Amazing 5 Days Rwanda Primates Safari: Gorillas, Chimpanzees & More Tour
Experience Rwanda’s richest primate diversity on this expertly designed 5 Days Rwanda Primates Safari.
This itinerary combines chimpanzee tracking and the iconic canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest National Park with mountain gorilla trekking and golden monkey tracking in Volcanoes National Park.
It delivers three distinct primate encounters across two of Africa’s most important protected forests, making it ideal for international travelers from the USA, UK, Europe, Canada, Asia, and the Middle East seeking a focused, high-value primate adventure.
Tour Overview
A 5 Days Rwanda Primates Safari takes you from the ancient montane rainforest of Nyungwe Forest National Park to the volcanic slopes of Volcanoes National Park.
You will track habituated chimpanzees, walk the famous forest canopy bridge, trek endangered mountain gorillas, and observe golden monkeys before returning to Kigali. The route is efficient yet immersive, balancing travel time with meaningful wildlife time.
Duration: 5 days / 4 nights
Main Destinations: Nyungwe Forest National Park and Volcanoes National Park
Starting & Ending Point: Kigali
Travel Style: Private guided safari with professional driver-guide and park rangers
Best Time: Year-round. Drier months (June–September and December–February) offer better trail conditions; the wetter seasons bring lush forest and fewer visitors.
Fitness Level: Moderate to strenuous (chimpanzee and gorilla treks involve forest trails that can be steep and muddy)
Conservation Focus: Tourism revenue from permits supports anti-poaching, habitat protection, research, and community development around both parks.
Highlights of 5 Days Rwanda Primates Safari
- Chimpanzee tracking in one of Africa’s oldest and most biodiverse rainforests — Nyungwe Forest National Park
- The thrilling Forest Canopy Walk high above the forest floor
- Mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park — one hour with a habituated family of endangered mountain gorillas
- Golden monkey tracking in the bamboo zones of the Virunga Mountains
- Scenic transfers through Rwanda’s “Land of a Thousand Hills”
- Direct contribution to Rwanda’s successful community-based conservation model
- Choice of luxury, mid-range, or more affordable accommodations near each park
Day-by-Day Outline
Day 1: Transfer to Nyungwe National Park
Day 2: Chimpanzee tracking and afternoon Forest Canopy walk
Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Day 4: Gorilla tracking
Day 5: Golden monkey tracking and transfer back to Kigali
Detailed Itinerary of 5 Days Rwanda Primates Safari
Day 1: Transfer to Nyungwe National Park
Your safari begins with a morning pickup in Kigali. After a short briefing, you depart for Nyungwe Forest National Park in southwest Rwanda (approximately 5–6 hours’ drive, with scenic stops). The journey passes through rolling hills, tea plantations, and traditional countryside.
Arrive in the afternoon, check into your lodge near the park, and enjoy time to relax or take a short nature walk if daylight allows. Your guide provides an orientation on the next day’s chimpanzee tracking.
Accommodation Options:
- Luxury: High-end forest lodges or ecolodges near Nyungwe with strong views and refined service
- Mid-Range: Comfortable lodges and tented camps close to the park entrance
- Budget: Simpler guesthouses or basic lodges in the surrounding area
Meal Plan: Lunch and dinner
Wildlife & Conservation Value: Nyungwe protects one of the largest remaining montane forests in East Africa and harbors significant chimpanzee populations along with exceptional biodiversity.
Day 2: Chimpanzee Tracking and Afternoon Forest Canopy Walk
After an early breakfast, transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing. Accompanied by experienced trackers and rangers, you enter the forest in search of a habituated chimpanzee community.
Tracking duration varies (typically 2–5 hours) depending on the location of the group. Once found, you spend time observing their social behavior, feeding, and movement through the trees.
In the afternoon, experience the Forest Canopy Walk — a suspended bridge system that takes you up to 90 meters above the forest floor. This unique activity offers a completely different perspective of the rainforest canopy, birds, and occasional primates.
Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Same lodge in the Nyungwe area
Meal Plan: Full board (packed lunch for the trek)
Highlights: Close observation of chimpanzees and the exhilarating canopy experience.
Conservation Value: Chimpanzee tracking fees support habitat protection and community programs around Nyungwe.
Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
After breakfast, depart Nyungwe and begin the scenic drive north toward Volcanoes National Park (approximately 6–7 hours with stops). The route showcases Rwanda’s dramatic landscapes, including possible views of Lake Kivu depending on the exact routing.
