This 5 Days Rwanda gorilla safari focuses on primate encounters like gorilla trekking and golden monkey tracking in Volcanoes national park and chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe national park. The tour also includes thrilling optional experiences such as cultural encounters, Nyungwe canopy walk, visiting the scenic Lake Kivu and exploring the historical Musanze Caves.
Trip Highlights
- Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park
- Golden monkey tracking in Volcanoes national park
- Chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe national park
- Nyungwe canopy walk
- Cultural experience at Gorilla Guardian Village
- Kigali city tour
- Visiting Lake Kivu (optional)
- Visiting Musanze Caves (optional)
Trip Summary
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali & transfer to Volcanoes national park
Day 2: Gorilla tracking & cultural experience
Day 3: Golden monkey tracking & Musanze Caves / Transfer to Lake Kivu
Day 4: Transfer to Nyungwe national park & canopy walk
Day 5: Chimpanzee tracking & departure
Detailed itinerary – 5 Days Rwanda gorilla safari
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali and transfer to Volcanoes national park
Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport (KGL), you will be met by your safari driver guide. Depending on your arrival time, you may go for a Kigali City Tour to explore one of the cleanest cities in Africa. This city tour includes a visit to the poignant Kigali Genocide Memorial to pay tribute to the victims of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi as well as learning about Rwanda’s history. Other places you can visit include local markets and craft shops.
After lunch in Kigali, begin your scenic drive to Volcanoes national park (2-3 hours drive). Enjoy scenic views of Rwanda’s “thousand hills,” tea plantations and local communities along the way. Arrive and check into your accommodation near Volcanoes national park for dinner and overnight and get ready for the gorilla trekking encounter in the morning.
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park and cultural experience
Take early breakfast and head to the the headquarters of Volcanoes national park at Kinigi to attend a briefing on gorilla trekking rules and guidelines. You will also be divided into small groups of 8 trekkers and assigned a habituated gorilla family to track. Head into the forest led by experienced guides and rangers looking for your allocated gorilla group.
This trek may take 1-6 hours depending on the location and movement of gorillas in the forest. Upon finding the gorillas, spend the one magical hour in their presence observing how they go about their routine in their natural habitat. Use your camera to capture the captivating moments with the gorillas for your future memories. at the end of the hour, trek back to park headquarters and transfer to your lodge for lunch and relaxation.
In the afternoon or late evening, go for an amazing cultural tour at Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village (now known as Gorilla Guardian Village). Experience Rwanda’s culture through traditional dances, music, storytelling and interact with the local community. Dinner and overnight at your lodge near Volcanoes national park.
Day 3: Golden monkey tracking and Musanze Caves / Transfer to Lake Kivu
After breakfast, return to the park headquarters for another briefing, this time on golden monkey trekking. Enter the forest and meet these playful and energetic primates. Golden monkeys are a joy to watch as they swing through bamboo forests and the trek is generally less strenuous than gorilla trekking.
After the golden monkey tracking experience, you can opt to visit the historical Musanze Caves, a network of underground tunnels formed through volcanic activity. The site offers fascinating geological and historical experience. Alternatively, after golden monkey tracking, you can head to Lake Kivu in the western province of Rwanda for a relaxing afternoon. You can take a boat cruise on the lake and enjoy the scenic views of the surroundings. Dinner and overnight at your lodge near Lake Kivu.
Day 4: Transfer to Nyungwe national park and canopy walk
After breakfast, embark on a scenic drive south towards Nyungwe national park. Enjoy beautiful views of Rwanda’s rolling hills, tea plantations and local communities along the way with lunch en-route (5-6 hours drive). Upon arrival, check into your accommodation in Nyungwe and relax.
In the afternoon, explore the breathtaking Nyungwe Canopy Walk on a thrilling suspended bridge (70 meters above the ground and 160 meters long). While at the bridge, enjoy beautiful aerial views of Nyungwe forest and its diverse wildlife including birds and primates. Dinner and overnight at your lodge in Nyungwe.
Day 5: Chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe national park and departure
Early breakfast and transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing on chimpanzee tracking. Head into the forest led by experienced guides and rangers looking for a community of habituated chimpanzees. Observe these highly intelligent and playful primates go about their routine in their natural habitat as you take their photos for future memories.
Return to your lodge to check out and begin your drive back to Kigali. Depending on your flight schedule, you may have time for last-minute souvenir shopping or a brief city tour around Kigali. Your safari guide will drop you at Kigali International Airport for your departure flight, taking with you memories of this unforgettable 5 Days Rwanda gorilla safari
Important considerations for the 5 Days Rwanda gorilla safari
Gorilla and chimpanzee permits should be booked at least 6 months in advance. Rwanda’s gorilla permit cost $1,500 per person while the chimpanzee permit cost $250 per person.
The best season for gorilla tracking in Rwanda is the dry period between June to September and December to February. This is because the trails are drier and easier to trek while gorillas also tend to move freely in the forest hence easy to find. However, gorilla trekking tours and other wildlife safaris in Rwanda take place throughout the year.
Some of the important gear to pack for a gorilla trekking tour in Rwanda include sturdy hiking boots, long trousers, long-sleeved shirts, gardening gloves, and a camera with extra batteries. Gorilla trekking can be physically demanding and therefore you need a reasonable level of fitness to hike through dense montane rainforests. The minimum age allowed for gorilla tracking in Rwanda is 15 years.