Nothing can prepare you for it; the moment you first encounter a mountain gorilla nestled amid the verdant Rwandan thicket. As soon as you step foot in the legendary Virunga Mountains, there’s a palpable sense of interconnectedness, rippling from the land to the wildlife, to the people. Travel “The Land of a Thousand Hills” and experience two mountain gorilla trekking experiences with our Specialist leader Donal Boyd on this exclusive 7 guest gorilla trekking photography safari.
With just over 1,000 left in the wild after severe poaching and dwindling habitat, witnessing the few reachable groups of mountain gorillas is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The gorillas we are allowed to track belong to either one of ten habituated family groups. Experienced guides will accompany you on your gorilla tracking, many of whom have been involved in the habituation process themselves. The guides will use their knowledge of the gorillas’ habits and information from the previous day to locate the group’s whereabouts.
Donal Boyd
“My aim is to spark an emotional response in viewers that causes them to reflect on their own connection to nature, their relationship with the natural world, and their role in protecting it.”
Upon arrival you will be met by your private guide and driven to Kigali Serena Hotel. The rest of the day is yours to settle in and start thinking about the adventures that lay before you.
Kigali Serena Hotel
Kigali Serena Hotel is a large and luxurious hotel close to Kigali Airport and the heart of the city. This five-star luxury hotel has 148 rooms and suites, two restaurants, a spa and pool. The hotel is perfect for an overnight stop either before or after visiting Volcanoes National Park for gorilla trekking.
This morning, you have the chance to visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre. It contains a permanent and extremely moving exhibition of the Rwandan genocide. After lunch at a local restaurant, you travel north to Ruhengeri and the Volcanoes National Park.
Volcanoes National Park
A ‘true island in the sky’, the Volcanoes National Park is home to some of the world’s few remaining mountain gorilla, which were first studied here in 1959 by George Schaller.
Day 3, 10 May - First Gorilla Trek in Volcanoes National Park
Today will be spent tracking the world-famous mountain gorillas. An early breakfast and you’re off to the park headquarters at Kinigi to register and be allocated your gorilla family for today. Once this is done, you set out by vehicle to the start of your gorilla safari.
Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel
Typically Rwandese in style, the stone cottages each have an en-suite bathroom and outdoor seating with views out onto the surrounding volcanoes mountain range. The design of the rooms are basic but offer everything that is required for a good night’s sleep after a day of trekking and excitement.
Golden monkeys, also known as blue monkeys, are a local subspecies of the Sykes monkey, endemic to Volcanoes National Park and known for being cheeky, playful and inquisitive. After your trek, in the afternoon, visit the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund Centre in Musanze.
Wildlife in Rwanda
A wildlife icon, hard to beat, the mountain gorilla inhabits the forested slopes of the Virunga Volcanoes in Rwanda and DRC, and the impenetrable forest of Bwindi in Uganda. Previous populations of this critically endangered species plummeted as low as 250 or so in the 1980’s, but with concerted efforts over the last 30 years, the mountain gorilla population has increased to approximately 1,060 to date over the 3 destinations. The wildlife of Rwanda does not stop here though, as over the years, alongside the protection of the mountain gorillas, we have seen a stabilisation in the tracking of the elusive chimpanzees of Nyungwe Forest in the south, and healthy investment in the savannah game park of Akagera.
Day 5, 12 May - Final Gorilla Trek in Volcanoes National Park
Your final day of gorilla tracking! An early start to make your way to the park headquarters where you are assigned a ranger and a gorilla group. Return to the lodge later in the afternoon to relax, have a hot shower or massage and reflect on the day’s activities.
Gorilla Trekking
Primates – and mainly gorillas - are where we started over 15 years ago.
No activities are included for you today please let your destination specialist know in advance if you want to book anything in. Choose to spend time with Donal refining techniques or editing images, or just take the day to relax after your adventure.
Donal Boyd
“My aim is to spark an emotional response in viewers that causes them to reflect on their own connection to nature, their relationship with the natural world, and their role in protecting it.”
Day 7, 14 May 2025 - Volcanoes National Park - Depart Kigali
After breakfast this morning your guide will drive you back to Kigali, stopping enroute for photo opportunities. Depending on time you will be taken to a local restaurant where you can have a final meal or alternatively you will be driven straight to the airport for your departure flight.
Jan Ramer
Dr. Jan served as the Gorilla Doctors’ Regional Manager at the renowned Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project in Rwanda, Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) from 2009 to 2011. She returned to lead the in-country veterinary team in December 2013. During her time at the project in Virunga Volcanoes National Park, Jan was an integral part of the team working alongside vets in all three countries. She led dozens of health interventions with both the wild and orphaned gorillas, conducted hundreds of routine health checks, and facilitated the move of multiple gorilla orphans from Rwanda to Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Journey to the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project headquarters in Ruhengeri. It is here, to ensure their healthy future, that a huge amount of time and effort is put into caring for these critically endangered primates. You will spend time with the staff learning about how the gorillas are monitored, how life-saving medical care is provided; how health studies are conducted and how veterinary medicine and ecosystem health is taught. You will tour around the centre with one of the doctors and watch a presentation about gorilla conservation.
Your Accommodation
Kigali Serena Hotel
Conveniently situated in proximity to Kigali Airport and the vibrant city center, this luxurious five-star hotel boasts a total of 148 meticulously appointed rooms and suites, offering guests a lavish retreat that includes two exquisite restaurants, a rejuvenating spa, and a splendid swimming pool. Whether it’s the call of the wild or the allure of city life, Kigali Serena Hotel offers a harmonious balance of both, ensuring a memorable stay in this captivating corner of Africa.
Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel
This boutique hotel sits on the edge of the Volcanoes National Park, in the town of Kinigi. This town is at the foothill of the park entrance and headquarters, so from an accessibility point of view, the hotel makes the perfect base. Typically Rwandese in style, the stone cottages each have an en-suite bathroom and outdoor seating with views out onto the surrounding volcanoes mountain range. The design of the rooms are basic but offer everything that is required for a good night’s sleep after a day of trekking and excitement.
Dates & Prices rwanda
Dates and Prices for rwanda
Date
Passengers
Trip Length
Trip Style
Prices from
08 - 14 May 2025
7
7 Days
Photographic Safari
13000
Contact a Rwanda Specialist Today
Client Reviews
Rated 5/5 based on 2 customer reviews
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I am very grateful to have worked with my destination specialist, David. I feel his hands-on experience in Rwanda and his enthusiasm for the country contributed greatly to the success of our trip. David was always available to answer questions and discuss details. I can’t say enough good things about all aspects of our trip. Rwanda is a magical country and because of David and NWS, I felt like I experienced the best of the best. I would love to travel again, I applaud the intimate knowledge of the countries NWS go to. Personalised itineraries with all aspects of the trip are taken into account, making it a very organised and efficient process.
—Pamela K , Rwanda: Gorillas, Chimpanzees & Games Drives Safari
5 out of 5
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We would love to travel again, amazing, seamless high-quality travel. Well planned.
—Pamela T, Rwanda & Kenya: Primate and Game Drive Safari
