Overview
Two of Rwanda's best primate encounters anchor this 7-day itinerary: mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, and chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest. Rwanda is among the easiest countries in the region for a trip centered fully on primates.
On a gorilla trek, you hike through thick forest until you reach a habituated gorilla family, then watch them from close range for a tightly regulated hour. Nyungwe offers something different but just as rewarding, with chimpanzee tracking through one of the oldest surviving stretches of montane rainforest in East Africa.
Permits for the gorillas are limited, and booking them far in advance is wise. Give yourself as much lead time as you can when planning this trip.
Permit costs and logistics are covered in our gorilla tracking guide. To see what is open on your dates, send us a message.
| Accommodation | Confirmed together with you — see the Rates tab for general comfort levels we work with. |
|---|---|
| Meals | Full board on safari days; meals as specified for any city/beach nights, per your final itinerary. |
Day by Day (6 days)
This is the first day of the trip. You land at around 7:30 pm, and our driver-guide will be there to meet and welcome you. You are then driven to Hotel Okapi for dinner and the night. Meals on H/B
On this day you wake up and enjoy a relaxed breakfast. Then you go on a city tour of several places of interest, such as the Genocide memorial, parliament, Science university, and then the local markets. You stop for lunch and some refreshments. After that comes a 2 hour drive to the volcanoes national park, which you reach in the evening, checking in for dinner and overnight at mountain gorilla view lodge. Meals on F/B
You wake very early and have breakfast, then go to the park headquarters for a briefing on the dos and don'ts of being around these primates and to be assigned a gorilla family to trek. After that you enter the forest for the gorilla trekking itself. Finding the primates takes between 2-6 hours, depending on how they move. Once you reach them, you are allowed one hour to spend with them and take pictures. You then return to your hotel, filled with the experience, for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
You get up very early for breakfast, then board your safari jeep for a 7-9 hours drive through the southern part of the country, stopping for lunch en route. Arriving late in the evening, you check in for dinner and overnight at Nyungwe hilltop view hotel. Meals on F/B
Wake up early and have breakfast. After that, drive 1 hour to Kyamudongo forest, the actual chimpanzee tracking spot. Enter the forest and begin the chimpanzee tracking itself. Afterward you head back to your hotel for lunch and some refreshments. In the afternoon, a nature walk takes you into the late evening, and then you return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
This is the last day of the trip. Have an early breakfast and begin the drive back to Kigali, with lunch on the way, arriving late in the evening. Since your flight is on this date, you are dropped at the airport, which marks the end of the trip.
Rates Per Person
See "Accommodation & Meals" on the Overview tab for the general comfort levels available — send us your dates and group size for an exact quote.
Next: Inclusions →Inclusions
Included
- Private vehicle with your own driver-guide
- Park entry and conservation fees
- Accommodation as specified in your itinerary
- Meals as specified per day (full board on safari days)
- Airport pickup and drop-off
Excluded
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal expenses and souvenirs
Getting There
Tour Start & End
This trip starts in Kilimanjaro International Airport and ends in Kilimanjaro International Airport.
Airport Information
Kilimanjaro International Airport and Mwanza Airport are the most common arrival points, depending on your route.
Transfer Information
Airport pickup and all transfers between destinations are included and arranged by our team.
Accommodation Before/After
Need a night in Mwanza or Arusha before or after this trip? We can arrange that on request.