Tours/Kigali/One Day Rwanda Golden Monkey Trek with Dian Fossey or Guardians
Viator · Private tour

One Day Rwanda Golden Monkey Trek with Dian Fossey or Guardians

5.0(8)Kigali1 hour
VIATOR5.0(1)TRIPADVISOR5.0(7)

Description

Embark on a once-in-a-lifetime trek into Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park with Afri Safaris to encounter the rare and playful Golden Monkeys—found only in the misty Virunga Mountains. This thrilling one-day adventure is perfect for travelers short on time but craving unforgettable wildlife experiences. Watch these curious, golden-furred primates leap through bamboo forests in one of Africa’s most biodiverse regions. Kick off your epic day with an early departure from Kigali on a scenic 2–2.5 hour Enjoy a seamless and comfortable journey with our premium 4×4 safari vehicles, equipped with Wi-Fi connectivity to keep you in touch with your loved ones & the world, plus onboard power charging systems to keep your devices fully powered throughout your adventure. Enhance your day with an optional visit to the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund or the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village—an ex-poacher community celebrating Rwandan culture and conservation. Ideal for nature lovers, photographers, and explorers

Tour Options

All-Inclusive, Iby’Iwacu Visit
  • Iby'iwacu cultural village.: Iby'iwacu Cultural Village is a village of ex-poachers, those previously stealing the gorillas due to poverty, they now stopp All inclusive : All-Inclusive Golden Monkey Trek with Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village Duration: 8 hours Lunch, Coffee and water : Lunch and Beverage included Kigali - Volcanoes National Pa: Kigali - Musanze - Volcanoes National Park in the Northern Province of Rwanda. 4x4 : 4x4 Safari Vehicle, 4x4 Land Cruiser Tourist permit Included : Tourist permit for Golden Monkeys included in this Option. Pickup included
Monkeys Trek with Dian Fossey
  • Ellen DeGeneres Campus: a visit to the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund Tourist permit fee excluded: Tourist permit permit for Monkeys trek excluded in this option Duration: 8 hours Lunch and drinks are included Kigali - Volcanoes National P: Kigali - Musanze - Volcanoes National Park 4WD: 4x4 safari vehicle, Land Cruiser Tourist permit fee excluded : Foreign non-residents: $100 USD Pickup included
All-Inclusive Golden Monkey Tr
  • Ellen DeGeneres Campus: a visit to the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund All inclusive : All-Inclusive Golden Monkey Trek with Visit to Ellen DeGeneres Campus by Dian Fossey Duration: 9 hours Lunch and drinks are included Kigali - Volcanoes National P: Kigali - Musanze - Volcanoes National Park 4WD: 4x4 safari vehicle, Land Cruiser Tourist permit fee Included : Tourist permit fee Included in this Option. Pickup included

Itinerary

Admission included300 min

A transfer, begins & ends in Kigali SIMPLE ITINERARY: You should wake up early & order for breakfast as you wait for the driver to pick you up. Afri Safaris driver guide will take you to the RDB headquarter in Kinigi for briefing by 7:00am. This briefing is very important and is where you will meet other tourists and Rangers who will be leading you to the forest. The briefing covers many topics but the most important is how to behave around the golden monkey, what to expect and what to carry along while tracking the golden mok. You will be assigned a golden mok taking into consideration your overall fitness & age. This is because some of the golden monkey groups are located deeper in the forest hence requiring more hours of trekking. Porters are available to help you with extra luggage. Park Rangers will lead you into the forest to track the primates. Trekking takes btn 2 to 5 hours. After an hour of observing the golden mo, our Guide will be waiting for you at the starting point.

Admission included45 min

After Golden trekking, then you will be transferred to Iby'iwacu cultural village. Iby'iwacu Cultural Village is a village of ex-poachers, those previously stealing the gorillas due to poverty, they now stopped poaching. The Iby’iwacu cultural village is one of the leading cultural attractions in Rwanda. The Village combines all of Rwanda’s known cultural traditions, people & history into one place for display & a personal experience. International visitors get to see what life was in a typical African village setting – the lifestyle, houses, traditional dances, dressing code, food, herbs & how the ancient kingdoms were generally organized. Tourists are given an opportunity to learn ancient hunting skills, try weaving baskets/mats, carpentry. This unique experience has won the hearts of many visitors who wish to indulge in the culture of Rwanda’s native community after seeing gorillas. Village offers an opportunities to purchase local craft, gifts & souvenir to show friends back home.

