5-Day Rwanda: Gorillas, Chimpanzees & Kigali City Tour

Discover the wild heart of Rwanda on this immersive 5 Days Gorillas and Wildlife Safari, an expertly crafted journey through dramatic volcanic landscapes, ancient rainforest, fascinating wildlife, and a culture shaped by resilience. From the unforgettable encounter with mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park to chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe, this safari brings together Rwanda's most rewarding primate experiences, scenic wonders, and cultural highlights in one action-packed adventure.

The defining moment of the safari is mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, in north-western Rwanda, roughly three hours from Kigali. Framed by the towering Virunga Volcanoes, this remarkable wilderness is home to some of the world's last remaining mountain gorillas. Accompanied by experienced park rangers, venture into the bamboo-covered slopes and dense volcanic forest in search of a habituated gorilla family. Once you find them, pause to observe their behaviour, family interactions, and quiet presence at close range—an intimate wildlife encounter that stays with you long after leaving the forest.

From the volcanic highlands, the safari travels south to Nyungwe National Park, a vast and ancient montane rainforest close to Rwanda's borders with Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo. This biodiversity-rich wilderness shelters an impressive variety of primates, forest birds, butterflies, and rare flora. During chimpanzee tracking, follow experienced guides along forest trails as you listen for calls and movement in the canopy. Along the way, you may encounter black-and-white colobus monkeys, olive baboons, vervet monkeys, L'Hoest's monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, and other forest inhabitants.

The Nyungwe Canopy Walkway adds another perspective to the rainforest adventure. Suspended high above the forest floor, the walkway leads you through the upper levels of the jungle, offering expansive views across the rolling green canopy. Keep your eyes trained on the treetops for colourful birdlife and watch for monkeys moving between branches as the forest unfolds beneath and around you.

• Kigali Genocide Memorial Visit
• Kigali City Discovery Tour
• Nyungwe Chimpanzee Trekking
• Nyungwe Canopy Walk Adventure
• Twin Lakes Scenic Escape — Discover the spectacular landscapes of Lakes Ruhondo and Burera
• Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
• Iby'Iwacu Cultural Experience — Connect with local traditions, stories, music, dance, and community
• Golden Monkey Trekking in Volcanoes National Park

On arrival at the airport, or from your hotel in the morning, our professional guide will warmly welcome you and provide a short trip briefing. You will then enjoy a two-hour guided exploration of Kigali, Rwanda's clean, peaceful, and impressively planned capital city. Often regarded as a model for urban development in Africa, Kigali offers a meaningful introduction to the country. Your tour includes the Kigali Genocide Memorial, the former Presidential Palace, the vibrant central market, and selected local craft shops.

After the city experience, you will begin a scenic road transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park in southwestern Rwanda, a journey of approximately five hours. The route reveals Rwanda's beautiful countryside, rolling hills, and rural communities, making the drive part of the adventure itself. Your guide will make worthwhile stops en route, including a visit to the historic Royal Palace of Rwanda and other notable sites. Lunch will be served at a comfortable hotel or restaurant along the way before continuing to Nyungwe.

Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation Options:

Rise early for breakfast before departing for the Nyungwe Forest National Park reception offices, where you will receive a detailed briefing before beginning your chimpanzee trek. The park team will introduce you to the forest's history, its remarkable wildlife, the trekking procedures, and practical advice on what to expect along the trail. Chimpanzee tracking in Rwanda can last anywhere from 2 to 6 hours, depending on the location and movements of the habituated chimpanzee group.

Accompanied by knowledgeable ranger guides, you will follow the sounds and signs of chimpanzees through Nyungwe's dense, ancient rainforest. While chimpanzees are the day's main highlight, the forest shelters 12 additional primate species. Golden monkeys are rarely encountered in Nyungwe, but you may be fortunate to see several of the other 11 species, along with colourful birds, butterflies, and other forest life.

After the trek, return to your lodge for lunch and time to relax. Later in the afternoon, set out for Nyungwe's celebrated canopy walk, among the earliest elevated forest walks developed in East Africa. Suspended high above the forest floor, the walkway provides an unforgettable aerial perspective of the rainforest canopy. Keep watch for birds, butterflies, primates moving through the branches, and the impressive variety of indigenous tree species below and around you.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation Options:

Rise at your own leisure and savor a relaxed breakfast before checking out. Your driver will meet you for a scenic transfer to Volcanoes National Park, tracing the shimmering shoreline of Lake Kivu along the way — one of Africa's Great Lakes, and a photographer's dream. Keep your camera ready, as the winding route rewards you with sweeping views of the lake's calm waters and terraced hillsides.

The drive itself is a highlight, weaving through Rwanda's iconic "land of a thousand hills," where emerald tea and coffee plantations blanket the slopes and friendly locals wave from roadside villages. A leisurely lunch stop along the way lets you soak in the countryside atmosphere before continuing your journey.

Upon arrival at the park, check into your lodge and unwind after the drive. Later, set out to explore the enchanting twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo, nestled among volcanic hills. Time permitting, hop aboard a boat to visit the small lake islands or spend a quiet moment birdwatching along the shoreline.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation Options:

Rise early for breakfast before your guide collects you and transfers you to the Rwanda Development Board park headquarters in Musanze for the 7:00 am gorilla trekking briefing. Please ask your lodge to prepare a packed lunch, and carry sufficient drinking water for the day. During the briefing, park rangers will explain the trekking guidelines, safety procedures, wildlife in Volcanoes National Park, and what to expect during your encounter with the mountain gorillas.

The duration of the gorilla trek varies each day and may take approximately 2 to 6 hours, depending on the gorillas' movements through the forest. Although the hike can be demanding, meeting a wild gorilla family in its natural habitat is an extraordinary and deeply rewarding experience. Mountain gorillas are known to be gentle and peaceful when visitors follow ranger instructions. You will have one unforgettable hour with the gorillas, offering time to quietly observe their behavior and capture photographs.

After your permitted hour with the gorillas, return to the trailhead, where your company guide will be waiting to transfer you back to the lodge. Enjoy lunch and take time to relax after the morning's adventure. Later in the evening, visit the nearby Gorilla Guardians Village, formerly known as Iby'Iwacu Cultural Village. Originally established to support former poachers through craft sales, the village has developed into an engaging cultural centre that celebrates Rwanda's heritage. Enjoy vibrant traditional dance performances and explore the different sections of the village to discover the customs, traditions, and lifestyle of Rwanda's communities.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation Options:

Rise early for breakfast, then proceed to the Kinigi park headquarters for the golden monkey trekking briefing. Here, you will join fellow travelers and meet the park guides before setting off into the bamboo forests in search of these remarkable primates. Golden monkey trekking is generally less demanding than gorilla trekking and is usually completed within four hours.

Endemic to the Virunga region of Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, golden monkeys are endangered, energetic, and wonderfully photogenic. Their playful nature and tolerance of cameras make the encounter especially enjoyable. After your time with the monkeys, return to the starting point, where your driver will be waiting to transfer you to the lodge for check-out. You will then travel back to Kigali, a journey of approximately two to three hours, for your onward airport departure or drop-off at your hotel.

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch