Gorilla Expedition in Rwanda

5 Days, Multiple Departures

Show All photos
Gorilla Expedition in Rwanda
  • About
  • Gallery
  • Itinerary
  • Location
  • Things to keep in mind

We break the travel bubble, with cultural encounters and light activity to enhance traditional gorilla tracking. In Rwanda, gorilla tourism has not only benefited gorilla and primate conservation. It also offers benefit to the communities of the volcanoes.  In the past, villagers assisted in trafficking gorillas and hunted monkeys and other small animals for bush meat; today, they are passionate custodians of the park. Many work in the park, while others work for an increasing number of lodges and hotels that have opened in and around Kingi and Musanze.

In addition to a growing demand in primate tourism, the volcanoes region offers a glimpse into the lives of Rwandans. Local operators and guides partner with communities to provide authentic cultural experiences and activities.  These range from hiking and biking trips to canoe trips on the local Mukungwa River.

In short, we encourage travelers to go beyond gorilla trekking and experience more of what this remarkable country offers.

Highlights
Learn about the genocide of 1994.
Laugh with the children of the villages.
Gasp in awe at your first gorilla sighting.
Wish you had planned to stay longer

About

Private 4×4 vehicle for the duration of the experience, including fuel & tolls.

Active Africa-approved local English-speaking, professional driver/guide, experienced local walking and canoeing guides.

Welcome cocktails and trip briefing on arrival night.

Your choice of Premium or Classic grade accommodation for 4 nights on a per person sharing basis

4 Breakfast, 3 Lunch & 3 Dinners, including hot beverages, bottled water & service gratuities.

National Park fees and activity costs.

All equipment for activities as listed (canoes & associated equipment, backpacks, walking poles, water bottles).

Bottled mineral water on activities & vehicles

Meal & accommodation per diems for the trip crew.

Airport transfer on departure

Premium accommodation

Our Premium range of properties offer a stylishly unique African take on modern lodgings. From city hotels to countryside lodges, think African chic with expansive rooms, slick service, creative cuisine, engaging wine lists, high thread counts, and all the other modern conveniences associated with the luxury lodging experience.

Kigali (2 nights) : Kigali Serena – Prime Rooms

Volcanoes National Park (2 nights) : Singita Kwitonda Lodge

Classic accommodation

Often selected more for their regional character and location than as a cost-effective alternative, our Classic range of properties tick all the boxes associated with good lodgings.  Expect great service, character filled comfortable rooms and delicious locally sourced meals to weave a common theme, while the stunning African landscape elevates your stay from the memorable to the sublime.

Kigali (2 nights): Kigali Serena – Deluxe Rooms

Volcanoes National Park (2 nights): Tiloreza Volcanoes Eco-Lodge

Travel Documents and Visa Requirements

A valid passport is mandatory for all international travel, and it must remain valid for at least six months after your trip concludes. In certain instances, foreign passport holders may require entry, re-entry, departure permits, and/or visas to access specific countries. We aim to assist with your visa-related inquiries, offering information in good faith. Nevertheless, it remains your sole responsibility to ensure the proper acquisition of the necessary visas. We cannot be held liable for any delays, costs incurred, or inconveniences experienced if you are denied entry into a country.

Please be aware that travelers to South Africa must possess at least two blank pages in their passport upon entering the country. Inadequate pages could result in denied entry or boarding restrictions. Parents traveling with children without the presence of the other parent should carry a letter of consent from the absent parent, endorsed by the police.

We recommend having at least one blank page in your passport for every country visited.

Vaccinations

Prior to embarking on your overland tour, it is vital that you consult your doctor or local travel clinic for the most recent information regarding vaccinations. Ensure that all your vaccinations are up-to-date. Some countries may necessitate a yellow fever booklet. Please understand that the responsibility lies with you to maintain current vaccinations and carry proof of them. We cannot be held accountable for any delays or costs incurred due to entry denial into a country.

Insurance

Booking your trip carries the stipulation that you are solely responsible for securing comprehensive travel insurance and medical coverage. This insurance must extend to you, your dependents, and any traveling companions for the entirety of your African journey. Coverage should include, but not be limited to, potential scenarios like tour cancellation or curtailment, emergency evacuation expenses, medical costs, as well as damage, theft, or loss of personal belongings, money, and goods.

Please be advised that Activ Retreats, its representatives, and employees bear no responsibility for any costs or losses suffered by guests, their dependents, or traveling companions in relation to any of the aforementioned scenarios.

You are required to arrange this insurance at the time of deposit payment or upon full payment to ensure continuous coverage, commencing from the date of your payment. You acknowledge that the responsibility for acquiring travel insurance is yours, and the associated costs will be your responsibility.

We strongly recommend that you scrutinize your insurance policy to determine the extent of coverage provided for adventure activities. Notably, many free credit card insurance policies do not offer sufficient coverage, necessitating the procurement of additional protection.

