Encounter mountain gorillas and experience Rwandan culture on an active journey that combines three days of trekking in Volcanoes National Park with visits with local communities in Kigali.
Activity Level: This is an Energetic Active Journey. To fully enjoy this program, travelers should be physically fit and capable of walking or hiking for several hours on and off rugged forest trails that may be wet or muddy. Travelers can expect 3 to 6 miles of hiking with significant elevation gains on trekking days, as well as a 5- to 6-mile canoeing excursion with a brief section of Class II rapids. Day-by-day activity descriptions can be found on the itinerary page at the end of each day. Read more about Active Journeys activity levels here.
This Active Journey is limited to a maximum of 12 travelers per departure.
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Gorillas of Rwanda: An Active Journey
8 days from $8,999
Encounter mountain gorillas and experience Rwandan culture on an active journey that combines three days of trekking in Volcanoes National Park with visits with local communities in Kigali.
Activity Level: This is an Energetic Active Journey. To fully enjoy this program, travelers should be physically fit and capable of walking or hiking for several hours on and off rugged forest trails that may be wet or muddy. Travelers can expect 3 to 6 miles of hiking with significant elevation gains on trekking days, as well as a 5- to 6-mile canoeing excursion with a brief section of Class II rapids. Day-by-day activity descriptions can be found on the itinerary page at the end of each day. Read more about Active Journeys activity levels here.
This Active Journey is limited to a maximum of 12 travelers per departure.
Overview
2025 Optional Post-Tour Extension: Kenya Safari — 7 Days, 6 Nights
Complement your gorilla trekking experience with an active safari in Kenya’s renowned wildlife parks. Meet rescued elephant orphans at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, and go on walking safaris in two different wilderness areas. Cap off the experience with two days in the legendary Masai Mara.
Day 1 — Nairobi
Fly to Nairobi and meet your group leader at the airport. Transfer to a local restaurant for lunch, and then head out on a tour of this bustling capital city. Visit the National Museum, home to impressive exhibits on Kenya’s cultural and natural history. In the evening, gather for an orientation and dinner at the hotel. (B,L,D)
Mövenpick Hotel & Residences Nairobi
Day 2 — Nairobi / Naivasha
Spend the morning at the elephant orphanage of the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, a world-renowned organization dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating sick or orphaned elephants and preparing them for reintegration into the wild. On a guided visit, meet some of the young elephants and hear their rescue stories, and learn about the trust’s broader mission to protect Kenya’s wildlife through anti-poaching teams and veterinary care. Journey into the Great Rift Valley to its highest lake, the stunning Lake Naivasha. After lunch at your lodge on the southern shore, take a boat ride to Crescent Island, a private wildlife sanctuary. Here, set off on a walking safari, hiking among acacia trees where giraffes come to forage, and perhaps encounter a herd of zebras or wildebeests. Along the shore you may see hippos and Cape buffalo wallowing in the mud. Enjoy dinner together at the lodge this evening. (B,L,D)
Walking: 2 miles on flat, grassy terrain.
Day 3 — Naivasha
A morning drive brings you to Hell’s Gate National Park, where you’ll set off on a walking safari, learning about flora, fauna, and geology from a seasoned local guide. Located in the Great Rift Valley, the park is known for its dramatic scenery forged by geothermal forces. Against a backdrop of unusual rock towers, deep gorges, and soaring cliffs, look for zebras, hartebeests, Thomson's gazelles, and a number of interesting bird species. After lunch at the lodge, visit the Elsamere Museum, which recounts the story of Joy Adamson, author of Born Free, and her husband George. Take a guided tour of the house where the couple lived and trace their enduring influence conservation, which stemmed from an orphaned lion cub named Elsa. Enjoy afternoon tea at Elsamere before returning to the lodge. (B,L,D)
Walking: 4-5 miles on trails over uneven terrain, mostly flat.
