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Rwanda, in Rare Company
There is very little in travel that compares to standing a few metres from a wild mountain gorilla family in the forest their kind has lived in for generations. Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park is the most accessible place on earth to do this, and this itinerary pairs the trek with genuinely luxurious lodges in Musanze — this is not a trip that asks you to rough it to earn the experience.
Gorilla permits are limited and allocated by the Rwanda Development Board, so dates need to be confirmed well ahead of travel — ideally three to six months out in peak season. I handle the permit booking directly as part of planning this trip.
Kigali
Arrive at Kigali International and transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon, a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial — sobering, but a necessary part of understanding modern Rwanda before you head north.
Kigali → Musanze
A scenic two-hour drive north through Rwanda's terraced hills to Musanze, arriving in time for lunch at your lodge. The afternoon is free to settle in, with the Virunga volcanoes visible from your room.
Volcanoes National Park
An early start at the park headquarters in Kinigi for a briefing, then a trek — anywhere from thirty minutes to several hours, depending on where your allocated gorilla family is that day — through bamboo forest and volcanic slopes. You're permitted one hour with the gorillas once found. It is, without exaggeration, one of the most affecting experiences travel can offer.
Volcanoes National Park
A gentler day in the same forest, tracking Volcanoes National Park's playful golden monkey troops. For those who want it, an optional hike to Dian Fossey's grave and the site of her Karisoke Research Centre is available in the afternoon.
Musanze → Kigali
A visit to a local cultural village near the park before the drive back to Kigali, with time in the afternoon for last-minute shopping at Kimironko Market or a coffee tour — Rwanda's other great export.
Kigali
A private transfer to Kigali International Airport for your onward or homebound flight.
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Gorilla photograph: Charles J. Sharp, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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