The 5 Days Gorillas & Nyungwe Chimps tour is a focused Rwanda primate safari that combines chimpanzee trekking, a canopy walk, and mountain gorilla trekking. This journey takes you to Rwanda’s main tropical forest parks, giving you close encounters with primates in their natural habitat. The safari includes Nyungwe Forest National Park for chimpanzees and canopy walks, and Volcanoes National Park for mountain gorilla trekking. The tour starts and ends in Kigali.
Day 1: Pick Up from Hotel and Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park
Your safari begins with a pick up from your hotel in Kigali. Meet your driver guide and begin the road journey to Nyungwe Forest National Park in southern Rwanda. The drive follows the Butare route and takes about six to seven hours.
Along the way, you will stop at important cultural and historical sites such as the King’s Palace, the ethnographic museum, and the Murambi Memorial Center. These visits give insight into Rwanda’s history and culture. After a short city tour in Butare, stop for lunch at a local restaurant. Continue the drive to Nyungwe Forest and check in at your lodge. Spend the evening relaxing, followed by dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 2: Chimpanzee Trekking and Canopy Walk in Nyungwe
Wake up early for breakfast and then drive to the Uwinka reception center. Attend a briefing by park officials on chimpanzee trekking rules and safety. You will be assigned a park guide before entering the forest.
Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe can take between two and four hours, depending on where the chimpanzees are found. Once you locate them, you will spend one hour observing their behavior and taking photos. Nyungwe Forest is home to many primates, including chimpanzees, baboons, L’Hoest monkeys, and colobus monkeys, as well as many bird species.
After lunch, take part in a canopy walk. This walk lasts about two hours and takes place on a suspended walkway above the forest. You may see birds and primates moving through the trees. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
After breakfast, check out of the lodge and drive north to Volcanoes National Park. This park is located in Rwanda’s Northern Province and is home to about 30 percent of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. The drive offers views of Lake Kivu along the way.
Arrive at your lodge near Volcanoes National Park in time for lunch. Spend the rest of the day resting and preparing for the gorilla trek the next day. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge.
Day 4: Mountain Gorilla Trekking Experience
Enjoy an early breakfast and then transfer to the park headquarters for a gorilla trekking briefing. Rangers will explain the trekking rules and assign you a gorilla family.
Gorilla trekking starts at 8:00 am and can take between two and six hours. Once the gorillas are found, you will spend one full hour observing them and taking photos. After the trek, return to the lodge for rest.
In the evening, you may choose to visit the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village for music, dance, and cultural activities. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge.
Day 5: Return to Kigali and Departure
After breakfast, drive back to Kigali, a journey of about two to three hours. Enjoy a short city tour, including a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial, craft centers, and Kimironko Market. Have lunch before being dropped off at your hotel or Kigali International Airport for departure.
This marks the end of the 5 Days Gorillas & Nyungwe Chimps safari.
