How to Combine Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes with Chimpanzee Tracking in Nyungwe and a Game Drive in Akagera

Rwanda is one of the best destinations in East Africa for combining primate experiences with a traditional savannah safari in one trip. A well-planned Rwanda safari can take you from the mountain gorillas of Volcanoes National Park to chimpanzees in Nyungwe National Park and then to the wildlife-rich plains of Akagera National Park. Along the way, you can explore Kigali, travel through the beautiful hills of Rwanda, enjoy views of Lake Kivu, visit Gishwati-Mukura National Park, and experience local communities and culture. Zamunda Travels can organize this complete journey as a private safari, including transport, accommodation, park activities, permits, and professional guiding.

This combination works especially well because each destination offers a different experience. Volcanoes National Park protects the Rwandan side of the Virunga Mountains and is famous for mountain gorilla trekking and golden monkey tracking. Nyungwe is a high-altitude rainforest with chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, birds, hiking trails, waterfalls, and the famous canopy walkway. Akagera, in contrast, offers open savannah, wetlands, lakes, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, lions, rhinos, hippos, crocodiles, and many bird species.

Rwanda safari itinerary: Kigali to Volcanoes, Nyungwe and Akagera

A practical itinerary should begin in Kigali. From the capital, the route can continue north to Volcanoes National Park, then cross western Rwanda toward Nyungwe, and finally travel east to Akagera National Park. This creates a varied circuit rather than returning to Kigali after every activity. Rwanda’s road network makes it possible to connect the country’s main tourism areas by road, although some transfers are long and should be planned carefully.

For a comfortable experience, Zamunda Travels recommends allowing enough time between major activities. Gorilla trekking can take several hours, while chimpanzee tracking starts very early. Long road transfers also become more enjoyable when the itinerary includes scenic stops, lunch breaks, and opportunities to experience Rwanda beyond the national parks.

Day 1: Start with a Kigali city tour

The first day can begin with a Kigali city tour after arrival. Kigali provides an excellent introduction to Rwanda before the safari starts. Depending on your arrival time, you can visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial, explore local markets, see important city landmarks, and enjoy a meal at a local restaurant. Visit Rwanda also lists city sightseeing, the Kigali Genocide Memorial, and local market visits among Kigali’s main city-tour experiences.

After the city tour, you can relax at your Kigali hotel and prepare for the journey to Volcanoes National Park the following morning. If your flight arrives early, Zamunda Travels can also arrange the Kigali city tour and then continue toward Musanze, depending on your preferred itinerary.

Day 2: Travel from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park

The journey from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park usually takes about 2.5 to 3 hours by road, depending on traffic and the exact starting point. The road leads through Rwanda’s famous rolling hills and agricultural communities before reaching Musanze and Kinigi.

On arrival, you can check into your lodge and spend the afternoon relaxing. If time allows, you can visit Musanze town, explore the local area, or take an optional cultural experience. This relaxed approach is useful because gorilla trekking starts early the next morning.

Activities to do in and around Volcanoes National Park

Gorilla trekking is the main attraction in Volcanoes National Park, but it is not the only activity available. The area also offers golden monkey trekking, volcano hiking, Dian Fossey-related experiences, Musanze Cave visits, village and cultural experiences, and scenic visits around the Virunga Mountains. Visit Rwanda highlights gorilla tracking, primate tracking, hiking, canoeing, mountain biking, village experiences, Musanze Caves, and Buhanga Eco-Park among the experiences available in the region.

Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park

Gorilla trekking normally starts with an early morning briefing at the park headquarters. Visitors then travel into the forest with trackers and guides to search for an assigned gorilla family. The hike can be relatively short or take several hours because the gorillas move through the mountain forest. Visit Rwanda notes that hikes can range from around 30 minutes to more than four hours and can reach elevations between 2,500 and 4,000 metres.

The current standard international gorilla permit price is US$1,500 per person, although Rwanda also has different rates for some resident, national, and regional categories. Because permit policies and promotional rates can change, travellers should confirm the current price when booking.

