The Volcanoes National Park is located in Musanze district in the northern province of Rwanda. The park is characterized by open grasslands, bamboo forests and swamps and consisting of 125 square kilometers. It is home to one third of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas, golden monkey and a rich mosaic of montane ecosystems.

The park sits in one of Africa’s most mountainous zones including five volcanoes – Karisimbi, Sabinyo, Bisoke, Muhavura and Gahinga. Mount Kalisimbi being the highest of all at 4,507 meters. The VNP is one of Rwanda's conservation epicenters, home to a number of international organizations and a coveted research ground for primates.

Gorilla trekking tips: wear long trousers and long sleeved sweaters or shirts while in the forest to avoid insect stings, Waterproof walking shoes or hiking boots, gardening gloves for protection against stinging plants, carry enough water, and camera. Eating, drinking and smoking near the gorillas is forbidden. Photography is permitted, although you must not use flash.

Your driver guide will pick you early morning 4:30am and drive off to the park’s headquarters. The drive is approximately 2-3 hours through a beautiful mountainous country. At the park reception, while enjoying a cup of Rwanda’s award winning coffee, you will be briefed by the ranger about the rules and procedures to be followed while trekking mountain gorillas. You will be separation into groups of 8 people basing on which gorilla group allocated to you.

Accompanied by a highly trained guide and the national park rangers, you will set off for an exhilarating trek through the cultivated foothills of the Volcanoes that offers stirring views in all directions. Then, abruptly, the trail enters the national park, immersing trekkers in the mysterious intimacy of the rainforest, alive with the calls of colorful birds and chattering of the rare golden monkeys. The hike can be quite strenuous but all the more rewarding once you spot the gorillas.

You will be allowed to spend one hour with the majestic mountain gorilla. Watch them carry about their day-to-day routine like the juveniles playing, mothers feeding their young ones and the Silverbacks taking watch. After gorilla trekking you will descend the forest and go for lunch. Later, you will go to Gorilla Guardians where you will meet local people, in their environment, with a taste of our culture and traditions. Dinner and overnight at the Hotel.

Budget: le bamboo gorilla lodge, Mid-range: Mountain View Gorilla Lodge, Tiloreza. Luxury: Virunga Lodge, Bishop House, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge

After breakfast, you will go to discover the playful and inquisitive nature of the golden monkey, a beautiful little creature found only in the high-altitude forests of the Volcanoes National Park. Golden monkeys in Rwanda live in the bamboo vegetation towards the base of the volcanoes and habituation has helped them to overcome their initial shyness to accept their daily visit by researchers and tourists.

Trekking golden monkeys and gorillas is a similar experience – in a small group of 8 people, you will spend one hour with the monkeys once you find them. The endangered species are very active creatures, and jump from tree to tree which is really interesting. Later after lunch, you will drive back to Kigali.

PACKAGE PER PERSON SHARING: $2438 per person including a gorilla permit of $1500