Rwanda Gorilla Trek Dian Fossey Hike Tour - 3 Days with Prices
Get the most memorable African mountain gorilla trekking experience in this affordable 3-day Rwanda Gorilla Trek with Dian Fossey Hike Tour, one of the most highly recommended by Gorillas and Wildlife Safaris. The meticulously designed gorilla tracking program starts when your safari guide meets you at your hotel in Kigali (Rwanda) on Day one for the transfer to Volcanoes National Park. Before we drive to Volcanoes National Park for the gorillas, we conduct a brief city tour of Kigali city, visiting the Kigali Genocide Memorial at Gisozi. We then proceed to Volcanoes for a night before the adventure of gorilla tracking on the next day, and then hike to the Dian Fossey grave on Karisoke, 3000 meters above sea level, before driving back to the city of Kigali. The gorilla tour cost includes your gorilla permit, golden monkeys permit, Rwanda gorilla trek accommodation and transportation from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park and back, and the services of a tour guide.
All-inclusive 3 Day Rwanda Gorilla Trek Tour and Dian Fossey Hike costs in lower budget accommodation:
1 person: USD2900
2 persons: USD2325 per person
3 persons: USD2152 per person
4 persons: USD2073 per person
Safari Overview for the Rwanda Gorilla Trek Dian Fossey Hike Tour - 3 Days
This is a 3-day gorilla trekking safari with Dian Fossey hiking that starts and ends in Kigali, Rwanda. One gorilla trek permit for Volcanoes National Park is included in the cost.
Having a chance to see some of the last remaining 1113 mountain gorillas (May 2023) in the world is a wonderful experience. It offers you an opportunity to track gorillas in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. There are 10 habituated gorilla families and tracking most gorilla groups in the afro-montane forest usually takes a few hours.
- Day 1: Meet in Kigali at your hotel or airport, drive to Volcanoes National Park, overnight, and have dinner at a hotel near the park.
- Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park, overnight in a hotel/ lodge.
- Day 3: Hiking to Kariosoke Dian Fossey Tomb (about 3000 meters above sea level); Drive back to Kigali, Kigali city tour and visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial, later transfer to your hotel or Kigali Airport, end of Rwanda gorilla trek and Dian Fossey hike tour.
About the hike to the Dian Fossey Tomb Site in Karisoke (located in between Karinsimbi and Visoke Mountains)
While in Volcanoes National Park, after trekking the gorillas you can also hike to the Dian Fossey grave as a way of paying tribute to her great contribution in protecting the mountain gorillas and their habitats.
Dian Fossey was an American primatologist and anthropologist who committed her life to the conservation of the Mountain Gorilla by conducting an 18-year comprehensive study about the fateful ape. Indeed here works featured in the famous mountain gorilla film, Gorillas in the Mist. It is a one-day visit when one is already in the vicinity of Volcanoes National Park. Aside from gorilla tracking, the hike to the Dian Fossey tomb is one of the most popular and enjoyable adventure activities you can engage in while at Volcanoes National Park.
Dian Fossey based at Kariosoke on Volcanoes National Park in between the Visoke and Karinsimbi Mountains to conduct her research about the mountain gorillas. Later on, the Karisoke Research Center was established by herself. Due to intense rebel activity in the area, the Karisoke Research Center was abandoned in the 1990s but it is now very safe to hike there. The climbing goes up to about 9000 feet above sea level. It also has burial graves for 20 of the mountain gorillas Dian Fossey was caring for during her work in Volcanoes National Park until she was brutally murdered in 1985. It is greatly believed that it is because of her unwavering fight against gorilla poachers in the park leading to the arrest of many of them that they consequently ganged up to murder her on December 27th, 1985. On that morning, her body was found lying in a pool of blood by some of her staffers. Because of her love for the mountain gorillas, she chose to request to be buried at this site in case she died.
What to pack for your 3 Days Rwanda gorilla trek and Dian Fossey Hiking Tour
Pack Enough Food. Pack enough food before going for Gorilla Tracking. Gorilla Tracking is a very tiresome activity that may last up to 8 hours implicating you will need refreshments and eats (probably snacks) during the activity. The sad thing is you won’t find any spots to buy eats or drinks in the forests. It is highly recommended that you have a good breakfast on the gorilla trekking morning.
Water – As you hike through the mountain forest, you kind of get dehydrated and you need lots of drinking water.
