3-Day Rwanda Luxury Gorilla and Golden Monkey Trekking Tour
The 3-Day Rwanda Luxury Gorilla and Golden Monkey Trekking Tour offers an unforgettable opportunity to experience two of Africa’s most remarkable primates in one exceptional safari. Organized by Experiya Tour Company, this luxury adventure takes you into the breathtaking landscapes of Volcanoes National Park, one of Rwanda’s most celebrated wildlife destinations. Nestled within the magnificent Virunga Mountain range, the park is renowned for its thriving population of endangered mountain gorillas and its playful golden monkeys.
Throughout this carefully designed safari, you will enjoy luxurious accommodation, personalized service, spectacular scenery, and professionally guided wildlife experiences. Beyond the incredible primate encounters, the journey introduces you to Rwanda’s rolling hills, vibrant culture, and outstanding conservation efforts that have made the country one of Africa’s leading ecotourism destinations.
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali and Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Upon your arrival at Kigali International Airport or your hotel in Kigali, a professional safari guide from Experiya Tour Company will warmly welcome you before beginning the journey to Volcanoes National Park. The drive takes approximately two to three hours and passes through Rwanda’s beautiful countryside, where endless green hills, traditional villages, and well-maintained roads showcase why Rwanda is known as the “Land of a Thousand Hills.”
If your arrival time permits, you may choose to enjoy a short Kigali city tour before departing for the park. This optional excursion may include a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial, one of the country’s most important historical sites, offering visitors meaningful insight into Rwanda’s history, resilience, and remarkable transformation.
Upon reaching Volcanoes National Park, you will check into your luxury lodge and spend the remainder of the evening relaxing while enjoying exceptional hospitality and stunning views of the surrounding volcanic peaks.
Luxury accommodation options include Bisate Lodge, Singita Kwitonda Lodge, and One&Only Gorilla’s Nest. Lunch and dinner are included on this day.
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
After an early breakfast, you will travel to the park headquarters for registration and a detailed briefing conducted by experienced park rangers. During the briefing, guides explain trekking procedures, safety regulations, conservation practices, and appropriate behavior when observing mountain gorillas.
Following the briefing, visitors are assigned to one of the park’s habituated gorilla families based on fitness level and group size. Accompanied by expert trackers and armed rangers, you will begin your trek through dense rainforest, bamboo forests, and volcanic slopes. The duration of the trek varies depending on the location of the gorilla family and may last anywhere from one to six hours.
The excitement steadily builds as trackers follow fresh signs left behind by the gorillas until the remarkable moment arrives when you encounter these gentle giants in their natural habitat. Watching a gorilla family interact, feed, groom one another, and care for their young is a deeply moving experience that few wildlife encounters can equal.
Visitors are permitted to spend one unforgettable hour observing the gorillas while maintaining a respectful distance. During this time, you may take photographs without flash while appreciating the intelligence, social behavior, and peaceful nature of these endangered primates.
After completing the trek, you will return to your luxury lodge for relaxation, delicious meals, and an evening reflecting on one of Africa’s greatest wildlife experiences.
Luxury accommodation options include Bisate Lodge, Singita Kwitonda Lodge, and One&Only Gorilla’s Nest. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included.
Day 3: Golden Monkey Trekking and Return to Kigali
Your final day begins with breakfast before returning to the park headquarters for another briefing, this time focusing on golden monkey trekking. Unlike gorillas, golden monkeys are energetic, playful, and constantly moving through the bamboo forests, making the experience exciting and fast-paced.
Accompanied by experienced park guides, you will hike through the bamboo vegetation in search of these colorful and endangered primates. Once located, you will spend approximately one hour observing them as they leap effortlessly between trees, forage for food, and interact with members of their troop.
Golden monkeys are endemic to the Virunga Mountains and can only be found within Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Their striking golden-orange fur and lively personalities provide excellent opportunities for wildlife photography and create a memorable contrast to the calm nature of the mountain gorillas encountered the previous day.
After completing the trek, you will return to your lodge to freshen up and check out before beginning the comfortable drive back to Kigali. Depending on your departure schedule, your guide will transfer you either to Kigali International Airport or your preferred hotel, marking the successful conclusion of your luxury Rwanda safari.
Breakfast is included on this day. The drive back to Kigali takes approximately two to three hours.
Tour Inclusions
Experiya Tour Company provides luxury accommodation throughout the safari together with all meals specified in the itinerary. The package includes the Rwanda mountain gorilla trekking permit valued at USD 1,500, the golden monkey trekking permit valued at USD 100, all park entrance fees, guided trekking activities, and the services of a professional English-speaking safari guide. Guests also enjoy transportation in a comfortable 4×4 safari Land Cruiser, airport transfers, government taxes, AMREF emergency evacuation insurance, and complimentary bottled drinking water throughout the journey.
Tour Exclusions
The safari package does not include international flights, travel insurance, visa processing fees, alcoholic beverages, personal expenses, souvenirs, gratuities, optional excursions, meals not specifically mentioned in the itinerary, accommodation after the safari, or additional baggage charges for domestic flights where applicable.
Gorilla and Golden Monkey Permit Information
Gorilla trekking permits remain the largest component of the safari cost. Foreign non-residents pay USD 1,500 per permit, foreign residents pay USD 500, while East African citizens pay USD 200.
Golden monkey trekking permits cost USD 100 for foreign non-residents, USD 65 for foreign residents living in Rwanda, USD 80 for East African foreign residents, and RWF 4,000 for East African citizens. Each permit includes park entry, ranger guidance, and one hour spent observing the respective primates.
Best Time to Visit
Volcanoes National Park can be visited throughout the year, making gorilla and golden monkey trekking possible during every season. However, the dry seasons from June to September and from December to February offer the most favorable trekking conditions, with drier trails and clearer mountain views.
Because gorilla permits are issued in limited numbers each day, visitors are strongly encouraged to reserve their permits between two and six months in advance, particularly during peak travel seasons. Regardless of the time of year, the chances of successfully locating mountain gorillas remain exceptionally high, making this luxury safari one of Africa’s most rewarding wildlife experiences.
