3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Safari and Golden Monkey Trekking
Overview of the 3 Days Rwanda Gorilla trekking and Golden Monkey safari
The 3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking and Golden Monkey safari is a thrilling wildlife experience that offers travelers the chance to explore the lush rainforests of Volcanoes National Park, home to some of Rwanda’s most iconic primates. This carefully designed 3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking itinerary combines two of the park’s most sought-after activities—gorilla trekking and golden monkey trekking—making it one of the most memorable short safaris in the region. Ideal for wildlife enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike, this 3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking tour provides a deep and personal connection with nature as you track the rare mountain gorillas and the playful golden monkeys that inhabit the misty slopes of the Virunga Mountains.
Your 3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking adventure begins with an immersive hike into the thick rainforest where you’ll spend a magical hour observing a habituated family of gorillas in their natural environment. Witnessing their interactions, expressions, and behaviors at such close range is a profound and humbling experience. On the second day of this 3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking and Golden Monkey safari, you’ll set out on another exciting trek, this time in search of the vibrant and energetic golden monkeys. This combined gorilla and golden monkey trekking experience gives you a chance to see two of Volcanoes National Park’s most remarkable primates in one unforgettable trip.
In addition to the wildlife encounters, this 3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking safari includes a cultural component that allows you to connect with Rwanda’s rich traditions. You’ll visit a local cultural village where you can learn about ancient customs, traditional medicine, music, and dance. This cultural immersion adds depth to the 3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking experience, rounding out the adventure with insight into the daily lives and heritage of the Rwandan people. Whether you’re here for gorillas, golden monkeys, or Rwanda’s warm hospitality, the 3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking safari is the perfect combination of wildlife, culture, and lasting memories.
3 Days Rwanda gorilla trekking & Golden Monkey safari Itinerary
Day 1: Kigali City Tour and Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Your adventure begins with a warm welcome from your Universal Ventures Rwanda driver-guide, who will take you on a half-day guided tour of Kigali, Rwanda’s vibrant and clean capital. You’ll explore key cultural and historical landmarks including the Kigali Genocide Memorial, the Kandt House Museum, and bustling local craft markets where you can browse handmade souvenirs and art. After lunch at a local restaurant in the city, depart for Volcanoes National Park, enjoying the scenic drive through Rwanda’s stunning countryside. Upon arrival, you’ll head to the park for registration, followed by a cultural visit to the Iby’iwacu Cultural Village. Here, you’ll learn about Rwanda’s traditional customs, medicine, dance, and wedding practices. The day ends with check-in at your lodge near the park, where you’ll enjoy dinner and a relaxing overnight stay.
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
After an early breakfast, your guide will transfer you to the Volcanoes National Park headquarters in Kinigi for a pre-trek briefing by park rangers. Volcanoes National Park is home to 10 habituated mountain gorilla families, and your assigned group will determine the trek’s duration and difficulty. The park forms part of the greater Virunga Massif, which spans the borders of Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Once you locate the gorilla family, you’ll spend an unforgettable one hour in close proximity to these gentle giants—observing their behavior, taking photos, and witnessing the strong familial bonds that define their social groups. After this extraordinary wildlife encounter, return to your lodge for a relaxed evening and overnight stay.
Day 3: Golden Monkey Trekking and Return to Kigali
This morning, after breakfast, you’ll head back to the park headquarters for a second briefing, this time for your golden monkey trekking experience. Golden monkeys are lively, playful primates that live in the bamboo forests of the Virunga Mountains. Unlike gorillas, they are highly active, often leaping between branches and foraging for bamboo shoots and fruits. This trek is generally less demanding, as the golden monkeys are usually found closer to the base of the forest. You’ll have the chance to follow and photograph them as they move through their habitat—even occasionally sneaking into local gardens for potatoes! After your trek, enjoy lunch in Musanze before beginning the return drive to Kigali, where you’ll be dropped off at your hotel or the airport, depending on your schedule.
End of the 3 Days Gorilla & Golden Monkey Trek Safari in Rwanda
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✅ What’s included of 3 Days Rwanda gorilla trekking
- Entrance Fee
- Gorilla Trekking Permit
- Entry fee-Golden monkeys
- Entry fee-Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village
- Accommodation: 3-4 Stars
- Transportation 4×4 jeep
- Meals and soft drinks
- Wi-Fi internet
- Bottled water
- Professional driver guide
- Pick-up and drop-off
- Pick-up & Drop-off.
❌ Exclusions of 3 Days Rwanda gorilla trekking
- Alcoholic drinks
- Anything not explicitly mentioned.
🧳 What do I need to bring?
- Comfortable clothing
- Sturdy and comfortable footwear
- Rain gear
- Hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- Camera and extra batteries
Cancellation policy:
- Bookings are non-refundable. All sales are final.