Day 4 — Masai Mara National Reserve
Leave the Rift Valley and drive west to the legendary Masai Mara National Reserve, home to more than 95 mammal species, including the famous “big five.” Gather for lunch together at your lodge, then set off on a wildlife drive through vast, acacia-dotted plains. Depending on the season, you may see enormous herds of migrating wildebeests and zebras, as well as giraffes, lions, elephants, and a host of bird species. Relax at the lodge tonight, enjoying dinner and scenic views of the rolling savanna. (B,L,D)
Day 5 — Masai Mara National Reserve
This morning, those who wish will set out early for an optional sunrise hot air balloon safari over the Mara plains (additional cost). Take a short walk this morning to a Maasai village for a guided tour of the community led by the head of the village. Gain insights into Maasai culture as you meet the families and visit their traditional mud huts, or manyatta. The visit ends with a traditional dance performance. Spend the rest of the day on safari, stopping for a bush lunch along the way. As you explore the varied landscapes of the reserve, discover timeless scenes of predator and prey as well as the natural symbiosis between unlikely animals. Return to the lodge for dinner amid the enchanting sounds of the savanna. If you wish, wake up before dawn for an optional hot-air balloon ride at sunrise (at additional cost). You’ll be treated to a champagne breakfast on the open savanna as well as breathtaking aerial views of the reserve and its wildlife. Later, meet up with the rest of the group for a safari. (B,L,D)
Day 6 — Masai Mara National Reserve
Head out on a final morning game drive as you drive toward the airport for your flight back to Nairobi. Arrive in the early afternoon and transfer to the hotel in time for lunch. Enjoy a free afternoon to explore before a memorable farewell dinner at a famous Nairobi restaurant. (B,L,D)
Mövenpick Hotel & Residences Nairobi
Day 7 — Return Home
Departure at any time, airport transfer is included. (B)
Please note, an additional $500 deposit is required to register for the Kenya extension.
Your Hotels:
Mövenpick Hotel & Residences Nairobi: Located in Nairobi’s upscale Westlands neighborhood, the Mövenpick Hotel combines high-end comforts with Kenyan art and design. Guest rooms and suites are decorated in warm earth tones and feature modern conveniences, city views, and sitting areas. Dining options include a casual restaurant, a bar, and a revolving restaurant with panoramic views. Along with an outdoor swimming pool, the hotel also offers a spa and gym.
Lake Naivasha Sopa Resort: Set on parklands on the southern shores of Lake Naivasha, the Sopa Resort was carefully designed to avoid felling any trees. Its stone cottage accommodations are spacious and charming, each opening ou to a garden area or balcony. The lofty main lodge includes a bar and lounge wrapped with windows, and the restaurant offers a range of cuisines and a lovely patio for al fresco dining. Guests may enjoy the large swimming pool and its adjacent snack bar or relax under the acacias and watch wildlife go by.
Masai Mara Sopa Lodge: The conical hut-style buildings of the Masai Mara Sopa Lodge are tucked into lush gardens on slopes of the Oloolaimutia Hills within the Masai Mara Game Reserve. An expansive main lodge offers a bar and lounge area and a restaurant—both centered around large fireplaces. The pool and pool bar are surrounded with gardens and look out over the wilds of the Masai Mara. Guest cottages offer comfortable rooms, balconies, and décor inspired by the East African savanna.
To see itinerary, please click on an option below.
Itinerary
Days 1-2 — Depart Home / Arrive in Kigali, Rwanda
Following an overnight flight, arrive in Kigali and transfer to your hotel. Take time to get settled, then meet your fellow travelers and trip leader for an orientation and a welcome dinner. (D)
Day 3 — Kigali
After breakfast, set out to discover this cosmopolitan city and its compelling stories of rebirth. Begin with a guided visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial, a haunting monument to the victims of the 1994 genocide that promotes peace and reconciliation to prevent future atrocities. Hear the inspiring stories of survivors and of the country’s unflagging efforts to rebuild. Many of the guides are genocide survivors themselves. Continue to the Nyamirambo Women’s Center which provides education and vocational training to disadvantaged women and girls. Take a walking tour with a community guide, weaving through the lively Nyamirambo neighborhood. Stop in at local businesses, such as a women’s hairdressing salon and a popular tailor's shop. Visit a family compound to try your hand at pounding cassava leaves to make a traditional stew, and admire views of Kigali’s mosques. Cap off the tour with a traditional Rwandan meal in the home of a woman from the community project. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure before dinner together this evening. (B,L,D)
Walking: 4-5 hours, museum visit and afternoon community walking tour, city streets with uneven and variable incline.
