6 Days Rwanda Chimpanzee Tracking and Golden Monkeys

Your Rwanda chimpanzee tracking adventure begins as you touch down at Kigali International Airport, where our representative welcomes you to the "Land of a Thousand Hills" with traditional Rwandan hospitality. This first day of your Rwanda chimpanzee tracking journey allows you to acclimatize to Rwanda's pleasant climate while exchanging currency at the airport's bureau de change before the short 15-minute transfer to your Kigali accommodation. The evening of your Rwanda chimpanzee tracking tour offers time to relax at your hotel, prepare for upcoming adventures, and perhaps enjoy a taste of Rwanda's excellent cuisine before tomorrow's explorations begin.

After breakfast, your Rwanda chimpanzee tracking expedition begins with a moving visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial, providing essential historical context for understanding modern Rwanda. The Rwanda chimpanzee tracking journey continues with a scenic 230 km drive southwest to Nyungwe National Park (approximately 5-6 hours), passing through Huye (formerly Butare) and the breathtaking terraced hillsides known locally as "Imisozi Igihumbi." Your Rwanda chimpanzee tracking adventure is enhanced with an afternoon canopy walk suspended 60 meters above Nyungwe's ancient forest floor, offering spectacular views of the park known to locals as "Ishyamba rya Nyungwe" before settling into your comfortable lodge for the evening.

The highlight of your Rwanda chimpanzee tracking experience begins with a pre-dawn breakfast before a short drive to Uwinka Visitor Centre, where rangers brief you on the unforgettable 2–4-hour trek to find the habituated chimpanzee community. Your Rwanda chimpanzee tracking adventure brings you face-to-face with these remarkable primates, allowing a precious hour observing their natural behaviors and listening to their distinctive calls echoing through the forest locally called "Amashyamba y'Impenetrable." The afternoon of your Rwanda chimpanzee tracking tour includes a visit to the picturesque Gisakura Tea Estate located 5 km from the park entrance, before the 120 km (approximately 3-hour) scenic drive to Lake Kivu's shores at Karongi.

Your Rwanda chimpanzee tracking journey continues with a morning boat cruise on Lake Kivu (known locally as "Ikiyaga cya Kivu"), exploring Napoleon Island and Coffee Island during a leisurely 2-hour excursion on Rwanda's largest lake. The Rwanda chimpanzee tracking tour proceeds with a fascinating "crop to cup" coffee experience at Kopakiki Cooperative near Rubavu, where you'll participate in traditional coffee harvesting and processing methods approximately 45 minutes from Karongi. The afternoon of your Rwanda chimpanzee tracking adventure features a scenic 200 km drive (approximately 4-5 hours) northward to Musanze (formerly Ruhengeri), the gateway to Volcanoes National Park, where you'll check into your lodge nestled at the foot of the magnificent Virunga volcanoes.

This day of your Rwanda chimpanzee tracking expedition begins with an early breakfast before the short 20-minute drive to Kinigi Park Headquarters, where your golden monkey trekking adventure in the bamboo forests of Volcanoes National Park commences at 7:00 AM. While not directly part of your Rwanda chimpanzee tracking experience, this golden monkey encounter complements your primate adventure as you spend a magical hour with these playful, golden-furred creatures in their natural habitat on the slopes of Mount Sabyinyo, known locally as "Igihorihori." The afternoon of your Rwanda chimpanzee tracking tour includes cultural immersion at the Gorilla Guardians Village just 10 minutes from the park headquarters, followed by the 120 km (approximately 2.5-hour) return journey to Kigali for your final night.

The final day of your Rwanda chimpanzee tracking adventure allows for a leisurely morning at your Kigali hotel, perhaps reflecting on the extraordinary primate encounters of the past days. Your Rwanda chimpanzee tracking journey concludes with an opportunity to explore Kigali's craft markets, particularly the Caplaki Crafts Village located just 15 minutes from downtown, where you can purchase authentic Rwandan souvenirs. Before your Rwanda chimpanzee tracking experience ends completely, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant such as the renowned Repub Lounge, followed by a timely transfer to Kigali International Airport for your departure flight, carrying memories of Rwanda's remarkable wildlife and landscapes.