5 Days Rwanda Tour to Gorilla and Golden Monkey Tracking with Lake Kivu Tour
Overview
GorillasOur 5 Days Rwanda Tour to Gorilla and Golden Monkey Tracking with Lake Kivu Tour will offer you an opportunity to see the majestic gorillas and golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park, while also delving into Rwanda’s poignant past with visits to significant sites like Ntarama Church and the Genocide Memorial. To uplift your spirits, you’ll enjoy a cultural tour in Gisenyi, including a relaxing boat ride on the stunning Lake Kivu.
Throughout your Rwanda tour, you’ll witness the country’s remarkable recovery and reconciliation efforts following the 1994 genocide, while also experiencing its natural wonders and warm hospitality. The journey includes unforgettable primate tracking adventures in the bamboo forests of the Virunga Mountains, offering close encounters with some of the world’s most fascinating creatures in their natural habitat.
Your Rwanda tour concludes with a relaxing visit to the pristine shores of Lake Kivu, one of Africa’s Great Lakes, before returning to the vibrant capital city of Kigali. This expertly guided expedition provides the perfect balance of wildlife encounters, cultural experiences, and historical insights into Rwanda’s past, present, and promising future.
Price Includes
Gorilla trekking permit
Golden monkey trekking permit
Park fees
All activities
Ground transport per 4WD custom
Bottled water in the safari vehicle
Full board accommodation as mentioned in the itinerary
Service of an English-speaking driver-guide
Driver allowances
All mentioned activities except for the optional ones
Price excludes
Rwanda Visa
International and Internal Flights
Personal needs such as gratitude, beverages, etc.
Visa
Air ticket
Optional Activities
Laundry fees
Tips
Life insurance
Other drinks apart from water
Itineraries
Day 1Pick Up from Kigali and Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Your Rwanda tour begins with a powerful historical experience as you visit Ntarama Church, located 30 km south of Kigali, a somber genocide memorial where over 5,000 people lost their lives during the 1994 tragedy. This Rwanda tour continues with a visit to nearby Nyamata Church, another significant memorial site about 10 km from Ntarama, providing insight into the country's dark past and remarkable journey toward healing. In the afternoon, your Rwanda tour takes you to Mayange Reconciliation Village, approximately 40 km from Kigali, where you'll witness firsthand how survivors and perpetrators now live together in a remarkable example of forgiveness and unity. After these moving experiences, you'll drive approximately 116 km (2.5 hours) northwest to Musanze (formerly Ruhengeri), the gateway to Volcanoes National Park, where you'll check into your comfortable accommodation for the night.
Day 2Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
The highlight of your Rwanda tour awaits as you rise early for breakfast before a short 20-minute drive to Kinigi, the headquarters of Volcanoes National Park (Parc National des Volcans), arriving by 7:00 AM for your pre-trek briefing. Your Rwanda tour adventure intensifies as experienced guides lead you into the dense bamboo forests and moorlands of the Virunga Mountains, tracking one of the habituated gorilla families that inhabit this protected wilderness spanning approximately 160 sq km. After a trek that could take 1-5 hours depending on the gorilla family's location, your Rwanda tour rewards you with an unforgettable hour in the presence of these gentle giants, observing their remarkably human-like behaviors and social interactions from just a few meters away. Once this magical hour concludes, you'll return to your lodge for relaxation and reflection on this once-in-a-lifetime wildlife encounter that forms the centerpiece of your Rwanda tour.
Day 3Golden Monkey Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Today your Rwanda tour continues with another primate tracking adventure as you return to Volcanoes National Park headquarters in Kinigi for an early morning briefing before setting off to find the playful golden monkeys (Cercopithecus kandti). During this Rwanda tour experience, you'll trek through the bamboo zone of the park, which covers the lower slopes of the Virunga volcanoes and serves as the primary habitat for these endemic primates with their distinctive bright orange-gold fur. Your Rwanda tour provides an entertaining morning as you observe these agile creatures leaping through the bamboo, grooming one another, and foraging for food during your allocated hour with them. The afternoon portion of your Rwanda tour takes you to Iby'Iwacu Cultural Village in Nyabigoma, just outside the national park, where you'll immerse yourself in traditional Rwandan culture through dancing, music, and demonstrations of pre-colonial lifestyle practices, providing a perfect cultural complement to your wildlife experiences.
Day 4Transfer from Volcanoes National Park to Lake Kivu
After breakfast, your Rwanda tour offers a heartwarming community experience as you visit a local school near Musanze, approximately 15 minutes from your lodge, where you'll interact with energetic Rwandan students and possibly participate in a classroom activity. Your Rwanda tour then takes you to the historic Imbabazi Orphanage and gardens in Mudende, about 30 km west of Musanze, where you'll learn about Rosamond Halsey Carr's remarkable humanitarian work during Rwanda's darkest period. By early afternoon, your Rwanda tour continues with a scenic 78 km (approximately 2-hour) drive southwest through lush highlands to reach Gisenyi (now officially called Rubavu), a charming lakeside town nestled on the northern shores of Lake Kivu. Your Rwanda tour allows time to explore this relaxed colonial-era town, perhaps strolling along the palm-fringed beach or taking a refreshing swim in Lake Kivu's crystal-clear waters before settling into your accommodation with stunning views across one of Africa's most beautiful lakes.
Day 5Drive from Lake Kivu to Kigali and Departure
The final day of your Rwanda tour begins with a leisurely breakfast overlooking the tranquil waters of Lake Kivu before embarking on the approximately 160 km (3-hour) journey back to Kigali along Rwanda's well-maintained scenic highways. Upon arrival in the capital, your Rwanda tour includes a comprehensive city tour featuring visits to the Rwanda Art Museum in Kanombe (formerly the Presidential Palace Museum), located about 5 km east of the city center. Your Rwanda tour continues with a moving visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial in Gisozi, which honors the estimated one million Rwandans who lost their lives in 1994, providing important historical context and highlighting the country's remarkable recovery. Before your departure, your Rwanda tour concludes with some shopping at local craft markets like Caplaki Crafts Village in Gikondo and possibly lunch at the famous Hôtel des Mille Collines in downtown Kigali, before your guide transfers you to Kigali International Airport for your onward journey.