Boots – Essential. The terrain is rough and in the forest, it is easy to slide over. Shoes with good grip are highly recommended. Avoid the cheap sneakers as they can’t match this do.
Gloves – During the trek you might be grabbing trees, branches, and vines, and your hands can get a bit scratched and generally beaten up if you’re not careful. Pack a tough old pair of gardening gloves. They might look a bit lame, but you’ll be glad you brought them.
A light rain jacket – Bwindi and Virunga are both tropical rainforests, and there’s a good chance of rain almost year-round. Pack a lightweight poncho or rain jacket that you can roll up in your bag and bring out if necessary.
Long pants and shirts – It’s best not to expose too much skin during the jungle trek, and remember to tuck your trousers into your socks – you really don’t want safari ants crawling up there.
Day 1: Meet in Kigali (at your hotel or Kigali Airport), Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Begin your 3 days Rwanda Gorilla Trek, Dian Fossey Hike Tour with a meeting with our driver (who is also your tour gorilla tour guide) in Kigali at your hotel or at Kigali Airport. We then continue with your transfer with a private vehicle to Volcanoes National Park, the home of gorilla trekking activity in Rwanda.
Your 3-day Rwanda gorilla tour with Dian Fossey hike tour also includes a tour of Kigali City. You can choose to do this at the beginning of the gorilla tour or at the end. Either way, your tour guide will be available to take you through some interesting spots in Kigali City. The new prosperity features a number of thriving markets and features the mountain terrain famous in Rwanda. A sober contrast to its recent history. For survivors and others whose families were murdered in Rwanda´s genocide in 1994, the memorial sites and centers are places of dignified remembrance for loved ones lost. It is also a place of reflection and learning for the wider community, both in Rwanda and internationally.
Ranging in altitude from 2,400m to 4,507 the Volcanoes National Park (French: Parc National des Volcans) is dominated by the setting of volcanoes after which it is named. Best known to the outside world as the place where for almost 20yrs the American primatologist Dian Fossey undertook her pioneering studies of mountain gorilla behavior.
Day hikes to see the gorilla families can be strenuous on tracks climbing through the forest, and time is very limited once contact is made with the gorilla families. It is a rare and memorable experience to visit with these giant cousins of man.
Our accommodation is ideally positioned for those who want to watch animals in their habitat, specifically the endangered Rwanda mountain gorillas that still roam these areas.
Share in the cuisine of Rwanda, which is served with the hospitality for which we all return to African countries. Take walks, learn more about the gorillas, and absorb the gorgeous surrounding landscape.
Accommodation options available
Top Luxury: Virunga Lodge | Silverback Sabinyo Lodge
Up-market: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Moderate: Gorilla Solutions Lodge
Low Budget: Hotel Muhabura
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Have breakfast and go to Volcanoes National Park offices for briefing, after setting off in the forest for gorilla trekking. Obviously, this is surely the highlight of your 3 days Rwanda gorilla trek tour, and we are committed to leaving some lasting memories with you. We ensure that your gorilla permit is well booked in advance, you have all you need for your gorilla tour, and you are allocated the befitting gorilla group to trek in Volcanoes National Park.
A thrilling trek through the refined foothills of the Virunga's provides inspiring views in all directions. Then, suddenly, the trail enters the national park, engrossing trekkers in the strange closeness of the rainforest, alive with the calls of colorful birds and chattering of the rare golden monkey and besieged with fresh spoor of the mountains' elusive populations of buffalo and elephant.
Through gaps in the forest canopy, the marvelous peaks are sighted, easily easy to get to, and among the uppermost in Africa, indicating an ascent.
Gorilla trekking is quite strenuous but a worthwhile encounter of these gentle giants. The enthusiasm of your coming across these apes will wipe away your intricacy of the strenuous trek.
Spend time watching gorillas, watch the adults feeding their young ones, brushing and resting as the youngsters play from vines in a pleasurably playful display.
