6 Day Rwanda Gorilla Chimp & Wildlife Safari

Your 6 Day Rwanda Gorilla Chimp & Wildlife Safari begins in Kigali. Your private safari guide will meet you at Kigali International Airport, your city hotel or another agreed pickup point.

If time allows, a short Kigali city experience can be included. Depending on your interests, stops may focus on Rwanda's history, culture, markets or contemporary city life. Afterward, begin the scenic drive north toward Volcanoes National Park.

The journey passes through Rwanda's famous rolling hills, cultivated valleys and rural communities. As you approach Musanze, the Virunga volcanoes rise dramatically above the surrounding countryside. Check into your selected lodge near Volcanoes National Park.

Your guide will explain the next morning's gorilla trekking arrangements, including departure time, appropriate clothing and recommended equipment. Enjoy dinner and rest early.

After an early breakfast, transfer to the designated gorilla trekking briefing area. Park officials explain trekking regulations and provide important guidance about behavior around the mountain gorillas. You will then be assigned to a habituated gorilla family and enter the forest with experienced trackers and guides.

Gorilla Trekking in the Virunga Mountains

The duration of your trek cannot be predicted precisely because gorillas move freely through their natural habitat. Some groups may be found after a relatively manageable walk. Others require several hours of climbing through bamboo forest, thick vegetation and muddy mountain terrain.

Hiring a porter is highly recommended. Once your gorilla family is located, your guide will instruct you how to approach. The encounter allows you to observe the gorillas' behavior at close range according to current park regulations.

You may see a dominant silverback watching over his family, females feeding among the vegetation, juveniles playing or young infants staying close to their mothers. After the regulated observation period, trek back out of the forest and return to your lodge. Spend the remainder of the day relaxing.

After breakfast, leave the Virunga Mountains and travel south toward Nyungwe Forest National Park. The drive across western Rwanda is scenic and provides a broader view of the country's landscapes. Depending on the chosen route and available time, your guide can arrange rest stops and scenic breaks along the journey.

Nyungwe is one of Africa's important montane rainforest ecosystems and supports exceptional primate diversity. Arrive at your selected accommodation near the forest and check in. Your guide will brief you about the following morning's chimpanzee trekking arrangements.

Enjoy dinner and overnight in the Nyungwe region.

Wake early and transfer to the appropriate chimpanzee trekking starting point. Following registration and a briefing, enter the forest with trackers and guides. Chimpanzee trekking differs considerably from the previous gorilla experience.

Tracking Chimpanzees in Nyungwe

Chimpanzees are highly intelligent, social and energetic. They can move rapidly through the forest, feed high in trees and communicate through vocalizations that can be heard from considerable distances. Trackers listen for calls and study signs of chimpanzee movement as they guide you through the forest.

Once the chimpanzees are located, you can observe their behavior according to applicable park rules. You may see individuals feeding, grooming, climbing or interacting with other members of their community.

Nyungwe is also home to numerous other primate species, making unexpected monkey sightings possible during forest activities. After the trek, begin the next stage of your journey toward eastern Rwanda.

Because the route between Nyungwe and Akagera is significant, overnight location and routing can be optimized according to your preferred pace and accommodation plan.

Today brings a complete change of environment. Enter Akagera National Park for a day of game viewing across savannah, woodland, lakes and wetland habitats. Akagera is Rwanda's principal destination for traditional wildlife safaris and forms an important contrast with the forest parks visited earlier.

Wildlife in Akagera National Park

Species you may encounter include:

• African elephants
• Cape buffaloes
• Giraffes
• Zebras
• Impalas
• Waterbucks
• Topis
• Warthogs
• Baboons
• Vervet monkeys
• Hippos
• Crocodiles

Lions, leopards and rhinos are also found within the park, although all wildlife sightings remain dependent on natural movements. Your guide will explore different sectors according to wildlife activity and road conditions.

Birdwatchers will also find Akagera especially rewarding because the combination of savannah and wetland ecosystems supports a remarkable range of bird species. Where desired and available, a boat safari can be added to complement the game drive. Spend the night in or around Akagera National Park.

Rise early for another opportunity to search for wildlife. Morning is often an excellent time to explore because temperatures are cooler and animals may be particularly active. Drive through selected areas of Akagera while looking for species missed on the previous day.

After completing your game viewing, exit the park and travel back to Kigali. Your private guide will transfer you to your Kigali hotel or Kigali International Airport according to your onward schedule. This marks the end of your 6 Day Rwanda Gorilla Chimp & Wildlife Safari.

Three Very Different Rwanda Wildlife Experiences

The strength of this itinerary is its diversity. In Volcanoes National Park, the focus is the intimate experience of meeting mountain gorillas in their forest home.

Nyungwe introduces another great ape whose behavior is dramatically different. Chimpanzees are vocal, fast-moving and frequently encountered in a much more energetic forest setting. Akagera completes the journey with vehicle-based game viewing across open landscapes.

Together, these destinations provide an unusually broad wildlife experience within one relatively small country.

Gorilla and Chimpanzee Permits

Separate permits are required for gorilla trekking and chimpanzee tracking. Gorilla permits are particularly limited, so securing your preferred date early is strongly recommended. Chimpanzee trekking permits should also be booked in advance.

Permit rates and conditions may change, so current information should always be confirmed when planning the safari. Once trekking dates are confirmed, accommodation and transfers can be structured around the permits.