4 Days Gorillas & Golden Monkeys Discovery
4-Day Rwanda Gorillas & Golden Monkeys Discovery
Trek to mountain gorillas and track golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park, with a village visit in between. Two days of primates, one short drive each way from Kigali.
Tour Overview
This is a short trip built around two primate encounters in Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park: one hour with mountain gorillas, and a morning with golden monkeys in the bamboo forest. Add a village visit and a two-hour drive each way from Kigali, and you can do it all in four days, airport to airport.
Trip Highlights
Mountain Gorilla Trek
One hour with a gorilla family, in a group of no more than 8 people.
Golden Monkey Tracking
A lively morning in the bamboo forest, on easier ground than the gorilla trek.
Village Visit
Meet local community members and hear how the park shapes their lives.
Permits Included
Both permits are in the price: $1,500 for gorillas and $100 for golden monkeys.
Secure Your Gorilla Permit
Permits are limited and issued for specific dates, so book early. Tell us your dates and group size and we'll check availability and send a quote.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Kigali → Volcanoes National Park
Your guide meets you at Kigali airport and briefs you on the trip, the permits and what to pack. You then drive north through terraced hills, tea estates and eucalyptus groves. It takes about two to two and a half hours.
As you near the park the air cools and the Virunga volcanoes rise above the farmland. You reach your lodge in the early or mid afternoon, with time to rest or take a short guided walk along the forest edge. Dinner, then an early night before the trek.
- Airport pickup and trip briefing
- Drive to Volcanoes National Park
- Dinner at the lodge
Mountain Gorilla Trek
After an early breakfast you drive to the Rwanda Development Board office at Kinigi, arriving by 7:00 AM for the briefing. Rangers confirm your permit, assign you to a gorilla family based on fitness and group, and go through the rules: stay 7 metres back, no flash, keep voices low. Walking sticks are provided, and you can hire a porter at the trailhead, which helps on the steep ground and supports local families.
You hike through farmland and bamboo into the misty upper slopes. The trek can take anywhere from one to six hours, depending on where the family has moved since the previous evening. Trackers go ahead and radio their location.
Then you spend one hour with the gorillas. Groups are limited to 8 people. Watch mothers nursing, young gorillas wrestling, and the silverback moving through the trees. Your permit fee goes toward gorilla protection, and you receive an official trekking certificate afterwards. The rest of the day is free: lunch, rest, or a short walk near the lodge.
- RDB briefing and gorilla family assignment
- Trek and one hour with the gorillas
- Free afternoon at the lodge
Golden Monkeys & Village Visit
After breakfast you return to the park to track golden monkeys. They are found only in the Virunga highlands and have golden-orange patches that stand out against the green bamboo. The habituated groups are lively and often come close, leaping overhead. The walk is usually two to three hours on easier ground than the gorilla trek, so it suits most fitness levels.
In the afternoon you visit a local village near the park. Community members share how they live, their craft traditions and stories, and how conservation affects them. It is a conversation rather than a show.
- Golden monkey tracking in the bamboo zone
- Afternoon village visit
Return to Kigali
After breakfast you drive back to Kigali, about two hours. Depending on your flight time, your guide can stop at a viewpoint over the Virunga range or at an artisan cooperative selling imigongo art panels and woven agaseke baskets.
You reach Kigali airport in good time for your flight.
- Optional viewpoint or craft stop
- Transfer to Kigali airport
What's Included
Included
- Kigali airport transfers
- Private 4×4 safari vehicle and guide
- Gorilla trekking permit ($1,500 pp)
- Golden monkey permit ($100 pp)
- 3 nights accommodation
- Meals as listed in the itinerary
- Village cultural visit
- All park entry fees
- Bottled water during transfers
- Government taxes
Excluded
- International flights
- Rwanda visa fees
- Travel and medical insurance
- Personal expenses and souvenirs
- Tips for guides and staff
- Alcohol and premium drinks
- Porter hire (about $20)
- Luxury lodge upgrades
Price Per Person
| Group Size | Price per Person | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 traveller | $4,850 | Single supplement applies |
| 2 travellers | $4,200 | Per person |
| 3 travellers | $3,950 | Per person |
| 4 travellers | $3,750 | Per person |
| 5 travellers | $3,600 | Per person |
| 6 travellers | $3,450 | Best group value |
Before You Book
Good to Know
- Booking: Gorilla permits are limited, issued for specific dates and non-refundable once confirmed. We ask for a 50% deposit to secure permits and rooms. Book early for June–September and December–February.
- Fitness: Moderate. The gorilla trek is on steep volcanic ground and can last up to 6 hours.
- Minimum age: 15 years for gorilla trekking, strictly enforced by the Rwanda Development Board.
- What to wear: Waterproof hiking boots, long sleeves and long trousers for nettles and insects.
- Gorilla family: Assigned by park rangers on the day, based on fitness.
- Photography: Allowed, but no flash near gorillas.
- Where you'll stay: Luxury: Bisate Lodge or Singita Kwitonda. Mid-range: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge or Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge. Comfort: Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge or Tiloreza Eco Lodge.