Rwanda · Primate Tours

6-Day Rwanda Primate Tour with Gorilla and Chimpanzee Tracking

6 Days Round trip from Kigali Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Track chimpanzees through Nyungwe Forest National Park with a park ranger
02 Spend an hour with mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park
03 Visit Dian Fossey's Karisoke Research Centre and nearby local communities
04 Enjoy Rwanda's rolling hills, tea plantations, and cultural sites including Nyanza and the National Museum

Gorilla tracking is a rewarding self-experience adventure in the tropical rainforests of Africa. This tour takes you to Nyungwe Forest National Park in the south-west and Volcanoes National Park in the north of Rwanda, home to approximately 300 mountain gorillas. Along the way, visit Dian Fossey's Karisoke Research Centre and enjoy chimpanzee trekking, cultural visits, and scenic drives through Rwanda's rolling hills. Optional Golden Monkey tracking in Volcanoes National Park is also available.

Enjoy chimpanzee viewing as you observe them swinging from tree to tree and branch to branch, while the little ones feed on fruits or hide behind their mothers.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 6 Days

Tour type Private

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Included · Standard

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Yes

Cities Butare, Gisenyi, Ruhengeri, Kigali, Volcanoes National Park, Nyungwe Forest National Park

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Arrival in Kigali and Hotel Transfer

After you arrive at the airport, you will be met by our guide/driver for a meet and greet, followed by a transfer to your booked hotel.
Depending on your time of arrival, you will have either lunch or dinner.
Relax after your journey and prepare for the next day's adventure in the mist at Chez Lando Hotel in Kigali.

Day 02

Journey to Nyungwe Forest via Nyanza and Butare

After breakfast, depart for Nyungwe Forest National Park in Butare.
En route, visit Nyanza, the former Mwami's palace (King's Palace) and the seat of the feudal monarchy.
Visit the National Museum, one of the best set-up ethnographic museums in East Africa, offering valuable information on the cultural history of Rwanda and the region.
Enjoy a spectacular performance by the national ballet with the Intore dancers, often regarded as one of the safari's highlights.
Have lunch en route before proceeding to Nyungwe Forest, passing through cute hilly scenery adorned with tea plantations.

Overnight stay at Gisakurwa Guest House with breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

Day 03

Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe Forest

Have an early breakfast and transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing.
With a park ranger, enter the forest for chimpanzee trekking.
Enjoy chimpanzee viewing as you observe them swinging from tree to tree and branch to branch, while the little ones feed on fruits or hide behind their mothers.
Follow the chimps from nest to nest until you have had your fill.
Optionally, enjoy either the canopy walk or the waterfall trail walk in the forest.
Any combination of these activities, or even just one of them, is a rewarding and wonderful experience.
Later, return to the lodge for an overnight stay at Gisakurwa Guest House with breakfast, lunch, and dinner provided.

Day 04

Nature Walk and Transfer to Ruhengeri

Enjoy an early breakfast and embark on a nature walk conducted in the company of a park ranger.
During the walk, search for the largest groups of colobus monkeys and enjoy viewing many monkeys in large groups, as well as different bird species, including the Rwenzori Turaco.
After the walk, take a break and relax with a picnic lunch in the middle of the forest.
Drive via Gisenyi to Ruhengeri, enjoying the rolling hills for which Rwanda is well known.

Arrive at Kinigi Guest House for lunch and dinner.

Day 05

Gorilla Tracking in Volcanoes National Park

After breakfast, drive to the park headquarters for a briefing by the guides.
Receive instructions from the guides before heading out for gorilla tracking in the park.
Please note that gorilla tracking can be hard and challenging, requiring physical fitness from participants.
However, an hour of interaction with these closest relatives to humans is indeed a rewarding experience.
Return to Kinigi Guest House for lunch and dinner.

Day 06

Village Walk, Karisoke Visit, and Departure

Take a village walk to Dian Fossey's Karisoke Research Centre.
Visit local communities during the village walk.
After the visit, drive to Kigali.
Transfer to Kanombe Airport for your return flight.

Where this trip takes you

Nyungwe Forest National Park canopy, tea plantations around Nyanza, Volcanoes National Park gorilla habitat, Dian Fossey's Karisoke Research Centre

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map — Round trip from Kigali 6 cities · 6 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

Gorilla permit
Transport
Fuel
Airport transfers
Accommodation and meals
Drinking water
Park entry fees
English-speaking driver/guide

What's Not Included

International flight and Uganda visa
Tips
Alcoholic drinks and laundry
Travel insurance
Pre- and post-tour accommodation

What to bring

Waterproof hiking boots
- Hiking boots are a must for mountain gorilla hikes in Uganda, Rwanda, or the Democratic Republic of Congo. You will need lightweight hiking boots for this lifetime adventure. Your hiking boots should be able to support your ankle while you hike through strenuous terrain. Avoid heavy boots, as they will make your hike more challenging.
Gloves
- Gardening gloves are helpful because they protect your hands in case you fall and need support from different tree species or shrubs, sometimes with thorns that can harm the body. A pair of gloves is necessary, as they will also help safeguard you from the spread of germs.
Rain jackets
- The weather here is unpredictable, so visitors need to be well prepared with rain jackets or shawls to help protect them from rainfall, as the weather can change at any time. Even during the dry season, expect rain at any time of day due to the tropical rainforests.
Long-sleeved shirts, blouses, T-shirts, and trousers
- Long-sleeved shirts are handy in case of falling tree branches, ants, stinging insects, and vines. Pack long-sleeved shirts and pants with long stockings among the first items on your list.
Bottled water and snacks
- Mountain gorilla trekking is strenuous and can take between 30 minutes and three-quarters of the day while hiking to look for the gorillas. This calls for physical fitness, and you should carry no less than two litres of drinking water and energy-giving snacks to boost your energy and help you finish your trek. Great Adventures Uganda provides all clients with drinking water and a packed lunch, always prepared at the lodge where accommodation is booked.
Camera and additional batteries
- One of the most exciting moments of gorilla tracking is when you find a family of mountain gorillas relaxing and can take their pictures. It is a memorable experience, so you need a good camera without a flashlight. Do not leave extra batteries behind, as you may need them in the forest. It is best to be fully equipped to avoid inconveniences caused by a low camera battery.
Hat and sunscreen or sunglasses
- In case of strong sun rays, you will need to protect your eyes, so bring a hat and sunglasses. Even though you are in the middle of the forest with tall trees, there are times when you walk in the open while searching for the mountain gorillas.
Binoculars
- When you are in the jungle, you do not only look out for the mountain gorillas, but also for a variety of bird species and other primates. The national park offers refuge to over 350 bird species for bird lovers to enjoy during the mountain gorilla tracking experience.
Insect repellants
- The forest is home to many kinds of insects that can be harmful to humans, including black ants and many others. Repellant will help you move without disturbance from insects that may affect your skin. Some visitors, especially females, may also have a phobia of insects, so this can be a good way to keep them away.
Long stockings or Getters
- Long stockings or Getters are always required on your gorilla trek because you must wear long pants while walking in the forest. Sometimes you may walk through safari ants in the forest, and these help prevent them from going straight onto your body.

Know before you go

Gorilla permits are booked in advance as they sell out quickly.
Parc National des Volcans is a forest with hilly scenery, steep slopes, and swamps, which can make tracking a hard and tiring experience.
Tracking can take as long as up to 9 hours of walking in the forest while searching for the gorillas.
The former Mwami's palace has been reconstructed to its 19th-century state, showcasing a traditional dome comparable to the Kabaka's palace of Buganda in Uganda.

Logistics