Two chimpanzees relax together on a thick tree branch in dense forest canopy.

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Gorillas, Chimps and the Big Five: The Grand Rwanda Safari

A full loop of Volcanoes, Nyungwe and Akagera – gorillas, chimps, golden monkeys and the Big Five in nine days.

Enquire about this trip See the day by day

Duration9 Days / 8 Nights

Group size2 – 6 travellers

Best monthsJune – September, December – February

From$5,480 per person sharing

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The Trip in Short

If you’re only doing Rwanda once, this is the version that doesn’t leave anything out. Nine days runs a full loop of the country’s three flagship parks: Volcanoes for gorillas and golden monkeys, Nyungwe for chimps and the canopy walkway, and Akagera for the Big Five and a boat safari.

The pace is realistic rather than frantic – two nights minimum at each stop, with the driving distributed so no single day is dominated by the road. It’s the trip to recommend when someone says they want to “see Rwanda properly.”

Park fees and gorilla permits in Rwanda are set by the Rwanda Development Board.

Highlights

Mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Golden monkey tracking in bamboo forest
Chimpanzee trekking and the canopy walkway in Nyungwe
Game drives and a boat safari in Akagera National Park
Overnight stops chosen for proximity, not convenience
A realistic two-nights-minimum pace at each park

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Where You Go, Stop by Stop

Day 1–2

Kigali – Musanze (Volcanoes NP)

Day 3–4

Musanze – Nyungwe Forest

Day 5–6

Nyungwe – Akagera National Park

Day 7–8

Akagera National Park

Day 9

Akagera – Kigali – departure

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Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1: Kigali to Musanze

The drive north to the foot of the Virunga volcanoes takes about two and a half hours. Afternoon free to settle in before an early start the next day.

Day 2: Gorillas and golden monkeys

Morning gorilla trek in Volcanoes National Park, then an afternoon golden monkey trek through the park's bamboo zone – shorter and flatter, with the monkeys typically easier to keep in view.

Day 3–4: South to Nyungwe

A long but scenic drive southwest, roughly six hours, arriving at Nyungwe Forest for two nights. Activities cover chimpanzee trekking, the 160m canopy walkway suspended 70m above the forest floor, and a morning working through Albertine Rift endemic birds.

Day 5–6: East to Akagera

A cross-country transfer, six to seven hours, to Rwanda's eastern savanna. On arrival, settle in for two nights covering full-day game drives and a boat safari on Lake Ihema, tracking lion, elephant, giraffe and the reintroduced black rhino.

Day 7–8: Akagera in full

A second day dedicated to different sections of the park – the wetlands in the north, drier plains further south – with an optional night drive for nocturnal species.

Day 9: Return to Kigali

A final morning drive if time allows, then the return to Kigali for departure.

From

$5,480

Enquire about this trip

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What the Price Covers

Included

Rwanda gorilla trekking permit ($1,500)
Golden monkey and chimpanzee trekking permits
Akagera National Park entry and boat safari
All accommodation, 8 nights
All meals as noted in the itinerary
Private 4x4 transport and driver-guide throughout

Not included

International flights
Rwanda entry visa
Gratuities for guide, trackers and porters
Alcoholic drinks
Optional night game drive in Akagera
Travel insurance

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Before You Book

Is nine days enough to see all three parks properly?

Yes – this is the itinerary length we'd actually recommend for Rwanda's three headline parks, rather than a compressed version that treats each as a box to tick.

How much driving is involved?

Two significant transfer days, roughly six hours each, connecting the three park regions. Both routes are scenic and broken up with stops.

Can this be done in reverse?

Yes, starting with Akagera and finishing with the gorillas works equally well and is sometimes preferred for flight timing.

What fitness level is required?

Moderate. The gorilla and chimp treks are the most demanding days; the Akagera and canopy walkway days are considerably easier.

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Where This Trip Goes

Nyungwe Forest National Park

Rwanda · National Park

One of Africa's oldest rainforests, holding around 500 chimpanzees, thirteen primate species and a 60-metre canopy walkway above the forest floor.

Volcanoes National Park

Rwanda · National Park

Africa's first national park, protecting mountain gorillas since 1925, and the most accessible gorilla trekking destination anywhere thanks to its proximity to Kigali.

Lake Kivu

Rwanda · Lake

Rwanda's largest lake, forming the border with DRC, used mainly for boat trips, swimming and a break between the country's more demanding trekking destinations.

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Gorillas, Chimps and the Big Five: The Grand Rwanda Safari