4 Days Gorillas in the Mist
You land in Kigali. Four days later you've stood a few meters from a silverback gorilla and walked through one of Africa's most moving genocide memorials — without the long drives other Rwanda itineraries need.
Tour details
Duration: 4 days
Best for: Travellers who want the gorillas without extra days on the road, and who can spare a day for Kigali
Group size: Private tour, your group and your guide
Travel style: Safari, Gorilla trekking, Cultural, City break
Introduction
You land in Kigali. Four days later you've stood a few meters from a silverback gorilla and walked through one of Africa's most moving genocide memorials. Rays Safaris built this trip for travellers who want the gorillas without the extra days on the road.
Volcanoes National Park sits close to Kigali. That means you skip the long drives other Rwanda itineraries need. You get one full trekking day, one city day, and two travel days. No wasted time.
Dian Fossey spent 20 years studying these gorillas on these same slopes. Her research is the reason trekking here is possible today. You're following a path she and her team built.
On this journey, you will explore the following highlights:
Gorilla Tracking - The Ultimate Wildlife Encounter
Volcanoes National Park
Kigali City - The Heart of Rwanda
Day to day programme
Day 1: You arrive in Kigali
Our team meets you at the airport and takes you to the Lemigo Hotel. Rest, settle in, or start exploring the city on your own. Breakfast is included; the rest of the evening is yours.
Day 2: Kigali to Ruhengeri
You start with a city tour. The Genocide Memorial Centre is the centerpiece, a place that explains Rwanda's history in a way no guidebook can. You'll also stop at local craft centres and have lunch at one of Kigali's upscale restaurants. Then you drive to Ruhengeri, your base for the trek. That night, the Itorero dance troupe performs traditional Rwandan dance at your lodge. You stay at Mountain Gorilla Lodge, full board.
Day 3: Gorilla trekking day
This is the day you came for. You leave early for Volcanoes National Park. Trackers brief you before you enter the forest, then guide you through dense vegetation as they explain how they locate the gorillas and read their behavior. Once you find the family, you get one hour with them. Standing near a full-grown silverback is not something you forget. After the trek, you eat at the park headquarters, then drive back to Kigali. You stay in Kigali, bed and breakfast.
Day 4: Kigali and departure
Breakfast, then a transfer to the airport for your flight home. Your trip ends where it started.
When to go
June to August and December to February are Uganda and Rwanda's dry seasons. Wildlife viewing and primate trekking are easiest then. You're walking through rainforest either way, so pack for rain no matter which month you pick.
Visa requirements
Rwanda and Uganda both offer visas on arrival. Uganda's costs US$100 at entry points like Entebbe International Airport. If your trip crosses into Rwanda and Kenya too, ask us about the East African Visa. It covers all three countries on one application.
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What's included
Includes
- Accommodation on the meal plan listed above
- Your Rwanda gorilla permit, US$1,500 per person
- A private guide for every activity in the itinerary
- All transfers listed in the itinerary
Excludes
- Drinks
- Gratuities
- International flights
- Travel insurance
- Visa fees
Accommodations
During the trip, you will stay at:
Kigali: Lemigo Hotel, bed and breakfast.
Volcanoes National Park: Mountain Gorilla Lodge, full board.
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