5 Days Gorillas & Nyungwe Chimps – This special Rwanda primate tour takes you through life-changing chimpanzee and mountain gorilla encounters in the country’s leading tropical forest protected areas. The tour combines chimp tracking, a canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest, and mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park.
Detailed Tour
Day 1: Pick up at Hotel, Nyungwe Forest National Park
Nyungwe National Park is located in the Southern province of Rwanda. Your journey starts in Kigali, the capital, via the Butare route, a 6-7 hours’ drive. En-route, expected stopovers include visits to the King’s palace, ethnographic museum, Murambi memorial center, etc. After a city tour of Butare, settle for lunch and then proceed to your lodge in Nyungwe Forest for relaxation and an overnight stay.
Day 2: Chimpanzees, Canopy Walk – Nyungwe
Start your day with an early morning breakfast, then head to Uwinka reception for a briefing on chimpanzee trekking rules. A park official will assign you a park guide. Tracking Nyungwe chimps can take 2-4 hours, with guaranteed 1 hour for a close encounter and photography.
Nyungwe hosts 13 primate species, including over 500 chimpanzees, baboons, l’hoest monkeys, colobus monkeys, and a record of 310 bird species. In the afternoon, experience a canopy walk for 2 hours, encountering more primates and birds on a suspended canopy walkway.
Day 3: Mountain Gorilla Tour – Volcanoes National Park
After breakfast, depart for Volcanoes National Park in the Northern Province of Rwanda. This park is home to 30% of the world’s endangered mountain gorillas, with 12 habituated gorilla families available for trekking. Founded in 1925, it is Rwanda’s oldest park, covering 160 sq. km. The route from Nyungwe to Volcanoes NP offers views of Lake Kivu and Rwanda’s rolling hills.
Day 4: Visit Mountain Gorillas in the Wild
Enjoy a hearty breakfast before leaving the lodge for the mountain gorilla trekking experience. Trekking starts at 8:00 am and can take 2-6 hours, with 1 hour guaranteed to observe gorilla behavior and take photographs. Gorilla families you may visit include Hirwa, Sabyinyo, Agashya, Karisimbi/Susa B, Umubano, Ugenda, Kwitonda, Amahoro, Bwenge, among others.
After this special hour with the gorillas, relax at the lodge. In the evening, consider visiting the Iby’Iwacu cultural village for Rwandan dances, music performances, and a deeper exploration of Rwandan traditions and cultures.
Day 5: Departure
Drive back to Kigali (2-3 hours), Rwanda’s largest city and business hub. Embark on a city excursion, spending approximately 2 hours exploring sites like the Kigali Memorial Center, craft centers, Kimironko Market, etc. Enjoy lunch before being dropped off at your hotel or the airport for departure.
