4-day Rwanda Gorillas And Golden Monkey Tracking
About this tour
Spend a morning with a habituated gorilla family and the following day with the playful golden monkeys of Volcanoes National Park, with comfortable lodging in Musanze in between.
Gorilla trek
Golden monkey trek
Iby'iwacyu cultural village
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Kigali International Airport, Kigali, Rwanda to Kigali, Rwanda
Touch down at Kigali International Airport where your Kawira guide meets you for a private transfer to your boutique hotel. Settle in, enjoy a welcome briefing about the days ahead, and take a leisurely evening to recover from your flight. Morning · Airport pickup, scenic transfer through Kigali's clean, hilly streets, and hotel check-in. Afternoon · Optional Kigali Genocide Memorial visit, light city orientation walk, and a welcome dinner of Rwandan fusion cuisine.
Day 2: Kigali, Rwanda
After breakfast we drive north through the famed Land of a Thousand Hills, passing terraced farms, tea plantations and roadside markets, to Musanze at the foot of the Virunga volcanoes. Scenic 2.5-hour drive with photo stops at Ruhengeri viewpoints over the volcano chain. Afternoon; Check in to your lodge, enjoy a community walk visiting the Iby'iwacu cultural village, traditional dance performance and herbal medicine demonstration.
Day 3
The headline experience: an early start at park headquarters for briefing, then a guided trek into bamboo and Hagenia forest in search of one of ten habituated gorilla families. Trek length varies from one to six hours. Park briefing at 7am, group allocation based on fitness level, then trek with porters and armed ranger guides until your family is located. One magical hour with the gorillas. Afternoon; Return to the lodge for a celebratory hot lunch, and a free afternoon for massage, or a visit to the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund to learn more about Gorilla conservation Notes: Gorilla permits are confirmed at booking. Minimum age 15. A porter (USD $15) is strongly recommended.
Day 4
A shorter morning trek to find the endangered golden monkeys frolicking in the bamboo zone, then drive back to Kigali for departure. Golden monkey trek (1–3 hours) through bamboo forest, observing playful troops of 80+ monkeys feeding and grooming. Afternoon · Drive back to Kigali, stop at Kinigi craft cooperatives, lunch en route, hotel day-use or transfer to the airport for your onward flight. Notes: Departure flights should be after 6pm to allow buffer time on the road.
What's included
Meals: breakfasts, dinners, lunches Accommodation for two nights in a mid-range lodge One gorilla trekking permit per person Transport in a 4×4 vehicle and fuel Admission to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Optional activities Visas and other costs of personal nature Porter fees, gratuities, travel insurance, and medical expenses Any other costs not listed in the itinerary
Languages spoken
What to know
What to Bring; Hiking boots Garden gloves Rain jacket or poncho Long-sleeved shirt/blouse Cameras and extra batteries Hat/cap and sunglasses Pair of binoculars Flashlight (torch) Mosquito repellent Other items to include: zoom lens for wildlife shots and energy bars/bites Participation Requirements; Age restriction: 15-80 years old A valid passport is required on the day of travel This tour is not wheelchair accessible We advise against people with heart problems or other serious medical conditions participating on this tour Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
Route & locations
Kigali International Airport, Kigali, Rwanda to Kigali, Rwanda