4 Days Rwanda Gorillas and Golden Monkey Tracking Tour
This 4 days Rwanda gorillas and golden monkey tracking tour offers more experiences in Rwanda. You can visit Nyungwe National Park which is one of the world’s most beautiful and oldest rainforest of Africa, home to the habituated chimpanzees and 12 other primate species, but also a birders’ paradise, you can go for safari in Akagera National Park on the border with Tanzania, hike or bike the Congo Nile Trail, see the real Rwandese culture in the cultural villages and relax at Lake Kivu.Most popular park of Rwanda is Volcanoes national park, where you can track the gorillas, the golden monkeys or do different hikes in this dramatic, volcanic landscape. Dian Fossey studied the endangered Mountain Gorillas in Volcanoes NP and her grave can be found and visited in this park.
You can visit the genocide memorials to get insight in the history of the genocide in Rwanda, and it will probably make you appreciate how far this country has come.
Highlights of the 4 Days Rwanda gorillas and golden monkey tracking tour
- Gorilla Tracking in Volcanoes national park
- Golden monkey tracking in Volcanoes national park
- Optional visit to the genocide memorial site
Day 1: Airport pick
Today, you will be picked from the Kigali airport by a representative of Flame Tree Lodge. Depending on your arrival time you may be able to visit some of Kigali’s craft markets to browse amongst the pottery, carvings, batik, weaving, sculpture, musical instruments, leather and fabrics on offer. Prepare to use your haggling skills! All activities and purchases today are at your own cost.
Journey Time: 15 minutes from the airport
Accommodation: Flame Tree Lodge
Meal Plan: No meals inclusive
Day 2: Transfer to Volcanoes National park
Today after breakfast, you will be transferred to Musanze, close to the beautiful Volcano range. Your lodge is located near the entrance of the national park with an amazing view overlooking the Virunga Volcanoes.
Journey Time: 4 hours
Accommodation: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Meal plan: All meals
Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (Mid-range) is on the edge of the dense forest that makes up Parc National Des Volcans, this lodge offers an excellent resting place before and after your visit with the gorillas. From the large rooms, you can look out over the expansive lawns and tropical rainforest with the mighty Mount Sabinyo that rising up in the background like a Mt. Olympus of the Virunga range. In the evening, enjoy a camp fire and some entertainment from a local dance troop.
You can upgrade to the Five Volcanoes lodge which is one of the most beautiful lodges in the country. It has stunning beautiful views.
Day 3: Gorilla Tracking
Today after breakfast, you will drive into the park about 30 minutes to the park office for briefing. The head ranger of the ORTPN will divide you into groups based on interest and fitness. From here your driver/guide will take you as close as possible to the starting point of your tracking. You will track one of the habituated Gorillas groups. The time taken to track the gorillas can take as little as half an hour to as much as 8 hours.
Your track will be an exciting journey along forested slopes, entwined vines, bushes and bamboo before you eventually reach the gorillas’ current location. Your guide will point out signs of previous gorilla activity, including dung, nests and chewed bamboo shoots. Once the gorillas have been located, you will be allowed a maximum of one hour with them. Coming face-to-face with a mountain gorilla is a humbling and emotional experience. This is a fantastic and privileged opportunity to get up close and personal with Rwanda’s own ‘Gorillas in the Mist’.
Journey Time: 15 minutes by car, tracking time varies
Accommodation: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Meal plan: All meals
Day 4: Golden monkey tracking- Transfer to airport
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the park headquarters for golden monkey tracking, which is a completely different experience but just as rewarding. These beautiful, lively creatures are on the endangered list, and are fascinating to watch as they leap through the vegetation.
Later, you will transfer back to Kigali airport. Depending on your departure flight you can visit the Genocide Memorial and Education Centre. It’s a dignified tribute to the victims, including a poignant Children’s Memorial, and a detailed description of the darkest hour in Rwanda’s recent history.
Your driver/guide will take you to the airport in time for your flight home.
Note: This is only possible when your flight departs from Kigali at 5 p.m. or later. If you need another night in Kigali, we will be happy to make a booking for you.
Accommodation for tonight is not inclusive in the program. If you want us to book one (or more) nights in Kigali, please let us know.
Journey Time: 2 hours
Accommodation: Not included
Meal plan: Breakfast
Transfers
Your transfers are provided by a vehicle from the lodge. This is a 4wd mini bus
Dates
This is a private tour, departure can be organised for anytime throughout the year subject to the availability of accommodation and transport.
Accommodation
The bookings with the hotels mentioned in the program depend on availability. Reservations will only be made after your booking.
In case the mentioned hotels are not available during the requested period, we will do our best to book a hotel in the same class for you- of course after consulting you.
Gorilla and chimp permits
It is not possible to ‘reserve’ gorilla and chimpanzee permits. Therefore we can only buy them after your booking and down-payment and it all depends on availability.
Transport
Our standard offering for mid-range tours is a 4wd safari van with a pop-up roof for easy safari viewing. All clients will have a dedicated window seat. Your professional driver/guide will be at your disposal for questions or translations.
Tour Package Including:
- Transport in a 4WD minivan with pop-up roof for excellent safari view;
- All fuel for the tour;
- English speaking Ugandan driver/guide;
- Accommodation as listed in the program;
- Meals as per the itinerary
- Packed lunch for the gorilla tracking;
- Park-entrance fees according to the program;
- All activities described in the itinerary;
- 1 gorilla permit per person
Excluding:
- International air fares and entry visas
- Meals that are not part of your accommodation;
- A porter for during the gorilla tracking (someone who carries your daypack);
- Personal (medical/travel) insurance;
- Tips and gratuities to rangers, driver/guide, porter, hotel staff, etc;
- All expenses of personal nature (e.g. drinks, laundry, optional activities, souvenirs etc.)
This tour tailor made to suit budget and luxury travellers
Important:
Please note the gorilla tracking in this itinerary can be done in Bwindi Impenetrable national park and or Mgahinga national park
Gorilla tracking is dependant on the permits availability at the time of your booking. Gorilla permits in all parks are on a very high demand and we advise that you book them as early as possible.
Inquire now for rates
When you book your trip with Gorilla Link Tours to any of our destinations, Gorilla Link Tours will donate US$ 5 per person to persons with Albinism.