Air Travel

Active Retreats cannot be held responsible for any flight cancellations, schedule changes or rerouting. The airlines reserve the right for these changes and we will endeavor to assist you with the best alternative options where possible.

Gallery
About The Host
Chris Goodwin and Jacqui Goodwin

Chris Goodwin and Jacqui Goodwin

Chris Goodwin dedicates his life to having as much fun as possible. After 13 long years in the commercial catering industry, Chris realized that he had forgotten how to breathe. So in 2001, armed with a desire to enjoy his working hours, he took a deep breath and walked out of the office. Now, as he pounds the ground on a trail run, climbs a rock face, or rides a bicycle, Chris enjoys every breath. As a result, he constantly inspires travelers on his tours with his energy, enthusiasm, and pure enjoyment of life. Chris is a consummate organizer and loves the little operational details that go with managing or overseeing a tour.

After earning a doctorate in molecular biotech, Jacqui served time in the corporate grind of big pharma before discovering tourism. Thanks to 20 years of travel as a guide, tour leader, and trip designer, Jacqui can offer qualified recommendations to the finest destinations and informed insight on experiencing them. Jacqui has a passion for the natural environment and a genuine desire to blend information with experience. This keeps her returning to the road as a guide when not consulting, supporting, or making tea for Active Africans.


Itinerary

Day 1 and 2

Kigali

Discover colorful Nyamirambo and historical Kiyovu on an experiential walking tour - meet tailors, butchers, merchants, musicians and hairdressers.

Explore fresh produce markets and shop for local crafts at Caplaki craft market.

Sample typical Rwandan foods as guests at a private house.

Gain insight into the cause and effect of the Rwandan Genocide of 1994 with a moving visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial and the Campaign Against Genocide museum.

Day 3

Musanze

Step aside Sriracha, and try out Sina Gerard's unique chili oil at Nyirangarama on the way to Musanze.

Take a leisurely paddle down the Mukungwa River

Meet with a veterinarian and gorilla conservationist.

Day 4

Gorilla Tracking

Hike into dense forest tracking the endangered mountain gorilla.

Spend a life changing hour in close proximity to habituated wild gorillas.

Spend the afternoon on a light walk to a rural village and learn about the significance of cows to the Rwandan population.

Day 5

Kigali and departure

Take a leisurely drive back to Kigali for your onward travel arrangements.

Location
Things to keep in mind

Cancellations, Returns, Exchanges, and Refund Policy

1. Activ Retreats is committed to providing the requested services. However, in case of a booking's partial or complete cancellation, for any reason, by you or on your behalf, Activ Retreats retains the right to recover services, administration, communication, and cancellation charges. These charges may include fees imposed by any supplier upon Activ Retreats for the affected booking. The minimum charge for these fees will be R300 per person but may exceed this amount.

2. Cancellation of a booking must be communicated in writing. Depending on the timing of the cancellation, the refund process follows these guidelines:

a. If the cancellation is received 60 days or more before the departure date, you will be eligible for a refund of 70% (seventy percent) of the total confirmed tour price for the booking, plus any increases in costs as stipulated in Clauses 12 and 13.

b. If the cancellation occurs less than 60 days before the day of departure, the entire confirmed tour price will be forfeited.

3. Cancellation of any air ticket on your behalf will be subject to the terms and conditions established by the airline and corresponding to the chosen fare type. You understand and agree that any airline tickets submitted for a refund will undergo a minimum 8-week processing period. Activ Retreats will strive to expedite your refund, but it is only obliged to refund the amount to you upon receipt from the respective airline.

4. Activ Retreats retains the right to terminate and promptly cancel any booking for which payments are overdue. Should this right be exercised, the entire outstanding balance will become immediately due and payable upon request.

Preamble

1. Active Retreats functions as a facilitator for client travel services, acting as an agent on behalf of travel industry principals and other associated agents, such as airlines, tour operators, hotels, shipping companies, car rental agencies, and other providers of travel arrangements and services (referred to collectively as "the suppliers"). Upon booking, considered as your acceptance of these terms and conditions, Active Retreats will disclose, upon request, the identity and terms and conditions of the suppliers relevant to the service associated with your booking.

Liability

2. Active Retreats acts solely as an agent representing airlines, tour operators, service providers, and other travel entities. Upon receipt of your booking (deemed to signify your acceptance of these terms and conditions), Active Retreats will transmit your booking to the relevant supplier and strive to secure all reservations and arrangements in a timely manner.

3. Vouchers, receipts, and tickets issued adhere to the terms and conditions specified by the suppliers. Accepting these vouchers or tickets, or utilizing services included in Active Retreats tours or packages, is considered an acceptance of the suppliers' terms and conditions.

