The 4 days Gorillas, Golden Monkeys & Dian Fossey Safari is one of our most rewarding short packages for Volcanoes National Park. Whether you are a budget, midrange or luxury traveler, this packages suits your needs and aspirations of coming up-close to the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, the jovial golden monkeys and undertaking a memorial visit to the Dian Fossey Gravesite to pay last respects to the woman who dedicated 18 years of her life to protecting and habituating mountain gorillas. This short fulfilling safari starts and ends in Kigali City.
Detailed Itinerary.
Day 1: Pick-up from the Airport or any other location in Kigali City for a scenic drive to Volcanoes National Park.
Your 4 days Gorillas, Golden Monkeys & Dian Fossey Safari starts with a pick-up from the Airport or any other location in Kigali City. This comes after a meeting with your safari guide and short City Tour.
A city tour involves visiting top Historical and Cultural Sites in Kigali City such as Kigali Genocide Memorial Site, Kimironko local markets and Caplaki Art and Craft center where you will marvel at and even shop a variety of handicrafts/souvenirs from Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The City tour is followed by lunch and later start the 2-3 hours’ drive to north-western Rwanda while relishing breathtaking views of Rwanda’s rolling hills and arrive in the evening for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2: Mountain Gorilla Trekking Experience in Volcanoes National Park and evening tour on the twin Lakes.
On the second day of your safari, arise to a hefty breakfast at the Lodge and meet-up with your allocated driver/guide for a transfer to Kinigi Park Headquarters. You will go through pre-tracking rituals that include briefing on the gorilla trekking etiquette, allocation into a gorilla group with 7 other persons and being assigned a Ranger guide, then begin the hike through Bamboo stands and tropical rainforest in search for the mountain gorillas. Gorilla treks last from anywhere between 1 and 4 hours but only one hour is spent in the presence of the mountain gorillas.
After the one hour with mountain gorillas, trek back to the Kinigi Park Headquarters where you will find your safari driver waiting to return you back to the Lodge for Lunch, relaxation and other activities of the day. To relieve the fatigue from gorilla trekking, undertake an evening boat ride on the Twin Lakes of Burera and Ruhondo where a number of bird species will be encountered. Dinner and overnight stay will be at the same Lodge as the previous night.
Day 3: Tracking Golden Monkeys in Volcanoes National Park and visit to the beautiful Gorilla Guardian Village.
This is another fantabulous day of your safari as you will be trekking yet another primate species in Volcanoes National Park. Have Breakfast and return to Kinigi Park Headquarters for briefing and then tracking the playful Golden monkeys. The activity is done in the same way as gorilla trekking but takes a shorter time-1-3 hours before the golden monkeys are found playing on tree branches, munching on Bamboo stems and leaves, resting or grooming each other. After the allotted one hour with them, return to the Park Headquarters to interact with park guides, porters and even offer tips where necessary before driving back to the Lodge for Lunch.
In the evening be driven to gorilla Guardian Village at the borders of Volcanoes National Park to learn about cultures and unique ways of life of the Rwandan people. While here, participate in banana beer brewing, take part in drumming lessons, take part in preparing and tasting traditional dishes, visit the traditional herbalist and be entertained in traditional dance performances where you can also take part. After this mind-blowing and sweat-stimulating cultural visit, be driven back to the Lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 4: Memorial visit to Dian Fossey Gravesite and return back to Kigali City.
On the final day of your safari have breakfast and return to the Park Headquarters for briefing on the memorial visit to Dian Fossey Gravesite. This is done to pay last respects and recognize the 18-year contribution of Dian Fossey towards protection of Mountain gorillas. She lost her life on 26th December 1985 and was laid to rest next to her favorite gorilla-Digit.
A hike to Dian Fossey Gravesite lasts for about one and a half hours and offers opportunities of seeing forest elephants, black and white colobus monkeys, giant forest hogs, sometimes mountain gorillas and prolific bird species. Descend back to the trailhead where you will meet up with your driver/guide for a transfer to the lodge for lunch. Check-out and leave Volcanoes National Park for the City and this marks the end of your 4 days Gorillas, Golden Monkeys and Dian Fossey tour.
