itinerary

Day 1:

Arrival in Kigali

Today, you will be picked from the Kigali airport by your guide from Vivid Adventure Safaris Ltd.

Depending on your arrival time you may be able to visit some of Kigali’s craft markets to browse amongst the pottery, carvings, batik, weaving, sculpture, musical instruments, leather and fabrics on offer. Prepare to use your haggling skills! All activities and purchases today are at your own cost.

This hotel is known from the tragic film ‘Hotel Rwanda’ as the UN headquarters during the 1994 crisis in the country. Today it is a charming accommodation with the refurbished structure of the old building still visible. The swimming pool and the live music in the afternoon make it a wonderful place to just unwind before or after the flight.

Accommodation: Hotel des Mille Collines | Meals: No meals inclusive | Journey Time: Approximately 15 minutes from the airport

Day 2:

Transfer to Volcanoes National Park

Today after breakfast, you will drive into the park about 30 minutes to the Office Rwandais du Tourisme et Des Parc Nationaux (ORTPN). The head ranger of the ORTPN will divide you into groups based on interest and fitness. From here your guide will take you as close as possible to the starting point of your tracking. You will track one of the habituated Gorillas groups. The time taken to track the gorillas can take as little as half an hour to as much as 8 hours.

Your track will be an exciting journey along forested slopes, entwined vines, bushes and bamboo before you eventually reach the gorillas’ current location. Your guide will point out signs of previous gorilla activity, including dung, nests and chewed bamboo shoots. Once the gorillas have been located, you will be allowed a maximum of one hour with them. Coming face-to-face with a mountain gorilla is a humbling and emotional experience. This is a fantastic and privileged opportunity to get up close and personal with Rwanda’s own ‘Gorillas in the Mist’.

Accommodation: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge | Meals: Full Board | Journey Time: 15 minutes by car, tracking time varies

Day 3:

Airport transfer

Today after a relaxed breakfast you shall be transferred by your guide back to Kigali. Depending on your departure flight you can visit the Genocide Memorial and Education Centre, which opened in 2004. It’s a dignified tribute to the victims, including a poignant Children’s Memorial, and a detailed description of the darkest hour in Rwanda’s recent history in time to catch your flight back home.
Your guide will take you to the airport in time for your flight home.

Note: This is only possible when your flight departs from Kigali at 3 p.m. or later. If you need another night in Kigali, we will be happy to make a booking for you.

Meals: Breakfast | Time: 2.5 hours