Experience the extensive diversity of Rwanda’s southern Province and Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on this 5 days Congo Lowland Gorillas and Nyungwe Chimpanzee Tracking. Undertaking the road trip from Kigali City to Nyungwe Forest National Park in south-western Rwanda for chimpanzee trekking and then to Kahuzi-Biega National Park to trek the Eastern Lowland Gorillas (largest Great Apes) before ending the adventure in the same City of Kigali.

Besides hopes of enjoying a typical African jungle experience, you will come across wide array of wildlife and bird species that will leave you open-mouthed. Nyungwe Forest National Park is home to 12 primate species that include the chimpanzees, L’Hoests monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, Angolan colobus monkeys, Olive baboons, blue monkeys in addition to other animals such as forest elephants, bushbucks as well as over 322 bird species.

Congo’s Kahuzi-Biega National Park is one of the few outstanding places sheltering Eastern lowland gorillas in addition to Congo peafowl, elephants, Bongo antelope, buffaloes, Civets and bush squirrels among others.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Kigali City to Nyungwe Forest National Park-south-western Rwanda

This 5 days Congo Lowland Gorillas and Nyungwe Chimpanzee Trekking Tour begins at Kigali International Airport or Hotel in the City of Kigali where you will be picked by a 4WD Vehicle. This road trip is about 5-6 hours and takes you through some of the most beautiful sceneries you have ever imagined in the World of adventure. Pass through Nyanza Town (in the southern Province) where you will make a number of stops (King’s Palace Museum and Ethnographic Museum), then arrive Nyungwe in the afternoon for late Lunch.

Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and the Canopy walk-Nyungwe Forest National Park

Located in the south-western part of Rwanda, Nyungwe Forest National Park is undeniably a wonderland of dense tropical rainforest, wetlands, bamboo, bogs and savannah. Given these diverse ecosystems, the Park shelters over 75 species of mammals, about 322 bird species and about 200 butterfly species. Spend the entire day exploring the beauty of this Park in two activities-chimpanzee trekking and canopy walk.

The first activity of the day is chimpanzee trekking that starts with breakfast at the Lodge then transfer to the Visitor Center for briefing. Start the actual trek by 8:00am by first walking along the verdant tea plantations at the edge of the forest then follow the track through bogs, savannah, dense forest and swamps. Make occasional stops to check out primates, take photographs of unique bird species and other attractions encountered along the way. The chimpanzees will later be seen and one hour is the maximum time to spend in their presence.

Enjoy your picnic lunch and continue for the canopy walk where more of the Park’s wildlife-primates, birds, butterflies and unique tree species are seen from tree tops. Settle for a hot meal at the Lodge and later overnight.

Day 3: Nyungwe Forest National Park to Bukavu Town, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

Enjoy breakfast and pack your bags for a transfer to Bukavu Town, in the Eastern part of Democratic Republic of Congo where you will settle in for meals and slumber.

Day 4: Trekking Congo Lowland Gorillas in Kahuzi-Biega National Park

Spend half a day in Kahuzi-Biega National Park trekking the Eastern Lowland Gorillas (largest Great Apes), that starts with briefing at the Park Headquarters. Start the search for any of the Gorilla groups by 8:00am and this goes on for 1-3 hours before the gorilla nests (used the previous night) are seen. It will take another one hour to finally find the gorillas and spend one hour once contacts are finally made. The highlight of this activity is watching infants playfully trying to get the attention of silverbacks. Returning to the Hotel in Bukavu Town, settle for a hot meal and rest for the remainder of the evening.

Day 5: Kahuzi-Biega National Park to Kigali via Cyamudongo

After an early rising, have breakfast and travel via Cyamudongo for some of the unique primate and bird species along the way. Enjoy Lunch in Nyanza Town before continuing for a Tour of Kigali City, a fantastic end to a remarkable 5 days Congo Lowland Gorillas and Nyungwe Chimpanzee Trekking Tour.