3 daysShared groupMid-rangePermits included

3-Day Nyungwe Chimps & Canopy

4.8(54 reviews)·Kigali → Nyungwe·Offered by Kivu & Forest Journeys

Africa's oldest montane rainforest, done properly: dawn chimpanzee tracking in the Cyamudongo forest, an afternoon on the canopy walkway sixty metres above the forest floor, and the drive home through some of the most beautiful tea country on the continent — with a stop at the Nyanza King's Palace for a dose of pre-colonial history on the way down.

Nyungwe is a different Rwanda from the volcanoes: older, wetter, denser, home to thirteen primate species and over 300 birds. This shared-group departure keeps it affordable; the walking is moderate but real, and the forest rewards early risers.

Dawn chimpanzee tracking, permit included
The canopy walkway — 60 metres above the forest floor
Nyanza King's Palace and its long-horned royal cattle
Tea estate walk through Gisakura's emerald hillsides

Duration3 days

Tour styleShared group

ComfortMid-range · Lodge

Park permitsIncluded ($250 pp)

Minimum age12 years (RDB rule)

Solo travelersWelcome

CustomizableFixed itinerary

RouteKigali → Nyungwe

Day by day

1
Day 1Nyungwe National Park
South through the King's Palace to Nyungwe
The southbound road is half the pleasure: through Muhanga and Nyanza, where you stop at the reconstructed King's Palace and meet the inyambo — sacred long-horned cattle serenaded by their keepers. Lunch in Huye near the National Ethnographic Museum, then the winding climb into the rainforest as the tea plantations close in around the road.
Nyungwe Top View Hill HotelHilltop rooms above the tea estatesLunch & dinner included
2
Day 2Nyungwe National Park
Chimpanzee tracking & the canopy walkway
A 4:30am start — chimps are found by sound, and the forest is loudest at dawn. Tracking in Cyamudongo can be steep and muddy, and then suddenly the canopy above you erupts: a community of chimpanzees feeding, screaming, tumbling through the fig trees. After a late brunch you walk the Igishigishigi trail to the canopy walkway, a suspension bridge strung above the treetops with the forest rolling to the horizon.
Nyungwe Top View Hill HotelSecond nightAll meals included
3
Day 3Nyungwe National Park
Tea country & return to Kigali
A gentle morning walk through the Gisakura tea estate — pickers working the rows, colobus monkeys in the forest fringe — before the long, lovely drive back to Kigali, arriving early evening.
No overnight — tour ends or day tripBreakfast & lunch included

Rates per person

Group size	Price per person (USD)
Solo	$1,465
2 people	$1,150
3 people	$1,115
4 people	$1,085
5 people	$1,070
6+ people	$1,040

US$250 of the pp price is the fixed RDB chimpanzee permit — group-size savings apply to the rest.
This is a shared-group departure with a maximum of six travellers.
Rates are per person in USD and vary with group size — everyone in the vehicle shares the guide and transport costs.
A 50% deposit confirms your booking; the balance is due 30 days before the trip starts.
Cancellation follows the operator's platform-standard policy shown at checkout.

What's included

Included

Chimpanzee tracking permit (US$250 per person)
Canopy walkway entrance
Nyanza King's Palace entrance
Gisakura tea estate walk
Private 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
Professional English-speaking driver-guide
Airport pick-up and drop-off
Accommodation as listed in the itinerary
Meals as listed in the itinerary
Bottled water throughout the trip
All taxes and VAT

Excluded

Porter for the chimp trek (US$10, recommended)
International flights
Rwanda visa (US$50 on arrival for most nationalities)
Travel insurance
Tips and gratuities (guide, trackers, porters)
Drinks and meals not listed in the itinerary
Personal items and souvenirs

Getting there

Fly into Kigali International Airport (KGL) — it is served by direct flights from Brussels, Amsterdam, Doha, Dubai, Istanbul, Nairobi and Addis Ababa.
This tour starts and ends in Kigali. Airport pick-up and drop-off are included — your guide meets you in arrivals.
Most nationalities receive a Rwanda visa on arrival (US$50). The East African Tourist Visa also covers Rwanda if you are combining countries.
Arriving early or leaving late? Extra nights in Kigali before or after the tour can be arranged with your quote.

Traveler reviews

4.8

Based on 54 traveler reviews

Reviews are verified — only travelers who completed this tour can leave one.

“Louder and wilder than the gorillas”

We did gorillas the week before and expected this to be the undercard. Wrong — chimps are chaos in the best way, and the canopy walk at eye level with hornbills is worth the trip alone. Steep muddy trails; bring gaiters.

Sarah J. · United States · Traveled July 2025

“The drive is part of the tour”

Tea fields, the King's Palace cattle with their absurd beautiful horns, then a genuine ancient rainforest. Our shared group of five got on famously. The 4:30am start hurts and is completely worth it.

Luca B. · Italy · Traveled September 2025

Showing recent reviews. The full review history arrives with verified post-trip reviews (Milestone 4).