4 Day Gorilla Safari

Day 1

Arriving in Kigali you will be welcomed by your expert Volcanoes Safaris guide who will provide knowledge and assistance throughout your safari.

Drive through Rwanda’s magnificent landscape (known as the land of the thousand hills) on your journey to Virunga Lodge near the Virunga volcanoes.

Enjoy lunch overlooking the lakes Ruhondo and Bulera, go for a birding walk around the nature trails within the lodge grounds.

Enjoy pre-dinner cocktails on the western terrace with stunning views overlooking the Virunga Volcanoes and Lakes Bulera Ruhondo or warm yourself inside by the cosy fire.

Driving time approximately 3 hours. Helicopter flight approximately 45 minutes.

Please book flights arriving into Kigali no later than 10am.

Overnight at Virunga Lodge (lunch, dinner).

Day 2

Wake up early and have breakfast before setting off for gorilla tracking in Parc National des Volcans.

Hike through the enchanting bamboo forest on the slopes of the Virunga Volcanoes.

After a climb of between one and three hours, you will spend one hour in the company of the majestic and gentle mountain gorillas before returning to the lodge in time for a late lunch. Some gorilla families can be more elusive, and tracking can take a full day, especially if it is wet and muddy.

Relax after your trek and enjoy complimentary spa treatments and massages, including the famous Rungu massage at Ikirunga Spa and Sauna.

Before dinner join our conservation partners, Gorilla Doctors or Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, for drinks and a fireside chat in the Virunga Map Room to learn about the conservation and health of mountain gorillas and reminisce on your gorilla experience.

Overnight at Virunga Lodge (breakfast, lunch, dinner).

Day 3

Choose from one of the optional activities:

Spend another day with the majestic mountain gorillas. As each trekking experience is unique, we recommend a second gorilla trek

Trek into the foothills of the Virunga mountains to experience the rare golden monkey. Characterized by its bright golden body, cheeks and tail, with contrasting black limbs, crown and tail end, these playful primates are a pleasure to watch.

Hike to the Dian Fossey’s grave, located in a beautiful meadow nestled between the Karisimbi and Visoke volcanoes (6-8 hours).

Visit the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, near Kinigi.

Take a guided birding and community walk to Lake Bulera, to experience village life.

In the afternoon donate a sheep, a water tank, or solar panel to a local family in the community living near the lodge as part of our conservation and community projects.

Enjoy a locally-inspired dinner and exceptional hospitality as you dine in the Dian Fossey Map Room, built in honor of Dian Fossey, the pioneer primatologist. The building hosts a permanent exhibition has been set up in the Map Room charting the ‘Conservationists and Explorers of the Virunga Volcanoes’ from 1850 to 1985 when Fossey died.

Overnight at Virunga Lodge (breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Day 4

Leave Virunga Lodge and drive to Kigali, and time permitting, enjoy a city tour and a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial.

A visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial is a moving testimony to this country’s past that it has courageously overcome (guests to pay/donate entrance fees directly).

Transfer to the airport in time for your return flight.

(breakfast, lunch)

Driving time approximately 3 hours. Helicopter flight approximately 45 minutes.

Day 1

Arriving in Kigali you will be welcomed by your expert Volcanoes Safaris guide who will provide knowledge and assistance throughout your safari.

Drive from Kigali through Rwanda’s magnificent landscape (known as the land of the thousand hills) on your journey to Mount Gahinga Lodge, in the foothills of the Virunga volcanoes just over the Uganda border.

Visit the Batwa Vocational Center and see how the community are earning a sustainable income through craft making.

Enjoy pre-dinner cocktails and a fireside chat with a vet from the Gorilla Doctors and learn about their daily work looking after the health of the mountain gorillas.

Driving time approximately 5 hours.

Please book international flights arriving into Kigali no later than 10am.

Overnight at Mount Gahinga Lodge (lunch, dinner).

Day 2

After a climb of between one and three hours the moment you find the gorillas camouflaged in the vegetation is an inspiring and privileged one. You will spend one hour in the company of the majestic and gentle mountain gorillas before returning to the lodge in time for a late lunch.

Gorilla trekking requires stamina and can sometimes take a full day, especially if it is wet and muddy.

Relax after your trek and enjoy complimentary spa treatments and massages, including the famous Rungu massage at Gahinga Spa and Sauna.

Overnight at Mount Gahinga Lodge (breakfast, lunch, dinner).

Day 3

After enjoying an early breakfast, set off to track the rare golden monkeys through the bamboo forests of the mountains. The monkeys travel in large groups and are as energetic as they are photogenic, often seen playing in the high branches or foraging on the ground for bamboo shoots.

In the afternoon visit the Gahinga Batwa Village and experience the culture and history of one of Africa’s oldest tribes. Take a walk through the Batwa Heritage Tour to gain insight into their traditional life as hunter gatherers in the forest.

Later in the afternoon hike the Gisozi caldera and enjoy sundowners over magical views of the Kisoro valley, with Lake Mutanda in the distance.

Overnight at Mount Gahinga Lodge (breakfast, lunch, dinner).

Day 4

By mid-morning you will leave the lodge and transfer back across the border into Rwanda and drive to Kigali, enjoy a city tour and a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial before transferring to the airport for your international flight.

Please book international flights departing after 7pm

(Breakfast at the lodge)

Driving time approximately 5 hours.

Day 1

Arrive at Entebbe airport where a Volcanoes Safaris representative will assist you with your domestic flight to Kihihi airstrip. Once in Kihihi you will be welcomed by your expert guide who will provide knowledge and assistance throughout your journey.

Drive up into the gorilla highlands to Bwindi Lodge. Enjoy pre-dinner cocktails and a fireside chat with research staff from one of our conservation partners, Gorilla Doctors or Conservation Through Public Health and learn about their conservation and health work with the gorillas.

Flying time between 1 to 2 hours. Driving time approximately 2 hours.

Overnight at Bwindi Lodge (lunch and dinner)

Day 2

After enjoying an early breakfast, you set off gorilla tracking. Trekking through the steep, densely forested hills and then finally coming across the gorillas camouflaged in the vegetation is an inspiring and privileged moment. Tracking in the Bwindi forest requires stamina and can often take most of the day.

Visit the award-winning Bwindi Bar as you return to the lodge after your gorilla trek and celebrate with the signature Gorillini cocktail! Bwindi Bar provides hospitality training to young disadvantaged youth from the neighbouring communities.

Relax after your day’s tracking experience and enjoy complimentary spa treatments and massages, including the famous Rungu massage at Bwindi Spa and Sauna.

Overnight at Bwindi Lodge (breakfast, lunch and dinner)

Day 3

Choose from one of the following activities for your second day at Bwindi:

• Trek to the majestic mountain gorillas. As each experience is unique, we recommend a second gorilla trek (additional permits required).
• Take a guided walk in the rainforest, passing between ferns and orchids before emerging to see three pristine waterfalls.
• Enjoy a guided birding walk along the Munyanga River Trail to spot some of the 350 bird species found in Bwindi Forest.
• Visit the Bwindi Community Hospital, a beacon of hope to the local communities.
• Visit Conservation Through Public Health for a behind the scenes tour of gorilla conservation.
• Enjoy a demonstration of our local tea processing cooperative at the lodge.

Overnight at Bwindi Lodge (breakfast, lunch and dinner)

Day 4

Transfer from Bwindi lodge to Kihihi airstrip for your morning or afternoon return flight to Entebbe and connect in time for your international flight.

Approximate Travel Times: Flying 1 to 2 hours; Driving 2 hours

Please book international flights departing after 8pm

(breakfast at the lodge)