7 Day Rwanda Gorilla and Chimpanzee Safari
7 Day Rwanda Gorilla and Chimpanzee Safari
Safari Overview
7 Day Rwanda Gorilla and Chimpanzee Safari are one of the perfect ways on can explore and discover Rwanda’s Volcanoes national park for Ultimate gorilla tracking adventure and Nyungwe forest national park for chimpanzee trekking experience in one of the country’s remarkable safari destinations with some of the most spectacular landscapes in the land of a thousand hills.
Where to trek the gorillas in Rwanda?
Rwanda gorilla safaris take place in the country’s northwest in the famous volcanoes national park which was the research station for the late primatologist Dian Fossey who was killed by unknown poachers in the quest to protect by that the endangered mountain gorillas in the volcano based rain forest, the park sits in the 5 volcanoes of Muhavura, Gahinga, Sabyinyo, Karisimbi, and Bisoke respectively, volcanoes national park is also home to over 12 habituated mountain gorilla families living in the 160 km/ square rain forest located at the edge of the Albertine rift valley.
Where to see chimpanzees in Rwanda?
In the southwest of Rwanda lies one of Africa’s diverse forest still being protected, Nyungwe forest stretches to Burundi’s Kibira forest national park and the forest is home to some of the most fascinating wildlife and primate species, the 970 km is home to the habitat threatened chimpanzees and also houses about 12 other primate species, the Cyamudongo area is a smaller part of the forest which has provided a perfect habitat to the chimpanzees.
How to get to Volcanoes national park
Volcanoes national park is located approximately 120 km northwest of the Rwandan capital Kigali and 50 km from the Uganda Rwanda border via Cyanika.
By Road
By road from Kigali, the national park is about 2-3 hours using a 4×4 safari vehicle via Musanze Gisenyi road and this can take up to 2 hours’ drive.
By Air
Volcanoes national park is also accessible by air from Kigali international airport using a Helicopter which can take about 30 minutes and the helicopter can land near the park boundaries or at the lodge and the clients can transfer to the park headquarters by car.
Safari Highlights
- Gorilla trekking
- Visiting the Dian Fossey museum
- Optional Kinigi village walk or Iby’lwacu cultural experience.
- Luxury accommodation at Sabyinyo silverback lodge or Virunga Lodge
- Kigali city tour
- Golden monkey trekking.
- Dayroom in Kigali
- Lake Kivu sunset boat cruise.
Detailed Itinerary
This safari package will start from Kigali and takes you to Rwanda’s volcanoes national park where the gorilla trekking takes in the country’s dense rain forest which is home to the endangered golden monkeys and the mountain gorillas that living in only two other countries of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, then you will take a relaxing holiday in the lake shores of Lake Kivu.
Day 1: Drive from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park
You will be meeting your safari guide at your location or at the lodge for a briefing after which you will depart the lodge for a short Kigali city tour before driving to volcanoes national park for relaxation at the lodge.
Lunch: Musanze.
Overnight: Sabyinyo silverback lodge or Virunga lodge.
Activities: Dian Fossey museum.
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking experience
After early morning breakfast you will be picked up by your guide from the hotel to be ready the park headquarters in Kinigi at 7 am, registering will take place and allocation of gorilla families (done by your guide) as you will be having a cup of coffee and then after you will drive to the trailhead to start your gorilla trekking adventure in the rain forest, this can take from 2 hours to 6 hours depending on how long you take to find the mountain gorillas and after you will spend one hour with the gorillas upon return you will be transferred to the lodge for relaxation.
Lunch: packed lunch or hot lunch depending on the time of return.
Overnight: Sabyinyo silverback lodge or Virunga Lodge.
Activity: Gorilla trekking adventure.
Day 3: Golden monkey trekking experience
After an incredible gorilla trekking adventure, you will be picked up your guide again and transfer to the park station where you have a golden monkey briefing before transferring to the starting point to start trekking into the forest with your ranger guide where you will spend an hour with the monkeys after finding them and later you will return to the lodge for relaxation.
