Wake up! It’s 5:30 and we have to get ready for our monkey trek. Breakfast begins at 6:00 and we grabbed a coffee and banana. Not really hungry at 6am. Of course the staff was mortified that we would pass out from hunger. But after all the food we’ve been eating our stomachs needed a break. Today was perfect.
On our way to Volcano National Park we passed by the ‘festival ground’ where Kwita Izina, Rwanda’s Gorilla Naming Ceremony, is held. This event is inspired by the traditional Rwandan practice where families hold a special ceremony to name newborn babies. Last year, 2025, was their 20th anniversary. https://kwitaizina.rw/ The structures you see in the photos are all made of bamboo.
Our hike in to the monkeys.
Weather was a bit overcast and 56° when we started out. We both have long sleeves and fleece to keep warm. No raincoat or ankle gators were needed today. Our group of 17 consisted of US & International folks who all spoke English.
We were encouraged to hire porters to carry our bags. Although we didn’t feel the need to have help, it is a good way to support the local workforce. Also, our porters were former poachers so this is turning their lives around by earning money and supporting the animal. The volcanic rock can be a little tricky to navigate at times and our porter, Emmy, was great at lending a supportive hand.
Trackers relay messages to our guide to let her know where the family or troop is located. The national park borders along potato fields and as luck would have it- some golden monkeys decided to come meet us in the fields! Actually, they were searching for potatoes left behind after the crop was harvested. Leslie and I both got some great photos but also focused on being present in the moment. It’s too easy to miss something if we are fumbling with the camera. Enjoy! If you click on the picture you may get a better view.
Our group walked just over the border in to the park to see the rest of the family. Every species seems to portray the same characteristics… mothers protecting their young, the young wanting independence and full of mischief. And males… well, I’ll let you finish THAT statement 😉. Presently there are only 2 adult males in this troop of approximately 30 members . Typically, the male joins a troop only twice a year for 2-3 months at a time. As you may have already guessed, it’s for mating season. Once mating season is over the males leave and live in solitary.
Bamboo is the main staple of the golden’s diet. They will pick the shoots off of bamboo and then eat the lush portion and discard the chewy part. Since they move quickly through the trees and don’t leave many prints on the ground for tracking, the discarded shoots are key signs for the trackers to locate the families. And when they get an opportunity to dig for potatoes they take it. They LOVE potatoes. The local farmers do get compensated a percentage for the loss of some crop- but the monkeys are also discouraged from taking over the fields.
Our time is up
One last walk through the potato field and the monkeys follow. We are told to keep a distance of 6-9 feet away, but most of the Goldens did not get the same instruction! For them to walk by and sit closely was common.
All in all a great morning and also an opportunity to acclimate our lungs to the altitude. After showers and lunch we head to a “Coffee Experience” that I will share in a separate blog.
Thursday will be Gorillas!
Leslie and Vickie
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Leslie & Vickie’s 2026 Safari 
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