Tips:

• For many visitors it’s a once in a lifetime trip so we strongly recommend a tour operator for the Mountain Gorilla experience.

• A tour operator will take care of contracting, booking, and the various components of your tour such as your accommodation, local transportation, specific tours, meals, guides. They provide a competitive price.

  • Tour operators are listed in Lonely Planet, Bradt and Fodors travel guides.

• A Gorilla Permit is required for visitors 15 years of age or older to trek mountain gorillas. 

• The itinerary outlined below will provide most visitors an example of the best time management and value.

• Before you go:

A tourist Visa is required - Apply Online

Travel Adaptors: Type C and Type J

USD accepted at most tourist destinations.

Vaccines and malaria medication may be required.

Yellow fever proof of vaccination may be required.

Rwanda Tourism - website to get started.

DAY 1

• Arrive at Kigali airport. Transfer to your hotel in Kigali or in Ruhengeri (2 hr. drive) depending on your arrival time.

• Ruhengeri is the 2nd largest town in Rwanda, with a stunning backdrop of the Virunga Mountains, which are a chain of volcanoes along the Rwanda, Uganda and the DRC border.

  • Ruhengeri’s proximity to the Volcanoes Park has made it a popular tourist destination.

• The Virunga Mountains are home of the critically endangered mountain gorilla. (Estimate pop. 1200). Tracking gorillas in Rwanda is safe and relatively accessible.

• Overnight: Volcano National Park area (2 nights) <where to stay>

• Distance: Kigali ---> Ruhengeri, 2 hours.

DAY 2

• Start the day setting out for the Golden Monkey, tracking in the Volcanoes Park. (Permit required)

• Entering dense stands of bamboo, you will trek your way into golden monkey territory. Guides lead visitors to the habitat where monkeys have become accustomed to humans.

• The golden monkeys are viewed close-up and will entertain you in their natural habitat. <Learn more>

• Viewing is kept to a maximum of one (1) hour. Adult monkeys play in plain view, feeding on bamboo leaves and leaping from perch to perch. Females carry their young, completely comfortable among onlookers.

• Later visit the Red Rocks Intercultural Exchange Center and join the local brew makers to understand the chemistry about the process of brewing a local beer from bananas. Enjoy a big glass of their local brew.

  • Other activities include basket weaving and traditional dancing, plus with your visit the local community families are financially supported.

•  Overnight: Volcano National Park.

DAY 3

• Gorilla Tracking at Volcanoes National Park.

  This is perhaps one of the most breath-taking wildlife experiences on earth!!! You get real close to these awesome giant primates.

• These massive primates are extremely rare, with less than 1200 living today. You will get within meters of the family and be privileged to spend one (1) hour amongst them. The trekking may be fairly strenuous lasting between 2-6 hours or longer at a relatively high altitude. We encourage for your own enjoyment to make sure that you are perfectly fit and healthy. 

  The gorilla track experience begins early in the morning with a important orientation and safety briefing.

  • <What to expect>

  • You will spend one (1) hour with the gorillas. Gorilla Permit required. Cost $1500.

  • Tour operators can secure your Gorilla permit. Due to high demand, secure permits 4-6 months in advance.

• Best time to visit the Mountain Gorilla is the dry months - December to February and June to September. 

• It is important to bring good hiking boots, long trousers, gloves for protection against stinging nettles, some snacks as well as enough water as the rain forest gets hot and humid during the day.

  * * * * * * *

• Afterward in the afternoon depart for Nyungwe National Park.

• Overnight: Nyungwe Forest Lodge (luxury) or Nyungwe Top View Hotel (budget) (2 nights)

• Distance:  Volcano Park ---> Nyungwe Park,  5.5 hrs. / 250 km.

DAY 4

• Nyungwe National Park.

  Nyungwe (a true rain forest) is on the western border of Rwanda with many activities for tourists including nature walks, bird-watching and a canopy walk.

  • Nyungwe’s main attraction is the different kind of primate species, among which are chimpanzees & colobus monkeys.

• The day begins at sunrise with a Chimpanzee trek.

  The Chimpanzee experience is much different from that of gorilla trekking. The chimpanzees are running around in the tree canopies playing and therefore you will be running after them to catch up and the sightings are more rushed and sporadic. —Chimp trekking is fast paced and you being in good physical condition will be an advantage.

• The main challenge with these chimpanzees is with finding them, as they are not so habituated and are always shy.

  • It is not a guarantee that you will see them. (During peak season there is a 80% chance you will see them)

• The chimpanzee trekking permits are $100 USD which is substantively less than that of the mountain gorillas.

  • It is advisable to book chimp permits well in advance. (Best to have your tour operator acquire them.)

• Nyungwe is probably the #1 bird watching destination in Rwanda with more than 280 bird species recorded. Bird watching can be rather frustrating, since the vegetation is thick and many birds tend to stick to the canopy, but almost everything you see ranks as a good sighting.

• Overnight: Nyungwe Forest Lodge (luxury) / Nyungwe Top View Hotel (budget)

DAY 5

• Depart to Kigali. Catch a late day flight home or embark to another African destination.

• Distance: Nyungwe Park ---> Kigali. 6 hours.

• Historical Weather data.

• During mid-May through early-September, and in November and December you are likely to experience good weather with pleasant temps that fall between 20 degrees Celsius (68°F) and 25 degrees Celsius (77°F).

• Rainy season is March through mid-May and October and November.

• Rwanda has dry periods in June through September, and December through February.

• Sunrise/Sunset times.