Golden monkey trekking and volcano hiking

If you have an extra day around Volcanoes National Park, golden monkey trekking provides another excellent primate experience. You can also hike in the Virunga landscape. Options include Mount Bisoke, Mount Muhabura, Mount Karisimbi, Lake Ngezi, and the Twin Lakes of Burera and Ruhondo. Mount Bisoke reaches about 3,700 metres, while Mount Karisimbi rises to 4,507 metres and normally requires a two-day hike.

Dian Fossey and Musanze Cave experiences

Travellers interested in gorilla conservation can visit the area associated with Dian Fossey and the former Karisoke Research Centre. The Dian Fossey site involves a hike through the forest to the researcher’s former camp and grave area. Musanze Cave offers a different experience, taking visitors underground through Rwanda’s volcanic landscape. Guided access is required for the cave experience.

Where to sleep around Volcanoes National Park

Accommodation around Volcanoes National Park ranges from comfortable mid-range properties to high-end luxury resorts. Zamunda Travels can select the lodge according to your budget, preferred comfort level, location, and safari style.

Da Vinci Lodge is one of the accommodation options that can be considered for travellers looking for a comfortable base near the gorilla trekking area. Ingagi Lodge is another option in the Volcanoes area and provides a convenient base for visitors planning gorilla and golden monkey activities.

For travellers seeking a luxury experience, One&Only Gorilla’s Nest is located near the foothills of the Virunga Mountains. The resort features treehouse-style accommodation among eucalyptus trees and offers cultural and nature experiences around the Volcanoes region.

Virunga Inn Resort & Spa and Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel are also options to consider around Musanze and Kinigi. Five Volcanoes is located approximately 15 minutes by road from the Volcanoes National Park headquarters and offers full-board accommodation and wellness facilities.

How to book a gorilla permit in Volcanoes National Park

You can arrange your gorilla permit through the official Rwanda tourism and park booking system or through a registered local tour operator. Travellers who prefer to handle the process themselves should confirm the current booking procedure and availability directly with the Rwanda Development Board.

Alternatively, you can contact Zamunda Travels to coordinate the permit with your accommodation, transport, guide, and trekking date. Booking through a local safari company can make the process easier because the company can coordinate the different parts of the trip instead of treating the permit as a separate booking.

Gorilla permits are date-specific and limited, so it is important to secure the permit before finalising the rest of the itinerary.

Travel from Volcanoes to Nyungwe through Lake Kivu and Gishwati

After the gorilla experience, the journey can continue from the Volcanoes region toward Nyungwe National Park. Instead of taking a direct route back toward Kigali, travellers can use the scenic western route through the Lake Kivu region. This makes the transfer part of the safari rather than simply a long drive.

One possible route travels through Gishwati-Mukura National Park and along Lake Kivu toward Karongi, before continuing south toward Nyungwe. Gishwati-Mukura is Rwanda’s fourth national park, while Lake Kivu provides some of the country’s most impressive mountain and lakeside scenery.

The Lake Kivu section can include scenic viewpoints and short stops in lakeside communities. Karongi is an important stop along Lake Kivu and sits roughly halfway along the lake. The Congo Nile Trail also follows the lake’s western landscape through hills, villages, plantations, and scenic viewpoints.

Lunch stop at Soko

Depending on the exact route and departure time, Soko Restaurant at Kigali Marriott Hotel can be used as a convenient lunch stop before the longer journey toward western Rwanda. Soko serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner and offers both à la carte and buffet dining.

For a safari itinerary, Zamunda Travels can adjust the lunch stop according to the group’s departure time and road conditions. On longer transfers, the driver and guide should also allow time for comfort stops.

Day 3–4: Explore Nyungwe National Park

Nyungwe National Park is one of Africa’s oldest rainforests and is one of the most important primate destinations in Rwanda. The forest supports chimpanzees and many other primates, as well as hundreds of bird species. Visit Rwanda reports 13 primate species in Nyungwe, while current destination information records more than 300 bird species.

Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park

Chimpanzee trekking is the main reason many travellers add Nyungwe to their Rwanda safari. Tracking normally starts very early, around 5:30 a.m., because chimpanzees are active in the morning. Visitors can spend up to one hour with the chimpanzees once the group is located. However, sightings are not guaranteed because the animals move freely through the forest.

