Chimps, Colobus Monkeys and Canopy Views in Nyungwe
This 3-day private tour is all about Nyungwe National Park, the mountain rainforest of southwest Rwanda. You’ll drive down from Kigali on Day 1, with an optional stop at the Ethnographic Museum in Huye, and spend two nights near the forest.
Day 2 starts at 5:00 AM with a guided chimpanzee trek, followed in the afternoon by the canopy walkway, a suspended bridge high above the trees. On the last morning, you’ll trek black-and-white colobus monkeys and ride the zipline before returning to Kigali. Our 6-day primates and wildlife safari also includes the chimp trek and canopy walk; this tour adds colobus monkeys and the zipline and leaves out the gorilla permit, so it costs far less.
Why You’ll Love This Safari
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Trip Details
Trip Details
Price
Price on request. Tell us your dates and group size, and we’ll send you a quote.
Meeting point
Kigali
Availability
Year-round, 7 days a week
Duration
3 days
Group size
Min. 1 person
Included
- Park fees (for non-residents)
- All activities (unless labeled as optional)
- All accommodations (unless listed as upgrade)
- A professional driver/guide
- Private safari vehicle: a 4×4 Land Cruiser, Toyota Prado or safari van, depending on group size
- All transportation (unless labeled as optional)
- All taxes/VAT
- Roundtrip airport transfer
- Meals (as specified in the day-by-day section)
- Drinks (as specified in the day-by-day section)
- Chimpanzee trekking permits (one per person, non-resident)
Not included
- International flights (from/to home)
- Additional accommodations before and at the end of the tour
- Tips
- Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
- Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
- Porter fees
What to bring
- Waterproof jacket
- Warm jacket (early mornings in the forest can be cold)
- Neutral-colored clothing (avoid bright colors)
- Long-sleeved shirt
- Long pants
- Good hiking shoes
- Gaiters (for mud and nettles)
- Hat
- Gloves
- Light backpack
- Insect repellent
- Binoculars
- Snacks
- Light face mask
Participation requirements
Min. age of 15 years old required to participate in this tour. A reasonable level of fitness is recommended for the chimpanzee trek.
About your guide
Your safari will be led by an experienced local guide who will share facts about the wildlife, landscapes, and culture. Your guide is dedicated to ensuring your safari is safe, informative, and tailored to your interests.
What You’ll See & Do
Day 1: Kigali to Nyungwe National Park
Your driver/guide will pick you up in Kigali early in the morning for the drive southwest to Nyungwe National Park. The road winds through Rwanda’s countryside, past rolling hills, farms and small towns, with the vegetation changing as you climb toward the forest.
On the way, you can stop at the Ethnographic Museum in Huye (formerly Butare). The visit is optional, and worth it if you’d like to learn about Rwandan crafts, customs and history before the forest days. From Huye, you’ll continue to Nyungwe and check in for two nights, with dinner and an early night ahead of tomorrow’s 5:00 AM start.
Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Nyungwe area
Day 2: Chimpanzee Trek and Canopy Walkway
You’ll be up at 5:00 AM to reach park headquarters for the briefing before a guided chimpanzee trek. Chimps roam widely and move fast, so your guides follow the community through the rainforest, and when you catch up, you’ll watch them feed, call and climb in the trees. Sightings can’t be guaranteed, but the early start gives you the best chance.
After lunch back at the lodge, you’ll walk the canopy walkway, a suspended bridge high above the forest floor, with wide views over the treetops and valleys. Watch for colorful birds and monkeys in the branches around you.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: Nyungwe area
Day 3: Colobus Monkey Trek, Zipline and Return to Kigali
Your last morning starts with a guided trek to find black-and-white colobus monkeys, which travel in large troops through the bamboo and rainforest and stand out clearly against the green canopy. Then it’s time for the zipline, a fast ride high above the forest with views across Nyungwe’s ridges and valleys.
After lunch at the lodge, you’ll set off on the drive back to Kigali, retracing the route through the hills. You’ll reach the city later in the day for drop-off at your hotel or Kigali International Airport.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Frequently Asked Questions
It suits travelers who want primates and rainforest without the cost of a gorilla permit, keen walkers and birders, and anyone adding a few days to a gorilla trek in the north of Rwanda. The pace is full but not rushed: one main trek each day, with the canopy walk and zipline as lighter extras. Everyone on the treks must be at least 15 years old.
Expect a moderate to challenging walk on steep, often muddy and slippery forest trails. The length depends on how far the chimps have moved since the night before, so it can be fairly short or take several hours. A reasonable level of fitness helps. The colobus monkey trek on Day 3 is usually shorter and easier. Porter fees are not included.
Chimps live wild in Nyungwe and cover a lot of ground in a day, so sightings can’t be guaranteed. Trackers set out early to find the community, which is why the trek starts at 5:00 AM, and that gives you a good chance. Even on a quiet day, the forest has other monkeys and plenty of birdlife to look for.
We quote the price for your dates and group size. It includes one chimpanzee trekking permit per person, park fees for non-residents, the colobus monkey trek, canopy walkway and zipline, two nights’ accommodation, the meals listed in the itinerary, your driver/guide, transport and airport transfers. The Huye museum stop is optional. Flights, tips and porter fees are not included.
Book as early as you can, especially for July and August, the busiest travel months. A 50% deposit confirms your booking. Because this is a private tour, you can continue north to Volcanoes National Park for a gorilla trek, or add Lake Kivu or Akagera. Our 7-day Rwanda Wildlife & Primates Safari Adventure already combines chimps, gorillas and Akagera.
Our gorilla trekking permit guide explains how permits work and how far ahead to book them.
