How to spend 4 days with the Rwanda primates – Volcanoes national park

One of Africa’s most remarkable wildlife encounters is in Volcanoes National Park in northern Rwanda, a well-known for habitat for endangered primate species including mountain gorillas, golden monkeys and other wild creatures. This 4-day trip combines breathtaking scenery, conservation history, local culture, and spectacular gorilla and golden monkey trekking to provide you with a well-paced introduction to the park. It gives you enough time to appreciate Rwanda’s friendly people and breathtaking volcanic settings while exploring the park’s treasures.

Tour Highlights

  • Day1: Arrival, city tour and transfer to Volcanoes national park
  • Day 2: Gorilla tracking
  • Day 3: Golden monkey tracking and Ibyiwacu cultural centre visit.
  • Day 4: Ellen DeGeneres, transfer to Kigali and departure.

Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival, City tour and transfer to Volcanoes national park

Fly into Rwanda, pick up from Kigali International airport or your hotel in Kigali.  Meet your driver guide for a brief Kigali city tour to iconic historical places like the Kigali genocide memorial site and Kimironko market. After lunch, embark on a two and a half hours scenic road drive through rolling hills valleys and a beautifully terraced countryside to Volcanoes National Park (Musanze town/Ruhengeri).

Day 2: Gorilla tracking

After breakfast, head to the park headquarters for briefing about the safety and how to behave around the gorillas. With the guidance of armed park rangers and guides, trek through the misty and montane rain forest to search for a habituated mountain gorilla family. The hike can take 1-6 hours depending on the location of the gorillas. you will be allowed one hour to observe as you take photos of these amazing giant gentle apes.  later return to the accommodation.

Possible add-ons

if time is by your side, you can

1.Visit the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo for a boat ride, scenic views and photography of the surrounding landscape.

Day 3: Golden monkey tracking.

After an early morning breakfast, return to the park headquarters for a briefing about another group of primates- golden monkeys and later trekking. Golden monkey trekking is a lighter but funny primate experience which gets you closer to the playful and active golden monkeys in the bamboo forested areas where they dwell.  This trek lasts for 2-4 hours depending on their location. Once you locate them, you will spend one hour watching them as you take photos as you also the cool nature of their home. later return to the lodge for lunch.

Possible add-ons.

1.Visit the gorilla Guardians Village (Ibyiwachu cultural Centre) to enjoy the best of Rwandan cultural history and tradition. Interact with the former gorilla poachers, now reformed and currently advocate for gorilla protection through cultural exhibitions.

2.Hike to the Dian Fossey memorial / Karisoke research centre to learn about the famous primatologist who dedicated her efforts to mountain gorilla protection. (this is optional for the day depending on time and scheduled).

A relaxed evening, dinner and night at the accommodation.

Day 4: Ellen De Generes Campus of Dian Fossey and departure

As you wave bye- bye to Volcanoes national park, make a brief stop over at Ellen De-Generes Campus of Dian Fossey Fund a place for world research and education about mountain gorillas.  you will also learn the importance of mountain gorilla conservation to the development of Rwanda.  From here, drive back to Kigali. Drop off will be at your hotel in Kigali or at the airport for your flight back home.

End of 4 days primate trip to Volcanoes national park.

 

Trip includes

  • Tour car and tour driver driver/guide
  • All meals
  • Accommodation
  • Golden monkey tracking permits
  • Gorilla tracking   permits

Trip excludes

  • Optional activities
  • Visa fees and flight tickets
  • Personal insurance
  • Tips to porters and guides
  • All personal expenses such as laundry, phone bills, curio purchases