5 Day Gorilla and Dian Fossey Hike

Safari Overview

5 Day Gorilla and Dian Fossey Hike are one of the perfect ways on can explore and discover Rwanda’s Volcanoes national park for an Ultimate gorilla tracking adventure and this will give you an opportunity to follow the footsteps of the famous primatologist Dian Fossey and also discover where she was buried after she was killed by unknown poachers in the park.

Who is Dian Fossey?

Dian Fossey was an American primatologist and conservationist known for undertaking an extensive study of mountain gorilla groups in Rwanda’s volcanoes national park from 1966 to 1985.

Why was she killed?

It is widely believed that she was killed in connection with her lifelong crusade against poaching.

Who killed her?

Dian Fossey was hacked to death by the poachers but her murder mystery still remains unresolved up today.

After her death what Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund international was set up in her honor and it continues to fund the operations carried out conserving the mountain gorillas in Karisoke Research center.

How to get to Volcanoes national park

Volcanoes national park is located approximately 120 km northwest of the Rwandan capital Kigali and 50 km from the Uganda Rwanda border via Cyanika.

By Road

By road from Kigali, the national park is about 2-3 hours using a 4×4 safari vehicle via Musanze Gisenyi road and this can take up to 2 hours’ drive.

By Air

Volcanoes national park is also accessible by air from Kigali international airport using a Helicopter which can take about 30 minutes and the helicopter can land near the park boundaries or at the lodge and the clients can transfer to the park headquarters by car.

Safari Highlights

Gorilla trekking
Visiting the Dian Fossey museum
Optional Kinigi village walk or Iby’lwacu cultural experience.
Luxury accommodation at Sabyinyo silverback lodge or Virunga Lodge
Kigali city tour
Golden monkey trekking.
Dayroom in Kigali
Lake Kivu sunset boat cruise.

Detailed Itinerary

This safari package will start from Kigali and takes you to Rwanda’s volcanoes national park where the gorilla trekking takes in the country’s dense rain forest which is home to the endangered golden monkeys and the mountain gorillas that living in only two other countries of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, then you will take a relaxing holiday in the lake shores of Lake Kivu.

Day 1: Drive from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park

You will be meeting your safari guide at your location or at the lodge for a briefing after which you will depart the lodge for a short Kigali city tour before driving to volcanoes national park for relaxation at the lodge.

Lunch: Musanze.

Overnight: Sabyinyo silverback lodge or Virunga lodge.

Activities: Dian Fossey museum.

Day 2: First Gorilla Trekking experience

After early morning breakfast you will be picked up by your guide from the hotel to be ready the park headquarters in Kinigi at 7 am, registering will take place and allocation of gorilla families (done by your guide) as you will be having a cup of coffee and then after you will drive to the trailhead to start your gorilla trekking adventure in the rain forest, this can take from 2 hours to 6 hours depending on how long you take to find the mountain gorillas and after you will spend one hour with the gorillas upon return you will be transferred to the lodge for relaxation

Lunch: packed lunch or hot lunch depending on the time of return.

Overnight: Sabyinyo silverback lodge or Virunga Lodge.

Activity: Gorilla trekking adventure.

Day 3: Golden monkey trekking

After an incredible gorilla trekking adventure, you will be picked up your guide again and transfer to the park station where you have a golden monkey briefing before transferring to the starting point to start trekking into the forest with your ranger guide where you will spend an hour with the monkeys after finding them and later you will return to the lodge for relaxation

Lunch: Packed lunch or hot lunch at the lodge depending on the time of return from the forest.

Overnight: Sabyinyo silverback lodge or Virunga lodge.

Activity: Golden monkey trekking

Day 4: Dian Fossey grave hike

Another day of full emotions again as you will embark on a journey to discover some of the world’s saddest conservation news as the famous primatologist took her time to save by then the critically endangered mountain gorillas in one of Africa’s dense rainforest the hike can take between 2-3 hours to reach the gravesite.

Lunch: packed lunch or hot lunch at the lodge depending on the time of arrival.

Overnight: Lake Kivu Serena hotel

Activity: Dian Fossey museum

Day 5: Drive to Kigali

After an amazing time, you will bid farewell to the hotel staff and start your transfer to Kigali, the departure time will depend on the schedule of the client as it’s only a four-hour drive through smooth roads.

What’s included?

Gorilla permits
Golden monkey permit
Luxury lodge on full board for 4 nights.
Transfers to and from Kigali
English speaking safari Guide
Lunches where Applicable
Drinking water
Kigali city tour entrance
Dian Fossey Museum visit
Dian Fossey grave hike

What’s Excluded?

International flights
Travel insurance
Items of personal nature like Alcohol
Tips
Pre and post-tour accommodation (but we can help you book upon request)
Optional activities

When to book the safari package?

Clients can book this safari 3 months in advance but can also inquire for short notice safari, this is only difficult by the availability of gorilla permits and golden monkey permits and once permits are available clients are expected to book and pay immediately as it’s the only way to guarantee Rwanda gorilla and Golden monkey permits.

Best Time to Travel

This tour is much easier to book during the low tourism season from March to May and September to November as gorilla permits are available and sometimes lodges put up low season rates for more information contact us.

Check Safari prices

As per tour plan Accommodation

	1 Pax	2 Pax	4Pax	6Pax
Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge	2777	2398	2335	2275
Virunga Lodge	2524	2197	2133	2074

Super Luxury option

	1 Pax	2 Pax	4Pax	6Pax
One&only Gorilla Nest	2777	2398	2335	2275
Singita Kwitonda Lodge	2524	2197	2133	2074
Bisate Lodge	2409	2139	2076	2016

Mid-Range option

	1 Pax	2 Pax	4Pax	6Pax
Mountain Gorilla View Lodge	2777	2398	2335	2275
Teloreza Eco-Lodge	2524	2197	2133	2074

Budget option

	1 Pax	2 Pax	4Pax	6Pax
Hotel Muhavura	2777	2398	2335	2275
La Palme hotel	2524	2197	2133	2074