The chimpanzee trekking permit has been listed at US$150 per person in Rwanda’s tourism package information. Because prices can change, travellers should confirm the current rate when booking their safari.

Other activities in Nyungwe National Park

Nyungwe offers much more than chimpanzee tracking. Visitors can take the famous canopy walkway, hike forest trails, go birdwatching, search for other primates, visit waterfalls, explore tea plantations, and enjoy nature walks.

The canopy walkway provides views from high above the forest floor. The current Visit Rwanda information describes a 160-metre-long and 70-metre-high suspension bridge accessed through the Igishigishigi Trail or linked trails.

Other hiking options include the Isumo Trail, Kamiranzovu Trail, Umoyove Trail, Imbaraga Trail, Bigugu Trail, Rukuzi Trail, Irebero Trail, and Uwinka Trail. These trails provide different opportunities for waterfalls, birds, primates, mountain views, and rainforest scenery.

Accommodation options in Nyungwe National Park

There are several accommodation choices around Nyungwe, and the best one depends on your budget and the location of your planned activities.

Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel offers a convenient base with views across the surrounding tea plantations and is located near the park headquarters.

Munazi Lodge offers an eco-friendly forest setting with A-frame cottages. It is located near Pindura and provides access to the wider Nyungwe area.

For luxury travellers, One&Only Nyungwe House sits on a tea plantation at the edge of Nyungwe and provides access to chimpanzee trekking, waterfalls, and the canopy walkway.

EAR Ken Barham Guesthouse is another option for budget-conscious travellers. It is located in Rwumba, around 24 kilometres from Nyungwe Forest according to its current property information.

How to book a chimpanzee permit in Nyungwe

Chimpanzee permits can be arranged through the official Nyungwe booking system or through a registered local tour operator such as Zamunda Travels. The official Nyungwe booking platform currently provides booking options for park accommodation and activities and publishes current 2025/2026 rates.

Booking through Zamunda Travels can be useful when you want the chimpanzee permit, accommodation, transport, guide, and other activities placed into one itinerary. It also helps avoid planning each part of the journey separately.

Because chimpanzees move through the forest and trekking starts early, Zamunda Travels can also arrange accommodation close enough to the selected trekking sector to make the morning transfer easier.

Day 5: From Nyungwe National Park to Akagera National Park

The journey from Nyungwe to Akagera takes you from Rwanda’s mountainous rainforest in the southwest toward the savannah and wetlands of the east. This is one of the longest road transfers in a Rwanda safari, so Zamunda Travels normally recommends allowing a full travel day or combining the transfer with an overnight stop if the itinerary is longer.

The exact road distance depends on the starting point in Nyungwe and the entrance or lodge selected in Akagera. A practical road itinerary is roughly 350–400 kilometres, with driving time commonly taking around 7–9 hours, depending on road conditions, stops, traffic, and the chosen route. Travellers should treat this as an itinerary estimate rather than a fixed travel time.

For guests who want to reduce the long road transfer, Rwanda also has domestic and charter flight options that can be discussed with Zamunda Travels. However, travelling by road gives you more opportunity to see Rwanda’s changing landscapes.

Day 6: Game drive in Akagera National Park

Akagera National Park provides a completely different environment from Volcanoes and Nyungwe. Instead of dense rainforest and steep volcanic slopes, Akagera features savannah, woodland, wetlands, and numerous lakes. It is Rwanda’s main savannah safari destination.

A game drive can give you opportunities to see elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, hippos, lions, rhinos, leopards, hyenas, monkeys, and many other animals. Akagera has also recorded almost 500 bird species, making it an important destination for birdwatchers.

Game drives, boat trips and other Akagera activities

The main activity is a guided game drive. An early morning drive is useful for wildlife viewing because many animals are active during the cooler hours. A full-day drive allows you to explore more of the park and increases the time available for wildlife encounters.

A boat trip on Lake Ihema is another important activity. The lake is known for hippos, Nile crocodiles, and many waterbirds.

