7 Days Rwanda gorilla trekking and primate tracking Tour
Over view
This Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Tour offers an incredible opportunity for primate viewing in the ancient rainforests of central-east Africa. You will experience mountain gorilla trekking and golden monkey tracking in Volcanoes National Park, as well as chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest National Park an outstanding combination of primate encounters.
While enjoying the rare and extraordinary experience of observing endangered African mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, and chimpanzees in Rwanda, you will also encounter a remarkable diversity of plants, birds, insects, small mammals, and other primates. Highlights of the tour include endemic bird species, exotic butterflies, a variety of beautiful orchids, and primates such as black-faced vervet monkeys, l’Hoest’s monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, and Rwenzori colobus monkeys.
This affordable private tour allows you to explore Rwanda’s scenic hilly landscapes while traveling in a 4×4 safari vehicle. You will stay at well-established accommodations that offer excellent value.
Tour Highlights
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali and transfer to hotel
Day 2: Transfer from Kigali to Nyungwe Forest National Park
Day 3: Explore Nyungwe Forest National Park
Day 4: Transfer from volcanoes to Nyungwe Forest National Park
Day 5: Gorilla trekking
Day 6: Golden monkey trekking and transfer back to Kigali
Day 7: Kigali city tour and departure
Day by Day Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali international airport
At the beginning of the Rwanda Primate Safari, you will be picked up from Kigali International Airport (also known as Kanombe International Airport) and transferred to the city. You will spend your first night at a hotel in Kigali, the clean and modern capital of Rwanda. After your travels, take the evening to relax and enjoy dinner at your comfortable accommodation.
Accommodation options:
Meals: Lunch & Dinner
Day 2: Transfer from Kigali to Nyungwe Forest National Park
On the second day, we leave Kigali and travel to Nyungwe Forest National Park in southwestern Rwanda. We take the winding roads down to Butare, stopping to visit vibrant local markets and the historic Nyanza King’s Palace.
Upon reaching Butare, we spent some time exploring the Botanical Gardens and visiting the Ethnographic Museum, which was formerly known as the National Museum of Rwanda. After a lunch break, we head west to Nyungwe Forest, driving through rolling hills adorned with lush tea plantations and the distinctive wooden homes characteristic of the Nyungwe Forest region. On the second day, we leave Kigali and travel to Nyungwe Forest National Park in southwestern Rwanda. We take the winding roads down to Butare, stopping to visit vibrant local markets and the historic Nyanza King’s Palace.
Upon reaching Butare, we spent some time exploring the Botanical Gardens and visiting the Ethnographic Museum, which was formerly known as the National Museum of Rwanda. After a lunch break, we head west to Nyungwe Forest, driving through rolling hills adorned with lush tea plantations and the distinctive wooden homes characteristic of the Nyungwe Forest region.
In the evening, we enjoy dinner and unwind at our accommodation, getting a good night’s rest in preparation for our primate adventure in Nyungwe Forest tomorrow.
In the evening, we enjoy dinner and unwind at our accommodation, getting a good night’s rest in preparation for our primate adventure in Nyungwe Forest tomorrow.
Accommodation options:
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Day 3: Chimpanzee trekking
This morning, we enjoyed an early breakfast before setting off for Nyungwe Forest National Park, where we will go chimpanzee tracking. Nyungwe Forest covers over 1,000 square kilometers of montane rainforest, making it the largest intact area of mountain forest in East and Central Africa.
Our search for chimpanzees will take us into Africa’s oldest montane forest on foot. Walking through this ancient and biodiverse rainforest provides a fantastic opportunity to spot a rich array of exotic and rare animals, birds, plants, and small creatures. Once we locate a troop of chimpanzees, we’ll spend time observing them as they move noisily among the trees. Sharing 98% of our DNA with humans, chimpanzees are our closest relatives and often exhibit similar behaviors.
Nyungwe Forest is home to around 500 chimpanzees, offering excellent opportunities to observe these social animals, along with 12 other primate species. We are likely to encounter black-faced vervet monkeys and l’Hoest’s monkeys, with grey-cheeked mangabeys and Rwenzori colobus monkeys also frequently spotted. In addition to the abundance of primates, Nyungwe’s dense tropical forest hosts over 60 species of other mammals, a multitude of orchids, more than 120 butterfly species, and over 300 species of birds. Be on the lookout for endemic species such as the Grauer’s warbler, Rwenzori turaco, and black-and-white casqued hornbill in the forest canopy.
