Welcome to Rwanda. Your journey starts at Kigali Airport where you will be met by our driver guide who will spend time with you throughout your visit to Rwanda. Please arrange to arrive in Kigali before 1pm – if your flight does not arrive before that time then you need to arrive one day earlier and book one night’s pre-tour accommodation as well as an arrival transfer (these will be at an additional cost). Please read the visa information for Rwanda on your pre-departure information before you depart, as you’re required to apply for your visa before arrival. 

Upon your arrival, you will have a welcome toast. Depending on your arrival time, we may organize a short “Kigali city tour” which will give you background information about the resilience of the people of Rwanda which made them rebuild their nation that was once almost destroyed by the genocide and make it desirable today. 

Then you travel towards the gorillas with a drive through the verdant rolling hills of Rwanda. You’ll be staying in Musanze district (formerly Ruhengeri), northern province. Hotel facilities include a pool, restaurant, bar & lounge with fireplace and incredible views of the Volcanoes. The Volcanoes National Park is the oldest national park in Africa, and it was specifically created to protect the habitat of the gorillas.

After a very early start, drive to the park headquarters (approximately 30 minutes) where you’ll be briefed on the gorilla trek by the guides of “Parc National des Volcans”. Ten different gorilla families live here, in bamboo forest interspersed with alpine moorland, grassland, and marshland. You will visit only one group of gorillas; the family name and location will be indicated on your permit.

Gorilla trekking is highly controlled, with only 80 gorilla trekking permits available each day. Once a trekking group encounters one of the gorilla families, only one hour is granted in the presence of those magnificent creatures before trekkers must leave. Be aware that the trek can be strenuous and may reach altitudes of almost 3,000 meters above sea level.

Depending on weather conditions, some of the paths can be slippery and these paths themselves can change depending on the location of the gorillas. Therefore it is very

hard to predict how long you will need to walk, but a very good level of fitness is recommended for this trek. It may take anything between 40 minutes and five hours to reach your designated gorilla family, but it’s more than worth it. The trackers will have already set out and located the gorilla family by the time you begin your trek, so your actual walking time can usually be predicted when you set off. You can usually get very close to the mountain gorillas, and watching their movements is like seeing a mirror image of yourself. You will be more excited as you watch them eat, sleep, groom, and play – the giant silverback surveying the scene as the smaller ones laze in the trees or play like children. 

As lunch can only be taken upon return to the hotel, it is recommended that you bring a few snacks to keep you going throughout the morning. At the end of the day the comforts of the hotel beckon, along with a chance to reflect on what is sure to be a truly memorable day. 

Note: Your gorilla trek will be a shared activity. You will be accompanied by other travelers, with a maximum of 8 people per gorilla group, plus your guides.