Accommodation options available
Top Luxury: Virunga Lodge | Silverback Sabinyo Lodge
Up-market: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Moderate: Gorilla Solution Lodge
Low Budget: Hotel Muhabura
Day 3: Hiking to Dian Fossey's tomb, Transfer to Kigali & Genocide Memorial Visit
After breakfast transfer to the Volcanoes National Park headquarters for briefing and later begin the hike over the volcanic terrain to the Dian Fossey campsite. You can expect to reach the camp within 3-4 hours after hiking through amazing and scenic landscapes because the camp is tucked in between Mount Visoke and Mount Karisimbi at about 3000 meters (9000 feet) above sea level. If you are lucky, you might encounter a wild group of gorillas along the hike. Dian Fossey was so in love with mountain gorillas that she led to the arrest of many poachers in the park, something that is believed to have caused her murder by unknown people on December 27th, 1985. Because of this love for the mountain gorillas, she was buried at the campsite together with 20 mountain gorillas including her most beloved, Digit.
Dian Fossey's work with the mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park was featured in the famous film Gorillas in the Mist.
After the hike, we shall drive to Kigali city and visit the Gisozi Genocide Memorial. Your driver shall then drop you off at your preferred hotel in Kigali.
This will be the end of your 3 days Rwanda gorilla trek and Dian Fossey hike tour.
Cost for Rwanda Gorilla Trek, Dian Fossey Hike Tour - price for the 3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Dian Fossey Safari in 2024
Solo travelers are welcome, they only pay the cost of 1 person. All the other tour prices are based on 2 or 3 people sharing a room. You can pay for the extra single room supplement if you prefer not to share a room.
If you are traveling in March, April, May, October, or November, please mention it to access special season offers.
|
Hotel Muhavura |
Davinci Gorilla Lodge |
Mountain Gorilla View Lodge |
Virunga Lodge | Sabinyo | Bishop's House |
|
|
1 person |
USD2,900 |
USD3,100 |
USD3,205 |
USD6,815 |
|
2 persons |
USD2,325 |
USD2,452 |
USD2,543 |
USD5,663 |
|
3 persons |
USD2,152 |
USD2,275 |
USD2,365 |
USD5,575 |
|
4 persons |
USD1,963 |
USD2,085 |
USD2,175 |
USD5,400 |
|
5 persons |
USD1,909 |
USD2,025 |
USD2,122 |
USD5,255 |
|
6 persons |
USD1,874 |
USD1995 |
USD2,097 |
USD5,207 |
|
7 persons |
USD1,848 |
USD1,971 |
USD2,061 |
USD5,181 |
|
Single Room Supplement |
USD80 |
USD160 |
USD400 |
USD760 |
Included in the Prices for the 3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safari with Dian Fossey Hike
- 1 gorilla tracking permit in Volcanoes National Park
- Dian Fossey Hiking permit
- All ground transport using a 4x4 safari vehicle
- Services of our professional & accredited Tour Guide cum driver
- All accommodations for the gorilla trek while on tour (2 nights)
- Meals as specified in the itinerary
- Bottled drinking water available on the vehicle
- park entrance fees to Volcanoes National Park
- Other sightseeing along the way
- A visit to the Gisozi genocide memorial (audio guides and gadget fees not included)
Start Planning Your 3 day Rwanda gorilla trek and Dian Fossey Hike tour
Past Client Testimonials about the 3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Tour and Golden monkeys Safaris
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A stunning glimpse into the natural world - A simply stunning experience from start to finish. What started as a spur of the moment idea to visit the mountain gorillas turned into an extraordinary and continually delightful tour... read more 
Samuel T
14th January 2024 Amazing experience and Richard is the best - I did a 3 day gorilla tracking safari with Richard and I had the time of my life. The gorilla tracking was amazing, and the whole 3 days were just... read more 
TomBroenink
19th December 2023608savannahw My sister organized an itinerary through Gorillas and Wildlife Safari. We love that it was Uganda-owned. She worked with Ivan to put together a fabulous itinerary through Rwanda and Uganda... read more
31st August 2023
Tips for Rwanda Gorilla Trekking – how to have the best gorilla trek in Rwanda
- Purchase your gorilla trekking permits as far in advance as possible for priority assignment to a choice group and to be sure you obtain a permit at all.
- You will be with a group and guide. Also, consider hiring a local person as a porter assistant, even if you are very fit. This adds a great cultural dimension to the experience and is not really expensive.
- If you have the choice, visit the largest group available to you to maximize the photo opportunities and the different behaviors you will see.
- Prepare for the possibility of rain at any time of year.
- Wear long sleeves and slacks and bring glove to protect against thistles nettles and thorns.
- Wear durable hiking shoes, you will be off trail in rough terrain.
- Expect you might have a long hike. Be in the best physical shape you can be.
