6-Day Luxury Rwanda Tour With Golden Monkey & Gorilla Safari

Immerse yourself in the breathtaking beauty and rich culture of Rwanda on this unforgettable 6-day journey. From the exhilarating experience of tracking mountain gorillas in the misty forests of Volcanoes National Park to the tranquil shores of Lake Kivu, this tour offers the perfect blend of adventure, wildlife, and cultural exploration. You’ll stand face-to-face with majestic golden monkeys, dive into the local traditions of brew-making and basket weaving, and traverse some of the most stunning landscapes in Africa.

Whether you’re wandering through the vibrant streets of Kigali or taking a serene boat ride on Lake Kivu, every moment of this trip is designed to captivate your senses. With knowledgeable guides by your side, you’ll uncover the secrets of Rwanda’s natural wonders and experience the warmth of its people. Don’t miss this chance to explore one of Africa’s most compelling destinations—book your adventure today and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Our 6-day itinerary for this Rwanda tour is an example and fully customisable. Contact us(opens in a new tab) directly if you are interested in a personalised Rwanda Safari or other East Africa tour packages(opens in a new tab).

All of our tours can be personalised. For most safari itineraries, we can offer luxury, mid-range or budget versions upon request. To find out more, contact us directly(opens in a new tab).

Prices indicated are per person (p/p).

Additional Pricing

Optional:

• Visit the Batwa: $80 per person
• Waterfall hike: $100 per person

Day 1: Arrive Kigali International Airport
On arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be met by your driver/guide and be transferred to your hotel in Kigali.

Overnight at Kigali Serena Hotel (BB).

Day 2: Visit Ntarama & Nyamata Memorial + Depart for Ruhengeri
After breakfast, you’ll start your day with a visit to the Ntarama Church, a site of tragic significance during the 1994 genocide where over 5,000 people lost their lives. Located about 30 kilometers south of Kigali in the Bugasera region, the Ntarama Genocide Memorial stands as a poignant reminder of the devastating violence that occurred here. During your visit, you’ll have the opportunity to learn about the Unity and Reconciliation Commission, which plays a crucial role in Rwanda’s healing process.

Next, you’ll proceed to the Nyamata Memorial Site, another church where approximately 2,500 people were killed. This site has become a powerful symbol of the horrific treatment of women during the genocide. At Nyamata, you’ll encounter graphic and audiovisual displays that focus on the mass rape, brutalization of women, and the deliberate use of HIV as a weapon of genocide.

After returning to Kigali for lunch, you’ll set off on a scenic two-hour drive to Ruhengeri, Rwanda’s second-largest town. As you approach, you’ll be greeted by the breathtaking backdrop of the Virunga Mountains, a chain of five majestic volcanoes. Upon arrival, you’ll settle into your accommodation and prepare for dinner and a comfortable overnight stay at your hotel.

Driving distance: 2 hours.
Overnight at Virunga Lodge (FB).

Day 3: Gorilla Tracking
Start your day with an early breakfast before heading to the National Park headquarters in Kinigi, where you’ll meet your guides for the day. After completing park formalities, you’ll embark on a once-in-a-lifetime experience: tracking mountain gorillas.

When you finally spot these magnificent creatures, you’ll have the unique opportunity to spend an hour observing them up close. This is one of the most breathtaking wildlife encounters on earth. You’ll be within metres of these gentle giants, staring at each other in awe. The experience of trekking through the light mountain forest on the slopes of the Virunga to find them is nothing short of magical. With fewer than 700 mountain gorillas remaining in the world, this encounter is truly a rare privilege.

The trek can be challenging, lasting up to six hours or more at a relatively high altitude. To ensure you enjoy the experience fully, it’s important to be fit and healthy. If you’re concerned about the trek’s difficulty, ask your driver-guide to request a shorter route for you (People as old as 70 have successfully completed gorilla tracking, so don’t worry!).

Be sure to bring good hiking boots, long trousers, gloves for protection against stinging nettles, snacks and sweets (for yourself, not the gorillas), and plenty of water, as the rainforest can get hot and humid during the day.

