This morning we will embark on a city tour of Kigali including the Genocide Memorial site a grim reminder of a senseless massacre of innocent’s lives in 1994. Learn about Rwanda’s history from pre-colonial times to the 1994 genocide; learn about other genocides in the world and how this country has dealt with that past. Tour more and see the new developments in Rwanda; the recovery has been incredible, a testament to humankind’s resilience.

After this we depart on scenic drive northwestwards through the beautiful terraced hillsides that display Rwanda’s landscape. Arrive at Ruhengeri, the base for Gorilla trekking at the Parc National des Volcans where we will check into the Virunga Inn Hotel & Spa with the rest of the day to enjoy the scenic beauty of the area and prepare for your Gorilla trek.

After your morning wake-up call and breakfast transfer by road in a 4WD Land Cruiser and report to the park headquarters, for gorilla trekking formalities and briefing by the Volcanoes National Park’s guides on the gorillas’ etiquette. The gorilla group that you will visit will depend on the assignment of travellers to the habituated gorilla groups. Park rangers have already left to locate the habituated Gorilla groups that are accessible to visitors. You will be assigned to a specific group of gorillas. Groups of trekkers will have a maximum of eight visitors per gorilla family. Your trek will vary in length depending on which gorilla group you have been assigned to and will commence at about 7,000 feet of altitude in the upper terraced slopes of the volcano.

Soon you will enter the forest of bamboo and thick undergrowth. You follow paths and the walking is steep but not overly strenuous. Nothing can prepare one for the impact of encountering a fully grown silverback gorilla: up to three times as bulky as the average man, yet remarkably peaceful and tolerant of human visitors. There are no words to describe the thrill of recognition attached to staring deep into the liquid brown eyes of these gentle giants, which share some 97% of their genes with humans. After locating your assigned Gorilla group you will spend one hour in their company before retracing your steps back down the volcano slopes.

You’ll return to the lodge for lunch before we pay a visit to The Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund in Ruhengeri, Rwanda, is a pioneering conservation initiative dedicated to the preservation of endangered mountain gorillas. Established through a significant contribution by Ellen DeGeneres, the campus serves as a hub for research, education, and conservation efforts. It features state-of-the-art facilities for scientists and students, aiming to foster a deep connection with nature and ensure the survival of gorillas in their natural habitat, while promoting sustainable practices and community engagement in conservation efforts.

It’s a leisurely breakfast and check out this morning before you drive back to Kigali and on to the airport for your onwards departure.  You may wish to extend your stay by adding another night in the park along with the opportunity to do a second Gorilla trek visiting a different family than the day before.