3 days Rwanda gorilla trekking safari takes you to the northwestern side of Rwanda to Volcanoes national park. Volcanoes national park is home to almost half of the remaining total population of mountain gorillas. Gorilla trekking is one of the most done activities in Rwanda after gorilla trekking. Gorilla trekking permit in Volcanoes national park Rwanda is $1500 per person per trek and this fee comes with park entrance and the guide fee. The park is also a home of other animals such as elephants, forest hogs, buffaloes, golden monkeys, and over 525 different bird species. The park hosts 5 out of 8 Virunga Volcanoes as well as Dian Fossey’s grave. Apart from gorilla trekking, other activities done in Volcanoes national park include golden monkey trekking, hiking, visiting Dain Fossey grave as well as community tour.

3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safari Highlights

Day 1: Transfer to Volcanoes national park

Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park Rwanda

Day 3: Touring the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village

Day 1: Transfer to Volcanoes national park

Our English driver guide will pick you from the airport or hotel depending on where you will be. The driver-guide will brief you and guide you about your safari to Volcanoes national park. You will then have a short drive through Kigali city which is one of the cleanest cities in Africa. The city has a lot of tourism attractions among which include historical and cultural sites e.g. Kigali genocide memorial center, Richard Kandt national museum, presidential museum, craft markets, and much more depending on the time you have. After this tour, you will have lunch in Kigali city as you prepare to start your journey to Volcanoes national park. After lunch, you will drive to the northwestern side of the country and the journey from Kigali to Volcanoes takes you 2 – 3 hours. Driving to Volcanoes national park takes you through rolling hills a reason as to why the country is called the land of a thousand hills. You will arrive at the park in the evening and check into your lodge for 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 Rwanda

After early morning breakfast, our driver-guide will be ready to pick you up from your hotel, drive you to the parks’ headquarters for a briefing about gorilla trekking. Kinigi is the park headquarters of Volcanoes national park Rwanda. During the briefing, you are told about the dos and don’ts during gorilla trekking. After the briefing, you will be grouped into 8 people and a ranger guide will lead you to the forest in search of these giant apes. The time spent trekking these mountain gorillas is unpredictable, it varies from 2 to several hours depending on the location of these gorillas, the nature of the terrain as well as the speed at which you are trekking. When you locate your gorilla family you will be given a maximum of 1 hour to observe them, watch them play, make nests, mothers breastfeed and you can take photos and record videos for memories or share with your friends. After gorilla trekking, you can go for optional activities such as a nature walk, a visit to twin lakes, or Musanze caves.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner

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

Day 3: Touring the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village

After an amazing activity of gorilla trekking the previous day, our guide will be ready to take you to visit the Iby’Iwacu cultural village located in Musanze near Volcanoes national park Rwanda to have a taste of the history and culture of Rwanda. Some of the members of Iby’Iwachu village are former poachers who depended on the forest for survival. While at the cultural center you will enjoy the cultural dances, poems, dressing styles and learn more about the culture of the people of Rwanda. After Iby’Iwachu cultural village you will be done with your 3 days Rwanda gorilla trekking safari. You will get back to your lodge for relaxation and lunch after which you will start your journey back to Kigali.

Meal plan: Breakfast and Lunch

Price for 3 Days Gorilla Trekking Safari Rwanda includes

Gorilla trekking permit

Accommodation and meals

Transport

Service of the English-speaking driver-guide

Drinking water

Price for 3 Days Gorilla Trekking Safari Rwanda excludes

International flights

Rwanda visa

Personal expenses

Optional activities

Soft and alcoholic drinks

Insurance

Tips to the porters and guides 

Gorilla Trekking In Uganda Africa

Gorilla trekking in Uganda Africa – Uganda is popular known for its primate population spread across the country’s rain forests of Mgahinga gorilla park and Bwindi impenetrable national park all located in south western Uganda. These parks are famous for endangered mountain gorillas that live on the steep hills and deep valleys of tropical forests found at the edge of the great east African rift valley. Kibale forest is also called the primate capital because it hosts the largest number of chimpanzees in the world and other places to see primates in Uganda include Budongo forest in Murchison falls national park, kyambura gorge in queen Elizabeth national park and kalinzu forest. Gorilla trekking is one of the safari highlights for many tourists coming to Africa because of the unlimited number of gorilla permits sold in Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo hence making the activity special and memorable.

