Rwanda
4-Day Gorilla & Chimp Safari
This 4-day primate-focused safari offers encounters with mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park and chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest, plus cultural visits to genocide memorials and royal palaces. Perfect for wildlife enthusiasts seeking diverse primate experiences.
What to Expect
- 🦍 Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes NP (1-hour encounter)
- 🐵 Chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest
- 🌿 Canopy walk above Nyungwe's rainforest
- 🏙️ Kigali city tour (genocide memorials, markets)
- 🏰 Cultural visits (Nyanza Palace)
- 📜 Gorilla trekking certificate
Key Notes
✔️ Best Time to Visit: June–September or December–February
✔️ Permits Included: Gorilla ($1,500) + Chimp ($100)
✔️ Fitness Level: Moderate (2 treks in different climates)
✔️ Packing Tips: Waterproof hiking boots, rain jacket, binoculars
Itinerary Summary
| Day | Activity |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Kigali → Volcanoes NP • City Tour |
| Day 2 | Gorilla Trek → Transfer to Nyungwe |
| Day 3 | Chimpanzee Tracking • Canopy Walk |
| Day 4 | Nyungwe → Kigali • Cultural Visits |
Day 1: Kigali to Volcanoes National Park
- Morning: Airport welcome • Optional Kigali city tour
- Afternoon: Visit genocide memorials & local markets
- Evening: Transfer to Kinigi • Lodge check-in
Begin with cultural immersion in Kigali, visiting poignant memorials and vibrant markets. Travel to Volcanoes NP, home to Rwanda's famous mountain gorillas, and settle into your lodge beneath the Virunga peaks.
Accommodation Options:
- Super Luxury: One&Only Gorilla's Nest / Singita Kwitonda Lodge
- Luxury: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge / Virunga Lodge
- Mid-Range: Five Volcanoes Lodge / Virunga Spar Resort
Meals: Dinner
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking → Nyungwe Forest
- 06:00 AM: Breakfast • Park briefing
- 07:30 AM: Gorilla trek (2–6 hours) • 1-hour encounter
- Afternoon: Lunch • Scenic 5-hour drive to Nyungwe
- Evening: Lodge check-in • Forest sounds
Trek through bamboo forests to observe gorilla families feeding and playing. Receive your trekking certificate before traveling to Nyungwe, one of Africa's oldest rainforests, teeming with primates and birds.
Accommodation Options:
- Luxury: One&Only Nyungwe House
- Mid-Range: Nyungwe Hill Top Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Chimpanzee Tracking & Canopy Walk
- 05:30 AM: Early breakfast • Chimp briefing
- 06:30 AM: Chimpanzee trek (2–4 hours)
- Afternoon: Canopy walk (60m-high suspension bridge)
- Evening: Relax at lodge • Optional nature walk
Search for chimpanzees and other primates (colobus, mangabeys) in Nyungwe's dense foliage. Walk among treetops on East Africa's only canopy bridge, spotting birds and monkeys below.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Return to Kigali & Cultural Visits
- 08:00 AM: Breakfast • Drive to Kigali
- En Route: Visit Nyanza Palace & museums
- Afternoon: Airport drop-off
Explore Rwanda's royal history at Nyanza Palace, the former seat of kings, before returning to Kigali with unforgettable primate memories.
Meals: Breakfast
End of Safari
A perfect primate double-feature—combining Rwanda's iconic gorillas with the energetic chimpanzees of Nyungwe, plus rich cultural encounters.
✅ Included
- All accommodation on Half Board (HB), Full Board (FB) or Bed and Breakfast (B&B) basis as quoted in the text
- Safari vehicle and fuel
- English speaking tourist guide
- Game drives and walks
- Entrance fees to the national parks. All boat tours
- Taxes
- Free mineral water in the vehicle during the tour
- AMREF emergency evacuation insurance
- Gorilla Permit
❌ Excluded
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Drinks / alcoholic drinks / additional meals
- Tips
- Activities not part of the described program
- International travel insurance
- Items of personal nature / souvenirs
PLEASE NOTE
The safari indicated here is essentially an offer. Changes in the course of the journey, the duration of your tour, the number of travelers, as well as the choice of accommodation are subject to availability, although we always endeavor to stick as closely as possible to this program. For the majority of itineraries, we can offer luxury, mid range or budget versions of this safari upon request.
Sometimes it is not possible to adhere to the travel plan as described in this itinerary, due to weather and road conditions, authority regulations, organizational requirements, etc. Occasionally, the planned route of the tour has to change according to the situation on the ground. We must therefore explicitly refuse liability for adherence to the journey plan.