4-Day Rwanda Tour: Gorilla and Chimpanzee Trekking from Kigali
Mountain gorillas and chimpanzees in their forest homes, with Lake Kivu between.
A 4-day tour from Kigali combining gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, a boat cruise on Lake Kivu with a tea plantation stop, and chimpanzee trekking through Nyungwe Forest. You travel in a private 4x4 with an English-speaking guide, stay in comfortable lodges, and eat all meals included. The tour opens with a Kigali city tour and the Genocide Memorial before heading into the national parks for primate encounters and forest exploration.
Step-by-step itinerary
Day 1: Kigali city tour and transfer
- Pickup at hotel in Kigali at 8 am
- City tour including Kigali Genocide Memorial
- Transfer to Volcanoes National Park with stop at SŌOKO Xperiences
- Check-in and lunch at Ingagi Park View Hotel
- Dinner and traditional dances at hotel
Day 2: Gorilla trekking and Lake Kivu transfer
- Breakfast and pickup at 6:30 am
- Briefing at Park HQ and coffee at 7 am
- Gorilla trekking from 8 am to noon
- Lunch in Musanze
- Transfer to Lake Kivu and check-in at Cormoran Lodge
- Dinner and overnight at lodge
Day 3: Lake Kivu boat trip and tea plantation
- Breakfast and boat trip on Lake Kivu at 8 am
- Lunch at Bethany
- Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park
- Tea plantation tour in Gisakura
- Check-in and dinner at Nyungwe Top View or Munazi Lodge
Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking and departure
- Early pickup at 5 am and briefing at park headquarters
- Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest
- Lunch en route at Uwinka or Huye
- Transfer to Kigali for hotel or airport drop-off
What’s included
- Accommodation at Ingagi Park View Lodge, Cormoran Lodge, and Nyungwe Top View Hotel or Munazi Lodge.
- all meals and soft drinks throughout.
- gorilla trekking permit assistance, Volcanoes and Nyungwe park entrance fees, and chimpanzee trekking fees.
- private 4x4 transport and boat cruise on Lake Kivu.
- tea plantation tour.
- pickup and drop-off anywhere in Kigali city or the airport.
- professional English or French-speaking driver-guide.
- fresh water in reusable eco-friendly bottles.
Times
- Every day 07:00 07:30 08:00
Before you book
Operated by Afri Safaris
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The experience
Your guide picks you up at your Kigali hotel by 8 am on day one. After a city tour covering the car-free zone and the Kigali Genocide Memorial, you drive toward Volcanoes National Park: roughly two to two and a half hours north. A midway stop at SŌOKO Xperiences breaks the journey with coffee and a chance to walk around their exhibition space. You reach Ingagi Park View Lodge by afternoon, settle in, and the evening brings traditional dances and views across the volcanic peaks.
Day two starts before dawn. A 5:30 am pickup gets you to the park headquarters by 7 am for briefing with RDB Kinigi officials, who assign you to a gorilla family based on fitness and age. The trek itself runs from 8 am onward, lasting anywhere from two to six hours depending on where the family has moved. Once you locate them, you spend one full hour watching and photographing the gorillas at close range. After the trek ends, you return to the starting point, then drive to Migano in Musanze for lunch. The afternoon carries you to Lake Kivu at Karongi, where you overnight at Cormoran Lodge.
Day three begins with an 8 am boat trip across Lake Kivu, exploring the islands and shoreline before lunch at Bethany. In the afternoon, you transfer inland to Nyungwe National Park, stopping in Gisakura for a one-hour tea plantation tour: walking among the rows and learning how the leaves are processed. You check into Nyungwe Top View Hotel or Munazi Lodge and spend the evening taking in the forest views.
Day four starts at 5 am for the chimpanzee trek through Nyungwe Forest, guided by park rangers through dense woodland known for its primates and birdlife. After the trek, you drive back toward Kigali, stopping for lunch at Uwinka or Huye along the way. Your guide drops you at your Kigali hotel or the airport by afternoon. The operator handles the gorilla permit application process for you. Permits themselves vary in cost by nationality and must be arranged in advance.
Is this one for you?The trek to gorillas runs two to six hours depending on the day's location, and chimpanzee trekking starts at 5 am on the final morning: both require moderate fitness and an early start, but the park matches you to a gorilla family suited to your ability, and porters assist if you need support on the forest floor.
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Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English and French.
What is the Kigali Genocide Memorial and how long do we spend there?
The Kigali Genocide Memorial is a museum and memorial site honoring victims of Rwanda's 1994 genocide. The city tour on day one includes a visit there as part of the morning in Kigali before you transfer to Volcanoes National Park.
How long does the gorilla trek actually take, and what if I'm not very fit?
Gorilla trekking runs between two and six hours depending on where the family has moved that day. The park assigns you to a family based on your fitness level and age during the morning briefing, so you're matched to a trek that suits your ability. Porters are available to assist if needed.
What happens during the Lake Kivu boat cruise?
The morning boat trip on day three explores the islands and scenery of Lake Kivu, departing at 8 am after breakfast. Lunch is served at Bethany, then you transfer inland to Nyungwe National Park in the afternoon.
What is included in the tea plantation tour?
The tea plantation visit in Gisakura runs for one hour on day three. You walk among the tea rows and learn how the leaves are processed before transferring to your lodge in Nyungwe.
Do I need to book the gorilla permit myself?
The operator assists with the gorilla permit application process, but the permit itself must be purchased in advance and costs vary depending on your nationality. Daily permits are limited, so booking early is essential.
What time does the chimpanzee trek start on the final day?
Day four begins with a 5 am pickup for transfer to Nyungwe park headquarters. The chimpanzee trek then proceeds through the forest, guided by park rangers, before you return to Kigali for lunch and your afternoon departure.
4-Day Rwanda Tour: Gorilla and Chimpanzee Trekking from Kigali
4d · EN · FR · at your hotel
from US$ 2,579 per person
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