5 Days Double Gorilla Trekking Expedition

Wind through The Land of a Thousand Hills as you curve along the forested slopes until the canopy closes in and you’re deep in the mystique forest. Trek through volcanic forests to discover the beauty of rare and endangered mountain gorilla troops that is something you’ll want to tell your grandchildren’s children about. Nestled in the foothills of the volcanoes National park is your elegant lodge, where the exquisite suites will provide you with a tranquil stay.

  • Overview
  • Itinerary
  • Price
  • Before You Go

Itinerary at a Glance

Day 1

Arrival

Day 2

Kigali City tour and transfer to Volcanoes National Park

Day 3

Gorilla trekking

Day 4

Second gorilla trekking

Day 5

Departure

Day 1

Arrival

Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be greeted and assisted by  Luxury Africa Tours representative , you’ll be transferred to Serena Hotel one of the city’s premier five-star hotel. Go for one-hour spa treatment for you to fully relax after your flight to Rwanda.  Meals and accommodation at the hotel. In case you don’t want to dinner at your hotel, let know and we take you to one of our fancy restaurants.

Dinner
Day 2

Kigali City tour and transfer to Volcanoes National Park

Over the last two decades, Rwanda’s lush, hilly capital has developed into a vibrant cosmopolitan destination, teeming with art, culture, and cuisine. Plus, the attractive urban center is one of the cleanest and safest cities in all of Africa. Sip bold, sustainable java at Question Coffee Café and after proceed for an emotional visit to the Genocide Memorial Site and learn how the country has dealt with its past and recovered to stand today as a testament to humankind’s resilience. The memorial serves as the final resting place for more than 250,000 victims of the genocide. Next, journey through bustling neighborhoods for an authentic taste of Kigali life and go for a lunch buffet. Later, drive to the north, weaving through beautiful terraced hillsides, culminates at the base of the awe-inspiring Virunga massif. Check in at Singita Kwitonda Lodge. In the evening, visit the Conservation Room, where a lodge manager and Singita conservationist will explain various aspects of the trekking experience. This includes more details about the area and general outline of the trekking day.

BreakfastLunchDinner
Day 3

Gorilla trekking

After an early breakfast, drive from the lodge to Kinigi Headquarters where you will register for the gorilla trekking experience ,Once you’ve been divided into parties of 8, assigned a Gorilla family group. You’ll have a briefing from your park guide , you will be driven to the trailhead where you will start the walk to reach your mountain gorilla family . Your experienced trackers use their knowledge of the gorillas’ habits to locate their whereabouts. Upon sighting the gorillas, you stay with them for a magical hour, admire the behavior of the gorillas as they go about their daily lives feeding, youngster playing and picking open fruit and throwing it through the air, resting and raising their young. Occasionally one, often a playful youngster, will approach you with curiosity, sometimes coming so close that you’ll have to move away. After such a thrilling experience,you will head to the lodge for relaxation

BreakfastLunchDinner
Day 4

Second gorilla trekking

Psychologists say that experiencing an activity more than once is more memorable than a single event. With packed lunch, set off from the same trailhead this morning, but walk towards a different habituated gorilla troop.  Remember each gorilla group has different behaviors so expect something unique from this group, from the number and makeup of individuals to their behavior and social structure. After a thrilling experience, head for sumptuous lunch at the lodge

BreakfastLunchDinner
Day 5

Departure

Have a leisurely breakfast and later carry on with your journey to Kigali where you will have a stop for lunch and then transfer at the airport for your flight back home.

Breakfast

Prices are in USD, per person, based on double occupancy

USD 11,400
per person based on two people

Tour Includes

Two gorilla permits of $800 each
AMREF Flying Doctor Insurance: A Flying doctor Insurance to Air transfers you before dark from the nearest airstrip to hospital during Emergency
4X4 Custom built – Toyota Land cruiser: Pop-up Roof, Opening Sliding windows, Seat Belts, Heavy duty wheels, and Extra Fuel tanks. Refrigerator for cooling drinks, one pair of binoculars per couple, Eco-friendly Trash Bag. Wi-Fi onboard during the safari, Charging Outlets type Plug G for charging Cameras and smartphones.
Professional English-Speaking Driver guide: A Friendly, Experienced and Passionate Driver Guide expert at a wide variety of skills: Flora and Fauna, the country’s cultural and natural history.
All park entrance fees to include government taxes mentioned in the itinerary
High-end accommodations and all meals ((As specified in the day-by-day section)
Soft drinks, Coffee/tea and Water during game drives
Daily valet laundry service.
Complimentary return airport transfers in case you desire after the trip
VIP Lounge access at the airport
Expert trip planning
24x7 support during your trip
Covid-19 whilst on the safari
A Gorilla permit of $1500
A bottle of Wine

