Private • Rwanda
3 Days Chimpanzee Trekking Safari in Nyungwe Forest National Park, Rwanda
Chimpanzee trekking, canopy walks, and Rwanda's oldest rainforest
Overview
About this journey
- Region
- Southern Province
- Duration
- 3 days
- Departures
- All year round
- Party size
- Up to 6
Experience one of Rwanda's most exciting primate adventures on this 3-Day Chimpanzee Trekking Safari in Nyungwe Forest National Park. Explore one of Africa's oldest and most biodiverse tropical rainforests, home to habituated chimpanzees, 12 other primate species, over 300 bird species, and breathtaking natural scenery. This safari offers an unforgettable combination of wildlife encounters, scenic landscapes, and immersive rainforest experiences, making it perfect for nature lovers, photographers, birdwatchers, and adventure seekers.
Safari Highlights
Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park
Scenic drive through Rwanda's "Land of a Thousand Hills"
Opportunity to spot 13 species of primates
Optional Canopy Walk adventure
Birdwatching and guided nature walks
Professional English-speaking safari guide
Comfortable accommodation near Nyungwe Forest National Park
Highlights
What you'll experience
Chimpanzee Trekking with Habituated Communities
Nyungwe holds one of Africa's largest populations of eastern chimpanzees. Your tracker radios ahead at first light, pinpointing the Cyamudongo or Uwinka community, and you follow their calls until you're standing beneath the fig tree where they're feeding — close enough to hear a juvenile's knuckles on bark.
Canopy Walkway at Uwinka
A 200-metre suspension bridge strings between the tallest emergent trees at Uwinka, placing you level with black-and-white colobus monkeys and the iridescent wings of a bar-tailed trogon. The bridge sways gently; the forest floor is 70 metres below.
L'Hoest's Monkeys at Waterfall Trail
The Karamba waterfall trail traces a ridge where L'Hoest's monkeys move in tight family troops through the undergrowth. Your guide Samuel Nzamwita calls them 'the quiet ones' — they watch you as carefully as you watch them.
Birding Along the Banda Trail
With more than 300 forest-specialist birds recorded, Nyungwe rewards anyone who walks slowly. Grauer's warbler moves through the bamboo edge at dawn, and the red-collared mountain babbler is almost always heard before it's seen — a thin, insistent whistle above the stream.
Tea Country Arrival Drive
The road into Nyungwe runs through a sea of geometric tea estates, the air sharp and green. Pickers move between the rows in the late-afternoon light, and the forest wall rises abruptly where the plantations end — the visual line between agriculture and something far older.
Why choose us
Why choose a Private Journey?
Nyungwe is not a safari park with open plains — it asks more of you and gives back accordingly. Here's why this itinerary works.
Guides Who Know These Trees
Samuel Nzamwita and our Nyungwe ranger partners track the chimp communities daily. They know the shortcuts, the fruiting trees the chimps favour in May, and when to stand still and when to move.
Genuinely Small Groups
Park regulations limit chimpanzee trekking groups to eight. We cap our departures at six, which means more time with the trackers, quieter trails, and photographs without elbows in the frame.
Forest Conservation Built In
A portion of each permit fee funds the community ranger programme at Nyungwe's edge — the same communities that once relied on forest clearing for farmland. Walking here is, in a small way, an argument for keeping the forest standing.
Itinerary
Your day-by-day journey
Day 1
Arrival in Kigali – Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park
Upon your arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by your professional guide from Arrive Africa Safaris. After a short briefing, begin your scenic journey to Nyungwe Forest National Park, located in southwestern Rwanda. The drive takes you through Rwanda's beautiful countryside, where rolling green hills, tea plantations, terraced farms, and traditional villages showcase why the country is famously known as the "Land of a Thousand Hills." Along the way, you'll enjoy spectacular views and have opportunities to appreciate Rwanda's peaceful rural landscapes.
Upon arrival at the park, check in at Nyungwe Forest Lodge, beautifully situated on the edge of the rainforest. Spend the evening relaxing while enjoying the tranquil atmosphere of the forest as your guide briefs you on the exciting chimpanzee trekking experience awaiting you the following morning.
