Hotel Baobab Cooperative des Artisans Rwandais

Gorilla Adventure

Be the first to write a review

All content by World Expeditions

4 days (Kigali)

Destinations visited: Rwanda, Kigali, World

Grading:

Adventure touring level

Grading Definitions

Discovery & Cruising

These are our least demanding trips. These journeys of discovery and cruises involve little or no extended activity and are suitable for people with a basic level of fitness and good health. The itinerary may take place in remote areas (with basic facilities) and may involve long travel days on various types of transport. Sightseeing may be conducted on foot and all participants should be capable of carrying their own luggage from vehicle to hotel rooms. These adventures do not go above 2500m and rarely involve camping.
Suggested preparation: Once or twice a week, we recommend you walk on undulating terrain for an hour, for at least 2 -3 months prior to departure.

Adventure Touring

Suggested preparation: Two or three times a week, we recommend you walk on undulating terrain for an hour or more, for at least 3 months prior to departure.

Introductory

These trips involve trekking or walking, cycling, rafting or sea kayaking for up to five or six hours a day at a slow but steady pace and should never be misinterpreted to mean they are easy trips. These trips do not spend time at altitudes above 4000m and are usually a week in duration. You will need a reasonable level of fitness and good health.
Suggested preparation: 30 minutes of aerobic type exercise, (either cycling or jogging) three times a week for three months leading up to your trek. For trekking, hill walking with a daypack in variable weather conditions is also recommended. For a cycling adventure, road cycling twice a week for three months prior to departure is recommended.

Introductory to Moderate

These trips involve a combination of what is described in our INTRODUCTORY and MODERATE levels. The emphasis is on introductory activity with several moderate stages

Moderate

These adventures involve trekking, cycling, rafting or sea kayaking for up to 6 or 7 hours a day at a steady pace. These trips may spend successive days at altitudes not generally exceeding 5,500m and are usually between 10 and 15 days in duration. You will need a good level of fitness and be in good health.
Suggested preparation: 45 minutes of aerobic type exercise, three to five times a week for the three months leading up to your trek. Hill walking with a pack in variable weather conditions or road cycling is also recommended depending upon the activity you plan to undertake.

Moderate to Challenging

These adventures involve trekking, cycling, rafting or sea kayaking for up to 6 or 7 hours a day at a steady pace. These trips may spend successive days at altitudes not generally exceeding 5,500m and are usually between 10 and 15 days in duration. You will need a good level of fitness and be in good health. Suggested preparation: 45 minutes of aerobic type exercise, three to five times a week for the three months leading up to your trek. Hill walking with a pack in variable weather conditions or road cycling is also recommended depending upon the activity you plan to undertake.

Challenging

These adventures involve trekking, cycling or rafting in remote areas in variable weather conditions for up to 8 to 10 hours a day (possibly more subject to weather conditions and altitude). This may include spending successive days at altitudes not generally exceeding 6000m. These trips may often be over three weeks in duration. You will need an excellent level of fitness, be prepared to carry a daypack weighing up to 8kgs (and in some cases a full pack) and be completely comfortable in adverse weather conditions.
Suggested preparation: One hour of aerobic type exercise, four to five times a week for three to six months prior to departure. Hill walking with a pack in variable weather conditions or on/off road cycling is also recommended.

Entry Mtn/Exploratory Treks

These adventures are classed as expeditions. They involve either extreme trekking and or basic mountaineering. Expect remote and poorly defined trails in variable weather conditions for up to 12 hours a day (possibly more subject to weather conditions and altitude). This may include a number of demanding high pass crossings and evacuation may be difficult from remote areas. Suitable for first time mountaineers wishing to take the step from trekking into the realm of mountaineering. Prior experience trekking at altitude is preferable but not essential and you should be comfortable in adverse weather conditions. Prior technical mountaineering experience is not necessary. Terrain will involve low angle snow slopes. Ropes may be used during treks for glacier travel and steeper sections of ice and snow. When mountaineering, basic mountaineering instruction is given by our mountaineering guides.
Suggested preparation: For grade 8-10 mountaineering expeditions you will need to be very fit and healthy. A minimum of 1 hour of aerobic exercise per session, four to five times a week is essential. Running and cycling in hilly areas is particularly beneficial as are multi day walks on the weekends. This is the ideal time to try out your boots and other gear to make sure you are prepared and ready for your expedition. If you are considering Intermediate or advanced level trips, you will need to discuss your preparation leading up to the trip with our expert staff.

Intermediate Mtn Expedition

Participants should be competent and self sufficient in the outdoors and have experience in multi day trekking at altitude. Prior experience on an entry level mountaineering expedition is highly recommended. The terrain will involve low to moderate angle snow slopes and traveling on crevassed glaciers. Experience using ice axe and crampons is preferred but not essential.
Suggested preparation: For grade 8-10 mountaineering expeditions you will need to be very fit and healthy. A minimum of 1 hour of aerobic exercise per session, four to five times a week is essential. Running and cycling in hilly areas is particularly beneficial as are multi day walks on the weekends. This is the ideal time to try out your boots and other gear to make sure you are prepared and ready for your expedition. If you are considering Intermediate or advanced level trips, you will need to discuss your preparation leading up to the trip with our expert staff.

