Rwanda Gorilla Trek: 3 Nights Tracking Mountain Gorillas in Volcanoes National Park

Fewer than a thousand mountain gorillas remain in the wild, and the great majority of them call the misted slopes of Rwanda's Virunga Mountains home. This journey is built entirely around one extraordinary morning - tracking a gorilla family through the forest for an hour spent in their quiet, watchful company - bookended by Kigali's warmth and Volcanoes National Park's rich conservation history.

Along the way, you'll visit the research centre founded by the pioneering primatologist whose work first brought Rwanda's gorillas to the world's attention, and track the far rarer golden monkey through stands of bamboo forest. It is an experience measured in hours, not days, and yet it stays with travellers for a lifetime.

For those who wish to extend the encounter, a premium tier pairs the same trek with Rwanda's most celebrated lodges — ask your consultant for details.

• ◆Track a mountain gorilla family through Volcanoes National Park, with an hour in their company
• ◆Visit the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund's research centre, the world's longest-standing gorilla study
• ◆Trek golden monkeys through Rwanda's bamboo forest
• ◆Explore Kigali's craft markets and cultural sites on a guided city tour
• ◆Stay at hand-selected lodges on the doorstep of the Virunga Mountains

Day 1: Arrive in Kigali and transfer to your hotel.

Day 2: A guided city tour of Kigali, including its craft markets and cultural sites, before driving to Ruhengeri and visiting the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund's research centre.

Day 3: An early start for mountain gorilla tracking — up to six hours on foot, followed by an hour spent in the company of a gorilla family.

Day 4: Track golden monkeys through Rwanda's bamboo forest before returning to Kigali for your onward flight.