Day 1: Kigali City Tour – Travel to Volcanoes National Park

Your safari begins in Kigali, Rwanda’s clean and vibrant capital. After being picked up from your hotel or the airport by your driver-guide, you’ll start with a guided city tour.

Kigali City Tour Highlights:

• A reflective visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial Center, a place of remembrance and education about the 1994 genocide.
• Strolling through local craft markets and art galleries, where you can interact with artisans and shop for handcrafted souvenirs.
• A short stop at Camp Kigali, a Belgian peacekeeper memorial site.

Enjoy a delicious lunch at a local restaurant, with options for both traditional Rwandan dishes and continental cuisine.

After lunch, begin the scenic drive to Volcanoes National Park, located in northwestern Rwanda. The journey offers sweeping views of rolling hills, rural countryside, and the towering Virunga volcanoes.

Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Lodge near Volcanoes National Park

Day 2: Mountain Gorilla Trekking – Cultural Visit to Gorilla Guardians Village

Start the day early with breakfast before heading to the Volcanoes National Park headquarters for a detailed briefing by park rangers. You will be assigned a gorilla family to trek, along with a professional guide and armed ranger.

Mountain Gorilla Trekking Experience:

• Trek through misty bamboo forests and dense vegetation in search of a habituated gorilla family.
• Once located, you’ll spend one magical hour observing their behavior—watching young ones play, mothers nurture, and silverbacks guard their groups.
• Trekking duration can range from 2 to 6 hours depending on gorilla movements.

After the trek, return to the lodge for relaxation, or choose to visit the nearby Gorilla Guardians Village for a unique cultural interaction.

Gorilla Guardians Village Visit:

• Engage with former poachers who now protect gorillas through tourism and conservation education.
• Experience traditional dances, banana beer brewing, storytelling, and a chance to participate in daily community activities.
• Learn how tourism has empowered locals and supported wildlife protection.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Lodge near Volcanoes National Park

Day 3: Golden Monkey Trekking – Return to Kigali

After breakfast, return to the park for an exciting golden monkey trekking experience. These rare primates are endemic to the Virunga Mountains and are known for their playful behavior and striking golden-orange fur.

Golden Monkey Trekking Highlights:

• Walk through the bamboo zones of the park, where these monkeys are often found feeding on bamboo shoots and leaves.
• Observe them leaping between trees and foraging on the forest floor, with plenty of photo opportunities.
• Trekking duration typically ranges from 1 to 3 hours.

After the trek, head back to the lodge to freshen up and enjoy an early lunch.

Later, you’ll transfer back to Kigali International Airport for your onward journey.

Drive Time: Approx. 2.5 hours by road

Optional Helicopter Transfer: Approx. 35 minutes

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch