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Are you planning a safari in Tanzania or you are already on safari in Tanzania and you are interested in seeing the gorillas as part of your trip to Tanzania, here below is How to end your safari in Tanzania with a Gorilla trek in Rwanda. Ending your Tanzania safari with a gorilla trek in Rwanda is an exciting way to combine two distinct wildlife experiences. Here’s a step-by-step guide on How to end your safari in Tanzania with a Gorilla trek in Rwanda:
1. Finalize Your Tanzania Safari Itinerary
Make sure your Tanzania safari ends at a location convenient for onward travel to Rwanda. Most likely, this will be:
- Arusha: If your safari concludes in the northern circuit (Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire).
- Zanzibar or Dar es Salaam: If your safari includes time in Zanzibar or the southern parks.
2. Plan Your Travel from Tanzania to Rwanda
Choose a travel route from Tanzania to Rwanda:
- By Air: Direct flights connect Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), Dar es Salaam (DAR), or Zanzibar (ZNZ) to Kigali International Airport (KGL). RwandAir and Air Tanzania are reliable options.
- By Road: If your safari ends near the Tanzania-Rwanda border (e.g., near Lake Victoria), a road transfer may be possible but could take longer.
3. Organize Your Gorilla Trek in Rwanda
Rwanda’s gorilla trekking takes place in Volcanoes National Park, about a 2-3 hour drive from Kigali. Plan your trek as follows:
- Permit: Book a gorilla trekking permit well in advance (USD 1,500 per person in Rwanda).
- Accommodation: Stay in lodges near Volcanoes National Park (e.g., Bisate Lodge, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, or more budget-friendly options like Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge).
- Duration: Allocate at least 2-3 days in Rwanda:
- Day 1: Arrive in Kigali and transfer to Volcanoes National Park.
- Day 2: Gorilla trekking experience.
- Day 3: Return to Kigali for onward travel.
4. Combine With Optional Activities
Maximize your time in Rwanda with additional activities:
- Golden Monkey Trekking: A lighter trek that can be done in Volcanoes National Park.
- Kigali City Tour: Visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial, Inema Arts Center, or local markets.
- Lake Kivu: Relax by the scenic lake, just 1-2 hours from Volcanoes National Park.
5. Plan Your Return
Decide how to conclude your trip:
- Fly out of Kigali, which offers international connections to many destinations.
- Return to Tanzania if necessary, depending on your travel plans.
Example Itinerary on how to combine Tanzania Safari with gorilla trekking in Rwanda
- Day 1-10: Safari in Tanzania (e.g., Serengeti, Ngorongoro, and Zanzibar).
- Day 11: Fly from Tanzania to Kigali, and transfer to Volcanoes National Park.
- Day 12: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park.
- Day 13: Optional activities and return to Kigali for departure.
Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National Park is located in the far northwest of Rwanda, home to the endangered mountain gorillas and rich montane vegetation of bamboo forests and open grasslands. Gorilla tracking at this park is done once daily with 8 individuals visiting a gorilla group per day. The visitors are expected to arrive at the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) offices at 7 am where they are briefed about expectations and the dos and don’ts when tracking gorillas and later distributed among the different gorilla groups. Once the briefing is concluded and you are allocated a gorilla group, you will follow your armed ranger guide to start your trek in search of these gentle giants. Your trek can take anything from a few minutes to 6 hours depending on the location of the group that you are tracking. Once the insight into the group, you will be able to stay in their presence for only one hour. Remember the details shared in the briefing and endeavor to follow them for not only your own safety but that of the gorillas.
How to Choose a Rwanda Gorilla Trek and How to Book a Gorilla Trekking Safari in Rwanda
You will need to have your gorilla permit secured in advance from the Rwanda Development Board to confirm that you are booked for gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park for a given date. Once you have your planned dates of travel confirmed we will need you to send us an email at Eco Adventure Safaris so that we check for the availability of gorilla permits online with the Rwanda Development Board once we confirm permits are available for your planned dates we will let you know so that we can send you an invoice for you to make payment for the permits. Once the payment is done and we have received it on our account we will go ahead and purchase your permits immediately and send you a scanned copy of the permits for your records and perusal, this will confirm you are booked for Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes Gorilla National Park
How much is Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park?
The Gorilla permit price shares a much higher cost for any Gorilla Trekking Safari in Rwanda on top of other services like transport, accommodation and guiding. A gorilla permit costs USD1500 for a Foreign nonresident, USD500 for the foreign resident and USD200 for the East African Citizen per person per trek, this gorilla permit gives you an opportunity to spend one hour encounter with the mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park. On top of the gorilla permit you will also pay other services for a successful gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda which include transport, accommodation and guiding.
What is the Best Time to trek Mountain Gorillas in Rwanda?
Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda is best done in the months of June to October and December to March during this time it is a dry season in Rwanda with mild rainfall making it easy for the treks in Volcanoes National Park for gorilla trekking, as well during this time the vegetation is not fully grown and it is easy for creating trails and viewing the mountain gorillas offering great sights for photographs. During the other months of April, May and November which is normally a wet season this makes the vegetations grow high making the sightings unclear however during this time the treks tend to be shorter given the fact mountain gorillas don’t move further distances looking for food, food is readily available. Gorilla trekking in Rwanda can be done throughout the year given the fact it is a very well-organized activity and you have 99% chances of seeing the mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park.
Where to stay during Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Accommodation in Volcanoes National Park range from Budget, mid-range to luxury options, Luxury options include Sabinyo Silverback Lodge, Bisate Lodge, Virunga Volcanoes Lodge, Five Volcanoes Hotels and Mountain Gorillas’ Nest Lodge. The price ranges from USD300 to USD1000 per person per night.
The Midrange lodge options at Volcanoes National Park include Mountain Gorilla View Lodge and Lebambou Gorilla Lodge, Davinci Lodge. For budget accommodation in Volcanoes National Park the options are many from basic accommodation to camping which include Kinigi Hotel, Hotel Muhabura, Gorilla Solution Lodge, Villa Gorilla, Virunga Hotel, Faraji Hotel and La Palme Hotel or Home Inn.
How to end your safari in Tanzania with a Gorilla trek in Rwanda Through Eco Adventure Safaris.
Eco Adventure Safaris is a local tour operator that conducts Uganda and Rwanda tours. Our team has expertise in adventure Tour/Safaris Operations in Uganda Tour African Safaris, Tanzania African safaris, Kenya Tours Safaris, Rwanda African Safaris, Congo DRC African Safaris, and Zanzibar Safaris that run in the respective destinations hence detailing about us. Meanwhile, we operate in the other popular East African destinations of Kenya and Tanzania through partnerships that we have established with highly regarded and like-minded local tour operators.
We organize private tours for individuals and also offer ground handling for travel companies and agents from around the world. We are very passionate about Eco-tourism and preserving nature and so our tours are organized in a way that respects the environment and local cultures. Contact us here for more information on How to end your safari in Tanzania with a Gorilla trek in Rwanda.