Serena Hotel, KigaliVirunga Lodge, Volcanoes NPDeparture

Day 1Day 2,3&4Day 5

ITINERARY

GORILLA TREKKING(5 DAYS)

Fly to Kigali, Capital of Rwanda and drive to The Volcanoes National Park and trek through the tropical rainforest in search of the Mountain Gorillas. There are so few Gorillas still living in the wild in this the last remaining habitat where these magnificent creatures are still able to roam in relative safety in their quickly dwindling environment.

DAY 1 Serena, Kigali

Fly from Nairobi to Kigali. On arrival in Kigali, the Capital of Rwanda, you will be met by a Far Horizons representative and driven to your hotel to overnight.

Note: No Plastic bags are allowed into Rwanda and they will be removed off you if you bring them in. Travellers to Rwanda or Uganda are required to have yellow fever vaccinations Dinner

DAY 2 Virunga Lodge, Volcanoes NP

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and a car will take you on a tour around the city and to visit the Genocide Museum, 10mins out of town. The Museum is a commemoration to the thousands of Tutsis who were slaughtered in Rwanda in 1994. After lunch at a local restaurant, you drive approximately 2.5 hrs to Virunga Lodge, on the edge of the volcanic Virunga mountains. This extinct mountain range is the last habitat for the Mountain Gorilla. Check in to your lodge. Accommodation is in stone cottages overlooking the twin lakes - Burera and Ruhondo.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 3 Virunga Lodge, Volcanoes NP

After an early morning breakfast, you will drive to the Park headquarters for registration and join others for a gorilla trekking briefing about the dos and the don’ts during your gorilla trek. Once this is done, you will trek through the forest, often through thick creepers and undergrowth with your guides to find the gorillas, which can take you from half an hour to three quarters of the day. After finding the gorillas, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them before trekking back to the Park headquarters. Generally the first day is longer than the 2nd, and you walk for anything from 1-6 hours. Lightweight rain gear and walking boots are recommended. Family groups of gorillas can be from 8-15 members and presided by a full grown silverback male who is the protector of the group. The rangers will reassure the gorillas with grunts whilst you are with them so they feel relaxed in the presence of visitors. A submissive attitude allows you to enjoy their company and watch as they go about their daily routine. Return for hot baths and showers and dinner and warmth by the fire.

Overnight Virunga Lodge. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

DAY 4 Virunga Lodge, Volcanoes NP

Another day of trekking with the Gorillas to see another family group.

After lunch you will depart from the lodge and drive back to Kigali and overnight at the Serena Hotel.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

DAY 5 Departure

An early morning departure to catch your flight back to Nairobi.

Breakfast