5-Day Volcanoes & Nyungwe Primates Tour

The 5 days Volcanoes and Nyungwe primates tour offers an unforgettable experience with Rwanda’s famous primates. Known as the land of a thousand hills, Rwanda is home to both chimpanzees and mountain gorillas. On this tour, you will meet the chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest and the mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park. Below is the detailed itinerary for this 5-day adventure.

5-Day Rwanda Gorillas & Chimpanzee Tour Highlights

Visit two top primate destinations in Rwanda; Nyungwe Forest and Volcanoes National Park.
Trek chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Enjoy a canopy walk with wide views of the forest and wildlife.
Travel through Rwanda’s beautiful hills and tea plantations.
Trek mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park.
Spend one hour observing gorillas in their natural forest home.
Visit the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village to learn about Rwandan culture.
Take a Kigali city tour including the Genocide Memorial and local markets.
Enjoy scenic drives, delicious meals, and comfortable lodges.
Experience Rwanda’s wildlife, nature, and culture in just five days.

Brief 5-Day Rwanda Gorillas & Chimpanzee Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Pick up and drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and canopy walk
Day 3: Travel to Volcanoes National Park
Day 4: Gorilla trekking and Iby’Iwacu cultural tour
Day 5: Transfer to Kigali, city tour, and departure

Detailed 5-Day Rwanda Gorillas & Chimpanzee Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Pick up and drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park

Your 5-day adventure begins with a pick up from Kigali International Airport. You will drive southwest through beautiful hills and countryside until you reach Nyungwe Forest National Park. On arrival, check in at your lodge, have dinner, and rest for the night.

Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and canopy walk

After breakfast, head to the park briefing center for an orientation before chimpanzee trekking. The rangers will explain the rules, safety measures, and how to behave in the forest. You will then be divided into groups and assigned a chimpanzee community to track.

Walk through the rainforest with your ranger guide, watching birds, butterflies, and other small primates along the way. Once you find the chimpanzees, you will spend one hour observing and photographing them before returning to the lodge for lunch.

In the afternoon, enjoy a canopy walk high above the forest. The walkway is about 70 meters above the ground and stretches for 160 meters. From here, you will have wide views of the forest and may spot birds flying across the treetops. Return to your lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 3: Travel to Volcanoes National Park

After breakfast, start your journey north to Volcanoes National Park. The drive passes through tea plantations near Nyungwe and the busy streets of Kigali, where you will stop for lunch. Continue the scenic drive to Volcanoes National Park, arriving in the evening for check-in, dinner, and rest.

Day 4: Gorilla trekking and Iby’iwacu cultural tour

Have an early breakfast and drive to the park offices for a briefing on gorilla trekking rules and expectations. After being assigned a gorilla family, start your trek through the forest with your ranger guide.

The trek can take several hours, depending on the location of the gorillas. Once you find them, you will spend one hour watching their behavior, taking photos, and enjoying this rare encounter. Return to the lodge for lunch and some rest.

In the afternoon, visit the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village, also known as the Gorilla Guardian Village. Meet the locals, learn about Rwandan traditions, and enjoy music, dances, and stories about their culture. Return to your lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 5: Transfer to Kigali, city tour, and departure

After breakfast, drive back to Kigali. On arrival, go for a short city tour through Kigali’s clean streets and organized neighborhoods. Visit the Inema Art Center, the Kimironko Market, and finally the Kigali Genocide Memorial, a site that honors the victims of the 1994 genocide.

After the city tour, have lunch and proceed to the airport for your departure flight.

This marks the end of your 5-Days Volcanoes & Nyungwe primates tour.