Your adventure begins with a morning pickup from Kigali International Airport or your hotel. Before heading to Nyungwe, you’ll embark on a brief city tour of Rwanda’s capital. The tour will take you through significant landmarks, including the Kigali Genocide Memorial, where you will learn about the country’s tragic past and its journey to recovery. You’ll also visit the local markets, artisan shops, and the former Presidential Palace, which offers a glimpse into Rwanda’s political history. After your city tour, you will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before beginning your scenic drive to Nyungwe National Park.

On the way, you will make several interesting stops, such as Kamegeri’s Rock, a historical site, and the National Ethnographic Museum in Huye, where you can explore Rwanda’s cultural heritage. The drive to the park continues with more stops at the Murambi Genocide Memorial and the King’s Palace Museum, offering deeper insights into the country’s history. After the journey, you will check in at your lodge near Nyungwe Forest and prepare for the following day’s activities. Before nightfall, you will have the opportunity to experience the famous canopy walk suspended 50 meters above the ground, offering a breathtaking view of the forest and its wildlife.

Start your day early with a hearty breakfast before heading to Uwinka for your chimpanzee trekking briefing. Unlike other trekking destinations, the chimpanzees in Nyungwe are highly mobile, so trekking begins earlier than in other areas. After the briefing, you’ll be divided into trekking groups and transported to the trailheads, where your adventure into the lush forest begins. The trekking trails in Nyungwe—either the Uwinka or Cyamudongo trail—lead you deep into the forest in search of the chimpanzees.

Once you locate the chimpanzee group, you’ll observe their daily activities, including grooming, feeding, and playing. Unlike the more stationary mountain gorillas, chimpanzees are often found high in the trees, making them more challenging to photograph, but their playful behavior and social interactions make for a fascinating experience. During your trek, you may also spot other primates, such as the Angola Colobus, vervet monkeys, and baboons. Nyungwe is also a birdwatcher’s paradise, with species like the Rwenzori Turaco and paradise flycatcher calling the park home.

After the trekking experience, you’ll return to your lodge for lunch. The afternoon offers an opportunity to relax or embark on a nature walk, exploring the park’s trails and enjoying the sights of additional primates, waterfalls, and vibrant birdlife. The park offers several walking trails, including the popular waterfall trail, which takes around three hours to complete.

After an early breakfast, you will depart Nyungwe and make a stop at the Gisakura Tea Estate. Here, you will have the chance to learn about the cultivation and production of tea, a major industry in Rwanda. You’ll explore the farm and tea processing facilities, getting a firsthand look at how the tea leaves are harvested, processed, and packed for export.

Following your tea estate tour, you will continue your journey back to Kigali. Along the way, you will make stops at any points of interest you missed on the first day. Your journey will end at Kigali, where you’ll either head to the airport for your departure or check into your hotel, leaving with cherished memories of your 3-day Nyungwe Forest chimpanzee trekking adventure.