This 6 Days Rwanda gorilla safari focuses on primate experiences including gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking and golden monkey tracking. The tour also includes several thrilling additional activities such canopy walk, Kigali city tour, and cultural experiences. Optional activities in this safari include hiking Dian Fossey tomb, guided nature walks, and community visits.
Safari highlights
- Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park
- Chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe national park
- Canopy walk in Nyungwe national park
- Cultural experiences
- Golden monkey tracking (optional)
- Dian Fossey grave hike (optional)
- Kigali city tour
- Guided nature walk (optional)
Trip summary
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali & city tour
Day 2: Transfer to Nyungwe national park & canopy walk
Day 3: Chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe national park & nature walk (optional)
Day 4: Cultural experience & transfer to Volcanoes national park
Day 5: Gorilla tracking in Volcanoes national park
Day 6: Golden monkey tracking or Dian Fossey Hike & departure
Detailed itinerary – 6 Days Rwanda gorilla safari
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali and city tour
Arrive at Kigali International Airport (KGL) and meet your safari driver guide for a transfer to your accommodation in Kigali. After checking in and relaxation, embark on a city tour around Kigali and visit some of the city’s key sites. These include the Kigali Genocide Memorial where you can pay tribute to the victims of the 1994 Rwanda genocide and learn about the country’s history. Others include the Presidential Palace Museum, local markets and the city art gallery. Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Transfer to Nyungwe national park and canopy walk
After breakfast, embark on a scenic drive southwest to Nyungwe national park, a home to 13 primate species (4-5 hours). Enjoy stunning views of rolling hills, plantations, changing landscapes and local communities along the way. Check into your lodge near or inside the park for lunch and relaxation. In the afternoon, go for the breathtaking canopy walk, a 70-meter suspended bridge which offers stunning views of the forest canopy, and wildlife viewing opportunities. Dinner and overnight at your accommodation in Nyungwe.
Day 3: Chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe national park and optional guided nature walk
After early breakfast, head to the park headquarters for a briefing on chimpanzee tracking guidelines. Head into the forest led by experienced guides and rangers searching for a community of habituated chimpanzees. Spend one hour observing these fascinating primates as they go about their daily business in their natural habitat. Witness how these highly intelligent apes play, feed, mate and rest while capturing some of the captivating moments on your camera. Return to your accommodation for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Cultural experience and transfer to Volcanoes national park
After breakfast, engage in cultural exploration activities in Nyungwe such as visiting and interacting with the local community or visiting a local tea plantation to learn about tea picking and processing. After lunch, start a scenic drive to Volcanoes national park, enjoying scenic views of Rwanda’s changing landscapes and local communities. Arrive and check into your lodge near Volcanoes national park for dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park and optional cultural experience
After early breakfast, head to the park headquarters of Volcanoes national park and join other visitors for a briefing on gorilla trekking guidelines. You will also be divided into small groups and assigned a habituated gorilla family to track (maximum of 8 visitors per gorilla group).
Head into the forest in the company of experienced guides and rangers searching for the gorillas. This search may take between 1-6 hours depending on the location and movement of gorillas in the forest. Once you find the gorillas, spend the magical hour in their presence observing how they feed, interact, play and rest in their natural habitat while you capture the key moments on your camera.
At the end of the experience, return to park headquarters for a transfer to your lodge for lunch and relaxation. In the late afternoon, you may choose to go for a thrilling cultural experience by visiting the Gorilla Guardian Village (formerly Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village). Enjoy Rwanda traditional dances and music, learn about local customs and interact with the local community. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Day 6: Golden monkey tracking or Dian Fossey Hike and departure
After breakfast, choose between golden monkey tracking (for more primate experience with a less tenacious trek) or a hike to the Dian Fossey tomb to pay tribute to Dian Fossey and learn about the history of gorilla conservation. After your activity and lunch, transfer back to Kigali International Airport for your departure flight or for an overnight in Kigali. Depending on your flight schedule, you may have time for last-minute souvenir shopping or a brief city tour around Kigali to explore more of its beauty.
Important considerations for the 6 Days Rwanda gorilla safari
Gorilla permits and chimpanzee permits should be booked and secured at least 6 months in advance since they are on high demand. Rwanda’s gorilla permit cost $1,500 per person while a chimpanzee cost $250 per person. Golden monkey tracking permit cost $100 per person and they should also be booked in advance.
The best season for gorilla tracking and other wildlife safaris 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 most 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.