5 Day Rwanda Primates Safari
Kigali to Nyungwe National Park
On arrival at Kigali International Airport, or after breakfast at your hotel in Kigali, meet your Kenzi Safaris driver-guide for a short safari briefing.
Begin your journey towards Nyungwe National Park in southwestern Rwanda.
The drive takes you through Rwanda’s beautiful countryside, with views of rolling hills, farmland, small towns and local communities.
Along the way, stop for lunch and visit some of Rwanda’s cultural and historical attractions around Nyanza and Huye before continuing towards Nyungwe.
Arrive at your lodge in the evening, check in and relax as you prepare for the following day's chimpanzee trekking experience.
Safari Activities
- Check out of the lodge after breakfast and depart from Bwindi.
- Travel through southwestern and central Uganda toward Entebbe, with stops for lunch, refreshments, and photography.
- Stop at the Equator for photographs and shopping for locally made crafts and souvenirs.
- Alternative: Travel to Kigali, Rwanda, via the Uganda–Rwanda border.
- Border crossing for travellers ending the safari in Kigali, with the required immigration documents.
- Transfer to the hotel or airport, marking the end of the safari.
Accommodation
One&Only Nyungwe House
Meals
Dinner
Chimpanzee Trekking and Canopy Walk in Nyungwe
Wake up early for breakfast before transferring to the chimpanzee trekking starting point.
Meet your ranger guide for a briefing before entering the rainforest in search of a habituated chimpanzee community.
Walk beneath the forest canopy while listening for chimpanzee calls and watching for movement in the trees. Once the chimpanzees are located, you will spend the permitted viewing time observing them as they feed, move, communicate and interact.
Nyungwe is also home to several other primates, including black-and-white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys and grey-cheeked mangabeys, as well as a rich variety of forest birds.
After chimpanzee trekking, return to your lodge for lunch and some time to relax.
In the afternoon, head out for the Nyungwe Canopy Walk. Walk along the suspended walkway above the rainforest and enjoy beautiful views across the forest canopy and surrounding hills.
Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Safari Activities
- Early breakfast at the lodge
- Transfer to the chimpanzee trekking starting point
- Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest
- Chimpanzee observation and photography
- Primate and forest birdwatching
- Return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation
- Nyungwe Canopy Walk
- Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight
Accommodation
One&Only Nyungwe House
Meals
Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Gorilla Trekking and Cultural Experience
After an early breakfast, transfer to the Volcanoes National Park headquarters for your gorilla trekking briefing.
Meet your ranger guides, learn about the trekking guidelines and then begin your walk into the forest in search of a habituated mountain gorilla family.
The trek can take several hours depending on the location of the gorillas and the conditions of the forest trails.
Once the gorillas are located, you will spend the permitted viewing time observing them in their natural habitat. Watch them feed, rest, play and interact while your ranger guide helps you understand their behaviour and family structure.
After this memorable encounter, trek back to the starting point and return for lunch and some time to relax.
Later, visit a local cultural community near Volcanoes National Park. Meet local residents and learn about traditional Rwandan life through music, dance, storytelling and other cultural activities.
Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Safari Activities
- Gorilla trekking briefing at Volcanoes National Park headquarters.
- Mountain gorilla trekking through the forest with ranger guides.
- Gorilla viewing and observation in their natural habitat.
- Return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation.
- Local cultural community visit near Volcanoes National Park.
- Cultural experience featuring traditional music, dance, storytelling, and local life.
- Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Accommodation
Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel
Meals
Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Gorilla Trekking and Cultural Experience
After an early breakfast, transfer to the Volcanoes National Park headquarters for your gorilla trekking briefing.
Meet your ranger guides, learn about the trekking guidelines and then begin your walk into the forest in search of a habituated mountain gorilla family.
The trek can take several hours depending on the location of the gorillas and the conditions of the forest trails.
Once the gorillas are located, you will spend the permitted viewing time observing them in their natural habitat. Watch them feed, rest, play and interact while your ranger guide helps you understand their behaviour and family structure.
After this memorable encounter, trek back to the starting point and return for lunch and some time to relax.
Later, visit a local cultural community near Volcanoes National Park. Meet local residents and learn about traditional Rwandan life through music, dance, storytelling and other cultural activities.
Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Gorilla Trekking Note
Gorilla trekking involves walking through natural mountain and forest terrain, and the length and difficulty of the trek varies depending on the location of the gorilla family.
A reasonable level of fitness is recommended.
Local porters are available to carry backpacks and provide assistance along more challenging sections of the trail. Hiring a porter is also a direct way to support people from communities surrounding Volcanoes National Park.
Safari Activities
- Gorilla trekking briefing at Volcanoes National Park Headquarters
- Mountain gorilla trekking through the forest
- Gorilla viewing and observation in their natural habitat
- Return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation
- Local cultural community visit near Volcanoes National Park
- Cultural experiences including music, dance, storytelling and learning about traditional Rwandan life
- Dinner and overnight at the lodge
Accommodation
Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel 
Meals
Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Golden Monkey Trekking and Transfer to Kigali
After breakfast, return to Volcanoes National Park for your golden monkey trekking experience.
Meet your ranger guides for a briefing before entering the forest in search of these colourful and active primates.
Golden monkeys are commonly found within the park's bamboo forests. Once located, spend the permitted viewing time watching them feed, climb and leap between the bamboo.
Their active behaviour and forest environment make golden monkey trekking a very different experience from the previous day's gorilla trek.
After the trek, return to your lodge for lunch and check out.
Begin your journey back to Kigali, where your Kenzi Safaris driver-guide will drop you at your hotel or Kigali International Airport.
This marks the end of your 5-Day Rwanda Primates Safari.
Safari Activities
- Golden Monkey Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
- Ranger briefing before entering the forest
- Golden monkey viewing in the bamboo forests
- Wildlife observation — watching the monkeys feed, climb and leap
- Return to lodge for lunch and check-out
- Transfer to Kigali
- Drop-off at Kigali hotel or Kigali International Airport
- End of the 5-Day Rwanda Primates Safari
Meals
Breakfast · Lunch
Included
- One Rwanda gorilla trekking permit per person
- One chimpanzee trekking permit per person
- One golden monkey trekking permit per person
- Four nights' accommodation as indicated in the itinerary
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary
- Professional English-speaking safari driver-guide
- Private ground transfers in a 4x4 safari vehicle
- Bottled drinking water during the safari
- Nyungwe National Park canopy walk
- Cultural experience near Volcanoes National Park
- National park entrance fees for scheduled activities
- All scheduled road transfers
- Government taxes applicable to the safari package
Not Included
- International and domestic flights unless specifically included
- Rwanda visa and other immigration fees
- Travel insurance
- Accommodation before or after the safari
- Alcoholic drinks, soft drinks and other beverages not included with meals
- Laundry services
- Telephone calls and other personal expenses
- Tips and gratuities
- Porter fees during trekking
- Souvenirs and personal shopping
- Optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary
- Additional meals or services not included in the confirmed safari package
- Government-imposed increases in park fees, permits or taxes after booking
- Hotel or lodge price increases after quotation