Meet Gorillas and Golden Monkeys in the Virunga Volcanoes
This 3-day private tour runs from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park, home to Rwanda’s mountain gorillas. You’ll arrive in time to settle into your lodge below the Virunga volcanoes, then set out the next morning with park rangers to find a habituated gorilla family and spend an hour in its company. That afternoon, you’ll see how the gorillas are protected at the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.
Your last morning brings a second primate trek, this time through bamboo forest to find golden monkeys. After lunch, you’ll drive back to Kigali, stopping at the Kigali Genocide Memorial before your guide drops you at the airport.
Why You’ll Love This Safari
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Trip Details
Trip Details
Price
1 Solo: $3,450 2 Pax Sharing: $2,718 3 Pax Sharing: $2,690 4 Pax Sharing: $2,538 5 Pax Sharing: $2,515 6 Pax Sharing: $2,428
Meeting point
Kigali
Availability
Year-round, 7 days a week
Duration
3 days
Group size
Min. 1 person
Included
- Park fees (for non-residents)
- All activities (unless labeled as optional)
- All accommodations (unless listed as upgrade)
- A professional driver/guide
- Private safari vehicle: a 4×4 Land Cruiser, Toyota Prado or safari van, depending on group size
- All transportation (unless labeled as optional)
- All taxes/VAT
- Roundtrip airport transfer
- Meals (as specified in the day-by-day section)
- Drinks (as specified in the day-by-day section)
- Gorilla permits (one per person, non-resident)
- Golden monkey permits (one per person, non-resident)
Not included
- International flights (from/to home)
- Additional accommodations before and at the end of the tour
- Tips
- Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
- Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
- Porter fees
What to bring
- Waterproof jacket
- Warm jacket (early mornings can be cold)
- Neutral-colored clothing (avoid bright colors)
- Long-sleeved shirt
- Long pants
- Good hiking shoes
- Gaiters (for mud and nettles)
- Hat
- Gloves
- Light backpack
- Sunscreen
- Snacks
- Light face mask
Participation requirements
Min. age of 15 years old required to participate in this tour. A reasonable level of fitness is recommended for the gorilla trek.
About your guide
Your safari will be led by an experienced local guide who will share facts about the wildlife, landscapes, and culture. Your guide is dedicated to ensuring your safari is safe, informative, and tailored to your interests.
What You’ll See & Do
Day 1: Kigali to Volcanoes National Park
Your guide will meet you in Kigali, at the airport or your hotel, for the drive north to Volcanoes National Park. The road climbs through terraced hills and small farms for about two and a half hours, and the Virunga volcanoes come into view as you get close to Musanze.
After you check in at your lodge, the afternoon is yours. Rest after your flight, take in the views of the volcanoes, and lay out your boots and rain gear for the morning. Dinner is served at the lodge, followed by an early night before trek day.
Meals Included: Dinner
Overnight: Volcanoes National Park
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking and the Ellen DeGeneres Campus
After an early breakfast, you’ll check in at park headquarters for a 7:30 AM briefing, where rangers assign each group a gorilla family. The trek through misty mountain forest can take two to five hours, depending on where the family is feeding that day. When you reach them, you’ll have one hour to watch the gorillas eat, rest and play at close range.
After the trek, you’ll visit the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, where exhibits explain the research and conservation work that protects the gorillas. You’ll then return to your lodge for dinner and a second night near the park.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Volcanoes National Park
Day 3: Golden Monkey Trekking and Return to Kigali
After an early breakfast, you’ll head back into the park, this time into the bamboo forest, with a guide to look for golden monkeys. These quick, playful primates feed on bamboo and are great fun to watch and photograph, and the trek gives you a second, different look at the park’s wildlife.
Return to the lodge to freshen up and have lunch, then drive back to Kigali. Your guide will then take you to the Kigali Genocide Memorial, with a short city tour if time allows, before dropping you at Kigali International Airport for your flight home.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Frequently Asked Questions
It suits travelers who want to see mountain gorillas without committing to a long safari, including people visiting Kigali for work or adding Rwanda to a wider East Africa trip. Two nights near the park mean the gorilla trek isn’t rushed, and the golden monkey trek on the last morning adds a second primate encounter before your flight. Everyone on the trek must be at least 15 years old.
Expect a moderate to challenging hike on steep, often muddy forest trails. Depending on where your gorilla family is, the trek can take two to five hours in total. A reasonable level of fitness helps, and local porters can carry your bag and give you a hand on steep ground. Porter fees are not included in the tour price, so bring some cash to pay your porter directly.
Your price includes one Rwanda gorilla permit and one golden monkey permit per person, plus park fees for non-residents. The gorilla permit alone costs $1,500 and is issued by the Rwanda Development Board, so it makes up most of the tour price. Your driver/guide, two nights’ accommodation, airport transfers and the meals listed in the itinerary are also included. For how gorilla permits are priced and booked, see our gorilla trekking permit cost guide and our guide to the full cost of a gorilla trek.
Book as early as you can, because only a limited number of gorilla permits are issued for each day. For July and August, the busiest months for gorilla trekking, we recommend booking about six months ahead. A 50% deposit confirms your booking. Our guide to the best time for gorilla trekking compares the dry and rainy months.
Yes. Because this is a private tour, we can add days before or after it. Popular additions are a second gorilla trek, game drives in Akagera National Park, or chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park. If you have less time, our 1-day and 2-day gorilla tours focus on the gorilla trek alone. Send us your dates and we’ll suggest the best fit.