- Understand your camera well, Cameras with built-in video are very good. Telephoto ability helps.
- Consider traveling with a companion or friend with whom you will share the lifelong memory of the encounter.
- Listen to the advice of your guide. Trust that he or she really wants you to get great photos and have the best possible experience.
It’s important to know what you’re getting into before setting out on a gorilla trek. The hike through the forest is challenging and tough-going (your guides will often have to machete a path through the ferns that clog the undergrowth), but it’s within reach for anyone with a reasonable level of fitness. You will get muddy though. And sweaty. Beneath the forest canopy the humidity is very high, and it’s a good idea to bring a canteen of fresh water to hydrate as you go.
If you are particularly concerned about the terrain, consider hiring a local porter. The porters will carry your bag, and help to you navigate some of the steeper, or trickier sections of the trek. In fact, hiring a porter on a gorilla trek is a common practice by travellers of all ages and abilities. Not only does it make the trek easier for you, but you’re also providing a valuable source of employment for locals. The minimum cost of hiring a porter on a gorilla trek is $20USD,
Eventually, after bush-bashing your way through the scrub, you’ll come across a gorilla family, peacefully playing in a forest clearing. Your trekking guides and rangers will have prepared you for what to expect. There’s no direct interaction with the gorillas (unless one moves past you), but you should get pretty close. You’ll have a good 45 minutes to an hour to just sit and observe these animals in their natural habitat. We promise it’s something you’ll never ever forget.
What Else To Do After Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda
Apart from the mountain gorilla trek, there is several other activities to do in Rwanda. You could do a hike to one of the volcanoes in the park or visit the Lake Kivu which is two hours away by road, enjoy a cultural village visit in Musanze, or continue to Nyungwe National Park for chimpanzee tracking and other primates.
Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda and other Primates' tours
Remarkable Rwanda - famous for the silverback mountain gorillas that have captured the world’s imagination since Dian Fossey came to study the mountain gorilla families in the 1970s. Most popular park of Rwanda is Volcanoes NP, where you can track the gorillas, the golden monkeys or do different hikes in this dramatic, volcanic landscape. You can visit Nyungwe NP, one of the world’s most beautiful and oldest rainforest of Africa or you can go for safari in Akakera NP on the border with Tanzania.
But that’s not all this beautiful country has to offer. Rwanda is a largely undiscovered Eden, she promises unrivaled biodiversity, dramatic mountains and volcanos, some of the oldest and most precious rainforests on earth, a glittering skein of lakes, rivers and waterfalls and three stunning national parks. As to wildlife, Rwanda boats of 13 species of primates (25% of Africa’s total), and a remarkable 670 species of birds, many of which are globally endangered.
At Gorillas and Wildlife Safaris we can guide you through the best safari destinations in Rwanda on our Rwanda safaris. Our tours in Rwanda are packaged in a form of gorilla trekking safaris, mountain gorilla safari packages, tracking primates, chimpanzee tours in Nyungwe Forest, and game safaris to Akagera National Park. We book gorilla trek safari permits for tourists and international tour agents wishing to take safaris in Rwanda.
We do arrange cultural tours and safaris in Rwanda. Our tour guides know well all the sites of tourism interest in Rwanda including the Rwanda Genocide Museum, Dian Fossey’s grave, community village tours, Rwanda Museum, city tours etc.
Volcanoes National Park Rwanda - Home of mountain gorilla trekking in Rwanda
Perhaps best known as a home for the rare mountain gorillas, the Volcanoes National Park protects the steep slopes of the Rwandan section of the Virunga Mountains, a range of 6 extinct and three active volcanoes that straddle the border between Uganda and DRC.
Volcanoes National Park is Africa’s oldest national park and the focus of most visitors to Rwanda.
Trekking through the park in far northwest Rwanda, one will find a tapestry of sensory delights. The visitor in the rainforest can hear the calls of birds and monkeys, and through the forest see the peaks of the ancient volcanoes.
This chain of volcanoes is home to the world’s few remaining mountain gorillas. Rwanda has approximately 250 mountain gorillas, 11 families of which have been habituated for tourism. Many visitors have to book their gorilla tracking permit years in advance.
With such a stunning backdrop, a gorilla safari here is the highlight of any holiday.
The park offers 50 km of walking trails, tours of the lakes and caves and a fascinating selection of mountain climbs.
