Gorillas One Morning, Golden Monkeys the Next — Without Changing Lodges
Gorilla permit US$1,500 pp · trip price quoted for your dates
Golden monkeys are found only in the Albertine Rift, and the bamboo forests of the Virungas are the best place to see them. They are quick, playful and photogenic — a lively contrast to the calm hour you spend with a gorilla family. Doing both from the same lodge keeps driving to a minimum.
This three-day itinerary gives you a buffer day: if your gorilla trek is long, you have the afternoon to recover before a shorter, easier golden monkey walk the next morning. The final afternoon returns you to Kigali.
Photo: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0
Trip Highlights
Mountain Gorilla Trek
One hour with a habituated gorilla family after a guided hike through bamboo and montane forest.
Golden Monkey Tracking
A shorter walk to a habituated troop of golden monkeys, usually in the bamboo near the park boundary — excellent for photographs.
Unhurried Pace
Two nights in one lodge, with free time to rest, visit the Twin Lakes or join an Iby'Iwacu community visit.
Your Permit Supports Conservation
Gorilla permit fees pay for ranger patrols and veterinary care, and a share of park revenue funds schools, clinics and water projects around the park. How permits work.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1Kigali to Volcanoes National Park
Pick-up in Kigali and a scenic drive of about two and a half hours to Musanze and Kinigi. Afternoon at leisure, or an optional visit to the Twin Lakes of Burera and Ruhondo, where terraced hills drop to the water.
Day 2Mountain gorilla trekking
Briefing at Kinigi park headquarters at 7:00 am, then your trek with rangers and trackers. After your hour with the gorillas, return to the lodge for a late lunch and a quiet afternoon — many people are surprised how tired they are after the altitude and the excitement.
Day 3Golden monkey tracking and return to Kigali
A second, earlier briefing at Kinigi for golden monkey tracking. The walk is usually gentler than a gorilla trek, through farmland and into bamboo, and you again have one hour with the troop. Return to the lodge for lunch, then drive back to Kigali.
Accommodation
We match lodges to your budget. These are examples we use on this trip; we will suggest alternatives if they are full.
What's Included
Included
- Gorilla permit (US$1,500 per person), booked in your name
- Golden monkey permit
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof and an English-speaking driver-guide
- Airport or Kigali hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Accommodation at your chosen lodge level, with meals as listed each day
- Park entry fees for the activities named in the itinerary
- Bottled drinking water in the vehicle
- Help with permits, timings and pre-trip questions from our Kigali office
Not included
- International flights and your Rwanda visa
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended — it should cover medical evacuation)
- Porter fees on trek days and tips for guides, trackers and lodge staff
- Drinks at lodges, laundry and personal purchases
- Optional activities not listed in the itinerary
Physical Requirements
The gorilla trek is the demanding part: allow anything from two to six hours in total on steep, muddy ground at around 2,500–3,000 metres. Golden monkey tracking is usually shorter and on gentler terrain. Porters are available for both and are well worth hiring.
Request This Trip
Tell us when you would like to travel. We will check gorilla permit availability for your dates and send a quote within one working day. No obligation.
Why Travel with Us?
Rwanda specialists, based in Kigali
We plan Rwanda trips and Rwanda–Uganda combinations, so our advice on permits, lodges and timings is current and first-hand.
Permits checked before you pay
We confirm gorilla permit availability for your date before asking you to pay for it, then build the itinerary around the permit.
Private trips only
Your own vehicle and driver-guide, on your dates, at your pace — no shared minibuses and no fixed departures.
Honest advice on trek difficulty
Your guide talks to the rangers at the briefing so the gorilla family you visit suits your fitness as closely as possible.
Lodges chosen for location
We favour lodges close to the Kinigi park headquarters, so trek mornings start calmly rather than before dawn.
Conservation and community
Every permit funds park protection and community projects around Volcanoes National Park, and we work with local guides and porters.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a golden monkey permit?
Golden monkey tracking needs its own permit from the Rwanda Development Board. It costs a fraction of a gorilla permit; we quote the current rate with your itinerary.
Which should I do first, gorillas or golden monkeys?
We usually schedule gorillas first. If permits for your gorilla date are scarce, the order can be swapped without changing the rest of the trip.
Can children join?
Gorilla trekking is for ages 15 and over. Golden monkey tracking has a lower minimum age; ask us about family options.
