10-Day Volcanoes Expedition

10 Days / 9 Nights

Tour Highlights

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park, the Virunga Mountains
Golden monkey tracking, found only in the Virunga bamboo forests
Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, visit the Karisoke Research Centre site
Chimpanzee tracking in Uganda's Kibale Forest
Kigali city tour and Genocide Memorial, powerful and important
Lake Bunyonyi, the 'Switzerland of Africa', 29 islands on a crater lake
Cross-border road trip through the Virunga landscapes

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Meet and greet at Kigali International Airport. Transfer to your hotel. Afternoon Kigali city tour including the Genocide Memorial. Dinner at a rooftop restaurant overlooking the city of a thousand hills.

Morning drive to Musanze (former Ruhengeri), gateway to the Volcanoes. Afternoon golden monkey tracking in the bamboo forests of the Virungas, these iridescent creatures are found nowhere else on Earth. Overnight at a lodge with Volcano views.

The signature day. Briefing at the RDB office at 7am, permit check, and group assignment. Trek into the Virunga massif through bamboo and Hagenia forest to find your gorilla family. 1 hour with the gorillas, some of the world's most habituated families. Afternoon at leisure; visit the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.

Drive west to Gisenyi on the shores of Lake Kivu. Afternoon boat excursion on the lake. Sundowner on the beach with Congo's mountains in the distance. Overnight lakeside hotel.

Morning at leisure then drive south to the Cyanika border crossing into Uganda. Beautiful mountain scenery on the descent. Arrive Lake Bunyonyi, one of Africa's most beautiful lakes, for overnight.

A restful day on the lake. Morning canoe trip between the islands, visit a community project, and afternoon swimming or kayaking. The altitude (2,000m) makes for cool, clear evenings. Overnight on the lake.

Drive north through Queen Elizabeth NP corridor to Kibale Forest, stopping for a game drive en route. Arrive Kibale by evening. Overnight near the forest.

Morning chimp tracking in Kibale Forest. Afternoon Bigodi Wetland walk. The contrast with Rwanda's gorilla encounter is striking, chimps are frenetic, vocal, charismatic. Overnight Kibale.

Scenic morning drive through Fort Portal and the Rift Valley back to Kampala. Late afternoon arrival. Farewell dinner at a Kampala rooftop restaurant.

Transfer to Entebbe International Airport for onward journey.