Day 4 — Volcanoes National Park
Depart Kigali after breakfast and drive north through rippling green hills to Volcanoes National Park. The park is part of the Virunga Mountain range, home to about half of the planet’s mountain gorilla population, as well as a host of other wildlife. Upon arrival, enjoy lunch at the hotel before embarking on a canoeing adventure with a local guide on the Mukungwa River. This gentle river weaves along a flood plain between the hills, passing stands of papyrus and farming settlements and offering a unique perspective on everyday life in rural Rwanda. Nearly 40 species of birds can be found here, including kingfishers, weavers, spoonbills, painted storks, and crowned cranes. The last portion of the paddle is the liveliest, with a stretch of Class II rapids. Return to the hotel for some time at leisure before gathering for dinner. (B,L,D)
Canoeing: 5-6 miles, calm river with short section of Class II rapid.
Day 5 — Volcanoes National Park
Awaken in the early morning and head into Volcanoes National Park on a gorilla trek. Here, a chain of five conical volcanoes blanketed with dense vegetation harbor numerous mountain gorilla families, or “troops.” With designated guides from the Rwanda National Parks Authority, set out in small groups to locate one of these troops, hiking on trails left by elephants and buffalos. Depending on where the gorillas have moved that day, trek from three to six hours and climb to altitudes up to 8,000 feet. Porters will be available to carry backpacks and offer a hand over difficult parts of the route.
Once you find the gorillas, spend an unforgettable hour sitting quietly among them, observing them as they eat, groom, and play, and learning about their daily routines and social dynamics firsthand. Hike back to the starting point and return to the hotel for lunch. In the early evening, gather on the terrace for a talk by a park warden. Take in views of the magnificient volcanoes as you hear about recent increases in the mountain gorilla population and global as well as local efforts to protect them. Dine together tonight. (B,L,D)
Hiking: 3-6 miles (3 to 6 hours) on and off rugged forest trails that may be wet or muddy, steep ascents and descents at elevations up to 8,000 feet.
Day 6 — Volcanoes National Park
Rise early again today and return to the park, riding in 4x4s to the trailhead of the Dian Fossey hike. Learn about the work and legacy of this pioneering scientist, who lived among the gorillas for over 18 years, conducting invaluable research into their behavior and social patterns. The hike will bring you along lush slopes, where you might spot forest elephants and forest hogs as well as a variety of primates and birds. Visit Fossey’s grave, where she was buried alongside her “beloved Digit,” a silverback she habituated over ten years, and continue to the original Karisoke research site. Alternatively, choose to spend the morning on a second gorilla trek (at an additional charge*). Meet up for lunch in the hotel and enjoy free time this afternoon to take a walk in the gardens or relax in the sauna or whirlpool. (B,L,D)
Hiking: 4 miles (3-4 hours) on rugged, muddy, forest trails; steep ascents and descents at elevations up to 9,000 feet.
**Please note: If you wish to take a second gorilla trek, please advise your trip specialist once your initial reservation has been made. An additional, non-refundable deposit of $1,550 is required. Subject to availability.
Day 7 — Volcanoes National Park / Kigali
On your final morning hike in Volcanoes National Park, focus on another endemic primate: the golden monkey. Venture into thick bamboo forests with a guide, looking—and listening—for these active and curious creatures, who often chatter loudly in the treetops. You’ll have a full hour to observe their antics as they frolic, feed, and interact among the branches. Unlike the small family clans of the mountain gorilla, these habitatuated troops can number between 20 and 80 members.
After lunch, drive back to Kigali, enjoying the stunning emerald scenery of this “land of a thousand hills.” Toast your gorilla trekking adventure at a farewell dinner of East African specialties at a local restaurant. (B,L,D)
Hiking: 2–3 miles, on moderate forest trails with some ascents and descents at elevations up to 8,000 feet.
Day 8 — Return Home
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight home or continue your wildlife adventure on a post-tour extension to Kenya. (B)
Included meals are denoted as follows: Breakfast (B), Lunch (L), Reception (R), Dinner (D)
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