5-tägige Gorillatrekking- und Goldschimpansen-Tour in Ruanda

This 5 day Rwanda gorilla trekking tour is built for travellers who want one good gorilla day without hurrying the rest. You arrive in Kigali, move to Musanze on day two so you are rested and already at the park, trek the gorillas on day three, track golden monkeys on day four and finish with local culture or the Musanze Caves. Park fees, both permits, a porter, full board and a driver guide with a 4x4 are included, and a small group is never added to your vehicle.

The order of the days is the point of this tour. Most short gorilla trips put the trek on the morning after a long drive from Kigali. Here you spend the second night in Musanze before you trek, so you start the trek rested, with the park headquarters a short drive from your lodge. After the trek you have a full afternoon to wash, eat and sleep, and the next morning is a different kind of walk altogether: golden monkeys, which move fast and live in the bamboo higher on the slopes. Our guide to how hard gorilla trekking in Rwanda really is explains what to expect on the day.

Day four ends with a choice that depends on the weather and on how your legs feel. The Musanze Caves are lava tubes with a guided walk and are an easy way to spend an afternoon. A visit with local hosts shows how people farm and cook on the slopes below the volcanoes, and our write-up of whether the Iby'Iwacu Cultural Village is worth visiting will help you decide what suits you. Browse the gorilla trekking page for more on the experience and the Rwanda destination page for the wider country.

Moderate fitness is enough, but the trek is real walking. Trails run through farmland, bamboo and forest at altitude, and they are steep and muddy after rain. The walk to the gorillas varies from about an hour to several hours each way, depending on where the family spent the night. You have one hour with the gorillas once you find them. A porter is included, and so is a walking stick at the start of the trail. Golden monkey tracking is usually easier. If you have a knee, heart or breathing problem, tell us when you enquire so that we can plan around it. See our gorilla trekking packing list before you travel.

June to September and December to February are the driest months, with firmer trails and clearer views of the volcanoes, and they are also the busiest for gorilla dates. March to May and October to November are wetter, which means more mud but quieter forest and easier availability. Gorilla trekking runs in every month. Tell us your dates early, because trekking dates are limited and the best ones are taken first.

This tour suits first-time visitors to Rwanda, couples, families with teenagers of 15 and older, and solo travellers who want a short trip with one clear highlight and an unhurried schedule. If you want more time in the forest or a savannah safari as well, look at the 6-day Rwanda gorilla trekking and Big Five safari. For the shortest option, see the 4-day Rwanda gorilla trekking tour.

Gorilla and golden monkey dates are limited, and the busy months fill early, so enquire a few months ahead. Read what golden monkey tracking costs and involves and the guide on how booking a gorilla trek in Rwanda works. We advise on visas free of charge and confirm your lodges once you book.

If you want a trip with more time on the ground, our Signature Journey, the 7-day Rwanda gorilla trekking tour with culture and ReGreen, adds tree planting and community time. You can also read about the Hundred Trees initiative.