10 Days Volcanoes Expedition Safari itinerary

Day 1: Arrival – Kigali International Airport

Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport and passing through the immigration process, you will be received by our guide/driver who will, brief you shortly and transfer you to your booked hotel.

Accommodation: Five to Five Hotel (Best-Budget)

Meal Plan: Bed & Breakfast

Day 2: Transfer & Kigali Genocide Memorial – Volcanoes National Park

Today after having your early morning breakfast, you will checkout of hotel and drive to visit Kigali genocide memorial centre, which honours the memory of the more than one million Rwandans that were killed in 1994’s genocide. Through education and peace-building, you will be able to watch and listen to some video clips from some of the survivors of the incident. Later you will proceed with a scenic drive to Musanze through the magnificent route to your booked hotel to catch up with the late lunch and spend the rest of the afternoon relax and preparing for the next day’s trekking or optional visit the Diane Fossey Institute If time permits.

Accommodation: La Palme Hotel (Best-Budget)

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.

Day 3: Hike Mount Bisoke 3,696m asl & Iby’iwacu Cultural Village.

Today, you will be driven to the park headquarter at Kinigi at 7:00am upon having your breakfast for briefing and you will later head off for Mount Bisoke hiking.The hike will typically take a full day from 6 to 8 hours depending on your hiking experience. During the climb, you will cross a series of different vegetation habitats starting with bamboo forests, then moving into Hagenia – Hypericum forest and finally moving through Senecio – Lobelia bush near the summit. You will carry your packed lunch with you and some energy drink as well. You will later return in the afternoon for a hot deserved lunch, and relaxation before you head out for a cultural experience at the Ibyi’wacu cultural village.

Accommodation: La Palme Hotel (Best-Budget)

Meal plan: Full board

Day 4:  Transfer – Kisoro, Uganda.

After your relaxed breakfast at your hotel, you will embark on your interesting journey to Uganda through Cyanika border crossing and this is a great en route drive. Upon arrival in Uganda, you will continue to your lodge for lunch and relaxation.

Accommodation: Mucha riverside Lodge (Best-Budget)

Meal plan: Full board

Day 5: Hike Mount Mgahinga 3,474m asl

Today you will start off with hiking Mount Gahinga which is the smallest of the volcano Mountains in Uganda. The hike will take you up to the highest point which is 3,474m asl. The hike will take you through swamp filled craters and giant lobelia and for those who are lucky you might spot golden monkeys en-route. The whole round-trip journey takes maximum of 6hrs. return to the start point and be transferred back to your hotel.

Accommodation: Mucha Riverside Lodge (Best-Budget)

Meal plan: Full board

Day 6: Hike Mount Sabyinyo 3,669m asl.

Today you will hike Mount Sabyinyo after your early morning breakfast with packed lunch in the backpack. Mount Sabyinyo derives its name from its shape as it looks like an old man’s tooth hence the name Sabyinyo. Hiking this mountain will take 8hrs following a steep ascent up the ridge to the peak. The peak stands tall at 3,669m asl. Upon completion of the hike, you will have walked approximately 14kms round trip.

Accommodation: Mucha riverside Lodge (Best-Budget)

Meal plan: Full board

Day 7: Hike Mount Muhabura 4,127m asl.

After your early morning breakfast, you will hike Mount Muhabura. This mountain has the highest peak standing tall at 4,127m asl. This is the most rewarding hike, while on this peak you will have a perfect of Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Lake Edward, Rwenzori Mountain ranges and many other features. The hike will take you around 8hrs walking a distance of 12km round trip.

Accommodation: Mucha riverside Lodge (Best-Budget)

Meal plan: Full board

Day 8: Optional Gorilla Trekking & Relaxation – Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

After your morning heavy breakfast, transfer to the park information center to meet other guests for briefing about how to behave during gorilla trekking walk and thereafter start your forest walk to look for the mountain gorillas under the guidance of your UWA ranger guide. The time taken during gorilla tracking is not known; however, it is expected to be between 30 minutes to 8 hours depending on the movements of the gorilla family that you are tracking. During your gorilla tracking walk, you might encounter other wildlife species such as different bird species, other primates like black and white colobus monkeys and other mammals, your ranger guide will be able to give information on everything that you will meet. Once you meet mountain gorillas, you will have a maximum of one hour to watch them, following their movements, capturing memorial photos and learning more about their behaviors. After your one hour has ended, return to the information center to pick your tracking award, have some refreshments and go back to your lodge to have lunch and later spend your evening relaxing. Dinner and an overnight.

Accommodation: Mucha river Lodge (Best-Budget)

Meal plan: Full board

Day 9: Golden Monkey Trekking & Batwa Cultural – Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

After having your early morning fantastic breakfast, you get your tracking equipment such as tracking shoes, rain coat and your camera and meet your driver to transfer to the park information center again to meet other guests for briefing regarding the dos and don’ts of golden monkey tracking. Golden monkeys are not so popular primates but they are extremely unique and surely rare to meet.  These monkeys are one of the most endangered primate species in Uganda and other parts of Africa where they are found. They are so attractive with their gold color mixed with orange which makes them worth a special visit. Golden monkey tracking secessions normally take 4 hours and once you meet them, you will spend one hour of observing them and watching their actions. When the one hour of watching them has ended, return to your lodge to have lunch, relax and Later, you will go for your evening Batwa trail experience. The Batwa people, also known as the Twa in Rwanda, are one of the indigenous groups around Mgahinga Gorilla and Bwindi Impenetrable National Parks. They initially lived in the ancient Bwindi and Mgahinga forests before these areas were designated as national parks. The Batwa people consider themselves to be “the forest Keepers”. The Batwa Trail is only available in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, offering the best community tours in Uganda. This cultural trail experience was designed for visitors who want to meet the real Bushmen of Africa and understand the life of living in jungles, relying solely on the forest for their economic and social needs, and living without modern technology. By the end of this trail, you will gain insight into why the Batwa people struggle to adjust to life outside the forest. After your evening interaction with the Batwa people, you will return to your lodge to relax, have dinner, and spend the night.

Accommodation: Mucha River Lodge (Best-Budget)

Meal plan: Full board

Day 10: Transfer to Kigali International Airport

Today you will have your breakfast at leisure, you will embark on your scenic and interesting drive to Kigali International Airport. You will arrive at the airport in the real time of check-in and be ready for your outbound flight.