4 Days gorilla and golden monkey trekking safari takes you to the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda for an amazing encounter with two critically endangered primates – Golden monkeys and the mountain gorilla. The package also includes a Kigali city tour, visiting the Gorilla Guardians Village and the twin Lakes (Burera and Ruhondo).
Safari Overview
4 Days gorilla and golden monkey trekking safari takes you to the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda for an amazing encounter with two critically endangered primates – Golden monkeys and the mountain gorilla. The package also includes a Kigali city tour, visiting the Gorilla Guardians Village and the twin Lakes (Burera and Ruhondo).
Safari Highlights
- Gorilla tracking
- Golden monkey tracking
- Gorilla guardians village
- Twin lakes
Itinerary
This 4-day Rwanda tour takes you from Kigali to the beautiful Volcanoes National Park for an unforgettable encounter with mountain gorillas and golden monkeys. You enjoy a smooth drive through Rwanda’s rolling hills, then spend your days trekking into the misty forests with experienced rangers to find a calm gorilla family and later a lively troop of golden monkeys that jump quickly through the bamboo.
Our tours generally start with a company guide (Go Primate Safaris) picking you up from your hotel or airport very early in the morning. This 4 days tour will start with a tour of the city of Kigali. The Kigali city tour includes a visit to the Kigali genocide memorial center, the main city market, the presidential palace museum, artisan shops and a few other places that might interest you. After the city tour, out Guide will take you for lunch at a suitable spot before starting the 3-hour journey to the Volcanoes national park. The journey involves passing through beautiful mountainous country side and vast tea plantations. You will discover why Rwanda is referred to as “The Land of a thousand hills”. Once you reach the park, you will be taken straight to your hotel for check-in and relaxation in your room or hotel gardens. Ensure that you sleep early so that you are ready for gorilla trekking the next day.
Accommodation options,
- Luxury-One & Only Gorillas Nest/Singita Kwitonda Lodge
- Mid-range-Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel
- Budget-Gorilla Solution Lodge
The briefing for gorilla tracking starts at 7:00 am. This briefing is organized by park officials at the headquarters in Kinigi. All trackers must be at the park offices and should attend the briefing to get an overview of what to expect during the activity. As we already stated earlier, there are 10 habituated gorilla families in the volcanoes national park and you will be assigned one based on your overall fitness. Once the briefing is completed, you will be led into the forest by park officials. Gorilla tracking in the Volcanoes National Park takes between 2 to 6 hours. After locating your gorilla family, you only have one hour to observe them. Listen to instructions from your Guide and stay calm even when the silverback attempts to show power. Never make sudden and unnecessary movements in order to avoid alerting the gorillas.
After observing the primates for one hour, you will return back to the starting point where our guide will be waiting to take you back to your hotel for lunch. After lunch, shower and rest as you wait for the Driver to take you to the Gorilla Guardians Village. The Village was formally known as the Iby’iwacu cultural village. It started as a place where former poachers would sell souvenir to tourist but has now been rebuilt as a leading cultural center in the country. You will spend time being entertained by cultural performers and be requested to take part.
Accommodation options,
- Luxury-One & Only Gorillas Nest/Singita Kwitonda Lodge
- Mid-range-Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel
- Budget-Gorilla Solution Lodge
After your breakfast, you will set off for volcanoes national park offices for another briefing on golden monkey tracking. You will have an opportunity hire a porter to help out with any heavy luggage during the briefing or at the starting point. After hiking for about 2 hours, you will find them feeding on top of tree branches and on the ground. Golden monkeys are found in 3 countries – Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. They are critically endangered and face great threats from human activities. Golden monkeys are very playful and cute. They live in groups consisting of about 80 individuals. They are comfortable with flash cameras unlike gorillas. After spending time with them, you will go back to the starting point and find our driver waiting for you. The next program will be lunch and refreshment after which you will be taken for a drive to visit the twin lakes of Ruhondo and Burera. The main activities are the lake includes island hopping, canoeing, nature walks and birding.
Accommodation options,
- Luxury-One & Only Gorillas Nest/Singita Kwitonda Lodge
- Mid-range-Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel
- Budget-Gorilla Solution Lodge
Wake up and have late breakfast as you also prepare to check out and start the trip back to Kigali. The driver will take you up to the airport if you have a flight that day. If you are still in Rwanda, then he will drop you to your hotel.
End of safari
Includes & Exludes
Safari Includes
- Golden monkey tracking
- Gorilla tracking
- Twin lakes
- Kigali city tour
- Gorilla guardians village
- Accommodation
- An English speaking guide
- En-route meals
- Porters
- Park entry fees
- Transportation
Safari Exludes
- Visas
- Tips
- Alcoholic drinks
- Personal insurance
FAQS
Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is considered moderate, and most travelers with average fitness can do it. The hike may take 1–4 hours depending on where the gorillas are feeding, but trained rangers guide you at a comfortable pace. You also get walking sticks for support, and porters are available to help carry bags, making the whole experience easier and more enjoyable.
This tour combines two rare primate encounters in one trip—mountain gorillas and golden monkeys—which are only found in the Virunga Mountains. You enjoy a close, peaceful hour with a gorilla family and then a lively, fun trek to see golden monkeys jumping through bamboo trees. The mix of wildlife, beautiful landscapes, and Rwandan culture makes the safari unique and unforgettable.
Yes. The gorilla trekking permit is included in the safari package unless stated otherwise. Rwanda’s permit costs $1,500 per person, and it directly supports conservation and the protection of mountain gorillas. Your permit is arranged in advance to guarantee availability on your travel date.
You stay in comfortable lodges near Volcanoes National Park, offering warm hospitality, private rooms, delicious meals, and beautiful views of the Virunga Volcanoes. Whether mid-range or luxury, all lodges provide a quiet environment, hot showers, and early breakfasts to prepare you for the morning treks.
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