What to expect on a gorilla trek in Uganda?

Gorilla trekking is done on foot and this is so because of the habitant they live in. mountain gorillas live deep in thick forests, steep slopes and deep in the valleys and may that’s why they are called mountain gorillas. Depending on the location of mountain gorillas, trekking can be easier if mountain gorillas are near trailheads and park rangers will allocate you a group nearer if you have physical fitness.

The actual encounter with mountain gorillas of Uganda

Coming face to face with endangered mountain gorillas is a one time experience that a number of people dream about. Your day starts with morning breakfast, dress well for the activities, get all your equipment and move to the information center at the park headquarters for pre-gorilla briefing and attendance is a must as they will get you a particular group to trek and an armed ranger. After gorilla trekking briefing, you will be grouped into 8 people to trek a particular gorilla group after you go to the forest to look for these great apes lead by an armed ranger. The time taken to allocate a particular gorilla group will depend on the location for it can take 2 to 9 hours. When you allocate a gorilla group you will be given 1 hour to stay with then, learn about their behaviors, see them rest, play or hunt.

How long is mountain gorilla trekking in Uganda

Mountain gorilla trekking is referred to as a full day activity however the time take to trek mountain gorilla ranges between 2 hours to 9 hours depending on the location of a particular gorilla group so travelers must be fit to take part in gorilla trekking activity

Gorilla permits in Uganda

Gorilla permits are got from Uganda wildlife authority or through any trusted tour operator at a fee of $ 700 for non-foreign residents, $600 for foreign residents and 2600 for foreign residents and 250,000 UGX for east African citizens. Visitors interested in gorilla trekking are advised to book their gorilla permits in advance because there are limited gorilla permits.

Refunds / cancellations of gorilla permits in Uganda

Uganda gorilla permits fees can be refunded based on the state of the cancellation and refund is not done by Africa adventure vacations but its instead done by Uganda wildlife authority but you can still contact us on how the refunds are done

Age restrictions for gorilla trekking in Uganda Africa

Gorilla permits are issued out to people who are 15 years and above and they must have submitted their travel documents such as passports for approvals. When the children are below 15 years of age but they are energetic and physically fit, their parent scan write a letter of acknowledgement through Africa adventure vacations which will be submitted for permission from Uganda wildlife authority.

Bwindi impenetrable national park can be accessed by air or by road

By road

Bwindi impenetrable national park can be accessed from Entebbe international airport or kampala city using kampala via masaka – mbarara road up to kabale taking you about 9 to 10 hours or from Rwanda using katuna border in kabale or cyanika border in kisoro taking you 3 to 4 hours

By air

You can access Bwindi impenetrable national park using flights from kajjansi airstrip or Entebbe international airport to kihihi and kisoro airstrips

How to get to Mgahinga gorilla national park?

Mgahinga gorilla national park is strategically located at the border with Rwanda and DR Congo making it accessible from Uganda and Rwanda

By road

The quickest way to get to Mgahinga national park is by flying into Kigali international airport and driving through cyanika border in kisoro which takes you about 3- 5 hours. You can also travel from Entebbe or Kampala city but it will take you 9 – 10 hours.

By air

You can take a flight from kajjansi airstrip or Entebbe international airport to kisoro airstrip taking you about 30 minutes

What to pack for gorilla trekking

Rain jacket

Waterproof back

Waterproof walking shoes

Gloves

Long-sleeved clothes

Camera