5 days Rwanda gorilla trekking and leisure safari takes you to the volcanoes national park where you will have an hour to spend with the mountain gorillas as well as visit the Dian Fossey grave who was a primatologist and conservationist who helped in the conservation of the mountain gorillas. You will have a relaxation on the boat cruise on Lake Kivu as you spot a number of bird species.
HIGHLIGHTS
Day 1; Transfer to volcanoes national park
Day 2; Gorilla trekking and iby’iwacu community tour
Day 3; Dian Fossey hike and transfer to Gisenyi town
Day 4; Visit imbabazi orphanage and sunset boat cruise on Lake Kivu
Day 5; Transfer back to Kigali
DETAILED ITINERARY
DAY 1; TRANSFER TO VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK
Early in the morning, you will be picked by the safari guide and brief you about the safari. After the briefing, you will go for a city tour in Kigali. After the city tour, you will have en-route lunch and proceed with the journey to the volcanoes. On arrival, you will head to your lodge, check in and relax as you prepare for the next day activities.
DAY 2; GORILLA TREKKING AND IBY’IWACU COMMUNITY TOUR
After an early morning breakfast, you will head to the park headquarters for a briefing. After the briefing, you will head into the forest in search of the mountain gorillas. Once the gorillas are located, you will spend an hour with the gorillas as you watch them play, hunt, breastfeed and relate with one another as you take photos and record memories. After the trekking, you will head back to the lodge for a relaxation and late lunch.
After having lunch, you will proceed to the iby’iwacu community village which is located just outside the national park. This community is filled with individuals who were once poachers and reformed and thus participate in conservation projects that are run by the park. Visiting the community is a way of experiencing the Rwanda culture through music, dance and drama performances from the local intore dance group. After the visit, you will return to the lodge for dinner and a night stay.
DAY 3; DIAN FOSSEY HIKE AND TRANSFER TO GISENYI TOWN
In the morning, you will have your morning breakfast and drive to the national park headquarters where you will start the hiking expedition to Dian Fossey’s tomb who was a primatologist and conservationist whose studies on mountain gorillas has made people to clearly understand the primates. While at the tomb, you will get to know about her life and scientific study until her death. She was murdered on 26th December 1985 in her camp and was laid near her favorite gorilla called Digit along with the 20 other mountain gorillas. After the hike, you will head back to the lodge for lunch.
After lunch, you will transfer to gisenyi town which is found on the northern shores of Lake Kivu. After you will check into your lodge for dinner and a night stay.
DAY 4; VISIT IMBABAZI ORPHANAGE AND SUNSET BOAT CRUISE ON LAKE KIVU
After the morning breakfast, you will be transferred to the imbabazi orphanage where you will visit the little orphaned children who will bring smiles on your face. The orphanage was started by an American humanitarian activist named as Rosamund Hasley Carr. She founded the orphanage on her return to the country after the 1994 Rwanda genocide. The orphanage acted as a safe place for the refugees and children who had returned to the country. While at the orphanage, you will spend quality time playing with the children as you learn more about the orphanage. After you will return to the lodge for lunch.
In the evening, you will go for a sunset boat cruise on Lake Kivu which is the 8th largest lake on the African continent. While on the cruise, you will spot bird species such as common waxbill, yellow billed kites and cardinal wood pecker among others. You will have a chance to visit the peace island of Amahoro and Napoleon Island which is known for its bat caves.
DAY 5; TRANSFER BACK TO KIGALI
You will have leisure breakfast and check out of the hotel. After you will embark on the journey back to Kigali. On arrival in the city, you will have a brief city tour and later be dropped off at the airport for your flight back home or any place of advise.
5 days Rwanda gorilla trekking and leisure safari Includes
Gorilla trekking permit
An English speaking guide
Park entrance fees
Hiking permit
Boat cruise fees
Accommodation and meals
Transportation in a 4*4 safari vehicle
All activities on the itinerary
Bottled drinking water
5 days Rwanda gorilla trekking and leisure safari Excludes
Tips
Personal expenses
Life insurance
Optional Activities