3 Day Gorilla and Golden Monkey Tour

We begin the day early, heading to the park headquarters for a briefing by the guides of Volcanoes National Park before embarking on our gorilla trek. Spanning 13,000 hectares, this national park safeguards the Rwandan portion of the Virunga Mountains, which feature six extinct volcanoes and two active ones along the border with Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The park’s diverse landscape includes bamboo forests, alpine moorland, grasslands, and marshes. Within the park, there are 12 distinct gorilla families.

This area is one of the last refuges for the mountain gorillas. To protect the gorillas, only eight visitors are allowed per day to visit each habituated family, and visits are carefully regulated to reduce the risk of disturbance or disease transmission to the gorillas.

Gorilla trekking through the dense forest can be relative challenging, often wet, muddy, and uncomfortable. The terrain is tough, with steep hills and humid conditions, making it physically demanding. However, the excitement of encountering a habituated gorilla family, led by a powerful silverback male, far outweighs the difficulties. You should be prepared and in good physical condition, as the trek can last up to four hours, including uphill and downhill sections. It may take anywhere from 40 minutes to four hours to reach the designated gorilla family. The trackers will have already located the family by the time we begin, so the walking time is usually predictable. We will get very close to the calm and gentle gorillas, and observing their behavior is like seeing a mirror image of yourself. Your visit with the gorillas will last one unforgettable hour.

As lunch can be taken upon return to the hotel, it is advised that you bring a few snacks to keep you going throughout the morning. At the end of the day the comforts of the lodge beckon, along with a chance to reflect on what is sure to be a truly memorable day.