Gorilla encounter extension in Rwanda

Tailor-made safari extension, fully customizable

Country

Rwanda Kenya Tanzanie

Suggested duration

5 days / 4 nights

Ideal periods

January and February, June to September

Written request

01 77 37 03 10

The spirit of the journey

To add the finishing touch to your safari in Kenya or Tanzania, fly out for a few days to Volcanoes National Park.
It's a unique opportunity to encounter one of Africa's most impressive animals: the mountain gorilla.

Whether you stay at a charming or luxury lodge, the setting will be striking, the experience intense, and the memory indelible.

Day by day

Tailor-made safari extension, fully customizable

VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK
After a first night in Kigali, you will head to Volcanoes National Park with your private French-speaking guide.
Arrival in the late afternoon and check-in at your lodge, where you will stay for 3 nights.
It is also possible to reach Volcanoes National Park by helicopter from the capital.

The next day is the moment of the long-awaited encounter with the mountain gorillas.

No noise, no movement, breath held… you will experience an intense moment in search of these majestic primates.
Suddenly, a rustle in the foliage catches your attention, and you manage to make out an eye, then two, then a limb, and finally, the gorilla stands before you in full.
A memorable sight!
The emotion is such that it becomes indescribable.

The second day can be devoted to a range of optional activities:

– An excursion to the summit of Bisoke volcano (3,711 m), home to a magnificent lake formed at the heart of a crater! A sublime surrounding panorama, slopes covered in lush forest, shaded bamboo groves, and an exhilarating climb!

– An excursion to Dian Fossey’s grave and a visit to her former research center at Karisoke. This excursion offers a wealth of information, and the sites visited are magnificent!

– A golden monkey observation excursion. The golden monkey (Cercopithecus mitis kandti) is little known and is among the “threatened” species.

Many other activities are possible: a visit to a village near Volcanoes National Park, bird watching, scenic hikes, school visits, visits with former poachers, mountain biking, a cruise on the Twin Lakes (Burera and Ruhondo), fishing, discovering honey-making or local beer brewing, and weaving with women from a local community.

If your budget allows, we strongly recommend staying at the region’s brand-new luxury lodge, Singita Kwitonda.
This benchmark of African luxury has indeed set up on the edge of Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. With an unobstructed view of the Sabyinyo, Gahinga, and Muhabura volcanoes and nestled in a superb high-altitude forest, Singita Kwitonda promises a unique and unforgettable experience.
Wilderness’s Bisate Lodge will also make your exclusive extension a magical one.

Trek gorilles au Parc des volcans

Les premières lueurs de l’aube déchirent les pans de brume accrochés aux sommets des Karisimbi, Bisoke, Sabyniyo, Gahinga et Muhabura. Vous êtes dans le Parc national des volcans. Avec l’aide d’un guide et de pisteurs, vous partirez à la recherche des gorilles des montagnes. Le trek vous mènera à travers les exploitations agricoles situées au pied des volcans, puis à travers les denses forêts de bambous, les orties et la végétation humide. Bien souvent, vous quittez les sentiers battus pour vous aventurer dans la forêt vierge, escaladant des troncs d'arbres morts.
Végétariens, aimant les forêts humides, les familles de 8 à 20 individus comprennent un mâle dominant, des femelles adultes et plusieurs adolescents. Le mâle au dos argenté ("silverback") peut atteindre un poids de 250 kg et une taille de 1,70 m. Débonnaires et pacifiques, les anthropoïdes vous observent tout en se nourrissant dans leur univers végétal, en se prélassant sur les tapis de feuillages et de bambous. Les jeunes jouent à chat pendant que les bébés tètent au sein de leur mère.
Le face-à-face avec une famille de gorilles des montagnes, moment intense, moment unique. D'une durée légale d'une heure, le temps passé avec les plus grands primates de la planète passe très rapidement. Mais, en contrepartie, vous redescendrez avec des souvenirs qui resteront gravés dans votre mémoire.