3 days helicopter flying safari to Volcanoes National Park

Overview

This 3 days helicopter flying safari takes you to Volcanoes National Park, a haven for one of the sought after primates and the most powerful on earth. The Mountain gorillas command the jungle, and those who visit them have to abide by their rhythm. They are only found on the continent of Africa, at the vast Virunga chain of mountains, which spans through the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and Rwanda. At Volcanoes National Park, you will trek one family with some of the attributes you love most. A family is led by a silverback, and they behave less like human families. Other activities include golden monkey trekking and a cultural experience at Iby’iwacu Cultural Village. This trip starts with a Kigali city tour and ends with eyes on golden monkeys. It is a flight trip from and to Kigali.

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Kigali city Tour and fly to Musanze Airstrip. Evening tour at Iby’iwacu Cultural Village

Meet and greet our safari guide at the airport or hotel for the start of your safari. After the briefing, you will take a tour around the smartest city in the east of the continent of Africa. Kigali is one of the most organized capital cities in Africa, with historical and cultural attractions. You will visit the genocide memorial site to learn about the effects of genocide and pay tribute to the victims of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Other places to visit include the local markets to watch how trade is done in Rwanda, and buy a few souvenirs. Proceed to the Convention Centre, from where there will be a transfer to the airport for a 25-minute helicopter flight to Musanze Airstrip thereby driving to Volcanoes National Park for about 30 minutes for your check-in at the lodge. Have your first lunch meal, followed by a great moment with local natives at the Iby’iwacu cultural community. Have a community walk, cultural dance, and listen to stories. End this day with dinner and sweet slumber.

Day 2: Gorilla trekking. Evening visit to the Dian Fossey Museum in Kinigi

After an early breakfast meal at the lodge, you will join the ranger guides and other trekkers for a pre-trekking briefing. This is done to verify all the trekking documents, and to orient on the trekking dos and don’ts, gorilla reaction to humans, and the forest walk experience. Depending on your trekking speed and how far the apes have gone, finding these mountain gorillas can take approximately 1-8 hours, plus an additional hour for watching, taking photos, and asking questions. Along the search, there is a chance of encountering other forest inhabitants like the white and black colobus monkeys, the birds, and more. Pay attention to the plants, as some are very important to human health.

After an hour with the gentle giants, have a lunch break, followed by a visit to the Dian Fossey Museum in Kinigi. Dian dedicated her life to gorillas, advocating against poaching and promoting conservation. Today, humans can meet the mountain gorillas in the forest because of her. Her works can be seen at the museum. At sunset, retire to the lodge for dinner and a nap.

Day 3: Golden monkey trekking and drive back to Kigali from Volcanoes National Park

Start your day with a breakfast meal, then head to the park headquarters for a pre-trekking briefing with the ranger guides who will explain to you the trekking dos and don’ts, characteristics of golden monkeys, and there uniqueness in comparison with the mountain Gorillas, Trekking the golden monkeys will require your full attention when taking photos or watching them. Golden monkeys are some of the most beautiful primates you will ever come across. You will spend about 1-4 hours trekking these monkeys, and an hour watching as they feed on bamboo and other fruits they love. This lasts for approximately an hour. Return to the lodge for lunch and check out. Journey back to Kigali for about 3 hours.

Top Rwanda Gorilla Tours & Safari Packages 2026/2027

Known by many as the “Land of a Thousand Hills”, remarkable Rwanda is a beautiful country. A gorilla safari in Rwanda does not only come alone, but with a lot of other optional experiences including wildlife safaris in Akagera National Park, chimpanzee trekking tours in Nyungwe National Park and tours to Genocide Memorial Centers. See see some of our top gorilla tours in Rwanda and safari packages.

