2 Days Nyungwe Chimpanzee Trekking and Canopy Walk from Kigali is the most relaxed way to experience Nyungwe without the 3AM start needed for the 1-day option. You drive at a comfortable pace on Day 1, do the afternoon canopy walk at Uwinka, overnight near Gisakura, and start your chimpanzee trek fresh at 5:30 AM on Day 2 when chimps are most active.
Your safari takes place in Nyungwe Forest National Park, a 1,019 km² montane rainforest in southwest Rwanda and one of Africa's oldest forests. The park is home to about 500 chimpanzees, 13 primate species including Angola colobus, and over 310 bird species. Treks start at Cyamudongo or Uwinka with park rangers in groups of 8. Sighting success is 70-80% and you spend one hour with the troop once found. Learn more about permits and trails on our main Nyungwe National Park guide.
Day 1 includes the iconic Nyungwe Canopy Walk – $60 per person – a 90-meter suspension bridge 50 meters above the forest floor. It is East Africa's only forest canopy walk. Day 2 includes chimpanzee trekking – permit $250 for foreign non-residents, $25 for Rwandans/EAC, minimum age 15.
2026 Private Cost with permits included: Private 4x4 Land Cruiser, driver-guide, 1 night accommodation, all fees, water and breakfast. From $480 per person for 2 guests sharing in mid-range (Emeraude Kivu Resort), $620 solo, $420 pp for 3, $390 pp for 4+. Budget option from $420 pp for 2. Check chimp permit on WhatsApp +256771026496 – same-day hold.
2 Days in Nyungwe – Chimpanzees by Morning, Canopy by Afternoon
No 3AM start. Drive comfortably, walk above the forest, sleep near the chimps.
06:00 – Pickup in Kigali, scenic drive to Nyungwe
We collect you from your hotel or Kigali airport. You leave early, but not in the middle of the night. The road to Nyungwe Forest National Park passes Nyanza King's Palace and Huye (Butare), where we stop for coffee and lunch. After Huye, tea plantations roll in – a sign you are close to the forest. You arrive in Gisakura around 1PM.
14:00 – 16:00 – Nyungwe Canopy Walk, Uwinka
This is why we do canopy on Day 1 – afternoon light is perfect. Your ranger meets you at Uwinka Visitor Centre. The walk to the start is 30 minutes through beautiful forest with orchids and monkeys. Then the bridge – 90 meters long, 50 meters high, suspended above the canopy. It sways gently. Below you is untouched rainforest, above you are Rwenzori turacos and hornbills. It is 2 hours in total, easy fitness, unforgettable photos. Fee is $60 per person and must be pre-booked – we handle it.
• Gisakura Guest House – simple, clean, closest to Cyamudongo – $70
• Emeraude Kivu Resort – lake view, hot shower, most guests choose this – $130
• One&Only Nyungwe House – luxury in tea plantation – $800+
Dinner $15-25, breakfast included. Nights are cool, 10-14°C – lodge provides blanket.
05:00 – Early coffee, 05:30 – Briefing at park headquarters
Short drive to Uwinka or Cyamudongo. Rangers check your permit and passport. Briefing on chimpanzee behavior – how to act, how close you can go (8 meters), what to do if chimps approach you. Groups are limited to 8. Trackers have already gone ahead and are in radio contact. We always request Cyamudongo first – smaller forest, more open, higher chance.
06:00 – 11:00 – Into the forest to find chimpanzees
This is real tracking. The forest is dense, steep in places, often muddy. You walk following calls, broken branches and fresh dung. When you find them, you stop – one hour starts now. You will hear them before you see them – pant-hoots echoing. Watch a troop feeding in figs, grooming each other, juveniles playing and mothers carrying infants on their backs. Your guide explains their social life. No flash, keep voices low. After one hour, you walk out slowly – keep eyes open for black-and-white colobus monkeys and L’Hoest’s monkeys.
11:30 – 18:30 – Drive back to Kigali
Quick shower and check-out, then drive back via Huye for lunch. You reach Kigali by 6:00 – 6:30 PM. We drop you at your hotel or at Kigali airport for your evening flight. If you want to continue to Lake Kivu or Volcanoes, we can drop you in Kibuye or Gisenyi instead – no extra cost.
Minimum age 15 for chimps. Hiking boots mandatory – we can rent. Porter $10 to carry bag. Bring rain jacket, long trousers, garden gloves. Sighting 70-80% – not guaranteed like gorillas, but much wilder experience. Full details on our Nyungwe National Park page.
Private Tour Price 2026 – Permits Included
Includes: Private Land Cruiser 4x4 + driver-guide, 1 night bed & breakfast, chimp permit $250, canopy $60, all park fees, bottled water, packed breakfast on Day 2. Excludes: Dinner/Lunch $15, porter $10, travel insurance.
Check Permit Availability – WhatsApp +256771026496