Tour Excludes

Covid-19 Test upon arrival at the airport
Tips for Guides, Rangers and hotel staff
Other personal expenses like souvenirs, alcoholic drinks and cigars
All kinds of hard drinks
Activities not included in the program
Medical Insurance
Travel Insurance

Getting here

Airlines servicing Kigali International Airport are: RwandAir, Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, KLM, Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines. Scheduled helicopter transfers within Rwanda are available through Akagera Aviation.

Passport and visas

Applicants should have a valid passport or another acceptable travel document. The document must have a validity of at least six months on the day of entry into Rwanda. As of 1st January 2018, nationals of all countries receive a visa on arrival at Kigali International Airport and all land borders. Visas can be applied for before departure, by submitting an application online, with the option to pay online or upon arrival.

Vaccinations

Travelers should ensure they are up to date with vaccinations, following the advice of their local healthcare provider. A certificate of yellow fever vaccination is required. At least 8 weeks before your trip, check the latest country-specific health advice from the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) on the TravelHealthPro website. https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/country/187/rwanda, each country-specific page has information on vaccine recommendations, any current health risks or outbreaks, and factsheets with information on staying healthy abroad.

The greatest health risks in Rwanda are accidents and malaria. Much of Rwanda lies at too high an elevation for malaria to be a major concern, but the disease is present and prophylactic drugs are recommended. Travellers should seek professional medical advice on taking anti-malarial medicines and take precautions to avoid mosquito bites, especially between dawn and dusk.

COVID-19 Requirements

All travellers must provide printed, documented proof of a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test, taken within 72 hours of boarding your flight to Rwanda, immediately upon arrival.

Note: The negative RT-PCR test result will be the only type accepted. Other tests, such as Rapid Diagnostics Test (RDTs), are not accepted.

All travellers are required to complete and submit a “Rwanda Passenger Locator Form” to assist in contact tracing. To access this form, please https://travel.rbc.gov.rw/travel/.

You must provide printed, documented proof of a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test each time they visit Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Parks.  Rapid Diagnosis Test (RDTs) is accepted for check-in at any hotel or lodge and in Akagera National park

Note: all passengers arriving from or have traveled to India and Uganda in last 7 days are required to complete 7 days in mandatory quarantine upon arrival at the designated hotels. Please visit https://rbc.gov.rw/index.php?id=188 for an up-to-date list of approved. This quarantine requirement does not apply to transit passengers.

Note: COVID rules and regulations are subject to change from time to time. Get in touch with us for accurate new rules before travel.

Climate

Fractionally south of the Equator and with much of the country lying at altitude, Rwanda enjoys an agreeable tropical highland climate. Peak temperatures rarely exceed 30°C (86°F) in the daytime or drop below 15°C (59°F) at night. Akagera is generally the warmest and the Virunga Mountains the coolest and the average daily temperature in Kigali is 21°C (70°F). There are two rainy seasons in a year, from mid-February to May and mid-September to mid-December. The dry season, from June to mid-September, sees light cloud cover and occasional light rainfall. The roads and paths tend to be easier to navigate in this period

Money

The Rwandan franc (Rfw) is the principal currency, although US dollars are widely accepted. Expect to pay for local services in cash, in Rwandan francs. Dollar series of 2006 below are note accepted in national park and for exchange they have a lesser exchange value together with smaller notes below 50$. A growing number of places accept credit and debit cards, with Visa being more widely accepted than Mastercard. It’s best to check when making a booking. Cash can be exchanged at banks and private forex bureaux (bureau de change) but Both are closed on Sundays and public holidays. ATMs can be found in Kigali and nearly all major cities. It may be impossible to exchange traveler’s cheques away from the capital. Western Union facilities are common.

Electricity:  230v 50Hz

Time:  GMT + 2:00

Telephone:  International telephone code +250

Read more