Tailor-made Itineraries

Meet your Travulous driver guide at your hotel or upon arrival at Kigali International Airport. Set off for Mount Gahinga Lodge and cross the border into Uganda.

As Uganda’s smallest park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is located at an altitude range of 2,227m to 4,127m. Home to one habituated gorilla group, the park was declared a game sanctuary in 1930 and gazetted as a national park in 1991.

After checking in at your accommodation, spend the remainder of the afternoon enjoying the property’s facilities, including the terrace which boasts stunning views of the Virunga Volcanoes.

Meals: Lunch and dinner included, breakfast at own arrangement.

Overnight: Accommodation options

After an early breakfast, we set off gorilla tracking accompanied by your Tour Leader. Although the hike can be physically demanding, the beauty of the forest and its inhabitants is a fascinating and very rewarding experience.

Gorilla tracking does not present a serious physical challenge to a reasonably fit adult, regardless of age, although the altitude and terrain can sometimes be demanding. Gorilla tracking in Mgahinga National Park can take from 1 to 3 hours, with the guides stopping frequently for people to rest. Once the gorilla family has been found, your visit with these great apes lasts for one magical hour.

After the trek, return to your accommodation for a late lunch and spend the rest of your afternoon at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Overnight: Accommodation options

After breakfast, we visit the Gahinga Batwa Village to experience the culture and history of one of Africa’s oldest tribes.

Participate in a visit to their new village, community centre and the Batwa Heritage Trail. You will learn about their traditional life as hunter-gatherers in the forest and their use of medicinal plants. Enjoy seeing the Batwa Dance Group perform their traditional dance and visit the Batwa Vocational Center. 

Return to your accommodation for lunch, after which we drive back across the border into Rwanda and towards Musanze, the base for gorilla tracking at Volcanoes National Park.

Check in to your accommodation in time for dinner. Spend the evening relaxing at your accommodation.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.  

Overnight: Accommodation options

After an early breakfast, we transfer to Volcanoes National Park headquarters for a briefing by park staff, before meeting the rangers who will guide you to your assigned gorilla family. With 12 fully habituated gorilla families living in the Volcanoes National Park, only 96 gorilla permits are issued to tourists per day. Advance booking is essential.

Gorilla tracking does not present a serious physical challenge to a reasonably fit adult, regardless of age, although the altitude and terrain can sometimes be demanding. Gorilla tracking can take from 2 to 6 hours, with the guides stopping frequently for people to rest.

After the trek, return to your accommodation for lunch and spend the rest of your afternoon at leisure, or take an optional tour of the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.

Overnight: Accommodation options

Today you can choose an optional activity including a second gorilla trek, going in search of golden monkeys who are endemic to the high-altitude forests of Volcanoes National Park, or visiting the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.

You may also be interested in hiking to Dian Fossey's original Karisoke Research Camp in Volcanoes National Park, located between two volcanoes, Mt. Karisimbi and Mt. Bisoke. Dian's original camp set-up consisted of a tent, converted over time to small cabins. Today the cabins lie in ruins, but by listening to the stories of your Tour Leader, you will gain a good understanding for what it must have been like for Dian all those years ago, when setting up camp to study and protect the endangered mountain gorillas. You will also see Dian's grave, and that of her favourite gorilla Digit.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.  

Overnight: Accommodation options

Enjoy breakfast at your accommodation before departing for Kigali International Airport and your onward travel arrangements.

Time permitting, consider visiting optional Kigali highlights including Umusambi Village which is a beautiful nature reserve home to over 50 endangered Grey Crowned Cranes, or Kigali Genocide Memorial which is a moving testimony to this country’s past.

Meals: Breakfast included, lunch and dinner at own arrangement.

Alternatively, consider extending this trip by adding one of our Extension Ideas (see below) to this program.

Prices will range based on the time of year, length of stay, accommodation choices, number of participants, and inclusions.

5-star > High Season

• Mount Gahinga Lodge and Bisate

• Net Price: $12,123 per person

• Recommended Selling Price: $13,479 per person

5-star > Low Season

• Mount Gahinga Lodge and Bisate

• Net Price: $9,779 per person

• Recommended Selling Price: $10,806 per person

Included

• Guest accommodation based on double occupancy, as specified

• English speaking driver-guide

• Mount Gahinga Lodge, accommodation, FB meals (breakfast, lunch dinner), soft drinks, house wines, local beers, selected spirits, laundry, cellar collection wines (excluding champagne), signature cocktails, single-malt whiskies, massages selected on-site activities as determined by the property

• Bisate, accommodation, FB meals (breakfast, lunch dinner), soft drinks, house wines, local beers, selected spirits, laundry, selected on-site activities as determined by the property

• Meals as per itinerary

• Meet and Assist at Kigali Airport, on departure

• Airport transfers, on arrival and departure

• Daily vehicle transfers

• Services of the camp/lodge guides and staff

• Conservation fees, carbon levies and community fees, where applicable

• Mount Gahinga NP - Mountain Gorilla permit x 1pp

• Mount Gahinga NP – Batwa Community Visit

• Volcanoes NP - Mountain Gorilla permit x 1pp

• National Park Fees

• Water in vehicle

• Accommodation taxes and relevant Value Added Tax (VAT)

• Emergency evacuation cover (mandatory)

Excluded

• All flights: international, domestic or regional, unless otherwise specified

• Airport or departure taxes

• Personal travel and health insurance

• Any visas or travel permits required

• Early check-in and/or late check out at properties

• Room upgrades

• Single supplements, unless otherwise specified

• All drinks, unless otherwise specified

• Premium and import brands

• Meals not mentioned in the itinerary

• Kigali – Tour of Kigali Genocide Memorial

• Volcanoes NP - Original Karisoke Research Centre & Dian Fossey’s grave permit

• Volcanoes NP – Tour of Ellen DeGeneres Campus of Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund

• Volcanoes NP – Golden monkeys permit

• Any park fees, entrance fees, and activities not specified

• Additional vehicle transfers

• Tips, donations, and gratuities

• Expenditure of a personal nature

• Porterage

• Locally applied tourism development levies, infrastructure taxes or hotel taxes payable on site

• Any unforeseen increases in prices, including, but not limited to: accommodation and activity rate changes, fuel cost increases, currency fluctuations (relevant to aircraft or transfer services) and/or any new Government levies/taxes, park and conservation fees or industry increases which are beyond our control

• Any health testing requirements stipulated

Please note

• Rates and availability are subject to change

• The Rwandan Government has tabled a new tax / tourism development levy that is expected to come into effect in 2025. It is suggested that a 3% levy will be added onto accommodation bookings

• All prices quoted are NET and non-commissionable

• Pricing is based on payments being made by bank transfer / SWIFT / wire payment

• All persons travelling must have comprehensive travel insurance

All permit rates, national park and entrance fees are subject to change without notice.