Arrive in the Kinigi/Musanze area in the afternoon or early evening. Check into your lodge at the foothills of the Virunga volcanoes, settle in, and receive a detailed briefing for the following day’s gorilla trek.
Accommodation Options:
- Luxury: Bisate Lodge, One&Only Gorilla’s Nest, Singita Kwitonda, or similar
- Mid-Range: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge, or equivalent
- Budget: More basic lodges and guesthouses near the park
Meal Plan: Full board
Transition: Moving from lowland rainforest primates to high-altitude mountain gorillas and golden monkeys.
Day 4: Gorilla Tracking in Volcanoes National Park
This is the centerpiece of the safari. After an early breakfast, transfer to the Volcanoes National Park headquarters in Kinigi for the 7:00 AM briefing. Rangers assign you to a habituated gorilla family according to fitness level and provide safety and etiquette instructions.
You trek through dense montane forest and bamboo zones with expert trackers and an armed ranger. The hike can last from 1 to 6+ hours depending on the family’s location.
Once the gorillas are found, you spend a strictly regulated one hour with them at a minimum distance of 7 meters, observing the silverback, mothers, infants, and juveniles in their natural habitat.
Return to the lodge for lunch and rest. Optional afternoon activities may include a visit to a community cultural village.
Accommodation: Same lodge near Volcanoes National Park
Meal Plan: Full board (packed lunch provided)
Wildlife Experience: Intimate encounter with endangered mountain gorillas.
Day 5: Golden Monkey Tracking and Transfer Back to Kigali
After breakfast, return to the park headquarters for golden monkey tracking. These striking, endangered primates inhabit the bamboo forests of Volcanoes National Park.
Tracking is generally shorter and less strenuous than the gorilla trek and offers excellent viewing and photography opportunities.
After the trek, begin the drive back to Kigali (approximately 2.5–3.5 hours). Depending on your flight schedule, you may have time for a brief stop in the city before transfer to Kigali International Airport for departure.
Meal Plan: Breakfast and lunch
End of the Tour
Includes & Excludes
Includes:
- Private transportation and professional English-speaking driver-guide
- All park entry fees
- Chimpanzee tracking permit
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Golden monkey tracking permit
- Forest Canopy Walk
- 4 nights accommodation according to selected category
- Meals as indicated
- Bottled water during activities and transfers
- Airport transfers in Kigali
Excludes:
- International flights
- Rwanda visa fees
- Optional activities and second gorilla permit
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal expenses, alcoholic drinks, and laundry
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- Porter fees (optional but recommended)
FAQs
How difficult are the treks?
Chimpanzee tracking and golden monkey tracking are moderate. Gorilla trekking can be moderately to very strenuous due to steep, muddy terrain at altitude. Porters are available and recommended.
What is the minimum age for gorilla trekking?
15 years. This rule is strictly enforced.
How long do I spend with the gorillas?
A maximum of one hour once the family is located.
Is the canopy walk suitable for everyone?
The canopy walk involves heights and suspended bridges. Those with severe fear of heights should discuss alternatives in advance.
Do I need a visa for Rwanda?
Most nationalities can obtain a visa on arrival or apply online for an e-visa. Check current requirements for your nationality.
Practical Tips and Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Book gorilla permits well in advance — daily numbers are strictly limited.
- Pack appropriate gear: Waterproof hiking boots, long trousers, long-sleeved shirts, rain jacket, gloves, and gaiters.
- Hire porters for the gorilla and chimpanzee treks — they support local livelihoods and make the experience more comfortable.
- Be honest about fitness and health at the briefings.
- Common mistakes: Underestimating travel times between Nyungwe and Volcanoes, arriving without proper footwear, or failing to secure comprehensive travel insurance that covers trekking and evacuation.
- Photography: No flash with the gorillas. A good zoom lens is useful for all primate encounters.
Book Your Rwanda Primates Adventure Today
This 5 Days Rwanda Primates Safari offers an exceptional combination of chimpanzee tracking, canopy adventure, mountain gorilla trekking, and golden monkey encounters across two of Africa’s premier primate destinations.
Your visit directly supports the protection of these endangered species and the communities that share their landscape.
Contact GoSilverback Safaris today to secure your gorilla permit, confirm chimpanzee and golden monkey availability, and customize your preferred accommodation level.
Our team handles every logistical detail so you can focus on these extraordinary encounters.
