Fred is incredibly knowledgable about Ugandan and Rwandan cultures and traditions so the long drive was also a good opportunity to learn lots of interesting facts about the two countries. The vehicle (Land cruiser 4X4) is super comfortable and well sturdy which makes a big difference on “Africa’s massage roads” ie unpaved, full of holes and with landslides during the rainy season. Overall I’ve had a great experience with Bamboo Ecotours and would certainly recommend them to anyone interested in the gorilla trek.
5-Day Rwanda Gorillas and Nyungwe Forest Chimp Trek
A Full Day of Wildlife Viewing
Visit Nyungwe National Park
Trek the Mountain Gorillas
The 5-day safari offered by Bamboo Ecotours takes you to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda to encounter the mountain gorillas and golden monkeys in their natural habitat. The trip’s second leg involves visiting Nyungwe National Park for the canopy walk and chimpanzee trekking experience.
Tour Highlights
Visit Nyungwe National Park for chimps and canopy walk
Trek golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park
Explore the Lake Kivu Belt and the farming community
Enjoy a boat cruise on Lake Ihema, inside Akagera
Track mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park
Visit Kigali City on our complimentary city tour
Click the Tabs to Find out More
Trip Details
Trip Details
Price
Adults (15-80): $3,622
Please inquire for the budget accommodation price, this is our mid-range accommodation tour
2 persons or more: $3,279 per person
3 persons or more: $3,173 per person
4 persons or more: $2,984 per person
Departure Time
Anytime between 7:00 am to 2:00 pm (Kigali, Rwanda timezone)
Meeting Point
We offer pick-up from the following places for this experience:
- Kigali International Airport (on day 1), Rwanda
- Your guesthouse in downtown Kigali, Rwanda
- Please inquire for information on a custom pick up
Availability
Monday to Sunday, year-round
Duration
5 days
Difficulty Level
Moderate for Virunga National Park & Nyungwe National Park
Group size
1 to 6 persons
Included
- Meals: 4 x breakfast, 4 x dinner, 4 x lunches
- Accommodation for four nights in a mid-range lodge
- Transport in a 4×4 vehicle and fuel
- Admission to Nyungwe National Park
- Gorilla & golden monkey permits
Not Included
- Optional activities (see tab 4)
- Visas and other costs of personal nature
- Porter fees, gratuities, travel insurance, and medical expenses
- Any other costs not listed in the itinerary
What to Bring
- Hiking boots
- Garden gloves
- Rain jacket or poncho
- Long-sleeved shirt/blouse
- Cameras and extra batteries
- Hat/cap and sunglasses
- Pair of binoculars
- Flashlight (torch)
- Mosquito repellent
- Other items to include: zoom lens for wildlife shots and energy bars/bites
Participation Requirements
- Age restriction: 15-80 years old
- A valid passport is required on the day of travel
- This tour is not wheelchair accessible
- We advise against people with heart problems or other serious medical conditions participating on this tour
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
Good to Know
The drive from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park takes between 2-3hrs.
What You’ll Do
We will pick you up at Kigali Airport or downtown Kigali and drive you to Volcanoes National Park. The scenic drive to northern Rwanda will go through Rwanda’s northwestern town of Ruhengeri (also known as Musanze) and finally arrive at Volcanoes National Park. If interested, visit the Kigali Genocide Museum or on a complimentary Kigali city tour before driving to Musanze/Ruhengeri.
Meal plan: Dinner
Today is the main event, our Rwanda gorilla trek! You will embark on a full-day adventure to track the mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park. This national park is home to a large population of mountain gorillas, making it THE destination for tracking. The trek will commence with a short briefing on gorilla trekking rules to ensure the safety of guests and the protection of these animals in their natural habitat. You will then start the trek into the impenetrable forest to encounter the gentle giants of Volcanoes National Park. This is a true adventure and part of the excitement is finding the gorillas. Follow the guides as they make paths through the thick vegetation until the special moment that you encounter these majestic creatures. It is a truly unique experience and will surely be one of the standout moments of your trip. After the gorilla trek, head back downhill and return to the lodge to relax, eat dinner, and to enjoy well-earned night’s rest.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Golden monkey trekking: Trek the Golden Monkeys in Volcanoes National Park.
This trip will take you to trek the golden monkeys, an endemic species of Volcanoes National Park in northern Rwanda. You will enter the forest and walk through the bamboo vegetation and various indigenous plants like giant lobelia. Your national park guide will tell you about the national park’s history and the fauna and flora that the park holds during the trip. The golden monkey trek should take about 5 hours.
Drive back to Lake Kivu (Kibuy area) immediately after the golden monkey trek.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner.
On this day, we shall drive from the Lake Kivu area of Kibuye/Karongi and transfer to Nyungwe National Park. The drive to Nyungwe National Park will take about 3hrs. Check-In at the Uwinka Visitor Centre for the afternoon canopy walk. After the canopy walk, we drive to the lodge for check-in, dinner, and overnight.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
We shall start the day with a chimp trek at Nyungwe National Park and return to Kigali. The drive from Nyungwe National Park to Kigali will take about 5-6hrs.
Meal plan: Breakfast & lunch.
Lodges & Accommodation
- Amarembo Gorilla Lodge (opens in a new tab)at Volcanoes National Park (x2 nights)
- Cormoran Lodge(opens in a new tab) at Lake Kivu (x1 night)
- Mantis Kivu Marina Bay(opens in a new tab) at Nyungwe National Park (x1 night)
Optional Activities
- Kigali City Tour
- Kigali Genocide Museum
See What Our Previous Guests Have Said...
The first trip was to Bwindi to see the mountain gorillas. Jackson was the driver for this and he was fantastic. He was extremely knowledgeable about the area and was a joy to talk to during the journey and I highly recommend him. Edison and Bamboo Ecotours took care of the gorilla permit and everything was completely ready upon my arrival to Bwindi.
The trip organised by Bamboo Ecotours was seamless, from the correspondence with Edison before our trip to our lovely driver, Fred, during the visit. Fred was always friendly, punctual and ready to help us with any request. The gorillas themselves are magnificent and we were extremely happy with the accommodation options Edison suggested. It was an all-round unforgettable weekend!
