyinyo offers beautiful views of the volcanoes and it is located about 15 minutes from the main headquarters of Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park.

Upgrade option Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge is situated in the foothills of the Virunga Volcanoes and only minutes away from the headquarters of the Parc National des Volcans. The lodge comprises five double cottages, two suites and one family suite. All are stone buildings with large sitting areas, fireplaces, en-suite bathrooms and a sheltered veranda. The main lodge features a reception, sitting area, dining room and shop. Large fireplaces provide warmth and the patios offer wonderful views of the Virunga Volcanoes and surrounding lowland. Although the lodge is built and operated by Governor’s Camp, it is owned by a Community Trust (SACOLA). Your stay therefore directly supports the local community and conservation initiatives.

After breakfast at the lodge, your private safari guide will transfer you to the Volcanoes National Park (Parc National des Volcans) Headquarters, to meet your gorilla trekking guides and fellow trekkers. During your briefing sessions, you will be assigned to a group with a maximum of 8 people to trek. Depending on how far in the mist the gorillas have moved, the length of the trek will vary from 4-8 hours passing through the open fields to the terraced slopes to the forest of bamboo and thick undergrowth that defines the park boundary. At times the walking becomes steep and can be quite strenuous through a determined path or create a path through the brush with the help of the ranger guides.

After locating the gorillas, you will spend 1 hour with them due to conservation purposes, take time with your camera with capturing the gorilla moments as they move around the bush, and you may have to follow them in order to stay with them. You may witness the staring deep liquid brown eyes of these gentle giants, which share some 97% of their genes with humans. Return to the lodge and enjoy lunch. The remainder of the day is at leisure. An excursion to visit to the volcanic lakes is an option (time permitting). (B, L, D)

Breakfast and enjoy the beautiful scenery one more time as we calmly transfer back to Kigali arriving in time for lunch. Depending on the time of your international flight you will be dropped at Kigali International Airport. (B-L)