2 Days Rwanda Gorilla Tour
Volcanoes National Park is situated in the north-western region of Rwanda and stands as one of the best safari destinations for the two-day Rwanda gorilla safari with an optional culture excursion, which offers an amazing gorilla trekking experience. At the Gorilla Guardian Village, previously known as the “Iby’iwacu Cultural Village,” which is closer to the park, the trip begins with incredible cultural entertainment from the locals showcasing their traditional dances and songs.
Trip Highlights
Day 1: Travel to Volcanoes National Park, in the evening, explore the vibrant culture of Rwanda
Day 2: Morning gorilla trekking and transfer back to Kigali
Day by Day Detailed 2 Days Gorilla Trekking Experience in Volcanoes Rwanda
Day 1: Pick up at Kigali airport/hotel and transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Following breakfast, you will be picked up from Kigali airport, hotel/lodge after our breakfast. And drive to Rwanda’s Northwest Volcanoes National Park. Enjoy breathtaking views of Rwanda’s natural splendor throughout the three-hour journey, which includes stunning rolling hills, tea plantations, and en-route settlements. After settling into your lodge and unwinding, take a cultural tour of the Iby’iwacu Cultural Village in the evening. Discover Rwandan customs and history, engage with locals, and take in the exhilarating traditional music and dance performed by the well-known “Instore dancers.” Return to your lodge for supper and the night after this amazing adventure as you get ready for the gorilla trekking excursion the next day.
As an alternative to a cultural trip, you may ascend Mount Bisoke, which is also in Volcanoes National Park.
Day 1: Travel to Volcanoes National Park and Hike Mount Bisoke
Your driver-guide will pick you up from your accommodation or the Kigali airport at 4:30 AM and take you to Volcanoes National Park. After attending a briefing on Bisoke trekking, travel to the Bisoke trailhead with your packed lunch which is the starting point for the hike. Hiking Mount Bisoke takes approx. four hours to hike to the top of Mount Bisoke and two hours to descend Mount Bisoke is one one-day hike. While at the peak, you can enjoy breathtaking views of Rwandan communities, the Virunga mountains, and Mountains National Park. Spend the night at the luxurious Davinci Gorilla Lodge, the luxurious Tiloreza Volcanoes Eco Lodge, or the reasonably priced Muhabura Hotel among several others.
Day 2: Morning Gorilla trekking and transfer to Kigali
Carry with you, your hiking equipment, water, and a packed lunch to the park headquarters where you will attend a briefing from the park warden on the rules and regulations for gorilla trekking that are closely followed to ensure a successful gorilla trekking. After, you will be assigned into groups of 8 members each accompanied by the ranger guides as you begin the trek in the forest. Depending on where your designated gorilla family is located/ how far they have moved, this activity might take anywhere from one to six hours. during the trek, you are required to follow the guidelines, which include avoiding eye contact, staying 10 meters away from the gorillas, keeping quiet around them, not using flashlights when taking pictures, and not leaving their habitat littered. Once you have found them, the excitement fills your heart when you come face to face with the gentle giants in their natural habitat, as you observe them go about their daily activities, the gorillas have a total DNA of 98.3% to that of the humans and thus poses several human-like features. The one hour with the gorillas runs faster and thereafter, you will return to the park headquarters and then the driver guide will drop you off at Kigali airport for your flight or your next adventures.
2- day Rwanda Safari includes;
- Gorilla permit fees
- Park entrance fees
- Relevant government taxes
- Full board accommodation
- Full-time English-speaking driver/guide
- Ground transportation by a 4×4 safari vehicle
- Airport transfer, as long as your flight is on the same day on which the safari ends
2-days Rwanda Safari excludes
- Personal insurance for airline tickets
- Personal expenses include things like beverages, gratuities, laundry, phone calls, cigarettes, lodging and meals that are not on the schedule, and extra activities.
Rwandan-habituated gorilla families
Trekkers visit the 12 habituated Gorilla groups in Volcanoes National Park every day. The park issues 96 gorilla permits per day, with a maximum of 8 trekkers permitted to visit a gorilla family each day. Umubano, Karisimbi, Susa, Hirwa, Agasya, Titus, Pablo, Kwitonda, Amahoro, Bwenge, Uganda, and Sabyinyo are among the habituated gorilla families in Rwanda.
2-day Rwandan gorilla trip in Volcanoes National Park
There are three national parks in the Virunga Mountains, including Volcanoes National Park in northwest Rwanda, which are home to mountain gorillas. Montane rainforests and five volcanoes—Karisimbi, Bisoke, Sabyinyo, Gahinga, and Muhabura-make up the majority of the park. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo share a boundary with Volcanoes National Park. The park is home to several primate species, including the rare golden monkey, in addition to mountain gorillas. In addition to over 180 bird species, the park is home to African buffalo, spotted hyenas, tamed bushbuck, and African elephants. American primatologist Dian Fossey was born at Volcanoes National Park, and her grave is in the Karisoke Research Center.
Additional Safari Adventures in Rwanda
Besides Gorilla trekking, Rwanda offers several other activities you can explore to maximize your safari stay in Rwanda including;
Akagera National Park, located in the east of Rwanda not far from the Tanzanian border, is the most rewarding destination of Rwanda’s wildlife-watching safaris. The renowned “big five”—lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino are among the park’s spectacular game species. Among the other common game species in the park are warthogs, zebras, antelopes, and giraffes. Along with a variety of unique species from the Albertine Rift, the park is home to hundreds of bird species, including the endangered shoebill stork. Another top attraction in Akagera National Park is a leisurely boat ride around Lake Ihema, which provides breathtaking views of a variety of aquatic birds and animals, including elephants, hippos, and crocks.
Chimpanzee tracking and canopy walk
The canopy walk experience and chimpanzee tracking are both conducted in Rwanda’s southwest, near Nyungwe National Park. With 13 different kinds of primates, Nyungwe is perhaps Central Africa’s best-preserved montane rainforest. Since chimpanzees are the most prevalent primate species in the park, several visitors flock to Nyungwe to follow these clever and crafty primates. One unique park experience that is not available anywhere else in the area is a canopy walk via a suspended bridge above the Nyungwe forest. The canopy walkway provides stunning views of the neighboring towns, picturesque hills, and a range of fauna, including birds.
2-day bird-watching Gorilla Tour in Rwanda
With more than 700 bird species, including 29 Albertine Rift Endemics, Rwanda is also a birdwatcher’s paradise. Rwanda’s top locations for bird viewing are Nyungwe National Park and Akagera National Park. Furthermore, Volcanoes National Park and Giswati Mukura National Park also protect several bird species that are often seen by visitors visiting these destinations. Some of the bird species sighted in Rwanda national parks include the red-collared Babbler, Rwenzori Turaco, Grauer’s Warbler, Northern Brown-throated Weaver, Papyrus Gonolek, and White-collared Olive back are a few of Rwanda’s most notable bird species.