5-Day Rwanda Gorillas & Chimps Trekking Safari

Pickup : Kigali Airport
Drop-off : Kigali Airport

Tour Overview

This 5-Day Rwanda Gorillas & Chimps Trekking Safari takes you into two of Rwanda’s finest national parks, Nyungwe Forest National Park and Volcanoes National Park. You will begin by tracking chimpanzees through one of Africa’s oldest rainforests and walking high above the treetops on a canopy bridge. From there, you travel north to follow mountain gorillas across the misty volcanic slopes of the Virunga Mountains. Along the way, you visit a cultural village and hike to the tomb of Dian Fossey, the woman who dedicated her life to saving gorillas. Together, these experiences make this Rwanda Gorillas & Chimps Trekking Safari one of Africa’s most complete and memorable wildlife journeys.

Cost Includes

Transportation (Car, Fuel, Driver Guide)
Meals & Accommodation as mentioned
Gorilla Trekking Permit
Chimpanzee Trekking Permit
Bottled Drinking Water
Government Taxes

Cost Excludes

International Flights
Accommodation Before and After your Trip
Optional Iby'Iwacu Cultural Experience
Optional Canopy Walk Experience
Sourvenirs
Tips & Porter Hiring

Travel Plan

Day 1: Kigali to Nyungwe Forest National Park

Your Iconic Africa Safaris driver-guide will pick you up at Kigali International Airport or your hotel and settle you into a comfortable 4×4 Land Cruiser to begin your Rwanda Gorillas & Chimps Trekking Safari. The drive to Nyungwe takes roughly 6 to 7 hours, winding through Rwanda’s famous terraced hills and tea plantations before dense montane forest closes in around the road. On arrival, you check into your lodge, freshen up, and get a good rest ahead of two exciting forest days.

Accommodation: Chimpanzee Lodge (Budget) | Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel (Mid-Range) | One&Only Nyungwe House (Luxury)
Meal Plan: Half-Board

Day 2: Chimpanzee Trekking & Optional Canopy Walk

You wake at 5:30 AM to cool mountain air and a warm breakfast. A short drive brings you to park headquarters for the 7:00 AM ranger briefing, where your guide covers the ground rules: stay 8 metres from the chimps, keep your voice low, avoid direct eye contact, and never eat near them.

By 7:30 AM, you enter one of Africa’s oldest and largest montane rainforests, covering over 1,000 square kilometres of southwestern Rwanda. Nyungwe holds more than 500 chimpanzees, and your tracker team locates the troop by sound first, as loud calls and crashing branches signal they are close. Suddenly, the chimps appear above you, swinging between trees, grooming each other, and feeding on figs. Depending on where the troop roams, the trek lasts 2 to 5 hours. Along the trail, Angolan colobus monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, and olive baboons regularly appear among Nyungwe’s 13 primate species, making this stretch of your Rwanda Gorillas & Chimps Trekking Safari one of the richest primate encounters in Africa.

After lunch and a short rest, you head back into the forest for the late-afternoon canopy walk. Suspended 70 metres above the ground, the 160-metre walkway stretches between giant trees and opens up a stunning new view of the forest. Sunbirds, turacos, and hornbills fly past at eye level while mist rolls softly across the treetops below.

Accommodation: Chimpanzee Lodge (Budget) | Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel (Mid-Range) | One&Only Nyungwe House (Luxury)
Meal Plan: Full-Board

Day 3: Drive to Volcanoes National Park

On this day, you leave Nyungwe and drive north toward Volcanoes National Park, home to some of the world’s last remaining mountain gorillas. The landscape shifts beautifully as rolling hills give way to dramatic volcanic peaks and the Virunga Mountains come into view. On arrival, your lodge team welcomes you warmly, leaving the afternoon free to relax and prepare for tomorrow’s gorilla trek, the highlight of this Rwanda Gorillas & Chimps Trekking Safari.

