3-Day Gorillas & Golden Monkeys Trek from Kigali

Primate treks, a canoe journey, and nights in the Virungas

A 3-day tour from Kigali into Volcanoes National Park combines mountain gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking in the bamboo forests, and a half-day canoe excursion along River Mukungwa. The tour includes all meals, accommodation, a safari vehicle with driver-guide, and park entry. Gorilla tracking permits are arranged separately. Guides speak English and French, and hotel pickup from Kigali is included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Travel and canoe excursion

• Pickup from Kigali hotel at 8 am
• Drive to Musanze (2 hours)
• Half-day canoe trip on River Mukungwa
• Enjoy countryside views and wildlife

Day 2: Gorilla trekking adventure

• Transfer to Kinigi visitor center at 7 am
• Attend gorilla trekking briefing
• Begin gorilla trek in Volcanoes National Park
• View gorillas for up to 1 hour

Day 3: Golden monkey trek and return

• Golden monkey tracking in Virunga mountains
• Photograph golden monkeys (up to 1 hour)
• Transfer back to Kigali

The experience

The journey starts with an 8 am pickup from your Kigali hotel and a 2-hour drive north to Musanze. That afternoon, you board a canoe on River Mukungwa for a 3- to 4-hour paddle through the countryside, where the route passes local villages and opens onto views of rolling hills and bird life. The river sets the pace for the first day: slow enough to take in the landscape, active enough to cover ground.

Day two is the gorilla trek. You transfer to the visitor center at Kinigi at 7 am for a park briefing, then head into Volcanoes National Park to search for mountain gorillas. The trek itself typically runs around 3 hours, though the time shifts depending on where the gorillas have moved. Once you find them, you get up to an hour to watch and photograph. The walk crosses the Virunga slopes and passes through the plant species the gorillas feed on. This is the centerpiece of the trip: one of the 900 mountain gorillas left in the world lives in this park.

Day three takes you back into the mountains for golden monkey tracking. These primates, found nowhere else on earth, live in the bamboo forests on the lower slopes. The trek is lighter than the gorilla day and often takes under an hour to locate a group of around 100 monkeys. They're active and photogenic, and the shorter walk leaves time to transfer back to Kigali by afternoon. All three nights include accommodation (options range from budget to luxury), all meals, drinking water, and the services of your guide and driver throughout.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup from Kigali at 8 am on day one.
• all meals for three days.
• accommodation in your chosen lodge.
• a safari vehicle and driver-guide for the full tour.
• canoe ride along River Mukungwa.
• entry to Volcanoes National Park.
• and drinking water throughout.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDeparts at 14:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (18 to 90 years) · Under 18: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelers

Operated by 1000 Hills Safaris

Is this one for you?The tour starts early each trekking day (7 am for gorillas, timing varies for golden monkeys) and involves 3 hours of hiking on uneven mountain terrain for the gorilla trek, with a lighter walk on day three. If you have moderate fitness and can handle early starts and forest walking, the three-day structure gives you time to acclimatize between treks and explore the park at a sustainable pace rather than rushing both treks into a single day.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and French.

How fit do I need to be for the gorilla and golden monkey treks?

Moderate physical fitness is required. The gorilla trek typically lasts around 3 hours and crosses uneven terrain on the Virunga slopes. The golden monkey trek is lighter and often finishes in under an hour. Neither is a casual walk, but both are designed for travelers with reasonable fitness rather than mountaineers.

What's the canoe ride on River Mukungwa actually like?

The half-day paddle spans 3 to 4 hours and moves at a gentle pace through the countryside north of Musanze. You'll pass villages along the banks, see rolling landscapes, and spot birds and other wildlife from the water. It's the easiest part of the three days and sets a different rhythm from the forest trekking.

How long do I actually spend watching the gorillas and golden monkeys?

Gorilla viewing is limited to a maximum of 1 hour once you locate a group. Golden monkey viewing is also capped at 1 hour. The rest of each trekking day is spent searching, walking through the park, and taking in the landscape and plant life around you.

What meals and accommodation are included?

All meals are included across the three days. Accommodation options range from budget (La Locanda) through midrange (Le Bamboo Gorilla Lodge) to upmarket and luxury lodges like Five Volcanoes Lodge and Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, depending on which option you choose at checkout.

Do I need to arrange the gorilla tracking permits myself?

No. Gorilla tracking permits are arranged as part of the tour. The permit fee of $1,500 per person is separate from the tour price and is paid at checkout. Your guide handles all park logistics and briefings.