- Volcanoes & Kigali City
- 4 Days tour
- USD
5-Day Gorillas & Nyungwe Forest
Primates in the highlands. Primates in the ancient rainforest. Two trekking encounters, one extraordinary Rwanda.
Volcanoes National Park and Nyungwe Forest National Park represent two very different Rwandas. One is high altitude, dramatic, volcanic — home to the mountain gorillas. The other is ancient and lush, a cathedral of trees that has stood for millions of years, sheltering chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, and over 300 species of birds.
This five-day itinerary combines both. You trek with gorillas in the north and chimpanzees in the south, travelling the length of this small, astonishing country in between. It is the best way to understand what Rwanda’s forests hold — and how fiercely this nation works to protect them.
Itinerary
Day 1 Kigali → Musanze
Your Izuba driver-guide meets you in Kigali and heads north through the folded landscape of Rwanda’s interior. On arrival in Musanze, you settle in and attend an evening gorilla trekking briefing. Dinner and overnight near Volcanoes National Park.
Day 2 Gorilla Trekking — Volcanoes National Park
Your day begins at the Kigali Genocide Memorial — a place of quiet power that gives essential context to everything Rwanda has become. From there, you visit Kimironko Market, the creative spaces of Nyamirambo, and the Campaign Against Genocide Museum at the parliamentary grounds. Lunch is taken at a local restaurant — proper Rwandan food, eaten the way locals eat it. In the evening, your guide delivers a briefing on the gorilla trek ahead. Dinner and overnight in Kigali.
Day 2 Gorilla Trekking — Volcanoes National Park
The morning begins at Kinigi headquarters. Rangers assign your group and the trek begins — through bamboo groves, across steep slopes, into clearings. Your one-hour encounter with the gorillas is the defining moment of the journey. Afternoon free to rest or visit the Ellen DeGeneres Campus conservation centre. Dinner and overnight in Musanze.
Day 3 Musanze → Nyungwe Forest
A long, beautiful drive south through Rwanda’s heartland — past tea plantations, through small towns, alongside Lake Kivu’s blue silhouette on the horizon. You arrive at Nyungwe in the late afternoon, check into your lodge, and receive a briefing on tomorrow’s chimpanzee trek. Dinner and overnight in Nyungwe.
Day 4 Chimpanzee Tracking & Canopy Walk — Nyungwe Forest
A morning walk or birdwatching session before your driver takes you back to Kigali. Drop-off at your hotel or the international airport.
Day 5 Nyungwe → Kigali | Departure
Private 4×4 vehicle with professional driver-guide
Fuel and all transportation costs
All national park entrance fees
Bottled drinking water throughout
Complimentary onboard Wi-Fi
Hotel pick-up and drop-off in Kigali
All government taxes and service charges
1 gorilla trekking permit per person
All Kigali city tour entrance fees
International flights
Visa fees
Travel insurance
Meals and beverages (unless stated)
Alcoholic beverages
Tips and gratuities (optional)
Personal expenses and souvenirs
Lunch on Day 1 (budget guide provided)
Duration: 4 Days / 3 Nights
Group Type: Private
Language: English (other languages available on request)
Best Time: Year-round — dry seasons preferred for trekking
Fitness Level: Moderate — some trekking on uneven volcanic terrain
What to Bring: Hiking boots, rain jacket, neutral-coloured clothing for the forest
INCLUSIONS
Both permits — gorilla and chimpanzee — require advance booking. Izuba manages all reservations as part of your package.
Nyungwe Forest is a high-altitude rainforest. Temperatures drop significantly at night. Pack a warm layer even in dry season.