This 3 days Rwanda chimpanzee trekking and canopy walk safari will reward you with the best chimpanzee tracking  and nature walk experiences in Nyungwe forest national park. Nyungwe forest national park is the only park with chimpanzees in Rwanda located on the south-western side of the country. Nyungwe forest is the largest montane forest in entire East Africa and central Africa. The park is home to 13 primates the famous being chimpanzees, over 300 birds, different bird species, and butterflies.

3 Days Rwanda Chimpanzee Trekking And Canopy Walk Safari highlights

Day 1: Transfer to Nyungwe forest national park via Ethnographic Museum

Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and canopy walk

Day 3: Transfer back to Kigali from Nyungwe forest national park

Detailed itinerary 

Day 1: Transfer to Nyungwe forest national park via Ethnographic Museum

After a short briefing about your safari with our guide, our driver-guide will drive you from Kigali to Nyungwe forest national park after your breakfast. The journey from Kigali city to Nyungwe forest national park is about 5 – 6 hours. On your way to Nyungwe, you will have a stopover at the ethnographic museum located in Huye. The ethnographic museum is Rwanda’s national museum that showcases the cultural and historical aspects of Rwanda through the ages. It has guides to take you through Rwanda history and culture. We shall have lunch after visiting ethnographic museum before proceeding our journey to Nyungwe forest national park. The road to Nyungwe forest national park gives you stunning views of the rolling hills. You will then check-in at your lodge not very far from Nyungwe forest national park for relaxation and dinner as you prepare for chimpanzee trekking the following day.

Meal plan: Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Nyungwe forest lodge – luxury, Nyungwe top view hill– midrange, Gisakura guest house – budget

Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and canopy walk

After early morning breakfast, our driver-guide will be ready to pick you and transfer you to the park headquarters (Uwinka) for briefing. During the briefing, you will be told about the dos and don’ts during chimpanzee trekking after which you will be grouped into 8 and led by the guide to the forest in search of chimpanzees. Locating chimpanzees depends on their location and after finding them, you will be given an hour to stay with them as you learn about their behaviors, watch the young ones swing on trees, watch them go about their daily activities as you take photos using cameras that have no flash and record moments. Nyungwe forest is not only a home of chimpanzees but also other 12 primates among which include colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, red-tailed monkeys as well as over 300 different bird species and butterflies. After chimpanzee trekking, you will return to your lodge for relaxation and lunch before going for canopy water in the afternoon. The canopy walk offers you clear views of Nyungwe forest, Virunga volcanoes, different primates, birds, and butterflies. After the canopy walk, you will return to your lodge for relaxation, dinner, and an overnight stay.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Nyungwe forest lodge – luxury, Nyungwe top view hill – midrange, Gisakura guest house – budget

Day 3: Transfer back to Kigali from Nyungwe forest national park

After your morning breakfast, our driver-guide will be ready to transfer you back from Kigali from your amazing 3 days Rwanda chimpanzee trekking and canopy walk. There is an option of doing colobus monkey trekking before leaving the park. But if you need this you should let us know early so that we book for this activity. When you reach Kigali city you can visit some of Rwanda museums such as the Kigali

genocide memorial and some historical sites after which you shall go and have lunch. After lunch, the driver guide will drop you off at your hotel/residence or Kigali international airport.

Meal plan: Breakfast and Lunch

Price for 3 Days Chimpanzee Trekking And Canopy Walk Safari Rwanda includes 

Primate watching tickets

Entrance fees

Transport

Service of the English-speaking guide

Accommodation and meals

All mentioned activities apart from optional cases

Drinking water

Price for 3 Days Chimpanzee Trekking And Canopy Walk Safari Rwanda excludes

Tips

Porters fees

Laundry services

International flights

Visa

Insurance

Personal expenses

Other Activities in Nyungwe Forest National Park.

Nyungwe forests National Park is one of the parks in Rwanda with adventure activities which any visitor who visited Nyungwe forests will never forget in entire lifetime and these are some of the activities you should not miss out on your safari to Nyungwe forests as explained below;

Bird watching

Nyungwe forest national park is also the best park in Rwanda for bird watching.  The common bird species that can be seen by bird lovers on birding safari in Rwanda include Ruwenzori Apalis, Rwenzori Turacos,  Caprimulgus Ruwenzori, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Ruwenzori Batis, Purple-breasted and Blue-headed, Dusky Crimson Wing, Grauer’s Rush Warbler, Francolinus nobilis, Ruwenzori Nightjar, Apalis argentea,  Handsome Francolin, Kungwe Apalis, Regal Sunbird, Kupeornis rufocinctus, Red-collared Babbler, Cryptospiza shelleyi, Hemitesia neumanni,  and many more. Bird watching within the Nyungwe forest national park can be arranged as a short nature walk in the evening and Morning of a full day.

Butterfly watching

Nyungwe Forest National Park is a natural habitat of about 120 butterflies and these are the most common charismatic invertebrate species in Nyungwe forests, of which 21 species are Albertine Rift endemic and 40 species are endemic to Nyungwe forests. On a sunny day, the forest is full of bright colors.

Colobus monkey trekking

Colobus monkey trekking is one of the most amazing experiences within Nyungwe forest national park. Once you meet these black and white ornaments during the trek, you will be amazed at how large the group is.  Colobus monkeys in Nyungwe forest national park are usually found in a group of about 350-400 individuals including the largest group of the Angolan Colobus Monkeys in Africa.

Bicycle riding

You will ride through a few hills with guides guided you through the dirt tracks so that you can have an amazing experience. You will spot a lot of primates and chimpanzees as you are amid a breathtaking forest. It is home to wildlife. You will have fun since you can be able to combine chimpanzee tours alongside bicycle riding. You will see chimpanzees moving around in the flora, clanging, and hooting. Chimpanzee trekking is just 90USD per person each day. It always begins at around 5. 00 am.

Nature walks

In Nyungwe forest national park there are 15 hiking trails which visitors can explore during nature walks in the park, and all hiking tours start from Uwinka the park headquarter. These are some of the common hiked trails in Nyungwe forests the Igishigishigi, imbaraga, kamiranzovu, Isumo waterfall, Umugote and Irebero. During hiking trails, you will get an opportunity to see almost all the park’s activities such as the famous chimpanzee and other 12 primate species, countless bird species. You can also visit tea plantations and get to know how African tea is grown and processed.

After visiting Nyungwe forests, You can also visit Rwanda for gorilla trekking which is found in Volcanoes national park, and explore more about these shy primates or visit Akagera national park for wildlife safari and get an opportunity to see various wildlife animals in the park these include the buffaloes, elephants, lions, rhinos, golden cats, and many more or take a boat ride along Lake Ihema where you will see aquatic hippos and a lot of bird species.

What to pack for chimpanzee trekking and canopy walk park Rwanda

Rain jacket

Long-sleeved light clothes

Camera

Waterproof boots

Torch

Insect repellents

Sun hat and glasses

sunscreen