A black-and-white colobus monkey rests among leafy branches in a lush Rwandan forest.

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Complete Rwanda: Gorillas, Chimps and Golden Monkeys

Mountain gorillas, golden monkeys and chimpanzees across Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Parks in seven days.

Enquire about this trip See the day by day

Duration7 Days / 6 Nights

Group size2 – 6 travellers

Best monthsJune – September, December – February

From$4,620 per person sharing

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The Trip in Short

Three primate treks, one country, seven days. This is the primate-focused version of a Rwanda circuit – mountain gorillas and golden monkeys at Volcanoes, then chimpanzees at Nyungwe, with the canopy walkway and colobus tracking filling in around the edges.

It skips Akagera entirely to keep the pace manageable, on the logic that if primates are the priority, the savanna day is the one to cut. Add it back as an extension if the Big Five still matter.

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 at Nyungwe, including Cyamudongo
160m canopy walkway over the rainforest floor
Colobus monkey troop tracking
Focused, primate-only itinerary with no savanna leg

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Where You Go, Stop by Stop

Day 1

Kigali – Musanze

Day 2–3

Gorilla and golden monkey trekking

Day 4–6

Musanze – Nyungwe Forest: chimps, canopy walk

Day 7

Nyungwe – Kigali – departure

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Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1: Kigali to Musanze

The drive to the foot of the Virunga volcanoes takes about two and a half hours, with the afternoon free before an early trekking start.

Day 2: Gorilla trekking

Briefing and family assignment at Kinigi, then the trek itself – anywhere from thirty minutes to several hours – followed by the standard hour with the gorillas.

Day 3: Golden monkey trekking, transfer south

A shorter, flatter morning trek through bamboo forest for golden monkeys, then the drive south toward Nyungwe, roughly five hours, arriving in the late afternoon.

Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking

An early start for chimp trekking, either in the main forest block or at Cyamudongo, the detached forest patch near the DRC border with its own chimp community.

Day 5: Canopy walkway and colobus

A walk across the 160m canopy walkway suspended 70m above the forest, followed by an afternoon tracking one of Nyungwe's large black-and-white colobus troops.

Day 6: Free day or birding add-on

A flexible day – a further forest trail, a specialist birding walk, or simply rest before the return journey.

Day 7: Return to Kigali

The drive back to Kigali for departure.

From

$4,620

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
Canopy walkway entry fee
All accommodation, 6 nights
All meals as noted in the itinerary
Private transport and driver-guide throughout

Not included

International flights
Rwanda entry visa
Akagera National Park (not on this itinerary; available as an extension)
Gratuities for guides, trackers and porters
Travel insurance

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Before You Book

Why isn't Akagera included?

This itinerary is deliberately primate-focused; adding Akagera properly needs at least two more days and a long transfer, which we offer as a standalone extension rather than compress into this trip.

How physically demanding is this trip overall?

The gorilla and chimp treks are the hardest days; the golden monkey trek and canopy walkway are considerably easier and suitable for most fitness levels.

What's the best order – gorillas first or chimps first?

Gorillas first is standard, since permits and family assignments are typically booked earlier and the logistics flow better north to south.

Can this be shortened to six days?

Yes, by dropping the free day at Nyungwe, though it leaves less room for weather delays or a second birding session.

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Where This Trip Goes

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.

Rwanda

Country

The most accessible mountain gorilla trekking in the world, a rainforest canopy walk in Nyungwe and a recovered Big Five park at Akagera, all within a…

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.

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Complete Rwanda: Gorillas, Chimps and Golden Monkeys