Gorillas & Golden Monkeys
The Experience
Two of Rwanda’s most extraordinary primates. One itinerary that does justice to both. Volcanoes National Park is the only place on earth where you can trek mountain gorillas and golden monkeys in the same journey — and the contrast between the two experiences is part of what makes this itinerary so rewarding. The gorilla encounter is among the most profound wildlife experiences anywhere on the planet. The golden monkey — endemic to the Albertine Rift, fast-moving, brilliantly coloured, found in groups of up to eighty individuals — is faster, more playful, and will leave you equally breathless for entirely different reasons. Four days gives you both, without rushing either.
The Itinerary
Four days tracing the rhythm of the wild.
Kigali → Volcanoes National Park
Private transfer from Kigali to Musanze through Rwanda’s thousand hills. Check in to the lodge. Afternoon at leisure — the Virunga volcanoes visible from the terrace. Dinner and briefing for the days ahead. Early night.
Gorilla Trekking
5:30am departure to park headquarters. Ranger briefing and family assignment. The trek: between 30 minutes and four hours through dense Afromontane rainforest. One hour with a habituated gorilla family — silverbacks, mothers, infants. Photography permitted, no flash. Return by early afternoon. Rest, or optionalDian Fossey tomb visit in the late afternoon.
Golden Monkey Trekking
Morning departure for golden monkey trekking in Volcanoes NP’s bamboo zones. The golden monkey
(Cercopithecus kandti) is endemic to the Albertine Rift. Habituated groups of 30–80 individuals — agile, colourful, and endlessly entertaining. Trek typically 1–2 hours. Back at the lodge by midday. Afternoon free: optional twin lakes walk or Musanze caves.
Volcanoes NP → Kigali
Leisurely breakfast. Transfer to Kigali, arriving early afternoon — time for a final lunch or coffee in the city before your onward flight.
- Included
- Mountain gorilla permit — USD 1,500 per person
- Private trekking with licensed ranger
- Private road transfers Kigali ↔ Musanze
- 2 nights lodge in the park buffer zone
- Meals as listed (2× breakfast, 1× lunch, 1× dinner)
- Porter on trekking day — direct community income
- All park entry and conservation fees
- Edgar on-call throughout
- Excluded
- International flights · Kenya e-Visa · Travel insurance
- Rwanda e-Visa (apply online before travel)
- Travel insurance (required)
- Personal spending, tips, souvenirs
- Optional activities (golden monkey, Fossey tomb)
- Alcoholic beverages
Start Your Journey
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