2-Day Gorilla Trek & Golden Monkey Walk from Wilderness Bisate

8:00 AM – Arrival at Volcanoes NP / Transfer to Lodge
Arrive from Kigali or your previous destination with a scenic drive through Rwanda’s rolling hills. Check-in to Wilderness Bisate Lodge, your luxury volcanic-forest retreat nestled just outside the park’s edge. Enjoy panoramic views of Bisoke, Karisimbi, and Mikeno from your private deck.

10:00 AM – Golden Monkey Tracking Adventure
After a safety briefing at Volcanoes National Park headquarters, set off on a guided trek in search of the vibrantly coloured golden monkeys in their bamboo forest habitat. This immersive hike lasts about 2–4 hours and rewards you with playful sightings and stunning primate behaviour.

1:00 PM – Lunch at the Lodge
Return to Bisate for a delicious lunch featuring locally inspired cuisine, fine wines, and fresh Rwandan coffee in the cozy restaurant or al fresco dining area.

3:00 PM – Guided Nature Walk & Reforestation Experience
Explore the lodge’s conservation trails with a naturalist guide. Learn about Bisate’s reforestation efforts and maybe plant your own sapling in the nursery, contributing to ongoing habitat restoration near the park.

5:30 PM – Sundowner & Volcano Views
Relax on the lodge’s viewing deck with a sundowner as the sun sets behind the Virunga peaks. Spot rare bird species and soak up the serene atmosphere.

7:30 PM – Dinner & Optional Wine Tasting
Dine on gourmet dishes prepared with fresh ingredients, paired with interesting Rwandan wines in the lodge’s intimate cellar.

Upon arrival, head straight for an en route game drive as you enter the park. Watch for Rothschild giraffes, elephants, hartebeest, buffalo, and predators such as lions and leopards.

In the afternoon, visit the top of Murchison Falls where the Nile explodes through a narrow 7 meter gorge. Feel the thunder of the water and capture spectacular photos.

Check in to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay inside or near the park.

6:30 AM – Gorilla Trek Preparation & Park Briefing
Early breakfast followed by a transfer to Volcanoes National Park headquarters for your gorilla trek briefing. Rangers allocate you a habituated gorilla family and explain safety and etiquette. (Note: gorilla permits are essential and should be booked well in advance.)

7:30 AM – Mountain Gorilla Trekking
Head into the lush forest with expert guides and trackers. Trekking can vary—from steep slopes to gentle trails—depending on where your gorilla family is located that day. Once found, you’ll spend up to one hour observing these magnificent great apes in their natural environment—an emotional and intimate wildlife encounter.

12:00 PM – Return & Leisure Lunch
Return to Bisate Lodge for a relaxing lunch and time to freshen up. Reflect on your gorilla experience and enjoy the lodge’s tranquil setting.

2:30 PM – Optional Cultural or Forest Activity
Choose from:

• A visit to the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village for traditional dance, music, and lifestyle immersion

• A guided hike toward Dian Fossey’s grave and Karisoke Research Centre (challenging but rewarding)

• A scenic birding or village walk to nearby communities

5:30 PM – Farewell Sunset & Departure Prep
Return to the lodge to relax, enjoy afternoon tea or a spa treatment at the Bisate Sanctuary wellness facility, and pack before your onward journey.

7:00 PM – Final Dinner in the Volcanoes
Enjoy your last memorable dinner surrounded by the forest and volcano silhouettes under starry skies before departure the next morning.