Accommodation: La Palme Hotel (Budget) | Ingagi Lodge (Mid-Range) | Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge (Luxury)
Meal Plan: Full-Board

Day 4: Gorilla Trekking & Optional Iby'Iwacu Cultural Village

An early start brings you to the park briefing point, where rangers assign your gorilla family and explain the trekking rules. Your guide then leads you upward through bamboo zones and thick vegetation until the tracker team locates the gorilla family. Watching silverbacks rest, juveniles wrestle, and mothers nurse their infants ranks among the most moving wildlife encounters on Earth, and it is the moment this Rwanda Gorillas & Chimps Trekking Safari is built around. You spend 1 full hour with the gorillas before descending.

That afternoon, an optional visit to the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village brings you face to face with local Rwandan traditions. Community members share traditional dance, storytelling, craft-making, and daily village life, an experience that directly supports conservation efforts in the region.

Accommodation: La Palme Hotel (Budget) | Ingagi Lodge (Mid-Range) | Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge (Luxury)
Meal Plan: Full-Board

Day 5: Dian Fossey Hike & Transfer to Kigali

The morning begins with a meaningful hike to the Dian Fossey research camp and tomb on the slopes of Mount Bisoke. Fossey spent nearly 20 years living among mountain gorillas, fighting poachers, and changing how the world understood these animals. Walking the same forest trails she once walked adds a deeply human layer to yesterday’s gorilla experience. At the tomb, guides bring her extraordinary story and conservation legacy to life.

After the hike, your driver-guide will take you to Kigali for a short city tour before your departure. The Kigali Genocide Memorial offers a sobering look at Rwanda’s history, while the colourful Kimironko Market, full of crafts and local produce, makes a perfect final stop before one last Rwandan meal and the end of your Rwanda Gorillas & Chimps Trekking Safari.

Accommodation: None unless requested
Meal Plan: Half-Board

Answered FAQs

How much does this safari cost?

The cost of this Rwanda Gorillas & Chimps Trekking Safari depends on your group size, chosen accommodation level, and the season you travel in. Mandatory permit fees, set by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), are included in your total trip cost:

Gorilla Trekking Permit: US$1,500 per person
Chimpanzee Trekking Permit: US$250 per person
National Park Entry Fees: included within the permit fee

Let us know your group size and whether you would like to upgrade to any of the accommodation levels mentioned in the itinerary, and we will come back to you with the total cost per person.

Can this itinerary be customized?

Yes. This itinerary can be extended, shortened, or combined with other destinations such as Akagera National Park or Lake Kivu, and accommodation can be adjusted to suit your budget or preferred style of travel.

How physically demanding is this safari?

This safari suits most fitness levels but does involve real hiking. Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe can mean 2 to 5 hours on steep, sometimes muddy forest trails, while gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park typically takes 2 to 6 hours round trip through bamboo forest and volcanic slopes at altitudes above 2,500 metres. A reasonable level of fitness helps, and porters are available to carry bags and offer a hand on steeper sections.

What is the best time of year to go on this trip?

The dry seasons, from June to September and again from December to February, offer the best trekking conditions, with firmer trails and less rainfall. Rwanda’s parks stay open year-round, and trekking is possible in the wetter months too, though trails can be slippery and more challenging but rewards with discounted lodge rates, few crowds and green scenery.

What should I pack for safari?

Pack sturdy waterproof hiking boots, long trousers and long-sleeved shirts in neutral colours, a rain jacket, facemask, gardening gloves for gripping vegetation, a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, and a daypack for water and snacks. A good camera, binoculars, and a portable charger are also worth bringing along on your Rwanda Gorillas & Chimps Trekking Safari.

Are the gorilla and chimpanzee permits guaranteed?

Permits are issued in limited quantities by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) to protect primate populations. Before your booking is confirmed, we first confirm permit availability, and once permits are purchased on your behalf, your trekking spots are guaranteed. Because demand is high during peak months, you should book this Rwanda Gorillas & Chimps Trekking Safari 4 to 6 months in advance, especially during peak season.

What type of vehicle is used for transportation?

You travel in a customized 4×4 Safari Land Cruiser equipped with a pop-up roof for wildlife viewing and photography. The vehicle features 4-wheel drive to handle rough park tracks and dirt roads in rural areas. It comes stocked with bottled drinking water, power outlets for charging cameras and phones, and an extended chassis to give every passenger a window seat.