10 Days Itinerary to Explore the Kingdom of Mountain Gorillas

Day 1: Kigali to Volcanoes National Park – The Terraced Beauty of Rural Rwanda

Your journey from Kigali International Airport to Volcanoes National Park will be of two to three hours. During your drive to the park, you can enjoy the terraced views of the hills that roll across Rwanda. These terraces fill the entire landscape with a complex array of greens which is stunningly beautiful. Your luxurious lodge will be standing tall amidst of these greens giving you a feeling of entering into the gateway of mother nature. Feel the pleasant air of serenity which is all your soul will be craving for a reboot. Jump to your bed, unpack your bags, and start prepping for a wonderful day you will be spending in Rwanda in the coming days.

Day 2-5: Volcanoes National Park

Wake up early in the morning with the sounds of the birds. Rwanda is home to countless birds who will make you skip the need of an alarm clock to wake up in the morning. With the first sunlight that falls from the peaks to the window of your room, you will witness the beginning of a new day in Rwanda. Enjoy the fresh Rwanda Cappucino and start prepping for the day. Today, you will meet your closest primates residing in the lush green forests of Volcanoes National Park. They are no one but the imperious mountain gorillas who are the topmost attraction of Rwanda.

Meet your guide outside the hotel and board a private vehicle to reach the park. At the entrance gate of the park, you will be taught about some basic rules to be followed inside the park. A local bushman will be allotted to you who will take you to different trails in the park.

When inside the park, you must step slowly through the undergrowth as your guide will slice at the bamboo to clear a path deeper into the forest. You will be informed when the gorillas are nearby. During the trail, you will find yourself either following your guide or the footprints of the giant gorillas. You will keep doing this until you witness some of them. In no time, you will spot a flurry of black for a few seconds before he disappears back into the forest. Keep your excitement levels high as you are soon going to witness the whole troop. All you need to have is patience.

Suddenly, you will realize that the guide has stopped at one place, and this is a clear indication that something is about to happen. Suddenly, the tranquil air of the forest will start echoing with the intense hoot and you will start feeling vibration beneath your foot. This is the sign that gorillas are coming and you are going to see them in real. Look at your left and you will find a troop of 4 gorillas and to your right, there are even more. Soon, your surroundings will be crowded by a massive troop of gorillas weighing not less than 400-pounds each. Capture this moment in your camera because such things happen rarely. Spend leisure time with your closest primates before returning to your lodge.

Day 6: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

You will get a direct flight from Volcanoes National Park to Bwindi and it would be of 30 mins drive from one of the trekking trailheads. Reaching Bwindi in the early afternoon, you will have an opportunity to explore the local villages before exploring the wildlife. The villages have retained a tradition that stretches back for centuries. Most of the lodges in Bwindi are perched above the forest with uninterrupted vistas onto a canopy that is commonly consumed by swirling mist. So, if you are arriving in time for lunch, you get a chance to trek in the surroundings at a leisurely pace.

Day 7-8: Gisenyi to Kibuye; Do exciting things at a leisurely pace

A magnificent trail that runs the eastern length of Lake Kivu will become the next thrilling zone of your Rwanda safari. This trail connects rural villages and ascending across the green hills. The roads are less traveled and the paths are too narrow to be used without a vehicle. You might spot cows and goats roaming around the villages. There are some parts, where you may get a chance to ride across lush green fields, beneath the shade of coconut palms.  Enjoy the typical cycling tour from Gisenyi to Kibuye for three days. Make an expedition, combining cycling and kayaking, and connect with a remote and unseen land that is rarely witnessed by foreigners. Let the villagers greet you with huge smiles, making the experience more happening. Witness the Intore dance ceremony and revel by the beats of drums and moves of dancers. Arrive in Kibuye on day eight and spend the final night of the expedition at a lodge on the lakeshore, returning from the rural land to some more modern Western luxuries.

Day 9: Back to Kigali

Rwanda is not a country which is backward but it is neither one that has no traces of its magnificent history. The capital City Kigali is a prove that Rwanda people are still in touch with their historic elements. The roads are crystal clear, the cafes serve some of the best delicacies, and the people are welcoming enough to respond at your greetings. Spend the 9th day of your Rwanda Gorilla trekking in the capital city of Kigali to explore the untouched and unmodernized lifestyle of the Rwanda people. Spend a whole day exploring the famous buildings and cafes and return back to your lodge before the dark.

Day 10: Departure

Your 10-day Rwanda Gorilla trekking is finally completing and today you will be saying Cheerios to the scenic beauty of this place. With lots of special memories in your heart, you will transfer to the airport for a happy return. Do not miss to enjoy your farewell breakfast in the hotel before the exit formalities. You will love the sweet gesture shown by the hotel staff.