After your unforgettable hour with the gorillas, you’ll return to your hotel for lunch, followed by dinner and an overnight stay.

Driving distance: 15 minutes.
Overnight at Virunga Lodge (FB).

Day 4: Golden Monkey tracking and visit of Iby’iwacu cultural village
Today, you’ll embark on an exciting adventure: tracking golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park. As you enter the dense bamboo forests, interspersed with open glades, you’ll be guided deep into golden monkey territory. Your guides will lead you to groups of habituated golden monkeys—those accustomed to human presence. Though the viewing time is limited to one hour, you’ll have the opportunity to observe these lively creatures up close in their natural habitat. Watch as adult monkeys frolic in plain view, feeding on bamboo leaves and leaping from perch to perch, while females carry their young, completely at ease among onlookers.

In the afternoon, you have several optional activities to choose from. You can visit the Iby’iwacu cultural village to experience a traditional dance, meet a local medicine man, or even explore the house of a local king. These cultural activities are popular with visitors and provide alternative incomes to reformed poachers. Another option is to visit local brewers and learn about the process of brewing beer from bananas. For some extra fun, you can join the women in squeezing juice from the bananas and enjoy a glass of the fresh juice. Additionally, you can discover the art of basket weaving, an important cultural practice in Rwanda. Your participation in these activities helps support the local community financially.

Driving distance: 15 minutes to the park.
Overnight at Virunga Lodge (FB).

Day 5: Visit Gisenyi
After breakfast, you’ll set off on an intriguing trip to visit local brew makers, where you’ll learn about the chemistry involved in brewing beer from bananas. If you’re interested, you can join the women in squeezing juice from the bananas and enjoy a glass of the fresh juice (optional). You’ll also discover how the juice is transformed into alcohol after adding sorghum flour and get a chance to savor a big glass of the local brew. The community also practices basket weaving, and your visit will provide financial support to these local families.

Later, you’ll make your way to Gisenyi, arriving in time for lunch and checking in at your hotel. The afternoon will be spent exploring Gisenyi, the largest port on the Rwandan shore of Lake Kivu, accompanied by your guide. You can take a short boat ride to one of the islands in Lake Kivu or simply stroll through the town, enjoying the lively local market or wandering the leafy streets while admiring the old colonial buildings.

Dinner and overnight Lake Kivu Serena.

Day 6: Departure
After breakfast, depending on your flight departure time, you’ll spend the early part of the day on the Rwandan shore of Lake Kivu. Take a refreshing swim in this stunning lake, which covers an area of 2,700 km² (1,040 sq. mi) and sits at an altitude of 1,460 m (4,790 ft) above sea level. The lake lies in a rift valley, causing volcanic activity and giving it a remarkable depth of up to 480 m (1,575 ft), making it the fifteenth deepest lake in the world. Surrounded by majestic mountains, Lake Kivu is one of the African Great Lakes and straddles the border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda.

Later, you’ll depart on a three-hour drive to Kigali, where you’ll continue to Kigali International Airport for your flight home.

A dayroom at Kigali Serena can be provided upon request.

Driving distance: 3 hours.

1. Prices are valid for 2024, 2025 and 2026.
2. The itinerary mentioned for this tour is an example which can be tailored to your wishes.
3. The Gorilla Tracking included in this safari depends on the availability of gorilla trekking permits at the time of booking. These permits are strictly limited and sold out in advance, especially during peak seasons of Christmas and school holidays. We therefore strongly recommend booking early.
4. The safari indicated here is essentially an offer. Changes in the course of the journey, the duration of your tour, the number of travellers, as well as the choice of accommodation are subject to availability, although we always endeavour to stick as closely as possible to this programme. For most itineraries, we can offer luxury, mid-range or budget versions of this safari upon request.
5. Sometimes it is not possible to adhere to the travel plan as described in this itinerary, due to weather and road conditions, authority regulations, organisational requirements, etc. Occasionally, the planned route of the tour has to change according to the situation on the ground. We must therefore explicitly refuse liability for adherence to the journey plan.
6. By booking this safari, the client accepts Manya Africa Tours Terms and Conditions(opens in a new tab) of business.