8 Days Rwanda Wildlife, Golden Monkey Trek and Gorilla Tracking Tour

After breakfast, you will be picked up from your lodge in Kigali and depart Kigali for Akagera National Park in eastern Rwanda via Kayonza, arriving in time for lunch. In the afternoon, enjoy your first game drive through the expansive plains, focusing on Giraffe Valley. The Masai giraffes in Akagera trace their origins to a 1986 relocation from Kenya’s Masai Mara. Today, they thrive across the Nyamwashama plains alongside topi, zebra, eland, hippo, crocodiles, elephants, and roan antelope. Rare sightings include leopard, civet, and serval.
Overnight: Akagera Game Lodge

Rise early for another game drive to catch the morning light and increase your chances of spotting wildlife missed the day before. Visit Mutumba Hill, the highest point in Akagera, offering panoramic views of the park’s lakes and Tanzania’s Karangwe Mountains. Descend to one of the lakes for a picnic lunch before returning to Kigali for the evening.

Travel northwest to Volcanoes National Park, home of the endangered mountain gorilla. Nestled in the mist-covered Virunga Volcanoes, the park also shelters golden monkeys, buffalo, and over a dozen Albertine Rift endemic birds. Stop en route for views of the rolling hills and countryside that earned Rwanda its nickname “The Land of a Thousand Hills.”
Overnight (Budget): Kinigi Guest House or Muhabura Lodge, Standard: La Palme Hotel or Le Bambou Lodge, Luxury: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge or Virunga Lodge

After an early breakfast, gather at the ORTPN headquarters for a briefing before heading into the forest to track a habituated gorilla family. The trek can last from one to six hours, depending on the group’s location. Once found, you’ll spend an awe-inspiring hour observing the gorillas in their natural habitat. If time allows, visit the scenic twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo before returning to your lodge.

Depart early for the two-day hike up Mt. Karisimbi (4,507m), Africa’s fifth-highest mountain and the tallest of the Virunga range. The name Karisimbi means "white shell" in reference to its often snow-capped summit. Hike approximately six hours through dense forest to reach the base camp at 3,700m. Dinner and overnight are spent under the stars in tents at the mountain’s halfway point.
Overnight: Mountain campsite (camping gear required; packed dinner included).

Wake early and trek for another four hours to the summit of Mt. Karisimbi, where you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views stretching across Rwanda, Uganda, and the DRC. After time at the top, descend for roughly six hours back to the base. Your guide will meet you for transfer back to your lodge for a well-deserved rest.
Overnight: Lodge in Kinigi or Musanze area.

Choose between two memorable treks:

Golden Monkey Trekking: Track a rare and playful species of monkey found only in the Virungas. Their golden-orange coats and lively behavior make for a unique wildlife encounter.

Dian Fossey Grave Hike: Follow the trail to the Karisoke Research Center where Dian Fossey conducted her groundbreaking gorilla research. Visit her grave and learn more about her conservation legacy and tragic murder.
Both options begin in the morning and return by midday. In the afternoon, transfer to Kigali if your next-day flight is early.
Overnight: Lodge in Kinigi or Kigali (e.g., Hotel Chez Lando, Hotel Gorillas, Mille Collines, or Serena Hotel).

Spend your final morning exploring Kigali. Visit local markets, art galleries, or craft shops for souvenirs. Depending on flight time, enjoy lunch in the city before transfer to the airport for your international departure.