Highlights

• Golden Monkeys trek Permit fee in Rwanda when opted.
•Stay Connected On Board with Wi-Fi and Power Charging System for your devices & comfortable Journey
• Golden Monkeys Trekking Certificate by Afri Safaris
• Lunch • Coffee & Plenty of Water (Beverage)
• Private Transport: 4x4 Safari vehicle, 4x4 Safari Car.
• Unforgettable photo opportunities that last a lifetime – every moment is wild and wonderful.
•Unforgettable Photo Opportunities – Every moment is wild and wonderful!
•Pick-up and drop-off anywhere in Kigali City and or Kigali airport
•Optional Visit to Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund or Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village.
• Professional driver guide by Afri Safaris

What's included

Included
• Golden Monkeys trek Permit fee in Rwanda when opted.
•Stay Connected On Board with Wi-Fi and Power Charging System for your devices & comfortable Journey
• Golden Monkeys Trekking Certificate by Afri Safaris
• Lunch • Coffee & Plenty of Water (Beverage)
• Private Transport: 4x4 Safari vehicle, 4x4 Safari Car.
• Unforgettable photo opportunities that last a lifetime – every moment is wild and wonderful.
•Unforgettable Photo Opportunities – Every moment is wild and wonderful!
•Pick-up and drop-off anywhere in Kigali City and or Kigali airport
•Optional Visit to Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund or Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village.
• Professional driver guide by Afri Safaris
Not included
• Golden Monkeys Permit fee when not opted. And must be purchased once booking is confirmed.
• Tips • Porter fees •Personal expenses • Everything else not mentioned in the inclusions

Pickup Locations & Times

Please give some details about the hotel name for pickup or the street number of the house and the neighborhood in Kigali city. Or along the way to Volcanoes National Park

Traveller Ratings

5.0
8 reviews
5
8
4
0
3
0
2
0
1
0

Important Information

  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Reviews(8)

S
Sunshine58314555920
August 4, 2026
Great experience

Perfect, I really enjoyed. I love my guide, the hike, seeing these beautiful monkeys and the time in Dian Fossy museum

Operator response

Dear Valued Guest, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your experience with us. It is especially rewarding to know that you loved your guide, the hike, the incredible Golden Monkeys, and your visit to the Dian Fossey Museum. Your kind words mean a great deal to our team, and we truly appreciate you choosing Afri Safaris. We hope to welcome you back to Rwanda for another unforgettable adventure in the future. Kind regards, Afri Safaris Team

E
Explore60753334875
July 15, 2026
Golden Monkey Trek — Up Close and Unforgettable

I did two tours with AfriSafari during my stay in Rwanda, and both were phenomenal. Elysee, my guide, was so knowledgeable about Rwanda, the golden monkeys, Akagera Park, and safaris — he helped make the trip so special. I also truly appreciated how responsive Alfa was before my trip, answering all my questions and reaching out to make sure I had everything I needed ahead of time. If you’re visiting Rwanda, I highly recommend the Golden Monkey Trek. These monkeys can only be found in this part of the world, in the mountains of Rwanda, Uganda, and the DRC, and I think they’re often overlooked. The trek I did was very short, since the monkeys had come down out of the mountains to raid the local village’s sweet potato farm — but this gave us the opportunity to interact with them on the ground. The park ranger did give us the option of hiking further into the volcano mountains if we wished, but we chose to stay where we were since we were having such a great experience. The monkeys were so cute, roaming around and walking right by us. It was a truly magical experience, and I highly recommend it. I also recommend visiting the Ellen DeGeneres campus of the Diane Fossey Foundation. It was so informative and interactive. She truly was an amazing woman. (Don’t miss out on the VR experience at the end )

1 people found this helpful
Operator response

Dear Guest, Thank you so much for your wonderful review and for choosing Afri Safaris during your stay in Rwanda. We are delighted to hear that you had such a phenomenal experience on both of your tours. Your kind words about Elysee and our team are truly appreciated, and we will be sure to share your compliments with him. It is also rewarding to know that our support before your trip helped make your travel experience smooth and enjoyable. We are especially pleased that you enjoyed the Golden Monkey Trek and the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund. Your thoughtful description of the experience and recommendation will certainly inspire other travelers to discover these unique attractions. Thank you once again for your trust and recommendation. It was a pleasure hosting you, and we look forward to welcoming you back to Rwanda for another unforgettable adventure. Warm regards, The Afri Safaris Team

C
Cristian_D
March 28, 2026
Once in a lifetime experience

It was perfect from the beginning to the end. Everything was well explained before the tours, therefore my expectations were definitely met, but Sammuel (with Afris Safaris) went over the too with his services. He was amazing, very pleasant, and always making sure that I was having a good time, and also having great pictures too. The tour itself is really special, therefore monkeys are ADORABLE and also super playful. On the site they let you walk and get close as much as you want which in incredible.

