Rwanda short gorilla tours — 2 Days Gorilla tracking from Kigali

Rwanda short gorilla tours – 2 Days Gorilla tracking from Kigali to Volcanoes National park

Rwanda short Gorilla Tours – gives you a unique opportunity to track the endangered Mountain Gorillas in their natural habitat in a shortest time possible. This Tour is perfect if you are in Rwanda for a very limited time, but have time to spare for a Wildlife expedition. In Rwanda, Gorillas are habituated in 10 families which can be visited every day with each family being visited by a maximum of 8 people.

The short Gorilla tracking trip in Rwanda is best done travelers who visit Rwanda for a very short time but with an interest of seeing some wildlife and those who work or stay in Rwanda since it requires very early pick up and late drop off.

Set off will always be at 4:30am, that is if you are in Kigali-Rwanda for a 2 hours picturesque drive to Volcanoes National Park in Musanze province, habitat to the endangered Mountain Gorillas.

On arrival, enjoy your breakfast and proceed to the park headquarters at Kinigi for the briefing by the park warden. At 8:30 am you will transfer to the starting point of your Gorilla walk in the jungle.

Gorilla families are allocated to the guests at random at the park headquarters. However, our experienced guides have over time built a strong relationship with the park wardens. They normally talk to them before time and express the clients’ interests in specific Gorilla family. They normally get a positive response over this. The trek may last from 1-8 hours depending on the movements of the gentle giants. On return, your driver will transfer you back to Kigali for drop off at your hotel or at the airport for a scheduled flight back home.

Reasons why we recommend 2 days for Rwanda short gorilla tours

Great Adventure Safaris advises travelers to take at least 2 days for a gorilla tracking tour for those willing to start the safari from Kigali- Rwanda, as we try to avoid driving in the dark and other risks on the road as we drive to Volcanoes National Park. We advise to stay closer to the National Park to avoid inconveniences and unforeseen circumstances before your gorilla trekking into the forest.

Getting to Volcanoes National Park

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.

Best time to Visit Rwanda for gorilla tracking

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 time. 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.

Short safari Highlights

Scenic drive

Gorilla Trekking experience

Sight-seeing

Suggested Rwanda Short Gorilla Tour itinerary

Day 1: Pick up from Kigali City or International Airport and Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Our Great Adventures Uganda Driver Guide will pick you from Kigali International Airport or any Hotel in Kigali City to start your safari to the Volcanoes National Park. This journey is very scenic and will take you through the country side of a thousand hills Rwanda and depending on the time you arrive you will visit the Genocide Memorial Center before proceeding to the Volcanoes National Park for dinner and overnight.

Drive time: 2-3 hours

Day 2: Gorilla tracking and transfer back to Kigali for your flight or at your hotel
This morning after your breakfast and with your packed lunch, you will drive to the National Park offices for a briefing about the dos and the don’ts while on your Gorilla tracking in Volcanoes National Park. After that, you will be transferred to the starting point of your Gorilla walk. Please note that Gorilla family allocation depends on your interests, fitness and age though there is no guarantee as these Gorillas keeps moving and changing locations as you walk to them.

Please inform your guide of your interests and he will try to request for the Gorilla family of your choice before you start the trek into the Volcanoes National Park. Gorilla tracking can be strenuous and a certain level of fitness is required. Gorilla tracking can take from 30 minutes to three quarters of the day so one needs to prepare for both. Your guide will try to provide information about trees, spices of birds and other wildlife in the forest until you reach a given family of Gorillas.

You will be allowed only one hour of photography and observing Mountain Gorillas as they go on with their daily activities and then trek back to the National Park offices to pick your certificates. You will then drive back to Kigali Rwanda for your overnight in Kigali town or your International departure flight. Please ensure that you book flights that depart late from Kigali International Airport if you intend to fly back after your two days Rwanda Gorilla safari in Volcanoes National Park.

End of your Tour: Drop off at the Airport for a late night International flight or Hotel in Kigali-Rwanda

Drive time: 2-3 hours

Great Adventure Safaris remains number one and premier tour operator in Uganda and Rwanda and we offer Rwanda short gorilla tours to Volcanoes National Park and Bwindi impenetrable National Park.