4 Days Gorilla and Chimpanzee Trekking Tour

Day 1: Arrival & Kigali city tour

Timing: Guide meets you at Kigali International Airport (morning or as scheduled).

Morning: Meet & greet – transfer into the city (allow 30–60 minutes from the airport to central Kigali). Quick freshen up at a city hotel if required.

Late morning: Kigali city tour focusing on safe, meaningful sites:

• Kigali Genocide Memorial: Allow 1–2 hours for the exhibits and gardens (open 09:00–17:00; last entry typically 16:00). The memorial provides vital context for modern Rwanda.

• Drive past key city highlights: Governor’s gardens, local markets, and panoramic viewpoints.
  Lunch: Recommended in Kigali (light, local or international cuisine).

• Afternoon: Drive to Ruhengeri / Musanze (gateway to Volcanoes National Park). Expect 1.5–2 hours on a good road; the route climbs into cooler, volcanic highlands with scenic views.
  Evening: Check into your lodge near Volcanoes NP, enjoy a briefing from your guide about the next day’s gorilla trek, and an early dinner. Lodges typically prepare layered clothing advice (it can be cool at altitude).

What to expect: A short but informative city visit, with cultural context and time to rest before an early start on Day 2.

Day 2: Gorilla trekking

Start: Very early breakfast (often 05:30–06:30 depending on permit time). Transfer to the park visitor centre for a mandatory ranger briefing (permit, rules, safety, photography guidelines).

Ranger briefing: Rangers explain how to behave around gorillas (stay quiet, don’t touch, remain at prescribed distance unless gorillas approach).

Trek: Gorilla treks vary from 30 minutes to several hours depending on the family’s location and terrain; average hikes in Volcanoes are usually shorter and less steep than some alternatives-but expect muddy slopes and uphill sections. Rangers and trackers lead and help locate the family.

Gorilla viewing: Once located, groups are allowed one hour with the gorillas – an intense, emotional hour to observe behavior, take photos, and learn from your guide and rangers.

Return & lunch: Walk back to the staging area, transfer to lodge for a hearty lunch and a hot shower.

Optional afternoon: Cultural visit to a nearby village (eg. Iby’Iwacu cultural village) to meet locals, sample traditional dances, and see community conservation projects (often offered as an optional add-on).
Fitness & difficulty: Moderate – good footwear, long trousers, gloves, and a walking stick (optional porters available to carry kit or assist in steep sections).

Conservation note: Fees from gorilla permits are a major conservation and community funding source in Rwanda your visit supports protection and local livelihoods.

Day 3: Transfer to Nyungwe

Morning: After breakfast, check out and depart south toward Nyungwe Forest. Plan 4–5 hours on the road with scenic stops for photos and short birdwatching breaks en route. Roads cross Rwanda’s rolling hills and tea plantations great photography.

Midday: Stop for lunch en route (many tours include a countryside lunch at a recommended restaurant).

Afternoon arrival: Check into accommodation near Nyungwe (options range from basic eco-lodges to comfortable forest lodges). If time allows, take a short nature walk or relax at the lodge. Bookings sometimes include a canopy walk slot if you want to add it the canopy walk offers dramatic forest views (height ~60m depending on the site).

Evening: Dinner and pre-brief for chimp tracking the next morning.

Tip: Carry snacks, water and a light change of clothes for this full transfer day.

Day 4: Chimp tracking & return to Kigali

Early start: Breakfast and transfer to the Nyungwe ranger station for a chimp tracking briefing (times vary but often early to catch peak activity).

Trek: Nyungwe chimpanzee treks can last 1–4 hours depending on where chimps are located. The forest is vast and biodiverse – keep your eyes peeled for other primates (colobus, L’Hoest’s, baboons) and abundant birdlife.

Experience: Once a chimp group is located, visitors usually spend a limited time observing (details explained by rangers). Photography is encouraged but be mindful of flash and loud noises.

Afternoon: Return to your vehicle, depart Nyungwe for Kigali with a lunch stop en route. If you missed the Kigali city tour on Day 1, you may do a brief city stop before heading to the airport. Expect arrival in Kigali late afternoon/early evening depending on tracking times and traffic.

Departure: Transfer to Kigali airport for your flight (timing depends on flight schedule).