4. While Active Retreats will make reasonable efforts to promptly secure your reservations and ensure your comfort and safety, participation in any tours or packages offered by the suppliers, including transportation to and from venues, is at your own risk. As such, neither you nor individuals on whose behalf you've booked can make any claims (regarding loss, damage, injury, accident, delay, or inconvenience to any person and/or their belongings) against Active Retreats, its employees, agents, or assigns (including parent, subsidiary, affiliated, or associated companies or their representatives), regardless of whether such losses are caused by the negligence of these indemnified parties or not.

5. Suppliers may be indemnified against any liability for damage or loss (arising in any way) that you might suffer. They may act as agents themselves or have disclaimed liability. It is, therefore, advisable that you obtain comprehensive insurance coverage.

Bookings, Change of Arrangements, Routes, and Prices

6. The terms "booking" or "reservation" pertain to part or all of the travel arrangements, covering transportation, accommodation, sightseeing, and other linked travel services, arranged by Active Retreats on your behalf with the suppliers. These terms exclude services of a peripheral nature, as described or similar to those outlined in Clause 20.

7. Active Retreats will strive to confirm the status of any booking in writing as soon as possible. In cases where this confirmation isn't promptly provided, the absence of written confirmation will not invalidate the booking's terms and conditions or indicate negligence on the part of Active Retreats.

8. In situations necessitating unscheduled extensions due to events like flight delays, adverse weather, strikes, or other factors beyond Active Retreats' control, expenses related to these extensions (e.g., hotel accommodations) will be your responsibility.

9. If any supplier cannot provide the service booked on your behalf, Active Retreats will seek alternative arrangements of similar classification in the same area, wherever possible. If you are unwilling or unable to accept these alternatives, any refunds you might be entitled to are subject to the relevant supplier's terms and conditions. Any refund concerning commission paid or payable to Active Retreats is at the sole discretion of Active Retreats.

10. While every effort is made to adhere to confirmed itineraries, Active Retreats reserves the right to make changes when deemed necessary. Alterations due to factors such as weather conditions do not warrant a refund.

11. Payment in full is due upon confirmation for air tickets or for bookings with a total value less than R 10,000. Other bookings require a deposit equal to 30% of the quoted booking price upon confirmation, of which 10% is non-refundable. A 100% booking fee is required if the booking is made less than 60 days before the travel date. Failure to pay the deposit by the specified due date may result in the cancellation of the booking.

12. The quoted booking price is based on prevailing tour prices, fares, hotel rates, land costs, and other relevant expenses at the quotation's date provided by Active Retreats. You agree that any increase in these costs before Active Retreats receives your final payment (as stated in Clause 14) will be for your account, unless otherwise agreed upon by Active Retreats or the relevant supplier. This increase will be payable concurrently with the final payment mentioned in Clause 14, without deductions or set-offs.

13. Any increase in the booking price due to fluctuations in exchange rates between the quotation date and the final payment date specified in Clause 14 will also be for your account.

Payment and Additional Charges

14. Final payment for any booking must be irreversibly credited to Active Retreats account at least 60 days before the departure date, unless specific arrangements have been made and confirmed in writing by Active Retreats.

15. Bookings made less than 60 days prior to the departure date must be accompanied by the full quoted and confirmed price unless agreed upon in writing by Active Retreats.

16. Final invoicing is based on the quoted and confirmed price, reduced by any deposit paid, plus any additional charges accrued as per this agreement. Payment for such invoices must be made in full, without deductions or set-offs, on the due date, regardless of any cancellations.

17. Failure to make final payment by the specified due date will result in the cancellation of booked services and the forfeiture of all monies paid up to that point.

18. In addition to passport, visa, and other peripheral service fees (additional fees) as outlined in Clause 20 below, Active Retreats reserves the right to claim late booking charges, communications, consultation, administration, and amendment fees where applicable.

Peripheral Travel Requirements

19. Active Retreats will aim to assist you in obtaining or complying with the requirements for passports, visas, health documents, insurance, credit card usage, customs and immigration regulations, and other peripheral requirements or services outside the core travel arrangements referred to as "the booking" or "the reservation." However, due to the ever-changing nature of such peripheral requirements and services, Active Retreats cannot guarantee the accuracy, promptness, or completeness of these services and requirements.

This trip is graded Moderate. Harder grading is determined by the location of the gorilla family you are visiting – some can be easily accessible close to the park boundaries, but others may require extended hikes into thick vegetation on the slopes of the volcano. In addition, note that the Volcanoes National Park is at an altitude of above 2000m asl. – participants should be aware of the physical requirements of this experience.

Due to the limited number of Gorilla Tracking Permits being in high demand, we strongly suggest confirming your arrangements at least 6 months in advance

This program is not suitable for children under the age of 16.

We cannot control the weather – this is an outdoor, nature based itinerary and indoor alternatives are limited, if non-existent. Come prepared to be take on the elements if the weather is not playing fair.