Lunch: Packed lunch or hot lunch at the lodge depending on the time of return from the forest.
Overnight: Sabyinyo silverback lodge or Virunga lodge.
Activity: Golden monkey trekking
Day 4: Drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park
After morning breakfast you will drive to Nyungwe forest national park via the Kivu belt landscape an area which is just full of tea farms and extremely spectacular views of Lake Kivu, upon arrival, you will check-in and relax as you get ready for the chimpanzee experience in the park.
Lunch: Cormorant hotel Kibuye
Overnight: Nyungwe top hill view lodge
Activity: Scenic drive
Day 5: Chimpanzee trekking experience
Early morning start is usually required, you will get up early and depart the lodge at 4:30 and transfer to the park station to meet the guides and depart by 5 am from the Gisekura park office to Cyamudongo forest and the drive takes about 1:30 minutes and then you can start your trekking and this can take between 2-3 hours depending on how long it will take to find the chimpanzees.
Lunch: Nyungwe top view lodge
Overnight: Nyungwe top view lodge
Activity: Chimpanzee trekking experience
Day 6: Tropical waterfall walk or the Nyungwe canopy walk
This is an optional day for the clients to choose what they would wish to do as you can do the waterfall walk in Gisekura or drive to Uwinka to do the canopy walk both experiences are extraordinary and gives clients the best feelings of the Nyungwe forest.
Lunch: Nyungwe hilltop view lodge
Overnight: Nyungwe hilltop view lodge
Activity: Optional (tropical waterfall walk or Canopy walk)
Day 7: Drive back to Kigali via ethnographic museum and Nyanza kings palace
you will say your farewell to the lodge and take the beautiful drive through Nyungwe forest and stop in Butale to visit the Ethnographic museum and lunch before proceeding to the Nyanza kings palace before arriving in Kigali for overnight.
What’s included?
- Gorilla permits
- Chimpanzee permit
- Golden monkey permit
- Luxury lodge on full board for 5 nights.
- Transfers to and from Kigali
- English speaking safari Guide
- Lunches where Applicable
- Drinking water
- Kigali city tour entrance
- Dian Fossey Museum visit
- entrance fees for the ethnographic museum and the Nyanza kings palace
What’s Excluded?
- International flights
- Travel insurance
- Items of personal nature like Alcohol
- Tips
- Pre and post-tour accommodation (but we can help you book upon request)
- Optional activities
When to book the safari package?
Clients can book this safari 3 months in advance but can also inquire for short notice safari, this is only difficult by the availability of gorilla permits and golden monkey permits and once permits are available clients are expected to book and pay immediately as it’s the only way to guarantee Rwanda gorilla and Golden monkey permits.
Best Time to Travel
This tour is much easier to book during the low tourism season from March to May and September to November as gorilla permits are available and sometimes lodges put up low season rates for more information contact us.
Check Safari prices
As per tour plan Accommodation
| 1 Pax | 2 Pax | 4Pax | 6Pax | |
| Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge | 2777 | 2398 | 2335 | 2275 |
| Virunga Lodge | 2524 | 2197 | 2133 | 2074 |
Super Luxury option
| 1 Pax | 2 Pax | 4Pax | 6Pax | |
| One&only Gorilla Nest | 2777 | 2398 | 2335 | 2275 |
| Singita Kwitonda Lodge | 2524 | 2197 | 2133 | 2074 |
| Bisate Lodge | 2409 | 2139 | 2076 | 2016 |
Mid-Range option
| 1 Pax | 2 Pax | 4Pax | 6Pax | |
| Mountain Gorilla View Lodge | 2777 | 2398 | 2335 | 2275 |
| Teloreza Eco-Lodge | 2524 | 2197 | 2133 | 2074 |
Budget option
| 1 Pax | 2 Pax | 4Pax | 6Pax | |
| Hotel Muhavura | 2777 | 2398 | 2335 | 2275 |
| La Palme hotel | 2524 | 2197 | 2133 | 2074 |