Operator response

Thank you very much for your wonderful feedback, Cristian! We are truly delighted to hear that your experience was perfect from beginning to end and that everything met your expectations. It’s especially rewarding to know that Samuel went above and beyond to make your tour memorable your kind words will certainly mean a lot to him. We’re also glad you enjoyed the Golden Monkey experience such a unique and playful encounter indeed! Thank you once again for choosing Afri Safaris. We look forward to welcoming you again in the future.

J
javaunk
August 28, 2025
GREAT EXPERIENCE!!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This was truly an unforgettable experience! Sammy was an absolutely outstanding guide—professional, punctual, and attentive to every single detail. He picked me up right on time, made sure the journey was smooth, and went above and beyond to ensure all of my needs were met throughout the day. The Golden Monkeys Trekking was incredible—I was able to capture amazing photos up close of these rare and beautiful animals. The trek itself was well-paced and enjoyable, and Sammy made sure I didn’t miss a thing. The visit to the Iby’iwacu Cultural Village was just as memorable. It was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before—immersive, educational, and deeply inspiring. I learned so much history and culture that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. It truly made me feel connected to my roots and reminded me of my kingship. If you are in Kigali, this is an absolute MUST-DO tour! Between the breathtaking nature, the rich cultural experience, and having a guide like Sammy, it’s a perfect combination of adventure and heritage that you will never forget.

Operator response

Dear Javaun, Thank you for your time and leaving a review about Golden Monkeys trekking experience with us,we are delighted that you enjoyed our service and your experience with our Driver guide Sammy. We appreciate your review and high ratings we look forward to welcoming you back! Best Regards, Afri Safaris Team

K
kalliopid569
August 23, 2025
GOLDEN MONKEYS EXPERIENCE

Wonderful experience. Every was unique but most of all trekking Golden Monkey. The driver was very kindly and helpful.

Operator response

Dear Kalliopi, Thank you for your time and leaving a review about Golden Monkeys trekking experience with us,we are delighted that you enjoyed our service and your experience with our Driver guide. We appreciate your review and high ratings we look forward to welcoming you back! Best Regards, Afri Safaris Team

C
ChristosKl
May 31, 2025
Golden monkeys were amazing

Golden monkeys were really nice! The driver Ben arrived on time to pick us up in the morning and then we drove straight to the national park for registration and briefing. After a short drive (I was surprised with how good the road conditions were) we arrived at the starting point and five minutes into the hike we spotted the first monkeys and we stayed with them for about an hour. We saw about 10-15 monkeys. The Gorrilla’s Guardians visit was a fun and informative activity although it was a bit weird that we were the only people there. We then finished with lunch at Musanze and by 4pm we were back in Kigali.

Operator response

Dear Christos, Thank you for choosing Afri Safaris. We appreciate your time and leaving a review about Golden Monkeys trekking experience with us,we are delighted that you enjoyed our service and your experience with our Driver guide Ben. We appreciate your review and high ratings we look forward to welcoming you back! Best Regards, Afri Safaris Team

A
alvinleung1
March 26, 2025
Got close with monkeys!

My colleague and I had an amazing day with Ben, who was knowledgeable about Rwanda and went an extra mile to make sure that we were taken care of. The car that we were in was comfortable. Ben was a great driver and has a great taste of music. We were able to see a troop of monkeys very close to us. After that, we spent a great hour in the local cultural village where we were warmly greeted. We tried on local costumes and saw dancing performed by locals. All in all it was a memorable day full of activities!

Operator response

Dear Alvin, Thank you for choosing Afri Safaris. We appreciate your time and leaving a review about Golden Monkeys trekking experience with us,we are delighted that you enjoyed our service and your experience with our Driver guide. We appreciate your review and high ratings we look forward to welcoming you back! Best Regards, Afri Safaris Team

A
ALEinternational
March 23, 2025
Memorable experience! Loved it.

It was a very special day trip - such an incredible experience to walk through villages to the protected forest and spend time observing the golden monkeys up close. The cultural village was a lot of fun as well and we enjoyed picking up a couple of souvenirs made locally. The whole experience was organized down to every detail by Afri Safaris. Communication in advance from the front office was exceptional. Our driver Ben was caring and informative, taking extra steps to ensure our comfort along the way and share information with us. Highly recommend this trip with Afri Safaris!

Operator response

Dear Ale, Thank you for choosing Afri Safaris. We appreciate your time and leaving a review about Golden Monkeys trekking experience with us,we are delighted that you enjoyed our service and your experience with our Driver guide. We appreciate your review and high ratings we look forward to welcoming you back! Best Regards, Afri Safaris Team

You might also like...