3-Day Nyungwe Primates Tour: Chimpanzees and Canopy Walk
You want to see chimpanzees in Rwanda. The 3-Day Nyungwe Primates Tour is the best way to do this. You will spend time in a massive rainforest. You will walk high above the ground on a suspended 
bridge. This trip focuses on direct action. You will not waste time. You will get close to nature. Many people worry about getting forest permits. We handle that hard work for you. You just need to show up ready to walk. Nyungwe Forest is one of the oldest forests in Africa. It covers a huge area of tall trees and deep valleys. The weather is cool and misty. The forest holds many different types of primates. Most people come here to see the chimpanzees. They are loud and very active. Watching them swing through the trees is a great sight. This page gives you every detail you need for this three-day trip.
Safari Highlights
Trek to see chimpanzees in their natural home
Walk across a metal bridge hanging high in the trees
Drive past large green tea farms in the hills
Sleep in a comfortable room near the forest edge
Why Choose Nyungwe Forest Over Volcanoes National Park
You might wonder why you should go here instead of Volcanoes National Park. Volcanoes are famous for gorillas. Nyungwe is famous for chimpanzees. Gorilla permits cost a lot of money. Chimpanzee permits cost much less. This saves you money while still letting you see great animals. Nyungwe also has fewer crowds. You get a quieter trip. You do not have to fight for space on the trails. The forest here is very thick and old. It holds many different types of monkeys and birds. If you want a deep forest environment without spending thousands of dollars, Nyungwe is the right choice.
Chimpanzee Trekking Permit Process
Getting a permit can cause stress. The Rwanda Development Board issues these permits. They manage all national parks in the country. They only give out a small number of permits each day. This keeps the animals safe from too much human contact. It also means permits sell out fast. You do not have to worry about this process. We secure your permit as soon as you book the tour. This guarantees 
your spot on the trail. You will not miss out because of paperwork. Your money also supports local towns. The government gives a portion of the permit fee to the communities around the park. This helps build schools and clinics.
Day 1: Drive From Kigali to Nyungwe Forest
You begin your trip in Kigali. Your driver meets you at your hotel in the morning. You start the drive south. The roads are paved and smooth. The drive takes about six hours total. You see many hills along the way. People call Rwanda the land of a thousand hills. You will easily see why. After two hours, you stop in a town called Nyanza. You visit the King’s Palace. This is a large grass building shaped like a dome. It shows how the old kings used to live. You see large cows with huge horns in the back. Men sing to the cows to keep them calm. It is a quiet and interesting stop. It breaks up the long drive nicely. You then drive to Butare for lunch. You eat hot local food at a nice restaurant. After lunch, the road goes up into the mountains. The air gets much cooler. You start to see the thick green edge of the forest. You arrive at your chosen lodge in the late afternoon
Day 2 Chimpanzee Tracking and Canopy Walk
This is the busiest day of your trip. You will walk through thick plants. You will climb steep trails. You will also walk on a high suspension bridge. You need good hiking boots and a rain jacket today. The forest weather changes quickly. It can rain even when the sky looks clear.
Morning Chimpanzee Tracking
Your day begins at 4:30 AM in the morning. It is still completely dark outside. You eat a quick breakfast at the lodge. You drink hot coffee or tea to stay warm. Your driver takes you to the park office for a morning briefing. The rangers explain the rules of the forest. They tell you how to behave 
near the chimpanzees. They tell you to keep a safe distance. Nyungwe has a large population of chimpanzees. We often track a group in the Cyamudongo forest section. Cyamudongo is a smaller, isolated patch of forest. The chimpanzees cannot travel very far away. This makes them easier to locate. The drive from the main park office to Cyamudongo takes about one hour. The dirt road to this section is very bumpy
Once you reach the starting point, the walk begins. You follow the ranger into the thick woods. The trackers walk ahead to find the animals. They listen for loud pant-hoot calls. They look for fresh footprints and dropped fruit. The walk can take one to three hours. The forest floor is muddy and slippery. You must watch your step. The trackers carry machetes to cut away thorny vines. When the trackers find the group, you spend one hour with them. You watch them eat, play, and clean each other. They move quickly through the tall trees. Taking photos can be hard due to the low light. Keep your camera ready and use a fast shutter speed. After the hour ends, you walk back to the vehicle. You return to your lodge for a hot lunch and a short rest.
