Rwanda Gorillas & Golden Monkeys Safari

What makes this journey.

• Two gorilla treks with different habituated families in Volcanoes National Park, home of Dian Fossey's pioneering research
• Golden monkey trekking through the bamboo forest, in search of one of Africa's rarest and most beautiful primates
• Three nights at Sambora Kinigi, a boutique lodge at the foot of the Virunga volcanoes, minutes from the trailhead
• A night at the Kigali Serena Hotel with time to explore Africa's cleanest and safest capital
• A guided visit to the museum at the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund's Ellen DeGeneres Campus, telling the story of Karisoke and the mountain gorilla's recovery
• The shortest gorilla trekking journey in Africa, with Kigali just two and a half hours from the park
• Optional visits to the Kigali Genocide Memorial and the Gorilla Guardians cultural village

1. Day 1

   Arrival in Kigali

   Arrival

   On arrival at Kigali International Airport you are met by our representative for the short transfer to the Kigali Serena Hotel, an elegant retreat in the heart of the city. Depending on your arrival time, join a guided city tour taking in the local craft markets, the vibrant streets of one of Africa's most forward looking capitals and, for those who wish, the moving Kigali Genocide Memorial. Spend the evening at leisure ahead of your safari.

   Where you stay Kigali Serena Hotel
2. Day 2

   Drive to Kinigi, In the Footsteps of Dian Fossey

   After a relaxed breakfast, set off on the scenic drive northwest through Rwanda's famous terraced hills towards Kinigi, at the foot of the Virunga volcanoes, a journey of around two and a half hours. On the way, stop at the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, where the museum's interactive galleries tell the story of Dian Fossey's pioneering work at Karisoke and the remarkable recovery of the mountain gorilla. It is the perfect introduction to the forests you will enter tomorrow. Continue the short distance to Sambora Kinigi for lunch and spend the afternoon settling in, with the cones of Sabyinyo, Bisoke and Karisimbi rising above the gardens. For those with energy to spare, an afternoon visit to the Gorilla Guardians cultural village offers a warm introduction to local life through drumming, dance and tradition.

   Where you stay Sambora Kinigi Lodge
3. Day 3

   First Gorilla Trek

   Rise early for a hearty breakfast before the short drive to the park headquarters at Kinigi for your briefing and allocation to one of the park's habituated gorilla families. Then follow your rangers up through farmland and into the ancient afro montane forest. Treks can take from one to several hours depending on where the family has moved, and the reward is a full hour in the presence of these extraordinary animals. Return to the lodge for a late lunch and a restful afternoon, with time for a massage or simply the volcano views.

   Where you stay Sambora Kinigi Lodge
4. Day 4

   Second Gorilla Trek

   Return to the park headquarters for your second trek, this time with a different habituated family. No two encounters are ever alike, and a second trek reveals new personalities, new behaviour and, for photographers, a second chance at the images of a lifetime. Return to the lodge in the afternoon to relax and celebrate an extraordinary few days in the Virungas.

   Where you stay Sambora Kinigi Lodge
5. Day 5

   Golden Monkey Trek, Return to Kigali, Depart

   Departure

   A final early briefing at the park headquarters, this time for the golden monkeys. The trek into the bamboo zone is gentler than the gorilla treks, and the reward is an hour among a large, playful troop of these rare, copper coated primates, found only in the Virungas. Return to the lodge for brunch before the drive back to Kigali, arriving in good time to connect with your evening international flight.