How to spend 5 days in Nyungwe National Park Rwanda

Nyungwe National Park is a spectacular destination with natural beauty, geological wonders and a fascinating history as one of the largest equatorial rainforest parks in Africa. This forest park is composed of rushing streams, shady valleys, tree-filled hillsides, lush savannahs, and vast swamps all providing a home for a wide variety of wildlife species in this stunning green forest, one of Africa’s oldest rainforests.

Nyungwe is great choice for tourists who wish to see some of Rwanda’s amazing endemics. This five days stay in this pristine park exposes you to a variety of memorable adventure including its thirteen primate species, go on a chimpanzee walk to see one of its semi-habituated groups, enjoy hiking/cycling along nature paths, the thrilling Canopy Walkway, one of Africa’s longest ziplines, and the captivating waterfalls and the natural beauty of the park surrounded by tea and coffee plantations.

As a nature lover or photography enthusiast this 5 days visit in Nyungwe national park is a memorable exploration that exposes you to the natural beauty of Rwanda, commonly referred to as the \land of a thousand hills.

Highlights for how you can spend 5 days trip to Nyungwe National Park

  • Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Nyungwe National Park
  • Day 2: Chimpanzee tracking and Canopy Walk
  • Day 3: Colobus monkey tracking and tea plantation visit
  • Day 4: Isumo Waterfall hike
  • Day 5: Transfer to Kigali and departure.

Detailed way of spending 5 days in Nyungwe National Park

Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Nyungwe National Park

Depending on your arrival time at Kigali international Airport or at an agreed location, you will be picked by our driver guide to set off for a 5-6 hours journey, drive southwards to Nyungwe National Park. You will stop over at Kamegeri Rock and in Butare to visit the King’s Palace Museum in Nyanza. At this place, learn about Rwanda’s kingship times, traditional and cultural practices. After an enroute lunch, proceed to Nyungwe, check in on arrival and relax at the accommodation as you prepare for the next day’s adventure. Dinner and overnight at

Day 2: Chimpanzee tracking and Canopy Walk

Wake up early for breakfast and prepare for a long day of the most popular activities in this park. By 5:30 you should be at Uwinka Park headquarters for briefing. Later join other trekkers along the allocated trail, either Uwinka or Chamudongo trail. Chimpanzees are easy to trek very early in the morning before they start their movements.  During the one hour you are allowed to spend with them, expect to observe these individuals grooming, breast feeding, mating and playing. After the tracking, return to the lodge for lunch.

 After lunch, return to the park center to start on the amazing canopy walk which takes you across a hanging platform which crosses over the forest canopy.  The hanging platform is built 50 meters above the ground and is 200 meters long. Within a walk of two hours along the canopy, you will have an aerial view of the forest enabling you to spot birds and more primates, especially those that spend most of their time high in the forest branches, feeding, jumping from one tree to another.

Day 3: Colobus monkey tracking and tea plantation visit

Another day in Nyungwe National Park. After an early morning breakfast, return to the park center for a briefing about colobust monkey tracking.  This is a newly introduced, interesting and adventurous activity in Nyungwe park.  The park has 2 habituated Colobus monkey groups with one comprising 500 members and the second one has 60 members.

Like chimpanzees, colobus monkeys also move searching for food hence the need of following them. On encounter, you are given one hour to follow them slowly as enjoy hoy how they spend their daily life, feeding, grooming and playing in the forest jungles.  After a wonderful moment with the monkeys, return to the lodge for lunch.

In the afternoon visit Gisakura tea plantation, watch how tea is harvested , you will also get a chance to participate in athe activity. You will be taken through the   processing exercise and at the end of your visit, taste a cup of tea as you interact with the locals at the plantation.\

Day 4: Isumo trail – waterfall hike.

Hiking along the Isumo trail takes you through the unbeaten path of Nyungwe National Park. The trail is 10.6 kilometers long and and takes 4-5 hours to finish. On this day, enjoy the natural beauty of the park on foot. You are rewarded with spectacular views of different plants, animals and birds. As you hike, experience the sounds of the river flowing through the forest floor and at the end of the trail your jaw drops with the beauty of the waterfalls   dropping through a narrow gorge. Relax a bit, take memorable photos and return to the accommodation where you will spend the rest of the day.

Day 5: Transfer to Kigali and departure.

After breakfast, check out and set off for Kigali.   Depending on your flight schedule, you can visit some interesting places in Kigali such as Gisozi genocide Memorial site, Kimironko market, and craft shops for souvenirs. Drop off will be at the airport or desired hotel in Kigali.

Possible accommodation for this safari.

One and Only Nyungwe House (Luxury), Nyungwe Hilltop View Hotel (midrange) Chimpanzee Lodge (Budget)

End of 5 days visit to Nyungwe National Park.

Tour Inclusions

  •  Transportation in a 4×4 safari vehicle
  •  Accommodation and all meals on full board
  • Chimpanzee permit
  • Canopy walk permits
  • Colobus monkey permits
  • En route meals
  • Tea plantation visit
  • Kigali City tour
  • Hiking fees
  • Bottled drinking water.

Tour exclusions

All expenses of personal nature including visa, flight tickets, personal insurance, laundry, tips to guides and porters, luxurious drinks, cigars, and all optional activities.