Rwanda Gorilla & Chimpanzee Safari

Explore two incredible national parks in Rwanda on a 7-day journey. Our tour starts with a short overnight stop in Kigali before we venture deep into the jungles of Nyungwe Forest National Park, home to chimpanzees and a wide range of other primates.  Next we drive to Volcanoes National Park to meet the famous mountain gorillas, a truly unforgettable experience.

Itinerary

  • Day 1: Johannesburg / Kigali Airport / Kigali

    Flight from Johannesburg.  On arrival at Kigali Airport, the Covid & Rapid tests will be done at the airport. After the tests are done, you will exit the airport where our friendly safari team will welcome you.  We will start exploring Kigali city with our first at the Brioche Café where you can enjoy breakfast (for your account). 

    We visit the Genocide Memorial Centre which commemorates the bravery, strength, and unmatched struggle of the people of Rwanda.

    Will visit the Kimironko Market where you can buy handicrafts,  souvenirs, and beautiful vibrant kitenge fabrics.

    We enjoy lunch at the Repub Lounge where you can taste some of Rwanda's local food.

    Stay: Park Inn by Radisson Blue Hotel (Standard room)

    Meals: Dinner & breakfast

  • Day 2: Kigali / Kamembe (near Nyungwe Forest NP)

    After an early breakfast, we drive to Kamembe across the beautiful landscape of rolling verdant terraced hills. En route we visit the Kings Palace Museum at Nyanza and stop at Butare where you will enjoy lunch (included).  This is the historical and traditional power center of Rwanda and here we visit the reconstructed Kings Palace to see how traditional monarchs lived in pre-colonial times.  

    Stay: Mantis Kivu Marina Bay Hotel (Executive room)

    Meals: Lunch, dinner & breakfast

  • Day 3: Kamembe / Nyungwe Forest NP - CHIMPANZEE TREKKING

    Enjoy an early breakfast at the lodge before your transfer to the park board office to register for a true Rwanda style chimpanzee tracking and trekking experience.  Return to the lodge.  While at the hotel you can participate in a coffee roasting and tasting experience (for your account) at the coffee processing project which is accessible by boat. 

    Stay: Mantis Kivu Marina Bay Hotel (Executive room)

    Meals: Lunch, dinner & breakfast

  • Day 4: Nyungwe Forest National Park

    Our morning adventure starts with the Canopy Walk.  The Canopy walkway is nearly 160m long and rises over 75m above the ground, giving a unique ‘eye-to-eye’ experience with the vast array of primates and birds in the upper reaches of the canopy. 

    We return to the lodge for lunch followed by a late afternoon Boat Excursion on Lake Kivu with a visit to Nkombo Island.  Shared between Rwanda and DR Congo, Lake Kivu extends across the floor of the Albertine Rift and is hemmed in by a steep terraced escarpment. It is Rwanda's largest lake and the sixth-largest lake in Africa.

    Covid test at the lodge to trek the gorillas.

    Stay: Mantis Kivu Marina Bay Hotel (Executive room)

    Meals: Lunch, dinner & breakfast

  • Day 5: Kamembe / Volcanoes NP

    After breakfast start your journey to Volcanoes National Park, driving through the stunning scenery of flourishing green hills and valleys. Almost the entire country is 5 - 7 thousand feet high and incredibly lush. Huge indigenous forests and different types of farms stretch as far as the eye can see. 

    Stay: Virunga Inn Resort & Spa (Deluxe room)

    Meals: Lunch, dinner & breakfast

  • Day 6: Volcanoes National Park - GORILLA TREKKING

    Early morning departure from the lodge to the Volcanoes National Park headquarters in Kinigi for your mountain gorilla trekking experience. After the briefing, you will drive to the starting point closest to the gorilla family you trek. This is your once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to come face-to-face with a silverback gorilla! You can stay with the gorillas for a maximum of one hour. You'll be privileged to come within mere meters of a gorilla to observe them foraging, playing, teasing each other, and eating.  You will return to the base where your driver will be waiting to transfer you to the lodge. 

    During the afternoon you can visit the nearby ex-poacher’s village (for your account). As part of overall conservation endeavors, former poachers renounced their old ways and became conservation activists. Together with their families, they founded this little village where they now participate in eco-tourism showcasing Rwandan culture. Visitors can learn about traditional skills such as fire-making, archery, traditional medicine, the architectural design of grass thatched huts that were built for the kings, and cultural dances, among other attractions.

    Covid test at the lodge to return to SA.

    Stay: Virunga Inn Resort & Spa (Deluxe room)

    Meals: Lunch, dinner & breakfast

  • Day 7: Volcanoes National Park / Kigali / Johannesburg

    Enjoy a morning at leisure with lunch at the lodge (included) or enjoy the opportunity to engage in another activity in the Volcanoes area (for your account).  You can visit the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Fossey Fund; a beautiful campus built for gorilla conservation (opened on 1 February 2022). Visit the Cindy Broder Conservation Gallery with an immersive public exhibit designed to tell the story of mountain gorilla research and conservation from Dian Fossey’s time to today. The gallery includes never before seen artifacts from Dian Fossey’s almost two decades living with the gorillas, an engaging visual experience, including virtual and augmented reality, and a 360-degree immersive theatre.

    You can also book a second gorilla trek (pre-book) or trek the golden monkeys.  Afternoon drive back to Kigali where we'll stop to visit the Question Coffee Café to taste some of Africa’s Best coffees. You will be taken through a short coffee history lesson, harvest cherries from the trees in their garden, taste coffee from all over Rwanda, and create your own custom blend. We enjoy a farewell dinner (included) before your transfer to the airport for your flight home, departing at 23h30 (Rwanda time), arriving at 03h20 (South African time).

