2021 Rwanda Gorilla Tracking tours and safaris with Great Adventure Safaris will take you adventuring in the tropical rainforest jungles of Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda to see the elusive Mountain giants, the Mountain Gorillas. Our Tours and safaris take care of all the hustle and bustle of a Uganda safari including processing the Gorilla permits, park entry fees and putting together your safari plan, transfers and making sure you are booked in the best accommodation facility.
Great Adventure Safaris specializes in tailor made Rwanda Gorilla tracking safari, tours and holidays and African safaris in selected East African destinations. We are Ugandan local tour operator experts in booking escorted tours, city breaks, hiking holidays, Mountain Gorilla adventures and more jungle experiences and we can find the perfect holiday experience for you. Hike through the tropical rainforest jungles or experience the magic of the African culture. We offer the very best dedicated safaris in East Africa and Mountain Gorilla safaris and tours in Rwanda.
Every East African Safaris traveler has Mountain Gorilla tracking on his/her of East Africa safari list. Great Adventure Safaris has been in the forefront of creating unforgettable memories of viewing the Mountain Gorillas and we celebrate this achievement by continuing to take our tourists through the thick, misty, wet and impenetrable jungles to spend those memorable one hour viewing the mighty cousin and his family.
We specialize in organizing Gorilla tracking safaris and tours to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and provide firsthand information on Gorilla Permit costs and availability, when is the best time to visit the Mountain Gorillas, what to pack, how to get to the National Park, what should be the best choice of accommodation. Take a private or a group Gorilla safari with Great Adventure Safaris depending on your budget, time through Kigali-Rwanda with a scenic drive to give you a great Gorilla tracking tour.
Volcanoes National Park is found in a small village called Musanze previously well-known as Ruhengeri, which is very accessible by public transport from Gisenyi, Kigali City or from the Kigali International Airport. The drive to Volcanoes National Park is 2-3 hours and hence one can do Gorilla tracking on the same day and drive back to Kigali after the trek. You will be required to arrive at the National Park headquarters in Kinigi, by 7:00 am, therefore, if you hope to trek Gorillas for one day, you have to wake up very early for your journey so that you are on time. However, there isn’t any public transport from Musanze to the headquarters of the National Park at Kinigi.
Visiting Rwanda for Gorilla tracking can be done all year round. The best time to travel to Rwanda is during the drier seasons, periods between December to early March and June to September. December to March is a long dry season for Rwanda, with temperatures going up to 29 degrees Celsius for some days while the months of March-Mid May, July to September, on the other hand, are regarded as the rainy in the country.
Overall Rwanda has a good whether throughout the year but the dry season is more preferable. The weather is generally good in addition wildlife viewing is also more common during this period of tme. Tourists interested in visiting mountain Gorillas, this is the best time for Gorilla tours since there is a minimal chance of rain during the trek and a good hiking terrain in the rainforest. We still suggest your waterproof clothing even during these drier months, as this Equatorial climate is very unpredictable. This period is also a peak season, hence the prices can be higher on things like accommodation, car hire etc.
On the other hand, some travelers especially those on budget like visiting in the wet season. During this season, hotels have low occupancy, hence give travelers discounted food and sleeping services which is an added advantage. Also, there is low demand for Gorilla permits which guarantee visitors a chance to see these endangered species with no competition.
Visit Genocide Memorial site and Kigali museum
Scenic drive
Tracking Mountain Gorillas
DAY One: Arrival in Kigali International Airport and transfer to Volcanoes National Park
On arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will meet by our driver/guide and your day starts with a complementary tour of Kigali City. Named in 1907 by Dr. Richard Kandt, the first colonial resident governor of Rwanda; Kigali city is surrounded by lush hills of green and is referred to as the land of a thousand hills. Get to visit interesting spots which may include; the craft market, Gisozi Genocide Memorial site and Kigali museum. Depart for Ruhengeri area the second largest town in Rwanda, with its stunning backdrop of five volcanic mountains the Virungas arriving at your hotel late afternoon for dinner and overnight.
Drive time– 2-3 hours
Day Two: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park and Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village Walk
After an early breakfast, you will proceed to the National Park headquarters to meet your ranger guides for the day. After completing our park formalities, we are embark on a once in a life time experience of tracking mountain Gorillas. Once you spot them you are allowed to spend one hour watching with them. This is perhaps one of the most breath taking wildlife experiences on earth!!! You get so close to these awesome giant primates. You stare at each other blankly not knowing who to break the long silence first. Tracking the mountain Gorillas through the light mountain forest on the slopes of the Virunga is a magical experience. These massive primates are extremely rare, with less than 900 living today. You will get within seven meters of distance with them. The trekking may be fairly strenuous; up to six hours or longer at a relatively high altitude. We encourage for your own enjoyment to make sure that you are perfectly fit and healthy.
After your Gorilla tracking relax a little bit at the lodge and after take a cultural walk. Iby’iwacu cultural village is one of the key features that make Rwanda safaris exceptional experiences and gives you a rare chance to meet local people, in their environment, with a taste of our culture and traditions. Be genuinely welcomed by the community as a special visitor while they proudly present to you aspects of their traditions and beliefs. The only way to get to know the culture of people is getting close to them and interacting with local people and taking part’ in their daily activities and most of all with them.
Have a guided community walk to visit different sites and experience the everyday lives of the local people.
Culture guide will take you to see the king’s house replica with all the houses interpretation of all parts and stories attached to this cultural treasure. Be enthroned and become a king for some time while exercising king’s powers as presented to you by a village elder through a village ceremony.
Enjoy different types of traditional dances like Intore dance and famous songs of the Gorillas sang by the famous Ngayabatema while listening to the melody produced by traditional musical instruments including African drums.
Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day Three: Drive back to Kigali International Airport for your flight out
After breakfast you will bid your host good bye and depart for Kigali. Engage in last minute shopping in one of the friendliest African capitals, before returning to the Airport for your onward international flight back home.
Drive time-2-3 hours
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