DISCOVER TRUE AFRICA'S WILDERNESS WITH SARANIA ADVENTURE SAFARIS

If you’ve limited time but can’t choose between a gorilla trek and a golden monkey tracking adventure, this 3-day Rwanda trip through Volcanoes National Park is one for you. You will get the best of both Worlds along the journey, visiting mountain gorillas (one of mankind’s closest relatives) and the frisky golden-colored primates in their natural habitat. Driving to the Protected Area, you will enjoy views of the countryside with stops along the way for meals and photography.

Highlights

• Look for the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.
• Go golden monkey tracking in their natural haven.
• Learn about the devastating 1994 Rwandan genocide by exploring the Kigali Genocide Memorial Center.
• Visit the Gorilla Guardian Village.

Brief Itinerary

Day 1: City tour and transfer to Volcanoes NP, in the Northern Province of Rwanda.

Day 2: Gorilla Trekking and a visit to the Gorilla Guardian Village.

Day 3: Golden monkey tracking, and transfer to Kigali City.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: City tour and transfer to Volcanoes NP, in the Northern Province of Rwanda.

Start your Tour with a tour of Kigali City, to explore top cultural and historical sites that include the Kigali Genocide Memorial Center, the Inema Arts Center, and many others. You will then be treated to delicious Rwandan coffee before heading out of Town to the Volcanoes National Park. This beautiful National Park is home to at least 35% of the World’s population of mountain gorillas, and you will visit one of the 12 habituated gorilla families.

Check in at the Lodge and enjoy lunch while relaxing and preparing for your next day’s adventure.

Accommodation options;

• Bisate Lodge or Singita Kwitonda Lodge.
• Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel (midrange).
• Muhabura Hotel or Kinigi Guesthouse (budget).

Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner.

Travel time: Two and a half to three hours’ drive.

Day 2: Gorilla Trekking and a visit to the Gorilla Guardian Village

Start this beautiful day by searching for the endangered mountain gorillas. A total of 12 habituated gorilla families occupy different location of this Park. This 16000-hectare Protected Area is marked by a bamboo forest, open grassland, swampland, and heath. After a briefing on how the adventure is done, head off to the trailhead for the actual search for these endangered Giant Apes. Spend 1-6 hours searching for them, then spend one hour watching and taking photos of them as they go about their daily routines.

In the afternoon, you will head over to the Gorilla Guardian Village. Here, you will get a chance to learn about the country’s local cultures as you explore the traditional dances, learn how different local dishes are prepared, visit the traditional healer, visit the King’s house replica to listen to all the King’s stories, and their meanings, and listen to songs of the Gorillas sang by the “Kayuku”. Retire to the Lodge in the evening and unwind after a hard day.

Accommodation options;

• Bisate Lodge or Singita Kwitonda Lodge.
• Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel (midrange).
• Muhabura Hotel or Kinigi Guesthouse (budget).

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

Activities: Gorilla trekking and a visit to Gorilla Guardian Village.

Day 3: Golden monkey tracking, and transfer to Kigali City

Your last day begins as early as the previous day with breakfast and transfer to the Park Headquarters for briefing. This is followed by tracking of the two habituated troops of the endangered golden monkeys in their natural habitat, the foot of Mount Sabyinyo, one of the Volcanoes in the Virunga massif (which is also home to these primates). The activity is also done on foot and lasts 1-3 hours, followed by one hour of observation and photography with these primates.

Afterwards, check-out of the Lodge and start your journey to Kigali for your departure flight. This is now the end of your 3-day Rwanda Gorilla and Golden monkey trekking safari! Of course, you can spend a few more days in the “Land of a thousand Hills” or even cross the border to the neighboring country- Uganda or Tanzania on another trip.

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch.

Activities: Golden monkey tracking.

Inclusions of the 3-day Rwanda Gorilla and Golden Monkey trekking Tour;

• Tours of Kigali Genocide Memorial Center.
• Golden monkey tracking permit/s.
• Gorilla permit/s.
• Visit to Gorilla Guardian Village.
• Ranger fees.
• Park entry fees.
• Relevant Government taxes.
• Bottled water.
• 2 nights’ accommodation in/around Volcanoes National Park as per plan.
• Meals as per the itinerary.
• Services of an experienced English-speaking field guide.
• Ground transportation by a customized safari vehicle.

Exclusions of the 3-day Rwanda Gorilla and Golden Monkey trekking Tour;

• Airfares.
• Insurance premium.
• Payment for services provided on a personal basis such as laundry fees, telephone calls, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, incidentals, and porterage.
• Expenses incurred due to political unrest, landslides, and mishaps among others.

What to pack for your Rwanda Gorilla and Golden monkey tracking safari

• Insect repellant.
• A good camera with enough memory space and lens.
• A reusable water bottle.
• Sturdy hiking boots.
• A backpack.
• Energy-giving snacks.
• Long-sleeved shirt/s.
• Safari pants in neutral colors.
• Pair of binoculars.
• A wide-brimmed safari hat.
• Sunscreen.
• Sunglasses.
• A waterproof rain jacket.

Best time to go for the Rwanda Gorilla and Golden monkey trekking tour

The best time for Gorilla and Golden monkey trekking is during the dry season (June to September and December to February). During this season, rainfall minimizes hence making trails clear and allowing trekkers to go deeper into the rainforest to search for these primates. Do you know why the dry season is the perfect time? This is because there are fewer daily showers, and trails are clearer which makes it less challenging to walk through the forest. However, this is also the peak season which means accommodation rates are higher than in the wet/low season.

If you choose to trek gorillas and golden monkeys in the wet season, you can expect muddy/slippery trails due to increased rain showers. However, there’s also a chance to enjoy low-season discounted rates on some accommodations.