Advanced Mtn Expedition

These are our most challenging expeditions. Clients must have prior mountaineering experience. Most are participatory expeditions & involve load carrying, setting up of camps, cooking and campcraft. Altitude is generally greater than 6500m. Some of these expeditions also involve “technical” climbing and are for experienced alpine climbers / mountaineers only. Technical expeditions involve steep climbing at high altitude (including rock climbing). Participation on one of these expeditions is subject to acceptance by one of our high altitude mountaineering guides.
Suggested preparation: For grade 8-10 mountaineering expeditions you will need to be very fit and healthy. A minimum of 1 hour of aerobic exercise per session, four to five times a week is essential. Running and cycling in hilly areas is particularly beneficial as are multi day walks on the weekends. This is the ideal time to try out your boots and other gear to make sure you are prepared and ready for your expedition. If you are considering Intermediate or advanced level trips, you will need to discuss your preparation leading up to the trip with our expert staff.

from
USD$2,890

Book now

A unique opportunity to experience Mountain Gorillas and Golden Monkeys in their natural environment

Around half the world's population of Mountain Gorillas live deep in the mist-shrouded forests of Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. One of life's most amazing experiences is a close encounter with these gentle creatures. Park regulations allow one hour with gorilla families or individuals that have been habituated to human presence. That said, these primates are incredibly shy and it is an absolute privilege to watch them feed, play and interact. We trek through bamboo thickets in search of them, sometimes walking up to eight hours, but the reward is such a special experience it will be unforgettable. We also have a chance of finding endangered Golden Monkeys in their natural environment on a separate excursion. This short adventure can be taken on its own or added to a longer East African itinerary.

Highlights

Tracking Mountain Gorillas in Volcanoes National Park
Tracking Golden Monkeys in their natural habitat

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Kigali and drive to Ruhengeri

Upon arrival in Kigali we shall be met by our guides and drivers and make our way to Ruhengeri at the foot of the beautiful and pristine Volcanoes National Park, approximately 2 1/2 hour drive. This was the region where Dian Fossey amazed the world with her research of the magnificent mountain gorillas of Rwanda. Following Dian Fossey’s work and David Attenborough’s famous documentaries, the mountain gorillas have inspired travellers from all over the world to experience one of nature’s greatest interactions. Anyone who has witnessed the mountain gorilla’s of East Africa will strongly agree that it is a once in a lifetime experience that will never be forgotten. Tonight we sleep in a comfortable lodge in the foothills of the Virunga Mountains. (Please ensure your arrival flight time is no later than 14:00hrs)

Day 2 Golden Monkey Tracking

As a warm-up for our gorilla trek, today we search for the equally rare and endangered Golden Monkey. These primates are unique to this region of East Africa and the Volcanoes National Park, where there is a troupe numbering about forty. Little is known about these beautiful monkeys and experts are only recently able to put together the basic details about their routines and lifestyles. They can be quite difficult to spot. With our expert local guides and trackers we search for them in the thickets of bamboo where they like to spend most of their time.

Day 3 Gorilla Tracking. Return to Kigali

Today we will trek deep into the forest in search of these mountain gorillas. While gorilla tracking you will be accompanied by a guide and usually two trackers, and allowed no more than one hour with your allotted gorilla family. To find your family group the guide will lead you to where the gorillas were sighted on the previous day and then literally track them through the forest. The terrain is very rough, often over steep slopes covered with matted vegetation. Be prepared for rain, mud and giant stinging nettles – long trousers, gloves and a waterproof jacket will help. It will be necessary to take your own water and snacks – eg: biscuits or sweets – with you in case you have to trek for a while before finding the gorillas. The treks can be as short as half an hour and as long as eight hours, but three hours is the average. After our trek and humbled by this incredible experience, we drive from Volcanoes National Park back to Kigali for overnight.

Day 4 Trip concludes in Kigali

After breakfast we undertake a short morning tour of this interesting city, including a visit to the genocide memorial. Group arrangements conclude in Kigali with a departure transfer to the airport. (Please note: earliest departure time is 14:00hrs.)

Additional Information

Inclusions

3 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 2 dinners
twin share accommodation in 4 star hotel Kigali and comfortable lodge in Ruhengeri region
all Gorilla and Golden Monkey trekking and national park fees valued at US$600
all transport from Kigali
experienced guides

Summary

2 nights lodge
1 night hotel

Trip Main Activities

Trekking
Wildlife Safari

Group Size Min

Group Size Max

Accommodation Summary

Equipment Required

Specialist gear required include walking boots and day pack (a comprehensive gear list is provided in the pre-departure information provided on booking).

What You Carry

In your daypack you will need to carry extra warm clothing, a rainjacket, water bottle, camera gear, valuables and personal items such as sunscreen, lip-eze etc.

Check dates and prices
Book this trip with World Expeditions on their site

from
USD$2,890

Book now

Traveller reviews for Gorilla Adventure (0)

To write a review sign in, register or

Recommend

Add your experience Your experience “ ”
Say more…
Write your review Your review

Tags

Good for…

Not good for…

Photo Upload

Add a photo

Note: when you submit posts to our site (including images), you’re giving us permission to reuse your material elsewhere and also to pass it to others for use. Full website terms here.

Why we recommend World Expeditions

Pioneers in responsible travel.
No local payments.
True adventures in every sense.
Expert guides and support.
Quality facilities and transport.

Customer care

World Expeditions is a global company with offices in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Canada, all staffed with experienced adventure travellers.

Contact World Expeditions customer service