Sándor Jakubinyi

14:31 22 Feb 24

2019 megigazulás

12:45 21 Feb 24

We went on a two-week trip with my family, organised by Coleb from Standard Safaris.I had my concerns about organised trips, but this one didn’t justify any of those. Everything went very smoothly, even when some problems arose with one of the cars it got fixed by next morning, the accomodations were clean and comfortable, the programs were exciting and well-balanced - everything was done to a truly high standard.If you plan to visit Uganda and are looking for a guide, I warmly recommend Coleb and his team. In case you have a choice of drivers, go for Godwin, his presence made this trip even more enjoyable - cheerful, helpful, good sense of humour, generally a great person. Just look for the guy with a big smile and big heart:)

Bert Simoens

09:38 08 Jan 24

We recently embarked on a safari adventure with Standard Safaris in Uganda, which was truly exceptional. Our guide, Yonah, was outstanding - his kindness, knowledge, and discretion significantly enhanced our experience. He was the heart of our trip.The local company's planning was offering a tailor-made journey that matched our interests. We saw an array of wildlife in Murchison, enjoyed rafting at Jinja, and experienced mountain biking at Sipi. A visit to Kidepo National Park was a highlight and comes highly recommended.The vehicle provided was comfortable and reliable. We highly recommend Standard Safaris for anyone seeking an unforgettable safari in Uganda. Their professionalism and the exceptional guidance of staff like Yonah make them an great choice.

Michał Kostrzewa

00:41 15 Nov 23

We are all extremely grateful Standard Safaris for an incredible East Africa experience. I recently booked a custom trip for group of 8 people, including an 8-year-old boy, from Kampala through Queen Elizabeth National Park and on to Rwanda and Burundi. Coleb delivered on everything that was discussed and agreed upon beforehand.The car provided was in great condition and our driver Meddy went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable, informed, and had the best possible time. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. All local services were inlcuded in (reasonable) price that we agreed, so there was no need to worry about payments during the 6 day trip. Also Standard Safaris agreed took care about safety and security by helping us organize armed ranger while in the park.The whole trip was hassle-free and smooth. We saw amazing wildlife in Queen Elizabeth NP, took in the sights of Rwanda and Burundi, and made lifelong memories.I would happily book with Standard Safaris again in a heartbeat and recommend them wholeheartedly to anyone looking for the best East Africa trip. They provide top-notch service while ensuring you have an incredible, customized experience. If you want a hassle-free, flawlessly organized African adventure, Standard Safaris is the tour operator to book with.

Ivan Nammanda

18:31 27 Oct 23

Very organized travel operator who chose awesome guide to make our trip wonderful.We booked a nine days trip with Standard Safaris and all was perfect from start to finish. Coleb was very prompt at replying and easy to liaise with ahead of the trip. We had done a lot of research and had an itinerary in mind and Coleb helped us to put everything together to make this happen for a very reasonable price.  On the trip we had a private vehicle for the whole tour which was exactly what we wanted. Bryan was our driver and an amazing guide - really friendly and knowledgable, working hard to find the things that we wanted to see and quickly understanding what was of interest to us/how much information to give.Would highly recommend a trip to Uganda with Standard Safaris. We are definitely coming back soon!

MUGAIGA KENNETH

18:01 27 Oct 23

The company has very courteous tour guides with wide knowledge of fauna and frola in the whole of East Africa.The choice of safari Lodges is good with first class treatment.Game drive security is assured.Almost The whole of September I was traversing through DRC, Uganda,and Rwanda on a gorilla tour and wildlife expedition.Everything was arranged and booked perfectly by Standard Safaris.The owner, Coleb was always helpful whenever we needed to ask questions about this gorilla safari in Uganda and beyond.It was a complex expedition but Standard safaris and Coleb made it look amazingly easy.I’ll recommend Standard safaris 200%, for all gorilla safaris in Uganda, Rwanda and wildlife tours in east africa.

travel uganda

16:35 27 Oct 23

This is so far the best gorilla trekking company in Uganda, and africa, by far. I had a wonderful time with Standard Safaris as a solo traveler.My guide was excellent and our safari planner, Coleb was quick with responses and the prices were very friendly.I’ll definitely book with Standard safaris on my next gorilla tour in Rwanda and Uganda.