5 Days Rwanda Gorilla & Golden Monkey Trekking Tour
5 Days Rwanda Gorilla & Golden Monkey Trekking Tour will give you an opportunity to explore Volcanoes national park which is one of the most visited gorilla destinations. During the safari you will engage in gorilla trekking activity where you will have a face to face interaction with the mountain gorillas, golden monkey trekking where you will have an interesting encounter with the golden monkeys, visit Dian Fossey grave, twin lakes of lake Burera and Ruhondo and cultural tour where you will be able to interact with the local people in the neighboring community.
Highlights of the 5 days gorillas and golden monkey safari in Rwanda
- Day 1: Pick up and transfer to volcanoes national park
- Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park
- Day 3: Golden monkey trekking and cultural tour
- Day 4: Visit Dian fossy tombs and twin lakes
- Day 5: Departure to Kigali
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Volcanoes national park, upon arrival at Kigali international airport on the first day of the 5 days gorillas and golden monkey safari in Rwanda, you will be welcomed by our driver guide who will brief you about the safari and then transfer to Kigali for a city tour. During the tour you will visit Kigali genocide memorial centre where you will be able to learn about the 1994 killing of the Hutus and Tutsi, visit Art centers, Kimironko market among others. After the city tour you will have lunch and then start the journey to Volcanoes national park in North West part Rwanda. The journey takes about 2 to 3 hours drive and on the way you will have great views of the rolling hills, beautiful scenery, traditional homesteads, local people among others. Upon arrival you will continue to check into the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park
Gorilla trekking, after an early breakfast on the second day of the 5 days gorillas and golden monkey safari in Rwanda you will carry packed lunch and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing about the rules, regulations and expectations of gorilla trekking. After the briefing you will be allocated a habituated gorilla family to trek and a park guide who is well conversant with trails in the forest. Gorilla trekking takes about 30 minutes to 7 hours depending on where they are located and during trekking you will have views of other primates like vervet monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, views of birds, plant species among others. Once the mountain gorillas are found you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you an opportunity to observe their habits, behaviors, watch them carry out their daily activities like feeding, breastfeeding, playing, resting, take great pictures and record the moments. After the face to face encounter with the gentle giants you will trek back to the park headquarters where you will meet your driver guide and drive to the lodge for an evening relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Golden monkey trekking and cultural tour
Golden monkey trekking, after an early breakfast on the third day of the 5 days gorillas and golden monkey safari in Rwanda your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge to transfer to Kinigi park headquarters for a briefing about the rules and regulations of golden monkey trekking. After the briefing you will be allocated a habituated golden monkey family, a park guide and start trekking in the forest following trails of leftover bamboo leaves. Trekking of golden monkeys takes about 30 minutes to 3 hours depending on where they are located because they are active primates which like to move from one place to another. Once the golden monkeys are found you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat where you will be able to watch them jump from tree to tree, see them feed, play, take pictures and record videos. After the one hour with the golden monkeys you will trek back to the park headquarters where you will meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the lodge for lunch.
Cultural tour, after lunch you will go for an interesting cultural tour in the neighboring communities where you will be able to visit Ibyi’wacu cultural village. During the cultural tour you will be able to interact with the local people, learn about their culture, tradition, way of living, visit their farmlands, homesteads, taste their local dishes, learn how to make local beer from bananas, enjoy their traditional songs, dances, listen to ancient stories among others. After the cultural tour you will return to the lodge for an evening relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Visit Dian Fossey grave and Twin lakes
Visit Dian Fossey’s grave, after breakfast on the fourth day of the 5 days gorillas and golden monkey safari in Rwanda your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge and drive to the park headquarters for a briefing about Dian Fossey hike. After the briefing you will start hiking to Karisoke research centre where you will see Dian Fossey’s grave which is next to that of her favorite gorilla digit and other gorillas. During hiking you will have stunning views of animals like elephants, forest hogs, buffaloes, antelopes, primates like monkeys, different bird species among others. While at the research centre you will be able to learn about her work, have spectacular views of Volcanoes national park. After the tour you will have lunch and then descend down to the park headquarters where you will meet your driver guide and drive back to the lodge for relaxation.
Twin lakes visit, in the evening you will drive to the twin lakes of Lake Ruhondo and Lake Burera which are located at the base of mount Muhabura. Upon arrival you will have spectacular views of the beautiful scenery, views of steep hills, waterfalls, bird species like African fish eagle, cormorants, sacred ibis, yellow billed stork, hadada ibis, view fishermen fishing, have beautiful views of the sundowner among others. After the twin lakes tour, you will drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Departure to Kigali
After a relaxed breakfast on the last day of the 5 days gorillas and golden monkey safari in Rwanda, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Kigali international airport for your departure flight or your driver guide will drop you off at the hotel in Kigali.
End of 5 days gorillas and golden monkey safari in Rwanda
Tour includes
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Golden monkey trekking permit
- Cultural tour
- Twin Lakes tour
- Dian Fossey grave hike
- All mentioned activities
- Services of a professional English speaking driver guide
- Full board accommodation
- Ground transfers (in a 4WD vehicle)
- Vehicle and fuel
- Bottled water
Tour excludes
- International air flight tickets
- Visas
- Optional activities not included on the itinerary
- Life insurance
- Personal expenses like buying souvenirs, crafts, drinks, laundry services, hiring a porter, tips among others.