Book for this Gorilla trekking tour
Posted on Tripadvisor patty eVerified 100% recommended I was originally in Tanzania for a safari but decided to add the gorilla trek at the end of my trip because the flight was too long to fly to Africa from California again at my age. I booked through Viator. From the beginning, communication with Universal Adventures was positive. They were prompt to answer any questions. And a few days before the excursion, they sent me my driver's name and WhatsApp number. His name is Christian.We communicated through WhatsApp, and he was very prompt to reply back. He was early to pick me up at 4:30am. I had another person in the car. The car was clean. Its a long drive to the meeting place. We stopped for breakfast pastries at a local shop( they take credit cards and had a clean breakfast. We then drove to the meeting place where we met up with our group. There they had hot drinks like coffees, lattes, teas, etc. We then had to drive to the beginning of the mountain. It was a long drive as the roads are not paved. My group was assigned the Isimbi gorilla family and our guide was Jolie. My porter was Adolf. I was the least active one in the group but the crew never made me feel bad. After what I thought was a 4 hr hike (it was really 1 hr and 26 minutes) we found our gorilla family. We had plenty of time to take pictures with them. After we were done, Christian took us to a rooftop restaurant. The food was delicious! I recommend this excursion 100%. The company is awesome and very professional.Posted on Tripadvisor Juliet KVerified Gorilla Experience in Rwanda! Easy ride, the trip was one in a life time experience. The driver (Christian) was very nice and kind and made the trip smooth! Everything was great.Posted on Tripadvisor zoe457Verified Amazing experience seeing the gorillas of Rwanda! Amazing experience seeing the gorillas. Dodos picked me up in Kigali and was very helpful through the whole process. He even had cold drinks when I finished the gorilla trekking. Highly recommend!Posted on Tripadvisor Trevor BVerified Great way to see Kigali! Our guide Christian was knowledgeable and kind. He showed us all the highlights including the moving Genocide Memorial. His personal stories and insights into Rwandan society were invaluable. It was truly a pleasure to spend the day with him in Kigali.Posted on Tripadvisor Destination709424Verified Gorilla Trekking Me and my partner have always dreamed of doing gorilla trekking so when Christian helped this come to life it was surreal! As tourists we felt incredibly safe and welcomed with Christian he was super knowledgable and happy to share lots of description and reasoning with all our questions to help us learn and understand the culture. We also did a cultural village visit, Golden Monkey Trek, Diane Fossey Museum and women’s centre. All suggested and planned with Christian from Universal Ventures Rawanda. Any requests we had were never too much for Christian he was always happy to help. I would 110% recommend Christian to all my friends and family who I know want to come to Rawanda. Thankyou for making our dreams come true!Posted on Tripadvisor Geti LVerified 100% would recommend Amazing team and guide. I didn’t have to think about anything since they planned everything from airport pick up till drop off. Best value for buck but also great attitude and support. Got permission to visit the Pablo family thanks to our guide!Posted on Tripadvisor Yanis RVerified Thanks Kim for that wonderful day Kim was my guide for my experience with the gorillas. He made the day so comfortable. Everything was perfect! We also had many conversations about everything. I definitely recommend traveling with him!!Posted on Tripadvisor Aglaia OVerified Amazing Rwanda gorilla trek! Playful babies, calm silverback, great guides. Book permits well in advance. My gorilla trekking experience in Rwanda was absolutely incredible. We found the gorillas within about an hour of hiking, and seeing them up close was unforgettable. The baby gorillas were especially playful and entertaining to watch, constantly moving around and interacting with each other. In contrast, the silverback was calm, quiet, and completely self-focused — somehow both powerful and peaceful at the same time. The gorillas were not scary at all, and we never felt threatened during the experience. The guides were fantastic: experienced, knowledgeable, and very entertaining throughout the trek. One of our guides even shared stories about crossing paths with Dian Fossey, which made the experience feel even more special and connected to Rwanda’s conservation history. One important tip: make sure to secure your trekking permit well in advance, as spots are limited and can sell out quickly. A truly once-in-a-lifetime experience that I would highly recommend.Posted on Tripadvisor MARCELLE EVerified Gorilles Kigali Nous avons choisis la parcours long mais ca valait le coup. Nous en avons pris pleins les yeux les guides étaient top le trajet depuis Kigali pas trop long avec le chauffeur de l'agence , NEZA qui a vraiment été super du début à la fin . Il nous été d’une grande aide.le responsable de l’agence et était super et disponible il nous a aidé pour toutes les démarches.Posted on Tripadvisor Teresa BVerified The trek was perfect! We saw a beautiful family of gorillas including two Silverbacks! The best experience of my life! Seeing gorillas in their natural habitat was incredible! A truly serene experience. The tour was well planned and could not have been more perfect. The entire team guided with professionalism and love. My porter, Jacqueline, was wonderful and took great care of me. My personal guide/driver, Kim, was a delight! I learned much about Rwanda from him on the drive. I was surprised he greeted me with champagne toast! The day could not have been better.
