6-Day Rwanda Primate Safari | Chimps, Gorillas & Golden Monkeys

Experience Rwanda’s incredible primate diversity on this 6-Day Rwanda Primate Safari, an unforgettable journey through the country’s two most iconic national parks—Nyungwe Forest National Park and Volcanoes National Park. This safari combines thrilling chimpanzee trekking, the world-famous mountain gorilla trekking experience, golden monkey tracking, and the spectacular Nyungwe Canopy Walk, offering the perfect blend of adventure, wildlife, and breathtaking scenery.

Begin your adventure in the ancient rainforest of Nyungwe, home to over 13 primate species, including habituated chimpanzees whose energetic calls echo through the forest. Walk high above the rainforest on the famous canopy bridge before traveling north through Rwanda’s beautiful rolling hills to Volcanoes National Park.

Here, you’ll come face-to-face with the endangered mountain gorillas during a once-in-a-lifetime trekking experience and later track the playful golden monkeys that inhabit the park’s bamboo forests. Along the way, enjoy a Kigali city tour, scenic countryside drives, and warm Rwandan hospitality, making this safari ideal for solo travelers, couples, families, and small groups seeking the ultimate primate adventure.

6-Day Rwanda Primate Safari Highlights

  • Day 1: Arrival at Kigali International Airport and have a city tour.
  • Day 2: Transfer from Kigali to Nyungwe Forest National Park.
  • Day 3: Chimpanzee trekking and Canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest National Park.
  • Day 4: Transfer from Nyungwe Forest National Park to Volcanoes National Park.
  • Day 5: Gorilla trekking in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park.
  • Day 6: Golden monkey trekking and transfer back to Kigali town or Kigali International Airport

A Detailed 6-Day Rwanda Primate Safari Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Kigali – Welcome to Rwanda & City Tour

Upon your arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by your professional safari guide, who will be waiting with a personalized name sign for easy identification. After a brief safari briefing, begin your adventure with a guided tour of Kigali, Rwanda’s vibrant and remarkably clean capital city.

Visit some of the city’s most significant attractions, including the Kigali Genocide Memorial, where you will gain a deeper understanding of Rwanda’s history, resilience, and remarkable transformation. Depending on your arrival time, you may also explore local craft markets, art galleries, and bustling neighborhoods that showcase Rwanda’s rich culture and daily life.

After lunch at a local restaurant, transfer to your hotel to check in and unwind. Spend the rest of the evening relaxing as you prepare for the exciting primate adventures that await in the days ahead.

Meal Plan: Dinner

Accommodation Options:

  • Luxury: Kigali Serena Hotel
  • Mid-range: Hotel Chez Lando
Day 2: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park

After an early breakfast, depart Kigali and embark on a scenic drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park, one of Africa’s oldest and most biodiverse tropical rainforests. The journey takes approximately 5–6 hours, passing through Rwanda’s rolling hills, picturesque villages, lush tea plantations, and breathtaking countryside that have earned the country its nickname, “The Land of a Thousand Hills.”

Along the way, you may make brief stops for photography or refreshments before continuing to the park. Arrive at your lodge in the afternoon or early evening, where you can check in, relax, and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the rainforest. Spend the remainder of the day at leisure before dinner, preparing for the exciting chimpanzee trekking adventure the following morning.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation Options:

  • Luxury: One&Only Nyungwe House / Nyungwe Forest Lodge
  • Mid-range: Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel
Day 3: Chimpanzee Trekking & Canopy Walk in Nyungwe Forest National Park

After an early breakfast, transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing before setting off on an exciting chimpanzee trekking adventure in Nyungwe Forest National Park. Accompanied by experienced ranger guides, hike through the ancient rainforest in search of habituated chimpanzees. Once located, spend up to one hour observing these fascinating primates as they feed, play, and interact in their natural habitat.

Return to your lodge for lunch and a short rest before heading back to the forest for the famous Nyungwe Canopy Walk. Suspended about 70 meters above the forest floor, this thrilling walkway offers spectacular views of the rainforest canopy and excellent opportunities to spot birds, monkeys, and other wildlife.

Return to your lodge in the evening for dinner and an overnight stay.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 4: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park

After breakfast, depart Nyungwe Forest National Park and enjoy a scenic drive through Rwanda’s beautiful countryside to Volcanoes National Park in the north. The journey takes approximately 5–6 hours, offering stunning views of rolling hills, tea plantations, and rural villages along the way.

Arrive at your lodge in the afternoon, check in, and spend the rest of the day relaxing while enjoying the spectacular views of the Virunga Volcanoes. Have dinner and prepare for the unforgettable gorilla trekking experience awaiting you the next day.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation:

  • Luxury: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Day 5: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park

After an early breakfast, your driver-guide will transfer you to the Volcanoes National Park headquarters in Kinigi for a briefing by park rangers before your gorilla trekking adventure. You will be assigned to a habituated gorilla family in a group of up to eight trekkers and accompanied by experienced ranger guides into the forest.

The trek can take anywhere from 2 to 6 hours, depending on the location of the gorilla family. Once you find them, you will spend one unforgettable hour observing these magnificent primates as they feed, play, and interact in their natural habitat—an extraordinary wildlife experience found nowhere else.

After the trek, return to the park headquarters where your guide will transfer you back to your lodge. Spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing before dinner and an overnight stay.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation: Overnight at the previous night’s lodge.

Day 6: Golden Monkey Trekking & Return to Kigali

After an early breakfast, transfer to the Volcanoes National Park headquarters for a briefing before setting off on an exciting golden monkey trekking experience. Accompanied by experienced ranger guides, hike through the bamboo forests in search of these playful and endangered primates, which are endemic to the Virunga Mountains. Once located, spend time observing their energetic behavior and capturing memorable photographs.

After the trek, return to your lodge for lunch before beginning your scenic drive back to Kigali. Depending on your departure schedule, you will be dropped off at your hotel in Kigali or transferred to Kigali International Airport for your onward flight, marking the end of your unforgettable Rwanda primate adventure.

Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch

End of the 6-Day Rwanda Primate Safari

Inclusions

  • English speaking driver-guide
  • Entry fees and taxes including
  • Gorilla permit
  • 4×4 Safari van
  • Meals
  • Water on board
  • 4 nights’ accommodation

Exclusions

  • Any purchases of personal kind
  • Any changes to the Itinerary
  • International flights and visas