Home / Safari Packages / Rwanda Chimpanzee and Canopy Walk Safari, Nyungwe Forest Updated August 28, 2026
Rwanda Chimpanzee and Canopy Walk Safari, Nyungwe Forest

Nyungwe Forest National Park

Rwanda Chimpanzee and Canopy Walk Safari, Nyungwe Forest

4 DaysDuration
ModerateTrekking Difficulty
2–8Group Size
$2,450From, Per Person

A dedicated Nyungwe Forest trip for travellers prioritising chimpanzee tracking and the canopy walkway over the considerably more expensive gorilla permit, or as a genuine standalone add-on for anyone who has already trekked gorillas on a separate trip.

Detailed Itinerary

DAY 1

Arrive Kigali, Transfer to Nyungwe Forest

Your driver-guide meets you at Kigali International Airport for the drive south — the longest transfer on this itinerary, roughly five to six hours, through Rwanda’s terraced hill country and past Huye, the country’s old colonial university town, before climbing into Nyungwe’s cooler, wetter montane rainforest. Arrival by early evening.
Accommodation Options
BudgetGisakura Guest House
Mid-rangeNyungwe Top View Hill Hotel
LuxuryNyungwe Forest Lodge
Meals: Dinner
DAY 2

Chimpanzee Tracking

An early wake-up, around 4:30–5am, for the drive to the trailhead and briefing before setting off after a habituated chimpanzee community — considerably more demanding than gorilla trekking given Nyungwe’s steep elevation changes, though your guide paces the walk to the group. Sightings remain reliable even with the terrain, and the reward is genuinely different from Bwindi or Kibale: this is one of the oldest rainforests in Africa, with a canopy and understorey that feel noticeably wilder.
Accommodation

As above

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 3

Canopy Walk and Forest Trails

Africa’s highest canopy walkway, a suspended steel bridge roughly 70 metres above the forest floor strung between three viewing platforms, with views out across the canopy to the Albertine Rift beyond. The afternoon shifts to a gentler guided nature walk on one of Nyungwe’s established forest trails, good for birding and orchids without the previous day’s exertion.
Accommodation

As above

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 4

Return to Kigali, Departure

The drive back north to Kigali, timed against your onward international flight, with a lunch stop en route.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Permits & Costs

Chimpanzee tracking permit ~$100 per person
Canopy walkway Included in tour price

Who This Itinerary Suits

Travellers wanting a genuine rainforest experience without a gorilla permit’s cost, or as a standalone add-on for anyone who has already trekked gorillas separately.

Tour Includes

  • Travel in a 4×4 safari vehicle
  • Professional English-speaking driver-guide
  • Chimpanzee tracking permit
  • All accommodation per itinerary
  • Meals as specified
  • Canopy walkway fee

Tour Excludes

  • International flights
  • Visas
  • Alcoholic drinks
  • Tips & gratuities
  • Travel insurance

Nyungwe’s Distinct Character

Nyungwe Forest’s higher elevation and montane terrain make chimpanzee tracking here noticeably more demanding than Kibale’s in Uganda, though the reward includes broader primate diversity and Africa’s highest canopy walkway — a genuinely different vantage on rainforest ecology than any ground-level trail offers.

What to Pack

Sturdy hiking boots, long trousers and sleeves, a rain jacket, and comfort with heights for the canopy walkway specifically.
Is the canopy walk safe?Yes — it’s a well-engineered, secure structure, though the height itself (roughly 70 metres) is real and worth considering if heights are a genuine concern for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Nyungwe’s trek harder than Kibale’s in Uganda?Generally yes — the elevation and terrain make it somewhat more demanding, though rewarding with broader primate diversity and dramatic scenery.
Can gorilla trekking be added to this itinerary?Yes — Volcanoes National Park is a comfortable drive from Nyungwe, and we can build it in as an extension.

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