Day-by-day itinerary
4 Days Rwanda Gorillas and Golden Monkey Discovery
Pricing
Price per person
Rates below are for this 4-day itinerary and scale with your group size. Every safari is private and tailor-made — final pricing is confirmed with your dates and chosen lodges.
How many travellers?
Your price
$3,323per person
$6,647 total for 2 travellers
Route map
Where you'll travel
Tap any stop to jump to that day in the itinerary.
Trip highlights
- Gorilla trek safari
- Golden monkey trek
- Twin lakes Burera & Ruhondo
Day 1
Arrival in Kigali →Touch down at Kigali International Airport where your Kawira guide meets you for a private transfer to your boutique hotel. Settle in, enjoy a welcome briefing about the days ahead, and take a leisurely evening to recover from your flight.
Full day details →MorningAirport pickup, scenic transfer through Kigali's clean, hilly streets, and hotel check-in.
AfternoonOptional Kigali Genocide Memorial visit, light city orientation walk, and a welcome dinner of Rwandan fusion cuisine.
Good to know · Bring layered clothing — evenings in Kigali are cool at 1,500m elevation.Day 2
Kigali to Volcanoes National Park →After breakfast we drive north through the famed Land of a Thousand Hills, passing terraced farms, tea plantations and roadside markets, to Musanze at the foot of the Virunga volcanoes.
Full day details →MorningScenic 2.5-hour drive with photo stops at Ruhengeri viewpoints over the volcano chain.
AfternoonCheck in to your lodge, enjoy a community walk visiting the Iby'iwacu cultural village, traditional dance performance and herbal medicine demonstration.
Good to know · Pack rain gear and trekking boots — the highlands receive afternoon showers year-round.Day 3
Mountain Gorilla Trek →The headline experience: an early start at park headquarters for briefing, then a guided trek into bamboo and Hagenia forest in search of one of ten habituated gorilla families. Trek length varies from one to six hours.
Full day details →MorningPark briefing at 7am, group allocation based on fitness level, then trek with porters and armed ranger guides until your family is located. One magical hour with the gorillas.
AfternoonReturn to the lodge for a celebratory hot lunch, certificate presentation, and a free afternoon for massage, journaling, or a visit to the Dian Fossey grave hike trailhead.
Good to know · Gorilla permits are confirmed at booking. Minimum age 15. A porter (USD $15) is strongly recommended.Day 4
Golden Monkey Trek and return to Kigali →A shorter morning trek to find the endangered golden monkeys frolicking in the bamboo zone, then drive back to Kigali for departure.
Full day details →MorningGolden monkey trek (1–3 hours) through bamboo forest, observing playful troops of 80+ monkeys feeding and grooming.
AfternoonDrive back to Kigali, stop at Kinigi craft cooperatives, lunch en route, hotel day-use or transfer to the airport for your onward flight.
Good to know · Departure flights should be after 6pm to allow buffer time on the road.
From the trail
Moments from this safari
Before you book
What to know about travelling in Rwanda
Visas, permits, health requirements, seasons, money and tipping — everything specific to this destination.
Before you book · Rwanda
Travelling in Rwanda
- Visas & entry
- Visa on arrival for all nationalities (USD 50, 30 days) or apply via Irembo in advance; many African and Commonwealth passports enter visa-free. The East Africa Tourist Visa (USD 100) covers Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya. Yellow fever certificate required if arriving from an endemic country.
- Arrival gateway
- Kigali International Airport (KGL) — most parks are a 2–4 hour drive on excellent tarmac.
- Permits
- Rwanda gorilla permits are USD 1,500 per person (golden monkey USD 100, Nyungwe chimpanzee USD 150). Only 8 trekkers per gorilla family per day; permits are non-refundable and sell out for June–September, so book early.
- Best time to travel
- June–September (long dry season) and mid-December–February are best for trekking and game drives. March–May is the long rains — lush, atmospheric and quieter.
- Health & vaccinations
- Malaria prophylaxis recommended, particularly for Akagera and Lake Kivu. Rwanda has excellent private clinics in Kigali. Trekkers must be symptom-free of respiratory illness on the day of the trek.
- Money & payments
- Rwandan Franc (RWF). Cards and mobile money are widely used in Kigali; carry USD or RWF cash for rural markets, tips and community visits.
- Weather & climate
- Temperate 'land of a thousand hills' climate: 22–27°C by day in Kigali, 10–15°C nights at Volcanoes National Park (2,500 m+), regular afternoon showers in the green seasons.
- Connectivity
- One of the best-connected countries in Africa — fast 4G nationwide and Wi-Fi in nearly every lodge.
- Tipping guideline
- USD 15–20 per guest for the tracking team after a gorilla trek, USD 15–20 for a porter, USD 10–15 per day for your driver-guide, and 5–10% in Kigali restaurants.
- What to pack
- Waterproof hiking boots, long trousers and sleeves, gaiters, gloves, rain shell, warm layer for the volcano slopes, daypack, and 2 litres of water for trekking days.
- Local etiquette
- Plastic bags are banned nationwide. Rwanda is exceptionally clean and orderly — photography of government buildings, airports and military sites is not permitted. Genocide memorials require quiet, respectful dress.
Requirements and fees change. We reconfirm current visa, permit and health rules in writing before you pay any balance.