3 Days Nyungwe Chimpanzee Trekking & Canopy Walk Tour

3 Days Nyungwe Chimpanzee Trekking & Canopy Walk Tour starts and ends in Kigali, Rwanda, this tour will take you to Nyungwe Forest National Park one of Africa’s oldest highland rain forests, having survived the ice age, which explains its biodiversity. The forest is well known for its abundance of primates, with 13 species reported, including the chimpanzees.

On this 3 Days Nyungwe Chimpanzee Trekking & Canopy walk Tour, you will perform the chimp tracking adventure to view the chimps and another walk in the forest to see numerous types of monkeys, rivers, and waterfalls, uncommon flora and trees, and stunning landscapes throughout the forest, Nonetheless, a visit to Nyungwe Forest National Park would be incomplete without the legendary canopy walk excursion.

Highlights 3 Days Nyungwe Tour (Chimps, Canopy and Nature walk)

Day 1; Pick up and transfer to Nyungwe for a Canopy walk

Day 2; Chimpanzee Trekking and visit Gisakura Tea Estate

Day 3; Guided Nature walk and Transfer back to Kigali

Detailed itinerary 3 Days Nyungwe Chimpanzee Trekking & Canopy Walk Tour

Day 1; Pick up and transfer to Nyungwe for a Canopy walk

At 7 a.m. the tour driver will pick you up from your Hotel in Kigali and take you to Nyungwe Forest National Park in Rwanda’s southwest. The distance between Kigali and Nyungwe is approximately 225 kilometers, and the trip duration is 5-6 hours, including a lunch break en route to the park. Arrive at the Uwinka Visitor’s center in Nyungwe at 3 p.m. then go for the canopy walk tour.

The canopy walk provides access to species that live in the forest’s canopies, such as monkeys and uncommon birds. Later drive back to your Hotel for dinner and overnight.

Overnight at Nyungwe Top View Hill Lodge

Day 2; Chimpanzee Trekking and visit Gisakura Tea Estate

Today, you will have an early morning breakfast at 4:30 am and then report to the Nyungwe Park office in Gasaruka at 5 am to meet the park guides for a briefing before driving to the beginning location of your chimp trekking trip in Nyungwe Forest National Park (Cyamudongo Forest).  After the chimpanzee tracking experience, you will have the rest of the day to yourself.

Visit Gisaruka Tea Estate. Later in the evening, you can head to Gisaruka Tea Estate. Here, you will be taken through the process of tea growing, harvesting, processing, and packaging. You will even get to taste the final product.

Later, return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Overnight at Nyungwe Top View Hill Lodge

Day 3; Guided Nature walk and Transfer back to Kigali

You will go on a guided Nature walk hike in Nyungwe Forest National Park today. Nyungwe features about 19 hiking trails that allow tourists to explore the forest’s richness, You will trek the Isumo waterfall trail which takes approximately four hours to complete a round trip.

Transfer back to Kigali. Have lunch and later check out of your hotel. You will then transfer back to Kigali where your guide will drop you off at any hotel of your choice or directly at the airport in time to check in and board your flight back home. End of 3 Days Nyungwe Chimpanzee trekking & Canopy walk Tour.

Other activities to do in Nyungwe Forest National Park Rwanda

Hiking through the Forest

Nyungwe forest has different trails for hiking through the forest this will give you an opportunity to view various plants, birds, butterflies, and meet primates if lucky. Some of the hiking trails, Karamba Trail, Umugote Trail, Umoyove Trai, Uwinka Trail, Irebero Trail, Imbaraga Trail, Bigugu Trail, Isumo Trail (This trail takes hikers through verdant tea fields, steep rainforest ravines and to the top it off, the biggest waterfall in the Nyungwe National Park) Kamiranzovu Trail, Muzimu Trail, Ngabwe Trail, Rukuzi Trail. The hikes can last from one hour to full day hikes depending on the one you choose, these range from USD40-100 depending on the one you choose. 

Colobus Monkey tracking

Nyungwe forest has 13 species of primates with the monkeys the dominant specie. The Rwenzori Colubus monkey is endemic to this forest, the colobus monkey trekking can be done any time in Nyungwe forest in southern Rwanda. The park has many individuals and often you can find a group of 400 individual while on this trek. Just like the other primates, it is best to track them in morning when they are active feeding and grooming before they rest. Other monkey species you will see include the Grey-Cheeked Mangabeys, Blue-Monkeys, L’Hoest Monkeys, Owl Faced Monkeys and Mona Monkeys. Colubus monkey trekking is USD60 per person per trek per day.

Black and White Colobus Trekking

There are large troops of black and white colobus monkeys ( Colobus angolensis) residing in Nyungwe Forest. These primates often travel in groups of over 300 individuals. Angola Colobuses in this park are the biggest troops of this species recognized in the world! Walking through a montane rainforest and being surrounded on all levels by these active and cheeky monkeys is not to be missed.

Forest Walks

Extensive networks if a well-maintained walking trail lead you through the forest to various waterfalls and viewing points. There are a variety of trails which is one of the Activities to do in Nyungwe National Park.

• Coloured Trails – These are left over from the late 1980’s when an early attempt to develop tourism in Nyungwe was made. There are seven trails through the forest each marked by a particular colour. The trails range in length from the 1km Grey trail to the 10km Red trail. All the trails are well-maintained and offer the chance to see a diversity of primate and bird species.
• Waterfall Trail – This trail takes between 3-6 hours depending on how often you stop enroute. It is a very pleasant walk through the tree-fern covered ravines, across several bubbling streams until you reach a pretty waterfall. Monkeys are often seen along the way and the steep slopes allow for good views into the canopy, making this trail a favourite among the birders as it is very rewarding for true forest interior birds, with a good chance of spotting Albertine rift endemics, such as the Rwenzori turaco.
• Kamiranzoru Trail – This trail is 4km and takes about 3 hours. This trail is different from the other forest walks because it takes you through the low-laying marshy areas which are rich in orchids and localized swamp-associated bird species.
• Bigugu Trail – This is the toughest trail and you need to be relatively fit as it leads you up the Bigugu peak. The Bigugu Peak is 2,950m high and is the highest point in Nyungwe Forest, offering fantastic views of the landscape.

Where to stay in Nyungwe Forest National Park?

Some of the recommended accommodations include the luxury One & Only Nyungwe House which is a luxury facility and ranges from USD750-2000 per person per night, Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel which ranges from USD300 per person per night and the Nyungwe Forest Lodge and Gisakura guest house which ranges from USD200 per person per night. We do recommend at least 2 nights stay in Nyungwe or more for a great experience.

Why book 3 Days Nyungwe Chimpanzee Trekking & Canopy Walk Tour Through Eco Adventure Safaris

Eco Adventure Safaris is a Local tour operator based in Uganda with its head offices in Entebbe. We specialize in life-changing experiences and sustainable tours and holidays to all East African countries. We are members of AUTO (Association of Uganda Tour Operators) and are registered by UTB. We have a good and long working relationship with the Rwanda Development Board making it easy to book your chimpanzee permits and services, and our service fee is affordable and reasonable. Eco Adventure Safaris is highly reviewed on Trip Advisor.