5 Days Volcanoes National Park safari
This is a 5 Days Volcanoes National Park safari that has a number of activities that you will involve yourself in while at the park. These activities are done all year through at the park though they have the best time and season in which they are done. These activities that you will do for the 5 days will include gorilla trekking, visit to Dian Fossey Tomb, nature walk, golden monkey trek, visit to Musanze caves, visit to the local community and you then depart to the airport on the 5th day.
Safari highlights for a 5 days safari to Volcanoes National Park
Day 1: Pick up from the Kigali airport to volcanoes national park
Day 2 : Gorilla trekking and visit to Dian Fossey Tomb
Day 3 : Nature walk and a visit to Musanze caves
Day 4 : Golden monkey trek and visit to the local community
Day 5 : Depart to the airport
Detailed itinerary for a 5 days safari to Volcanoes National Park
Day 1: Pick up from the Kigali airport to volcanoes national park
On your 1st day of the safari, a guide from Kapo Tours will meet you and the airport at the stipulated time and you head to Volcanoes National Park. You will pass via Kimironko market where you will interact with the locals at this market and also purchase some clothes, souvenirs and many more as per your interest. You will have a stop over at heaven restaurant in Kigali for lunch and proceed to Volcanoes National Park.
You will check into a lodge when you arrive, refresh yourself, have dinner and retire to bed.
Accommodation options
- Midrange : Le Bambou lodge
- Budget : Muhabura hotel
- Luxury : Bisate lodge
Day 2 : Gorilla trekking and visit to Dian Fossey Tomb
On your 2nd day of the trip, at 6am you will have breakfast and head to the park headquarters for breakfast then start a gorilla trek at 7am with the company of a guide. You will strictly interact with these gorillas for one hour once you get to them and spotting them depends on their location. It may take 30 minutes to 7 hours. Spotting the gorillas may take long considering their location.
You will have lunch after the trek at your lodge then you will embark on a hike to Dian Fossey Tomb the American primatologist and also its where you will learn more details about the mountain gorillas. Most of this research was made by Dian Fossey and it is put their for the visitors fir them to get awareness on particular things about the gorillas in volcanoes national park.
You will get back from the hike to your lodge and have a shower, you be served dinner then you go to bed.
Day 3 : Nature walk and a visit to Musanze caves
On the 3rd day of your safari, a guide will brief you at the park headquarters before you set off for a nature walk in volcanoes national park. You will first receive breakfast at your lodge then you proceed with the nature walk. You will trek through a number of trails in the park where you be under the supervision of a well trained guide. You will spot various animals and birds plus a number of tree species which are rare common. These animals, birds and tree species will be explained and given more information to you about them by the guide who will accompany you to the walk. You will after head back to the lodge where you will be served lunch and you refresh yourself.
After lunch, you will have a visit to the musanze caves which are situated in musanze town. These caves are a home to a large number of bats which can be seen hanging upside down in the caves. In the ancient days of the genocide, these caves were also use for shelter by the Rwandese after the war. This visit takes about 2 to 3 hours while you are touring and them and getting the history about them from the guides that will accompany you.
After the visit to Musanze caves, you will then head back to the park, freshen up, have dinner and retire to bed.
Day 4 : Golden monkey trek and visit to the local community
On the 4th day, you will have breakfast at 7am and then head to the headquarters in volcanoes national park for a briefing on how you will conduct the golden monkey trek and what you will need for the trek. You will then embark on your trek to the forest which may take you some hours to spot these golden monkeys. It may take approximately 30 minutes to 4 hours. You will spend one hour with these golden monkeys after you spot them. It is advisable to book a a trekking permit earlier to avoid any inconvenience. The golden monkey trekking permit amounts to 100 US Dollars. The golden monkeys can easily be seen swinging from one tree to another in the forest.
You will go back to the for lunch at your lodge after the end of the golden monkey trek.
After lunch , a guide will lead you to the local community around volcanoes national park where you will meet the natives that stay in these communities. You will get to greet and talk them about what you will wish to know about them. They will share information about their amazing traditions and culture to you and also dance for you that is their traditional dance. This is done to entertain the people who come to visit these local community. They also show case their hand made items of which you may pick interest and buy from them. Some of these items include mats, baskets, waist beads, necklaces, pots among others.
Day 5 : Depart to the airport
On your 5th day of the safari, a guide will take you back to the airport after having breakfast in the morning at 8am and you check out of the lodge. On your way to the airport, you will tour around Kigali city to places like Kigali genocide memorial and then you head to the airport for a flight.
End of 5 Days Volcanoes National Park safari
5 Days Volcanoes National Park safari includes
- Meal
- Mineral water
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Golden monkey trekking permit
- Accommodation
- 4 x 4 safari vehicle
- English speaking guide
5 Days Volcanoes National Park safari excludes
- Alcoholic beverages
- Visa fees
- Laundry
