15-Day Rwanda Gorillas, Chimps and Birding Safari

The cost starts from $4,550 per person, but the final price depends on your group size, travel season, and chosen accommodation level. Travelling in a larger group usually lowers the per-person cost because the vehicle and driver-guide are shared, while peak months and lodge upgrades push it higher. Permit and park fees are built into the price, including the gorilla permit at about $1,500, the chimpanzee permit at about $250, the golden monkey permit at about $100, and Akagera entry at about $100 per person per day. Rates are set by the Rwanda Development Board and can change, so send us your dates and group size for an exact quotation.

The price covers transport in a 4×4 safari vehicle with fuel and a driver-guide, meals and accommodation as listed in the itinerary, gorilla, chimpanzee and golden monkey trekking permits, the Akagera game drive and boat cruise, bottled drinking water, and government taxes. It does not cover international flights, accommodation before and after the trip, the optional Batwa cultural experience, souvenirs, tips, or porter hiring. We also recommend travel insurance. Your final quotation confirms the exact inclusions for your selected accommodation category.

You begin in Kigali with birding at Nyandungu Wetland, then spend days two to six in Akagera National Park for game drives, a Lake Ihema boat cruise, and birding in the Kilala Plains. Days seven to ten are in Nyungwe Forest for chimpanzee trekking, the canopy walk, and birding in Kamiranzovu Swamp. You then travel along Lake Kivu to Kibuye for island birding before heading to Volcanoes National Park for gorillas, golden monkeys, and the twin lakes. Day fifteen returns you to Kigali for your flight.

The itinerary uses Onomo Hotel in Kigali on arrival, Akagera Rhino Lodge and Kalenge Tented Camp in Akagera, Hotel Chez Lando in Kigali on the return leg, Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel near Nyungwe Forest, Delta Resort Hotel in Kibuye, and Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge near Volcanoes National Park. Meal plans range from half board to full board depending on the day. If you would like to upgrade or adjust any lodge, tell us your preference and we will confirm the options in your quotation, subject to availability.

Once the rangers locate the gorilla family, you are allowed up to one hour with them, in a group of no more than eight trekkers. Golden monkey tracking also allows around one hour with the troop. Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe follows park rules on viewing time once the group is found, and your ranger will explain this during the briefing. The time spent searching varies from day to day, so the overall trekking duration can differ depending on where the animals have moved.

These are wild animals, so sightings cannot be guaranteed absolutely. Habituated gorilla families and golden monkey troops are followed daily by trackers, which gives you a very good chance of an encounter. Chimpanzees in Nyungwe move quickly and can be harder to find, so patience helps. Birds such as the Shoebill Stork are never guaranteed, although Lake Ihema and the northern Akagera wetlands give you a genuine chance. Our guides plan each day to give you the best practical opportunity.

Yes. Visitors must be at least 15 years old to track mountain gorillas in Rwanda. Chimpanzee and golden monkey tracking have their own age requirements set by the Rwanda Development Board, which can change. If you are travelling with teenagers or younger children, tell us everyone’s age before booking so we can confirm eligibility for each activity and suggest alternatives, such as extra birding or cultural visits, where necessary.

No, but your start date is shaped by permit availability. In this itinerary, chimpanzee trekking falls on day eight, gorilla trekking on day twelve, and golden monkey trekking on day thirteen, so we need permits to be available on those exact dates. Send us your preferred arrival date and we will check permits first. If your dates are not available, we can suggest the nearest dates that keep the full route intact.

Follow your ranger’s instructions throughout. Keep the minimum distance set by park authorities, which is about seven metres for gorillas, speak quietly, avoid flash photography, and never touch or feed the animals. Do not eat, drink, or smoke near them, and wear the face mask provided or required during the encounter. These primates are very vulnerable to human illnesses, so the health and hygiene rules explained during each briefing apply to everyone in the group.

Tell your driver-guide and park staff straight away if you develop a cold, cough, flu symptoms, diarrhoea, or any other contagious illness. Gorillas and chimpanzees can catch human diseases, and park authorities may stop visitors who are unwell from joining the trek. Any refund or rescheduling depends on the permit conditions set by the Rwanda Development Board. We strongly recommend travel insurance that covers medical issues and trip interruptions.

Yes. Porters can carry your daypack, steady you on steep or muddy slopes, and make the trek far more comfortable, even if you are reasonably fit. Their work also provides income to families living near the park. Porter hiring is not included in the safari price, so you can arrange it at the park on trekking day or ask us to organise it in advance. Tips for porters are optional and are given directly to them.

Entry requirements depend on your nationality, so check the current visa rules with Rwanda’s immigration authorities before you travel. Your passport should be valid for at least six months. A yellow fever vaccination certificate may be requested depending on the countries you have visited, and we suggest speaking to your doctor or travel clinic about vaccinations and malaria prevention. Rwanda also bans plastic bags, so avoid packing them in your luggage.

Send us your preferred travel dates, number of travellers, accommodation preference, and any special interests through the quote form, by email, or on WhatsApp. We first check permit availability for your dates, then prepare a detailed quotation with the cost per person. Once you approve the itinerary and payment terms, we purchase the permits and make the lodge reservations on your behalf, which secures your trekking spots. Because permits are limited, booking several months ahead is strongly advised.