Accommodation: Nyungwe Forest Lodge
Meal Plan: Dinner
Meals · Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 2
Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park
Wake up early for breakfast before heading to the park headquarters for a briefing by experienced park rangers. After learning about trekking procedures and safety guidelines, venture into the dense rainforest with professional guides and trackers in search of one of Nyungwe's habituated chimpanzee communities.
The trek takes you through lush vegetation, towering trees, and scenic forest trails as you listen carefully for the loud calls of chimpanzees echoing through the forest. Once the chimpanzees are located, you will spend one unforgettable hour observing these intelligent primates as they feed, groom, communicate, and play in their natural habitat.nYour guide will share fascinating information about chimpanzee behavior, family structure, ecology, and the conservation efforts helping to protect these endangered animals.
After the trek, return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation. In the afternoon, you may choose to explore more of Nyungwe Forest National Park through optional activities such as a guided nature walk, birdwatching excursion, or the famous Canopy Walkway. Suspended high above the forest floor, the canopy walkway offers spectacular panoramic views of the rainforest and provides excellent opportunities to spot birds, monkeys, and butterflies from above.
Nyungwe is also home to several other primates, including black-and-white colobus monkeys, L'Hoest's monkeys, blue monkeys, owl-faced monkeys, and grey-cheeked mangabeys, making every walk through the forest a rewarding wildlife experience. Return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay surrounded by the peaceful sounds of the rainforest.
Accommodation: Nyungwe Forest Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Meals · Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3
Return to Kigali – Departure
After breakfast, check out of the lodge and begin your scenic drive back to Kigali. Depending on your departure schedule, you may enjoy a short Kigali city tour. Visit some of the city's popular attractions, including local craft markets or the Kigali Genocide Memorial, where you can learn about Rwanda's history and remarkable journey of reconciliation and recovery.
You may also stop at local souvenir shops to purchase handcrafted gifts and traditional Rwandan artwork before your guide transfers you to Kigali International Airport for your onward flight. Your memorable 3-Day Chimpanzee Trekking Safari in Nyungwe Forest National Park comes to an end, leaving you with unforgettable memories of Rwanda's incredible rainforest, fascinating primates, and warm hospitality.
Meal Plan: Breakfast
Safari Includes
Airport transfers
Transportation in a comfortable 4x4 safari vehicle
Professional English-speaking driver/guide
Chimpanzee trekking permit
Park entrance fees
Two nights' accommodation
Meals as indicated in the itinerary
Bottled drinking water during the safari
Safari Excludes
International flights
Rwanda visa (where applicable)
Travel insurance
Optional Canopy Walk fee (if not included)
Alcoholic and soft drinks
Tips and gratuities
Personal expenses such as laundry, souvenirs, and telephone calls
Optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary
End of Your 3 Days Chimpanzee Trekking Safari in Nyungwe Forest National Park, Rwanda
Meals · Breakfast, Lunch
Inclusions
What is and isn't included
Included
- Return road transfer from Kigali in a 4WD vehicle
- 2 nights accommodation at Nyungwe Nziza Ecolodge (or equivalent forest lodge)
- All meals from dinner on Day 1 through lunch on Day 3
- 1 chimpanzee trekking permit per person
- Canopy walkway entrance fee
- English-speaking driver-guide throughout
- Nyungwe park fees for all trail activities
- Bottled water and packed trail lunch on trekking day
- Pre-departure information pack with packing list
Not included
- International flights to and from the region
- Entry visas and any transit visas
- Travel and medical insurance, which is mandatory
- Alcoholic drinks and premium beverages
- Laundry, telephone and other items of a personal nature
- Tips and gratuities for your guide, drivers and lodge staff
- Optional activities not listed in the day-by-day itinerary
Pricing
Available all year round
A private itinerary with no fixed departure dates. Rates are per person in USD.
Journey Details
Essential information
Minimum Age
15 years for chimpanzee trekking (park regulation)
Safari Duffel
A soft-sided bag of 15 kg or less is recommended for lodge storage; a small day pack for trekking
First Group Event
Dinner on Day 1 at Nyungwe Nziza Ecolodge, 19:00
Last Group Event
Lunch on Day 3 before return drive to Kigali
Guaranteed Departures
All listed departures operate with a minimum of 2 guests
Alternate Sightseeing
If chimpanzees cannot be located on the morning of Day 2, the park may offer an alternate afternoon trek at no extra cost, subject to ranger availability