7 Days Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe, Lake Kivu & Gorillas

Encountering Mountain gorillas and Chimpanzees in Rwanda still remains one of the undisputed highlights of any visit to Rwanda, the two rain forests of Nyungwe forest national park and Volcanoes national park provide one of the greatest primate encounters in Africa.

Our 7 Days Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe, Lake Kivu & Gorillas will take you south of the country to Nyungwe forest national park and later you will head north to Lake Kivu for a beach holiday and later you will end your perfect holiday with encountering Mountain gorillas and Golden Monkeys in one of the top rainforests in East Africa.

Safari highlights

• Cultural visit
• 1-hour encounter with chimpanzees
• 1-hour encounter with Mountain gorillas
• 1-hour encounter with Golden monkeys

Detailed safari itinerary

Day 1: Drive from Kigali to Nyungwe forest national park

After early morning breakfast, you will start your slightly longer drive to Nyungwe forest national park, this drive will take you through the incredible landscape, you will visit the King’s palace in Nyanza and later proceed to Butale where you will visit the ethnographic museum and have lunch, after lunch, you will then continue to Nyungwe forest en route you may encounter monkeys upon arrival you will check in to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking in Cyamudongo ecosystem

After early morning breakfast you will drive to Gisakura to meet the rangers for a 5 am departure to the Cyamudongo ecosystem, the forest is also home to 13 species of primates including Olive baboons, L’Hoest monkeys, Ruwenzori colobus, Vervet monkeys, silver monkey, Grey-cheeked mangabey, red-tailed monkey, etc.  You will most likely sight some of these forest inhabitants on your chimpanzee trekking.

After receiving a briefing and depending on the number of people present for the chimp trek you will be divided into small groups. Your range guide will be in communication with the trackers who leave early morning to locate where the chimpanzee nested the previous night. You are allowed to stay with the chimps for only 1 hour after locating them.

Day 3: Drive to Lake Kivu for a boat cruise

After lazily breakfast you will start your 2-hour drive to Karongi formerly known as Kibuye, upon arrival you will check-in for lunch and relaxation, later in the evening you will take an evening sundowner boat cruise on Lake Kivu, on the cruise you will expect to see local fishermen, beautiful birds and the phenomenal views of the lake and the surrounding landscape and later you will return to the lodge for overnight.

Day 4: Drive to volcanoes national park

After morning breakfast you will start your drive to Rwanda’s famous safari destination the volcanoes national park which is home to the endangered mountain gorillas and the rear golden monkeys, this drive will take you through the famous Kivu belt road and the Congo Nile trail, upon arrival at the lodge you will check-in for relaxation and overnight.

Day 5: Gorilla trekking experience in Volcanoes national park

The unique opportunity to see gorillas in their natural habitat is unforgettable, some even say life-changing. Encounters with gorillas as they go about their daily lives are carefully managed, with expert trackers and guides leading small groups of tourists up bamboo-covered slopes to spend a precious and awe-inspiring hour just a few feet away from the gentle creatures, after morning breakfast you will transfer to Kinigi park headquarters for a gorilla briefing and later you will transfer to the trailhead, after locating the Mountain gorillas you will spend 1 hour with the gorillas and later return to the lodge for relaxation

Day 6: Golden Monkey trekking experience in Volcanoes national park

Discover the playful and inquisitive nature of the golden monkey, a beautiful little creature found only in the high-altitude forests of the Volcanoes National Park. Spend the morning searching the lush vegetation at the foot of Mount Sabyinyo for one of two habituated groups of the golden monkeys, one of them a troop of more than 80 members. Spend an enchanted hour watching their frolics as they leap among the slender shoots of bamboo or tumble among the dense foliage on the forest floor, after morning breakfast you will transfer to Kinigi for a briefing and later transfer to the trailhead to trek the golden monkeys on foot, after locating the monkeys you will spend 1 hour with the golden monkeys and later return to the lodge for relaxation.

Day 7: Drive to Kigali for a city tour and departure

After Lazily breakfast you will depart for Kigali, upon arrival, you will do short a city tour and later transfer to the airport for your outbound flight or transfer to your lodge overnight.

Trip includes

• Accommodation
• Vehicle, guide, and fuel
• Chimpanzee, gorilla, and golden monkey permits
• Lake Kivu boat cruise
• All entrance fees for Kings Palace, ethnographic museum, and Kigali city tour
• Enroute meals and drinking water

Trip excludes

• International flights
• Rwanda tourist Visa
• Travel insurance
• Tips for guides and hotels
• pre and post-safari accommodation

When to book safari package

This trip can be booked 6 months to 1 year in advance to allow us to secure all the necessary tracking permits for your safari as the permits are sold on a first come first serve basis.

Best time for chimpanzee and gorilla trekking in Rwanda

Rwanda is open for trekking and hiking throughout the year. The wet months, from October to May, are the best time for chimp trekking and forest birding, but general hiking and trekking mountain gorillas might be easier in the drier months, from June to September.