Gorilla & Chimp Trekking in Rwanda

This eight-day journey through Rwanda is built around access most travelers never get close to - an early-morning trek through Nyungwe Forest, one of Africa's oldest rainforests, in search of wild chimpanzees, followed days later by an hour spent in the presence of endangered mountain gorillas in the volcanic highlands of the Virungas. Few places on earth allow travelers to encounter both great apes within a single itinerary, and permits for each are strictly limited - making this less a checklist safari and more a rare, sequenced encounter with two of the continent's most extraordinary primates. The journey is layered with equally considered moments of stillness and adventure between the treks: a peaceful kayaking excursion on the tranquil waters of Lake Kivu, and a guided canoe journey along the Mukungwa River, offering a quieter, more intimate perspective on the Virunga landscape than any game drive could provide. These aren't filler days - they're deliberate shifts in pace, designed to let the scale of Rwanda's forests, volcanoes, and lakes settle in between its two headline wildlife encounters. Throughout, guests stay exclusively at carefully selected luxury properties, positioning this itinerary among a small circle of experiences that treat Rwanda not as a destination to pass through, but one to be fully absorbed. Beginning and ending in Kigali, with its own cultural texture layered in, this is a compact yet complete introduction to the country - wildlife, water, mountains, and culture, woven into eight days built for travelers who want depth, rarity, and comfort in equal measure. Highlights • Visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial and learn about Rwanda’s history • Trek chimpanzees and encounter a variety of primates in Nyungwe Forest • Look for Rwanda’s diverse birdlife, including the Rockefeller’s sunbird • Kayak across the tranquil waters of Lake Kivu • Trek through Volcanoes National Park in search of endangered mountain gorillas • Explore the Mukungwa River by guided canoe • Stay in elegant lodges surrounded by Rwanda’s spectacular landscapes