We have lunch in this massive old rainforest and later this afternoon you will return to our accommodation for dinner. Spend the evening reminiscing about your captivating encounters in the magical forest habitat of Nyungwe Park.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 4: Nyungwe Forest to Volcanoes National Park
Today we travel north to the city of Ruhengeri, the main travel hub for gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park.
Our drive takes us via either Gisenyi in the northwestern region of Rwanda or back to Kigali and then northwest to Ruhengeri. We travel through the scenic hilly landscapes of Rwanda, known as the ‘Land of a Thousand Hills.
Reaching Ruhengeri, now officially named Musanze, we check in at our well-established guest house and enjoy a tasty dinner. This evening, we prepare for tomorrow’s once-in-a-lifetime gorilla trek in Rwanda. Remember to take water, snacks, and a raincoat with you, and wear sturdy hiking boots for the trek.
We will go gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, hosting about 12 family groups – the largest number of habituated groups found anywhere.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Day 5: Gorilla Trekking
Wake up early this morning for breakfast, then we will be transferring to the headquarters of Volcanoes National Park, located in the nearby village of Kinigi. Your guide will take care of your paperwork for the trek at the headquarters, where all gorilla treks begin. The park rangers will provide a briefing on mountain gorilla tracking procedures, covering trekking rules, safety guidelines, and appropriate etiquette.
Once the formalities are complete, it’s time to head into the dense rainforest on foot. Trekking in groups of eight, your park ranger will lead the way along established forest paths. The rangers will maintain radio contact with the trackers to help locate your assigned gorilla group. The trek can be tiring and challenging, lasting up to eight hours, but the face-to-face encounter with the endangered gorillas makes every bit of effort worthwhile.
As we walk through the ancient afro-montane forest and swamps, we will encounter a rich diversity of plants, small creatures, and birds, many of which are rare and endemic. Along the way, we will stop to enjoy our packed lunches from the guest house.
Once we locate the gorillas, we spend an hour observing these magnificent primates in their natural habitat. Many people consider this one of the most poignant wildlife encounters on Earth.
We watch as the mountain gorillas interact with one another—grooming, playing, competing, and bonding. These social creatures often feed on the lush vegetation and spend a significant amount of time resting. Occasionally, the gorillas observe visitors with curiosity, sometimes approaching to get a closer look.
After an hour of watching our group of African mountain gorillas in the Virunga Mountains of Rwanda, we trek back to Kinigi and return to our accommodation. We conclude the day with dinner, taking the chance to unwind after our unforgettable experience in the rainforest. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
Day 6: Golden monkey trekking and transfer back to Kigali
On day six, we wake up early for breakfast before heading back into Volcanoes National Park. In addition to being Rwanda’s gorilla trekking hotspot, Volcanoes National Park is also famous for its golden monkey tracking. Today, we set out in search of the endangered golden monkeys, which are endemic to the Virunga massif.
These rare golden monkeys are found in the bamboo forests on the lower slopes of the mountains, making for an easier and shorter trek than the previous day. If you prefer to take it easy, you can stay at our accommodation to rest instead of trekking. However, golden monkey tracking is highly recommended and offers a rare wildlife experience, so we encourage everyone not to miss out.
We found one of the two large habituated troops of golden monkeys, each numbering over 100 individuals, and paused to observe these striking, long-tailed primates. The golden monkeys are very social and active, energetically jumping between the trees and interacting playfully. Our walk also provided excellent opportunities to spot other primates and mammals in the forest, as well as numerous exotic birds. The animals found in this area include forest elephants, spotted hyenas, buffalo, giant forest hogs, bush pigs, and various antelope species, such as bushbuck and duikers.
After tracking the golden monkeys in Rwanda, we returned to the Volcanoes Park headquarters in Kinigi and then transferred back to our guesthouse in Ruhengeri. This afternoon, we made our way back to Kigali city, the capital of Rwanda. We stayed at the same hotel as before, allowing us to relax and enjoy the lovely views of the city. That evening, we shared a final dinner together to celebrate our extraordinary journey through Rwanda.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Day 7: Kigali city tour and departure
On the final day of our Rwanda Primates Safari, we embarked on a city tour of Kigali, time permitting. The tour provided great insight into contemporary Rwandan society and allowed us to explore the modern, vibrant, and clean capital city. We visited a local market where we could buy traditional crafts and learn more about the tragic events of the 1994 Rwandan genocide at the Kigali Genocide Memorial.
Today, you will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight, bringing our memorable trip to Rwanda to a close.
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch