This 3 days Rwanda gorilla and cultural safari in volcanoes national park is a short wonderful adventure that gives you an opportunity to explore Kigali city, meet eye to eye with mountain gorillas and take a visit to Iby’iwacu cultural village. The safari will take you to volcanoes national park famous for gorilla trekking and other animals like golden monkeys, olive baboons, elephants, forest hogs, different bird species, and many others in northwestern Rwanda.

3 days Rwanda gorilla and cultural safari highlights

Day 1: Arrival and transfer to volcanoes national park

Day 2: Gorilla trekking in volcanoes national park

Day 3: Cultural tour and departure to Kigali

Detailed itinerary 

Day 1: Arrival and transfer to volcanoes national park

Depending on your arrival at Kigali international airport you will be welcomed by a driver guide from Africa adventure vacations who will brief you about the safari and then drive to Kigali for a city tour. Kigali city is famous for being the cleanest city in east Africa and during the city tour you will visit the Kigali genocide memorial site where bodies of people who were killed in the 1994 Rwanda genocide were laid to rest, Kimironko the largest market in the city to interact with local vendors, art galleries such as Inema art gallery among others. After the Kigali city tour, you will have your lunch after which start on your journey to volcanoes national park with great views of the landscape, rolling hills, traditional homesteads, terraced farmlands, smiling people, and many others. On arrival at volcanoes national park, you will proceed to your booked lodge where you will have relaxation, dinner, and an overnight stay.

Meal plan: Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Five Volcanoes Boutique hotel – luxury, Le bamboo gorilla lodge – mid-range, Villa gorilla – budget

Day 2: Gorilla trekking in volcanoes national park

This is a highlight of your 3 days Rwanda gorilla and cultural safari! After morning breakfast on your second day of the safari, you will get your packed lunch and other things you need for gorilla trekking and meet up with your driver-guide to transfer you to the park headquarters for a briefing about the dos and don’ts of gorilla trekking in volcanoes. After the briefing, you will be assigned a gorilla family to trek and given a ranger guide to lead you into the forest since he knows well about the trails. During gorilla trekking, you will come across different bird species, mammals, primates, plants, trees, and many other things and once you meet the gorillas you will be given a maximum of one hour to stay with them in their natural environment allowing you to learn their behaviors, watch them do daily activities, take photos, record videos to share with people back home. After some time with mountain gorillas, you will trek back to the starting point meet your driver for a transfer to the park headquarters for a gorilla trekking certificate, and then to the lodge for relaxation, dinner, and overnight stay.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Five Volcanoes Boutique hotel – luxury, Le bamboo gorilla lodge – mid-range, Villa gorilla – budget

Day 3: Cultural tour and departure to Kigali

On the last day of your safari, you will have a morning breakfast and meet your driver for a transfer to Iby’iwacu village for a cultural tour which is located around the park. During the cultural tour, you will meet up with local people among which include ex poachers, learn about their lifestyle, culture, tradition, way of living, taste the local food, taste local beer made from bananas, enjoy entertainment from women performing arts dances, songs, drama and much more. After the cultural tour, you will drive back for lunch at the lodge.

After having lunch, you check out of the lodge and meet your safari driver ready to transfer you back to Kigali city where you will be dropped at any place of your inconvenience, or Kigali international airport to end your 3 days Rwanda gorilla and cultural safari

Meal plan: Breakfast and Lunch

Tour includes

Gorilla trekking permit

Kigali city tour

Cultural to Iby’iwacu village

Service of an English-speaking driver-guide

Full board accommodation

Transport

Bottled water

Tour excludes 

Air flight tickets

Visas

Optional activities

Personal expenses

What to pack for 3 days Rwanda gorilla and cultural safari in volcanoes national park?

Garden gloves

Hiking shoes

Long clothes

Insect repellents

Warm sweaters

Waterproof rain jacket

Cotton long stockings

Camera

Waterproof backpack

Walking stick

Drinking water