3-Day Gorilla and Golden Monkey Safari in Rwanda and Uganda

You will be picked up by your Ibyiza Safaris guide from Kigali International Airport or your address in Kigali and briefed on the adventure ahead. From Kigali, you will journey through Rwanda's iconic rolling hills to Musanze, the gateway to Volcanoes National Park. As evening falls, retreat to your lodge nestled in the cool, tranquil foothills of the Virunga volcanoes for a good night's rest.

Optional activities are available to enrich your experience. In Kigali, explore Rwanda's spotless capital on a city tour, browse Kimihurura Market for local crafts, and stop at the Kigali Genocide Memorial, a profound testament to Rwanda's remarkable healing journey.

Once in Musanze, you may also visit the Gorilla Guardians Village, where reformed poachers share their world through dance, storytelling, and hands-on cultural traditions.

Start your day with a trek into Volcanoes National Park in search of the golden monkey, a playful and curious primate found nowhere else but the Virunga Mountains. Tracking begins at 8:00 am and takes approximately 4 hours, including a magical 1-hour encounter.

Watch them roll on bamboo stems, follow them as they feed, and marvel at how skillfully they pick young leaves from the tips of bamboo trees. Years of habituation have softened their shyness, making every moment remarkably intimate.

Return to the lodge for a relaxing lunch before crossing the Cyanika border into Uganda, journeying through the breathtaking hills of Kisoro toward the ancient, misty Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.

Today is the day you have been dreaming of: a face-to-face encounter with the gentle giants of Bwindi.

Your experience begins with a detailed briefing on trekking guidelines, ensuring your safety and the protection of the gorillas and their habitat. Led by an experienced guide and ranger, you will venture deep into Bwindi's dense, ancient forest, winding through lush vegetation until that breathtaking, humbling moment when the mountain gorillas appear before you. You will spend one magical hour in their presence, a life-changing experience no photograph can fully capture.

After the trek, descend from the forest and begin your drive back to Kigali, reflecting on the extraordinary encounter.