Start Planning Now!!!

Request your personalized safari quote today and let us craft a journey that perfectly matches your travel dreams.

Overview: 8 Days Rwanda Primates Safari (Johannesburg to Kigali)

This eight-day Rwanda primates safari is designed for travelers flying from Johannesburg to Kigali who want a comprehensive and immersive experience of Rwanda’s rich wildlife, with a special focus on primates. The itinerary combines encounters with endangered mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park with chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest, offering a complete narrative from forest to forest and from the highlands to tropical rainforest. Carefully paced, the tour balances trekking, scenic drives, and wildlife experiences with moments of rest, reflection, and cultural engagement, making it ideal for travelers seeking depth, connection, and memorable wildlife encounters.

The safari’s structure highlights Rwanda’s diverse ecosystems, from volcanic highlands to dense rainforest, allowing travelers to appreciate the dramatic change in landscapes and biodiversity. Lodges are selected for comfort and proximity to national parks, minimizing travel fatigue while maximizing immersion. This safari is perfect for those who want a full primate-focused adventure, exploring both gorillas and chimpanzees, complemented by Rwanda’s beautiful scenery and cultural richness.

Tour Highlights

Day 1: Arrival in Kigali – Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Day 3: Volcanoes National Park – Golden Monkey Trekking or Cultural Visit
Day 4: Volcanoes – Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park
Day 5: Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe Forest
Day 6: Nyungwe Forest – Canopy Walk & Scenic Exploration
Day 7: Nyungwe – Transfer to Kigali
Day 8: Kigali – Departure

Detailed Itinerary: 8 Days Rwanda Primates Safari (Johannesburg to Kigali)

Pre-Departure & Travel Advice

Travelers departing from Cape Town International Airport (CPT) can connect to Entebbe International Airport (EBB) via Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, RwandAir, or Emirates, usually transiting through Addis Ababa, Nairobi, or Kigali. The full travel time averages 8–12 hours depending on layovers. It is highly recommended to arrive in Entebbe a day before the safari officially starts to rest and adjust after your international flight.

Adventure in the Wild Safaris offers airport pick-up, pre-tour hotel bookings, and assistance with domestic flight connections to ensure a smooth transition from Cape Town to Uganda.

Day 1: Arrival in Kigali – Transfer to Volcanoes National Park

Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you are met by your professional driver-guide and transferred north toward Volcanoes National Park. The scenic drive passes through rolling hills, rural villages, and cultivated countryside. Arrival at the lodge is in the afternoon, with time to relax, enjoy the mountain air, and receive a detailed briefing about the upcoming gorilla trek.

Overnight: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, or similar
Meals: Dinner

Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park

This is the highlight of the safari. After an early breakfast, you report to the park headquarters for registration and allocation to a habituated mountain gorilla family. Accompanied by experienced guides and trackers, you trek through bamboo forest and montane vegetation, following the signs of the gorillas’ movements. Trekking difficulty varies depending on the gorilla location, but the experience is unforgettable. Spending time observing gorillas in their natural habitat provides deep insight into their social structure and behavior. You return to the lodge in the afternoon for rest and reflection.

Overnight: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Volcanoes National Park – Golden Monkey Trekking or Cultural Visit

Today offers an optional trek to see the rare golden monkeys or a cultural visit to nearby communities. The trek is shorter and less strenuous than gorilla trekking but still provides an immersive primate experience. Cultural visits allow interaction with local communities and insight into Rwandan traditions, crafts, and lifestyle. Afternoon returns to the lodge for rest and reflection.

Overnight: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Volcanoes – Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park

After breakfast, you drive southwest toward Nyungwe Forest National Park. The journey passes through Rwanda’s lush highlands, terraced hillsides, and scenic landscapes. Arrival at the lodge is in the afternoon, allowing time to relax and prepare for chimpanzee tracking the following day.

Overnight: Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel, Nyungwe Forest Lodge, Gisakura Guesthouse, or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe Forest

This morning begins early with a briefing at the park headquarters. You trek through dense tropical forest in search of chimpanzees, guided by expert trackers. The forest is alive with sounds of birds, monkeys, and the occasional chimpanzee call. The encounter is dynamic and exhilarating, offering insight into primate behavior and rainforest ecology. You return to the lodge in the afternoon for rest.

Overnight: Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel, Nyungwe Forest Lodge, Gisakura Guesthouse, or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Nyungwe Forest – Canopy Walk & Scenic Exploration

After breakfast, enjoy the Nyungwe Canopy Walk for a bird’s-eye view of the rainforest and its biodiversity. Optional short hikes through the forest allow observation of colobus monkeys, birds, and other wildlife. The afternoon is free for relaxation or lodge-based activities.

Overnight: Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel, Nyungwe Forest Lodge, Gisakura Guesthouse, or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: Nyungwe – Transfer to Kigali

After breakfast, you depart Nyungwe and drive back to Kigali. Along the route, enjoy scenic views of rolling hills and local villages. Arrival in Kigali is in the afternoon, where a city orientation or brief cultural visit may be included depending on time. Evening at leisure at your Kigali hotel.

Overnight: Kigali Serena Hotel, Hôtel des Mille Collines, or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Kigali – Departure

After breakfast, you are transferred to Kigali International Airport for your onward international flight back to Johannesburg. The safari concludes with lasting memories of Rwanda’s forests, primates, and scenic landscapes.

Meals: Breakfast