A Rwanda Primates Safari with Double Gorilla Trekking is the ultimate adventure for travelers seeking deeper, more meaningful encounters with Rwanda’s iconic primates. Over five unforgettable days, you’ll explore the mist‑covered slopes of Volcanoes National Park, part of the legendary Virunga Conservation Area, the only place where the endangered Eastern Highland Mountain Gorillas still survive in the wild.
This itinerary stands out for offering two separate gorilla treks, giving you the rare chance to meet different gorilla families and gain richer insight into their behavior, social dynamics, and daily routines. You’ll also track the energetic Golden Monkeys, visit the Dian Fossey Tombs and former Karisoke Research Station, and end your journey with a Kigali city tour including the powerful Kigali Genocide Memorial.
Safari Highlight
Day 1: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park and Ibyi’wacu Cultural Village visit.
Day 2: First Gorilla Trekking Experience in Volcanoes National Park.
Day 3: Second Gorilla Trekking Adventure (different gorilla family option).
Day 4: Golden Monkey Trekking with Dian Fossey Tomb and Karisoke Research Station hike.
Day 5: Kigali city tour with Kigali Genocide Memorial visit and airport drop-off.
Detailed itinerary
DAY 1: TRANSFER TO VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK AND IBYI’WACU CULTURAL EXPERIENCE
Your safari begins with a warm welcome from our professional safari guide, followed by a short briefing about your Rwanda primate adventure. After the briefing, you will depart for Volcanoes National Park, located in the Musanze region. The drive offers a breathtaking views of Rwanda’s scenic countryside. Along the way, you will pass terraced hills, rural villages and vibrant communities, giving you a glimpse into everyday life in the “Land of a Thousand Hills.” Upon arrival, enjoy a cultural encounter at the renowned Ibyi’wacu Cultural Village, a community-based tourism initiative located near the park. Here, you will experience traditional dances, local storytelling, cultural demonstrations and learn how conservation tourism has transformed livelihoods and encouraged peaceful coexistence between local communities and wildlife. After the visit, transfer to your lodge for check-in, dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
DAY 2: FIRST GORILLA TREKKING EXPERIENCE IN VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK
Today is the day you have been waiting for your first Mountain Gorilla Trekking Adventure. After an early breakfast, you will proceed to the park headquarters for registration and a detailed briefing by experienced rangers. You will then be assigned a gorilla family and begin your guided trek through the lush rainforest. The trek can take between 2 to 6 hours, depending on the gorilla family’s location. As you hike through bamboo forest and thick vegetation, you will enjoy the stunning beauty of the Virunga Mountains while learning about the ecosystem and gorilla conservation. Once the gorillas are located, you will spend one unforgettable hour observing them in their natural habitat. Watching a silverback lead his family, mothers nurturing young ones and juveniles playing in the forest is a powerful and emotional experience that stays with you forever. After the trek, return to the lodge to relax and enjoy the evening at leisure.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
DAY 3: SECOND GORILLA TREKKING EXPERIENCE
After breakfast, return once again to Volcanoes National Park for your second gorilla trekking experience. Because gorilla encounters are so captivating, one trek often feels like it is not enough. This second trek offers you the rare chance to spend another magical hour with gorillas, and in many cases, you can trek a different gorilla family, giving you a unique perspective and a deeper appreciation of their behavior and environment. This is also a perfect day for photographers and wildlife enthusiasts who want more time capturing gorilla moments, movements and interactions in the forest.
After the trek, return to the lodge for lunch and spend the afternoon relaxing, enjoying the lodge views or exploring the surrounding Musanze area.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
DAY 4: GOLDEN MONKEY TREKKING AND DIAN FOSSEY TOMB VISIT (KARISOKE RESEARCH TRAIL)
After breakfast, prepare for another exciting primate adventure; Golden Monkey Trekking. Golden monkeys are among Rwanda’s most fascinating primates, known for their playful nature, striking golden fur and fast movements through the bamboo forest. After a ranger briefing, you will begin tracking them through the forest. Once located, you will enjoy one full hour observing and photographing these unique monkeys.
After the trek, continue with a meaningful hike to the Dian Fossey Tombs and the former Karisoke Research Station, where the legendary primatologist carried out her gorilla research and conservation work. This visit offers a deeper connection to Rwanda’s conservation story as you learn about Dian Fossey’s life, challenges and dedication to protecting the mountain gorillas. Her legacy, made famous through her book and film “Gorillas in the Mist,” remains a cornerstone of gorilla conservation today.
You will also visit the site of the original Karisoke station, named after Mount Karisimbi and Mount Bisoke. While the original research station is now inactive, it has been replaced by a modern conservation facility known as the Ellen DeGeneres Campus, supporting continued research and protection of the gorillas. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
DAY 5: RETURN TO KIGALI AND KIGALI GENOCIDE MEMORIAL VISIT AND AIRPORT DROP-OFF
After breakfast, check out and drive back to Kigali. Upon arrival in Kigali, you will visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial Museum, a powerful and emotional site that honors the victims of the 1994 genocide. This visit provides an important understanding of Rwanda’s history and the remarkable progress the country has made since then. After the tour, you will be transferred to Kigali International Airport in time for your departure flight, bringing your unforgettable Rwanda primate adventure to an end.
Meal Plan: Breakfast.
Safari Inclusions
Safari Exclusions