5-Day Rwanda Gorilla Trekking, Golden Monkeys & Lake Kivu Safari
A five-day luxury Rwanda primate safari — mountain gorilla trekking and rare golden monkey tracking in Volcanoes National Park, a moving Kigali city and memorial tour, and lakeside relaxation on the shores of Lake Kivu.
About this safari
This five-day Rwanda safari through the Land of a Thousand Hills combines the world's most sought-after wildlife encounter — trekking to a habituated mountain gorilla family in Volcanoes National Park — with rare golden monkey tracking, a profound cultural and historical tour of Kigali, and restful days on the tropical shores of Lake Kivu. Rwanda's compact size and excellent roads make it one of the easiest places in Africa to reach the gorillas, and its story of recovery is genuinely inspiring.
You spend an unforgettable hour with a gorilla family in the bamboo forests of the Virunga volcanoes, track the acrobatic, endemic golden monkeys along the lower slopes, visit the Iby'Iwacu (Gorilla Guardians) Cultural Village, and unwind beside one of Africa's Great Lakes. Throughout, you travel privately with a dedicated Wildtouch driver-guide in a 4×4 Land Cruiser. (Note: the minimum age for gorilla trekking is 15.)
What makes this one special
- Mountain gorilla trekking with a habituated family in Volcanoes National Park
- Rare golden monkey tracking along the bamboo slopes of the Virunga Mountains
- A moving Kigali city tour and Genocide Memorial visit
- The Iby'Iwacu (Gorilla Guardians) Cultural Village and Intore dance
- Lakeside relaxation and a boat cruise on Lake Kivu
- Private 4×4 travel with a dedicated Wildtouch driver-guide throughout
The journey, morning by morning
Arrival in Kigali — welcome to Rwanda
Arrive at Kigali International Airport (KGL) for a VIP meet-and-assist welcome before meeting your dedicated Wildtouch Tours & Travel driver-guide and transferring to your Kigali hotel. Relax and prepare for your primate adventure.
Kigali city tour, Genocide Memorial & drive to Musanze
After breakfast, an insightful Kigali city tour including the Kigali Genocide Memorial, tracing Rwanda's history, the events of 1994, and the country's remarkable journey to unity and growth. After lunch, a scenic 2.5-hour drive through terraced green hills to Musanze, the gateway to Volcanoes National Park.
Mountain gorilla trekking & Iby'Iwacu Cultural Village
Rise early and transfer to the Volcanoes National Park headquarters at Kinigi for a ranger briefing, then trek into the bamboo forest and volcanic slopes. When the trackers locate your gorilla family you spend an hour with them, watching them feed, play and interact. Park rules ask trekkers to keep at least seven metres back and to wear a face mask throughout, and groups are capped at eight visitors per family per day. After lunch, visit the Iby'Iwacu (Gorilla Guardians) Cultural Village for royal-history displays and Intore dance.
Golden monkey trekking & transfer to Lake Kivu
After breakfast, a briefing then a trek to track the rare, endemic golden monkeys in the lower bamboo zones of Mount Sabyinyo and Mount Karisimbi — energetic, acrobatic primates found only in the Albertine Rift. Return for lunch, then a scenic drive to Lake Kivu, one of Africa's Great Lakes, to check into your lakeside resort for the evening.
Lake Kivu boat cruise & departure via Kigali
A leisurely morning by the water with a scenic boat cruise around Lake Kivu's tranquil bays, or relax poolside. After lunch, your driver-guide sets off for Kigali International Airport (KGL) - about three hours through the highlands - in good time for an evening international flight.
How this journey unfolds — 2 stops in 5 days
- 1Kigali
- 2Volcanoes
The year on this safari, month by month
Gorilla trekking runs year-round. The drier months — roughly June to September and December to February — make the forest trails firmer and trekking easier, though gorillas are seen through the year and the wetter months are greener and quieter. Permits are limited daily and should be booked well ahead.
Rwanda's forests are wet year-round; the drier windows (around June–September and December–February) make for firmer trekking trails.
Conditions along the route
Live readings where this safari spends its days.
The world this journey moves through
Photography of the landscapes and wildlife along this route — tap any photo to view it full screen.
Included and not included
Included
- Private 4×4 tourist-converted safari vehicle with an English-speaking driver-guide
- All airport transfers and VIP arrival assistance
- Accommodation as specified (luxury; mid-range available on request)
- Kigali city tour with entry to the Kigali Genocide Memorial
- Park entrance fees, guided golden monkey trekking and the Lake Kivu boat ride
- AMREF Flying Doctors emergency medical evacuation cover
- Meals as specified in the day-by-day itinerary
- Bottled mineral water in the vehicle and during trekking
- All applicable government taxes and levies
Not included
- Official gorilla trekking permit — US$1,500 per person, the published Rwanda Development Board rate (arranged with your booking)
- International and regional flights, visa fees and passport processing
- Travel, medical and trip-cancellation insurance
- Premium alcoholic beverages and meals not specified
- Driver-guide gratuities, lodge staff tips and porter fees
- Items of a personal nature (laundry, phone calls, souvenirs)
Travellers whose priority is the gorillas and primates, and who value Rwanda's easy access and short trekking distances. Suits couples, honeymooners, photographers and small groups; travellers must be 15 or older to trek to the gorillas.
A set luxury package: the Kigali Marriott Hotel, One&Only Gorillas' Nest near Volcanoes National Park, and Lake Kivu Serena Hotel on the lake. A mid-range option (Park Inn by Radisson Kigali and Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel) is available on request. Room types are arranged by the Wildtouch team.
Questions travellers ask
- Do you arrange the gorilla trekking permit for me?
- Yes. Rwanda gorilla permits are strictly limited each day and must be secured well in advance. Wildtouch applies for your permit as soon as the booking is confirmed and builds the trek date into the itinerary around the date the Rwanda Development Board allocates. Permits are capped daily and the popular months go early, so the sooner you book the more choice of date you have. The permit cost is additional to the package price.
- How difficult is the gorilla trek, and is there an age limit?
- Treks range from about one to several hours over steep, often muddy forest at altitude; the pace follows the group and porters are available and recommended. A reasonable level of fitness is enough for most travellers. The minimum age to trek to the gorillas is 15.
- What are golden monkeys, and are they worth tracking?
- Golden monkeys are a rare, brightly coloured primate endemic to the Albertine Rift, living in the lower bamboo forests of the Virungas. Tracking them is an energetic, joyful counterpoint to the gorillas — well worth the extra day, and far less demanding than the gorilla trek.
- Can I combine Rwanda with a Kenya or Tanzania safari?
- Yes — pairing the Rwandan gorillas with the Maasai Mara or the Serengeti is one of the most popular ways to travel with Wildtouch. As we operate all three countries, the whole trip is handled under a single booking.