    End of service

We also offer this as a private safari or can send you a tailor-made quotation similar to the above itinerary - one designed specifically for you, around your taste, budget, interests and more.

  • Return economy airfares with RwandAir from Johannesburg to Kigali Airport (Including airport taxes)
  • Airport transfers from Kigali Airport to the hotel
  • 1 night - Park Inn by Radisson Blue (Kigali) 
  • Dinner & breakfast
  • Kigali activities included:
  • Genocide museum
  • Kimironko Market 
  • Lunch at Repub Lounge
  • Transfer to the Nyungwe Forest area.
  • On the way visit the Kings Palace Museum
  • Lunch in Butare
  • 3 nights - Mantis Kivu Marina Bay Hotel
  • Breakfast, lunch & dinner
  • Nyungwe Forest activities included:
  • X1 Chimpanzee trekking permit per person 
  • Canopy Walk in Nyungwe Forest
  • Boat excursion on Lake Kivu
  • Transfer Volcanoes National Park
  • 2 nights - Virunga Inn Resort & Spa
  • Breakfast, lunch & dinner
  • Volcanoes activities included:
  • X1 Gorilla trekking permit per person 
  • Transfer to Kigali 
  • Kigali activities included:
  • Coffee tour
  • Farewell dinner
  • 4x4 Safari vehicle (maximum 6 clients per vehicle)
  • Bottled water in vehicles
  • Services of your professional and knowledgeable Rwanda English-speaking driver-guide. 
  • Comprehensive support from our operational office in Rwanda for the duration of the safari 
  • Travel information pack

  • Entry visa to Rwanda (SA passport requires a visa for Rwanda – FREE of Charge)
  • Travel Insurance (Highly recommended)
  • Meals and drinks not specified  
  • Activities not specified
  • Laundry services
  • Gratuities - our recommendations.
  • Driver/guide – suggested at US$10 per person per day. 
  • Chimp trekking:
  • Trekking guide: US$10 per client
  • Ass guide, trackers & security guards:  Between US$10 – US$15 per client
  • Porter – US$15 (if you need assistance on your hike)
  • Gorilla trekking:
  • Trekking guide: US$10 per client
  • Ass guide, trackers & security guards:  Between US$10 – US$15 per client
  • Porter – US$15 (if you need assistance on your hike)
  • Hotel staff – at your discretion
  • Porters carrying suitcase/s – recommend US$1 per suitcase.
  • All expenses of a personal nature

Dates & Prices

Dates:

PRIVATE (TAILOR-MADE) SAFARI:

This safari has been crafted with knowledge and insight, showcasing just a few of the experiences you can enjoy on safari in Tanzania. It is merely an example, and any element of this itinerary can be adjusted to suit your needs. Chat with one of our Safari Specialists, who will be able to help you to customise the ideal safari itinerary for you based on your interests, preferences and budget.



Rates:

RAND Rate: (SA residents ONLY) USD Rate:
Available on Request Available on Request
  • Request a quote from our Safari Specialists for the most current rates and availability on our group departures.
  •  The Rand rate is based on a special discounted rate to Southern Africa residents.
  • All rates are subject to increases beyond our control, including fuel price, government taxes and exchange rate fluctuations.
  • *Maximum 14 clients on safari.



National Parks

Nyungwe National Park

Extending for 970 sq. km across the majestic hills of southeast Rwanda, Nyungwe National Park is the largest and one of the most ancient block of mountain forest in East and Central Africa, dating back to before the last Ice Age.  An extensive network of well-maintained walking trails leads through Nyungwe forest to various waterfalls and viewing points.  A comfortably rustic rest house and perfectly situated campsite lie alongside the main road, and the reserve can readily be visited as a day trip from the towns of Butare and Cyangugu.  Nyungwe National Park does, however, deserve more time.  Anyone who would like to track chimps and see several varieties of smaller primate will need to spend two days there - and dedicated bird watchers might never want to leave! 

Nyungwe is renowned for its 13 species of primates and in particular is a great location for a chimpanzee safari in Rwanda and viewing 9 different species of monkey including the Ruwenzori Colobus and the handsome L’Hoests monkey.  Nyungwe also have many smaller predators including the golden cat, wildcat, serval cat, the side-striped jackal and three types of mongoose.


Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park is part of the Virunga Mountains, which is a range of six extinct and three active volcanoes situated in Rwanda, Uganda, and The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In the heart of Africa, so high up that you shiver more than you sweat, are volcanoes (the Virunga’s) towering up in the air for almost 3,000m, virtually covered in rich, green rainforest.  Situated in the far northwest of Rwanda, the Parc des Volcano’s protects the steep slopes of this magnificent mountain range - home of the rare mountain gorilla - and the rich mosaic of montane ecosystems, which embrace evergreen and bamboo forest, open grassland, swamp, and heath.  An exciting trek through the cultivated foothills of the Virunga’s offers splendid views in all directions. This is the best location to track the rare and captivating mountain gorillas (Gorilla Beringei). The guides can generally find the gorillas within one to eight hours of starting, but this often involves a lot of strenuous effort scrambling through dense vegetation up steep muddy slopes. An encounter with a silverback male gorilla at close quarters can be a hair-raising experience; however, they are remarkably non-aggressive animals, entirely vegetarian, and usually quite safe to be around.