Warm Welcome & Transfer to Hotel Des Mille Collines

Your 5 Days Rwanda Primates Tour adventure begins the moment you land at Kigali International Airport, where our experienced All Budget Gorilla Safaris representative will warmly receive you. With a friendly smile and a personalized welcome, you’ll be introduced to the cultural essence of Rwanda right away. After a short briefing on your upcoming adventure, you’ll enjoy a smooth and scenic transfer to your accommodation in Kigali – the iconic Hotel Des Mille Collines, famously known for its historical significance during the Rwandan Genocide.

The hotel offers a charming blend of comfort, history, and stunning views of Kigali’s cityscape. Depending on your arrival time, you may opt to relax by the poolside, enjoy a refreshing drink at the terrace restaurant, or take a gentle evening walk around the property to unwind after your flight. The attentive staff and tranquil ambiance set the perfect tone for the exciting journey ahead.

Dinner will be served at the hotel, offering a taste of Rwandan cuisine blended with international culinary delights. Your 5 Days Rwanda Primates Tour guide will reconfirm the next day’s schedule and ensure all logistical details are in place for a seamless start to your primate safari. As you settle in for the night, the anticipation of encountering golden monkeys and majestic mountain gorillas begins to build.

• Accommodation: Hotel Des Mille Collines or Chez Lendo Hotel
• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, & Drinking Water

Kigali City Tour and Scenic Transfer to Volcanoes National Park

After a delightful breakfast, your day begins with a guided Kigali City Tour, a rich cultural immersion that reveals Rwanda’s incredible journey of resilience, healing, and transformation. You will visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial, a sobering but essential stop that provides insight into Rwanda’s history and the strength of its people. The 5 Days Rwanda Primates Tour continues to local craft markets where you can interact with artisans and pick up unique handmade souvenirs.

You’ll enjoy lunch at a carefully selected city restaurant before beginning your scenic road transfer to Volcanoes National Park in northwestern Rwanda. The 2.5 to 3-hour drive offers stunning vistas of lush hillsides, local farms, and traditional villages—each bend in the road revealing a new breathtaking scene. As you ascend into the higher altitudes of the Virunga Mountains, the air becomes cooler, and the landscapes more dramatic.

On arrival at your lodge near Volcanoes National Park, you’ll check in and relax for the evening. The tranquil surroundings, crackling fireplace, and warm hospitality offer the perfect setting to reflect on your day and prepare for the thrilling Golden Monkey tracking experience that awaits.

• Accommodation: Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge or Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge
• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, & Drinking Water

Golden Monkey Tracking & Visit to Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund

After an early breakfast, you’ll head to the Volcanoes National Park headquarters for a briefing from the park rangers about the day’s activity – Golden Monkey tracking. These playful and energetic primates are endemic to the Virunga region and are found within the bamboo forests of the park. Tracking them offers an exhilarating experience, often filled with laughter as the monkeys leap energetically through the canopy and occasionally descend to the forest floor, unbothered by human observers.

The Golden Monkey trek usually lasts between 1 to 3 hours depending on the location of the troop, and once located, you will have a full hour to observe, photograph, and enjoy these rare creatures in their natural habitat. Their golden-orange fur and expressive faces make them particularly photogenic, and the surrounding bamboo forest creates a magical setting for wildlife photography.

After the tracking experience, you’ll enjoy a packed or lodge-based lunch, followed by an afternoon visit to the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund campus, where you’ll gain valuable insights into the pioneering conservation work of Dian Fossey, the legendary primatologist who dedicated her life to the protection of mountain gorillas. The campus includes interactive exhibits and research displays that enhance your understanding of gorilla conservation and ecological research in the region.

Return to your lodge for an evening of rest, relaxation, and storytelling around the fire. Enjoy a delicious dinner and reflect on the incredible golden monkey encounter as you prepare for the much-anticipated gorilla trekking adventure the following day.

• Accommodation: Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge or Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge
• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, & Drinking Water

Mountain Gorilla Trekking Experience in Volcanoes National Park

This is the highlight of your 5 Days Rwanda Primates Tour – Mountain Gorilla trekking. After an early breakfast, you’ll return to the Volcanoes National Park headquarters for a detailed briefing by the park rangers. You’ll be assigned a gorilla family group to track, depending on your physical fitness level and preference for trekking distance. Rwanda is famed for its well-organized and conservation-focused gorilla trekking program, offering an ethical and sustainable way to observe these critically endangered animals.

The trek can range from 2 to 6 hours depending on the location of the gorilla group, and once located, you are allowed a magical one hour in their presence. Watching these gentle giants in their natural habitat – the silverback standing guard, juveniles playing, mothers nursing their infants – is a soul-stirring experience that words can hardly capture. It’s a moment of pure connection with nature, often described as life-changing.

You’ll be accompanied by experienced park rangers and trackers who will share their knowledge of gorilla behavior and the surrounding ecosystem. After the trek, you’ll return to your lodge for a hearty lunch and well-deserved rest. Spend the afternoon relaxing, journaling your 5 Days Rwanda Primates Tour experience, or enjoying the serene mountain views from your lodge veranda. In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner featuring local dishes, fresh ingredients, and warm hospitality.

• Accommodation: Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge or Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge
• Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, & Drinking Water

Departure at Kigali International Airport

After a relaxed breakfast, begin your scenic return drive to Kigali, enjoying the breathtaking views of Rwanda’s rolling hills and vibrant countryside one last time. The 5 Days Rwanda Primates Tour journey offers opportunities for impromptu photo stops and cultural encounters with roadside communities. If time permits before your flight, you can enjoy a final city stop at the Kigali Convention Center or enjoy lunch at a local restaurant offering Rwandan cuisine.

Your 5 Days Rwanda Primates Tour guide will ensure you arrive at Kigali International Airport well ahead of your departure time, assist with check-in procedures, and bid you a warm farewell. As you board your flight, you’ll carry with you cherished memories of Rwanda’s vibrant culture, warm people, and of course, the unforgettable primate encounters in Volcanoes National Park.

• Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch

End of 5 Days Rwanda Primates Tour