The 4-Day Rwanda Gorillas, Monkeys, and Fossey Tour is a short safari that introduces you to Rwanda’s top primate destination, Volcanoes National Park. This tour focuses on three main activities: mountain gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking, and a hike to the Dian Fossey grave site. It is designed for travelers who want strong wildlife experiences within a short time.
Volcanoes National Park is found in Ruhengeri in the Northern Province of Rwanda. It is Rwanda’s oldest national park, created in 1925 to protect mountain gorillas. The park covers about 160 square kilometers and supports 12 habituated mountain gorilla families that are open for tourism. It also has five volcanoes: Bisoke, Muhabura, Karisimbi, Gahinga, and Sabyinyo. More than 200 bird species live in the park, together with golden monkeys and other forest animals. This 3 nights, 4 days Rwanda safari starts and ends in Kigali.
Day 1: Kigali City Excursion and Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Meet your tour leader in Kigali for a briefing about the 4-day Rwanda gorillas, monkeys, and Fossey tour. Start the day with a short Kigali city excursion that lasts about two hours. Visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial to learn about Rwanda’s history. Continue to Kimironko Market, the Presidential Palace Museum, and nearby craft shops.
After the city tour, enjoy lunch and then drive to Volcanoes National Park. The drive takes about 2 to 3 hours. On arrival, check in at your lodge, relax, have dinner, and spend the night.
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Wake up early and have breakfast at the lodge. Drive to the Kinigi park offices for a briefing on gorilla trekking rules at 7:00 am. At 8:00 am, you will be assigned a gorilla family and a park guide. Begin the trek into the forest, which can last between 2 and 6 hours depending on where the gorillas are located.
Once you meet the gorilla family, you will spend one full hour observing them. You will see how they feed, rest, and interact with each other. After the trek, return to the lodge for lunch and rest. The evening can be spent at the lodge or on an optional visit to the Twin Lakes of Burera and Ruhondo.
Day 3: Golden Monkey Tracking and Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village
After breakfast, return to the Kinigi offices for a briefing on golden monkey tracking. Golden monkeys live in groups and move fast through the bamboo forest. Tracking usually takes 2 to 4 hours, including one hour of observation and photography.
In the afternoon, visit the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village. Here, you will learn about local traditions, daily life, music, and dance. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 4: Dian Fossey Grave Hike and Departure
Enjoy breakfast and then drive to Kinigi for a briefing before starting the hike to the grave site of Dian Fossey. During the hike, your guide will explain her work and her role in mountain gorilla conservation.
After the hike, return to the lodge, check out, and drive back to Kigali. You will be dropped at your hotel or Kigali International Airport, marking the end of the 4-day Rwanda gorillas, monkeys, and Fossey tour.