Afternoon 70-Meter Canopy Walk
You leave the lodge again at 2:00 PM in the afternoon. We drive to the Uwinka Visitor Centre. This is the starting point for the canopy walk. The walk takes about two hours to complete. You start by 
hiking down the Igishigishigi trail. This trail is 2.1 kilometers long. It leads you directly to the suspended bridge. The canopy bridge is 160 meters long. It is split into three different sections. The highest section hangs 70 meters above the valley floor. The bridge has strong netting on both sides. You cannot fall out. You walk on metal grates. You can see the ground far below your feet. The bridge swings slightly as you walk across it. The wind blows constantly at that height. You must hold onto the side cables. This activity is safe but not recommended for people afraid of heights. From the bridge, you look down on the tops of massive trees. You can see rare birds flying below you. You might spot blue monkeys or red-tailed monkeys in the branches. The view of the deep green valley is very beautiful. After crossing the bridge, you hike back up a steep trail to the visitor center. Your driver takes you back to the lodge for dinner.
Day 3 Forest Nature Walk and Return to Kigal
Your final day in the forest is more relaxed. You can sleep a little longer today. You enjoy a hot breakfast at the lodge. You can drink local Rwandan tea while looking at the morning mist. We have one more activity before driving back to the city
Morning Trail Walk
Nyungwe has many walking trails. We usually choose the Ndambarare waterfall trail or the Colobus monkey trail for this morning. The waterfall trail takes about three hours. It leads you to a large water drop deep in the forest. The trail is rocky. The water drops over a large cliff into a cold pool. You can 
feel the water spray from far away. You will see many bright ferns and orchids along the way. If you choose the Colobus monkey trail, you will look for black-and-white monkeys. These monkeys live in very large groups. Sometimes you can see hundreds of them in a single tree. They have bright white fur around their faces. They have long white tails. The rest of their body is jet black. They eat fresh leaves high in the trees. The ranger will help you identify different bird calls during this walk. This final walk lets you appreciate the quiet parts of the forest
Afternoon Drive Back to Kigali
You return to the lodge by late morning to pack your bags. We check out and begin the drive back to Kigali. The return trip follows the same smooth roads. We stop again in Huye or Muhanga for lunch. You can buy local crafts or coffee during these stops. Your driver will drop you off at your Kigali hotel in the late afternoon. If you have an evening flight, we will drive you straight to Kigali International Airport. We time the drive so you arrive three hours before your flight leaves. This marks the end of your three-day forest trip.
Accommodation Options in Nyungwe
Luxury Lodges
- One and Only Nyungwe House is the best luxury option
- Mantis Kivu Marina Bay is another luxury choice.
Mid-Range Hotels
- Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel offers great value.
- Emeraude Kivu Resort is another good mid-range place.
Budget Lodges
- Gisakura Guest House is the closest budget place to the park.
- Kitabi Eco-Center is another budget choice.
What to Pack for the Nyungwe Primates Tour
Waterproof hiking boots with thick soles to grip the slippery mud.
A lightweight rain jacket or waterproof poncho for sudden rain.
Long trousers and long-sleeved shirts to protect against insect bites and thorny branches.
Thick hiking socks to tuck your trousers into.
A small backpack to carry your daily drinking water and camera.
A camera with a fast lens to capture animals moving in low light.
Insect repellent containing DEET to keep bugs away.
A warm sweater for the cold evening air at the lodge.
Tour Inclusions and Exclusions
Included in the Tour
A chimpanzee tracking permit for one person.
A canopy walk entry ticket for one person.
Transport in a four-wheel-drive safari vehicle.
The services of an English-speaking driver.
Two nights of accommodation at your chosen lodge.
All meals from lunch on day one to lunch on day three.
Bottled drinking water inside the vehicle.
Excluded from the Tour
International flight tickets to Kigali.
Visas are required to enter Rwanda.
Alcoholic drinks and premium beverages at the lodges.
Tips for the rangers, trackers, and your driver.
Personal travel insurance.
