Safari overview.

The 3 days/2-night Gorilla express is the shortest visit to Rwanda’s Northern Province where the endangered Mountain Gorillas live. You will follow the Gorillas and watch them as they go about their daily routines in the Bamboo Forest. A visit to the Gorilla Guardian village during this short safari will provide an insight into the unique cultures, traditions and ways of life of Rwandans.

You have an option to visit to Kigali Genocide Museum which you may find very emotional and touching but educational.

Safari highlights.

Day 1: Kigali Genocide museum – Road trip Volcanoes National Park.
Day 2: Gorilla trekking adventure – Visit to Gorilla Guardian Village.
Day 3: Return to Kigali.

Detailed Safari Itinerary

Day 1: Kigali City tour – Road trip to Volcanoes National Park.

Meet your driver at the lobby for a briefing on your safari.

Available option for Kigali city tour before heading out to Volcanoes National Park.

A visit to Rwanda would be incomplete without a tour of the Kigali Genocide Memorial! The memorial is a center of education, and peacebuilding and honors the memory of more than one million Rwandans who were killed in 1994. The three permanent exhibitions and burial gardens form part of a meaningful tribute to those who perished and provide a powerful educational tool for all.

The exhibition is shocking, provoking and attempts to piece together the causes and events of the three-month genocide which destroyed Rwanda in 1994.  Thousands of first-hand accounts are documented, and personal film footage and photography are showcased, illustrating the collection of events in a simple and striking way. No doubt, 99.9% of the Rwandan population were affected by the horrific violence of the genocide, a dark past that makes the present friendliness and goodwill of the country’s locals more inspiring.

Have a coffee break and start your journey to Volcanoes National Park. The Journey will take about 4 hours and is dotted with amazing views. You will have stops along the way for snacking, photography and stretching and proceed to the lodge with the amazing views of the Virunga Volcanoes towering up to almost 15,000 feet, and nearly covered with rich, green rainforest. Lunch at the lodge.

Volcanoes National Park is a 160-square-kilometer Park in Northwestern Rwanda bordering Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. About 115 mammal species that include mountain gorillas (35% of the World’s only surviving mountain gorillas), Over 200 bird species, 27 reptile and Amphibian species and 245 plant species call this Park home. The journey to Volcanoes National Park lasts about 4 hours, filled with breathtaking views of the countryside and when you get there, check-in and have lunch.

After lunch, you may simply relax at the lodge or go for a visit of the Gorilla Guardian’s Village that borders Volcanoes National Park. This site was set up as “Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village to offer a new lease on life for ex-poachers. Your visit therefore, not only offers an insight into the culture of the people but also provides an opportunity of giving back to the community. At Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village, you will get the chance to become a King for a day, watch and participate in the preparation of herbal medicine, learn how to use a bow and arrow, take part in the preparation of local dishes, banana brewing, making of handcrafts, and so much more.

Meals and Overnight accommodation included in the package.

Standard inclusions: All Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner).
Some lodges include drinks but excludes premium/imported wines and spirits.
Standard exclusions: All drinks.

Day 2: Gorilla walking Safari – Afternoon community activities.

An early breakfast, and head out to Kinigi Park headquarters in time for briefing. Depending on choice of accommodation, departure time varies. Gorilla trekking takes 3-6 hours or more and an Adventure Consults’ guide will ensure you have a packed lunch, snacks and enough drinking water.

Volcanoes National Park is one of the only 4 National parks that harbor the few remaining Mountain Gorillas on earth.  You will get up to 10 meters close with the mountain gorillas.

You will enter the Gorilla Sanctuary and start the search for Mountain Gorillas. After finding them, you are allowed to spend one-hour of interaction as you watch them play, groom, relax, feed and protect their young ones.  After an hour with these great apes, slope back to the forest edge, meet the guide and return to the lodge.

In the afternoon, you have an option participate in one of the activities that are part of the lodge community projects. Some activities are complementary while others require payment of supplement.

Meals and Overnight accommodation included in the package.
Standard inclusions: All Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner).
Some lodges include drinks but excludes premium/imported wines and spirits.
Standard exclusions: All drinks.

Day 3: Volcanoes National Park – Kigali.

After breakfast, check-out and start for Kigali, drop off at the hotel or residence.

if you have a connecting flight, ensure you are booked to depart Kigali anytime not earlier than 1300 hours. Check-in for international flights out of Kigali international airport is normally 3 hours in advance.

Where to stay while on safari to Volcanoes National Park:

There are many lodging/accommodations facilities in and around this Gorilla Park. Adventure Consults’ packages includes accommodation, and the choice depends on budget and personal tastes. We are unable to list them all, but below are a few options.

  • One & Only Gorilla’s Nest
  • Virunga Lodge
  • Bisate Lodge
  • Singita Kwitonda Lodge
  • Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge
  • Amakoro Songa Lodge
  • Bishop’s House
  • Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel
  • Mountain Gorilla View Lodge.