Visitors can also enjoy birdwatching, night drives, fishing, community experiences, and other guided activities. African Parks currently manages Akagera in partnership with the Rwanda Development Board and provides booking information for park activities.

Where to stay around Akagera National Park

Akagera has accommodation options for different safari budgets. Ruzizi Tented Lodge is located beside Lake Ihema and provides a convenient base for exploring the park. Mantis Akagera Game Lodge is another option near the southern entrance, with views across the park and a swimming pool.

For travellers looking for a more exclusive safari experience, Magashi Camp offers luxury accommodation in the northern sector around Lake Rwanyakazinga. Karenge Bush Camp provides another option for travellers who want a more intimate bush experience. African Parks reports that Karenge was rebuilt and that the Magashi Peninsula has also been developed as part of Akagera’s tourism offering.

How Zamunda Travels can organize the complete Rwanda safari

Combining gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, and a savannah game drive requires careful timing because each park has different booking procedures and activity schedules. Zamunda Travels can organize the journey as one private Rwanda safari instead of asking travellers to arrange each section separately.

The package can include Kigali airport pickup, Kigali city tour, private 4×4 safari transport, professional English-speaking guide, accommodation, gorilla permit coordination, chimpanzee permit coordination, park activities, game drives, boat trips, meals, and transfers between the three national parks.

Zamunda Travels can also adjust the itinerary according to your travel style. Luxury travellers can choose properties such as One&Only Gorilla’s Nest and One&Only Nyungwe House. Mid-range travellers can combine comfortable lodges around Volcanoes and Nyungwe with suitable accommodation in Akagera. Budget travellers can use options such as EAR Ken Barham Guesthouse and other selected properties.

How many days do you need for this Rwanda safari?

A comfortable trip should allow at least 7 to 9 days if you want to include Kigali, Volcanoes National Park, Nyungwe National Park, and Akagera without rushing. A shorter itinerary is possible, but it would involve longer road transfers and less time for optional activities.

A sample plan could look like this:

For travellers with more time, Zamunda Travels can add a second night in Nyungwe, a golden monkey trek in Volcanoes, a Dian Fossey experience, Lake Kivu relaxation, or a second game drive in Akagera.

Why combine gorillas, chimpanzees and Akagera?

The greatest advantage of this route is the variety of landscapes and wildlife. Volcanoes introduces you to Rwanda’s mountain forests and endangered mountain gorillas. Nyungwe then takes you deeper into an ancient rainforest where chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, birds, waterfalls, and canopy experiences dominate the journey. Finally, Akagera changes the scenery completely with savannah, wetlands, lakes, large mammals, and traditional African safari landscapes.

This combination also allows visitors to experience several sides of Rwanda in one journey. You can explore Kigali, travel through the hills, see Lake Kivu, pass through Gishwati, trek through Nyungwe, and finish with a game drive in Akagera. Visit Rwanda itself promotes multi-park circuits because Rwanda’s main national parks can be connected by road while offering very different landscapes and wildlife experiences.

Book your Rwanda gorilla, chimpanzee and safari tour with Zamunda Travels

A Rwanda safari combining Volcanoes National Park, Nyungwe National Park, and Akagera National Park requires early planning, especially when gorilla and chimpanzee permits are involved. Gorilla permits are limited, while chimpanzee tracking also depends on activity availability. Therefore, it is better to confirm the dates before booking international flights.

Zamunda Travels can help plan the complete journey from Kigali to Volcanoes, Nyungwe, and Akagera. The company can coordinate permits, accommodation, private transportation, park activities, game drives, boat trips, meals, and return transfers. Whether you want a luxury Rwanda safari, mid-range trip, or budget-friendly private tour, the itinerary can be adjusted around your travel dates and interests.

Important booking note

Permit prices and park booking procedures can change. For that reason, travellers should confirm the current rates and availability before making payment. Current Rwanda tourism information lists the standard international gorilla permit at US$1,500 and chimpanzee trekking at US$150, but Zamunda Travels should confirm the applicable price for your nationality, travel date, and chosen experience before issuing the final safari quotation.