Destinations · South-west Rwanda
Nyungwe National Park: Chimpanzee Trekking in Rwanda
Nyungwe National Park, an ancient montane rainforest in south-west Rwanda, is where you track chimpanzees. A chimpanzee permit costs US$150 per person from the Rwanda Development Board, the minimum age is 15, and the drive from Kigali takes about 5 to 6 hours. The park is also home to the canopy walkway, colobus monkeys and forest trails, and we plan private journeys here all year.
At a glance
Nyungwe National Park in Brief
The key facts we share with every traveller. Permit and activity prices are set by the RDB and may change, so we confirm the current rate when we quote.
US$150
Chimpanzee permit
Per person for foreign visitors, issued by the RDB. Minimum age 15.
About US$60
Canopy walkway
Per person, a suspended walkway high above the forest floor.
5 to 6 hours
From Kigali
By road, often with a stop at the King’s Palace Museum in Nyanza.
Up to 1 hour
With the chimpanzees
After a walk of about one hour to several hours, from a very early start.
01 — Chimpanzees
Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe
You leave your lodge around 5am, when the chimpanzees are most active. After a ranger briefing, you follow the trackers into the forest, sometimes on trails and sometimes on steep, muddy slopes. You will often hear the chimpanzees calling and drumming before you see them.
Once your group reaches them, you have up to an hour as they feed, groom and move through the trees. Sightings are never guaranteed in a forest this size, but experienced trackers make a good one very likely. Our chimpanzee trekking guide covers permits, fitness and what to pack.
Best for
Chimpanzees, canopy walk, forest trails
Chimpanzee permit
US$150 per person, minimum age 15
From Kigali
About 5 to 6 hours by road
02 — Beyond the chimpanzees
Canopy Walkway, Colobus Monkeys and Waterfalls
The canopy walkway is a suspended path high above the forest floor, with wide views over the treetops, for about US$60 per person. Nyungwe is also home to large troops of black-and-white colobus monkeys.
The guided Isumo waterfall trail looks for orchids, birds and primates along the way, and the tea estates on the edge of the forest make a gentle walk. On the drive from Kigali, many guests stop at the King’s Palace Museum at Nyanza to see the long-horned Inyambo cattle.
Canopy walkway
About US$60 per person
Forest walks
Isumo waterfall trail, tea estates
On the way
King’s Palace Museum, Nyanza
03 — Where to stay
Lodges in Nyungwe National Park
Our Nyungwe trips use Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel or similar, close to the forest, so the early trekking start is a short drive.
For a luxury stay, we quote One&Only Nyungwe House on request, with rates confirmed directly with the lodge. Every journey keeps your own vehicle and English-speaking Rwandan driver-guide from arrival to departure, and we plan the long drives with sensible stops.
Mid-range
Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel or similar
Luxury, on request
One&Only Nyungwe House
Pace
Long drives planned with sensible stops
Nyungwe safaris
Private Nyungwe Safaris from Kigali
Prices are per person, based on 2 people sharing at mid-range lodges, with permits included. Solo travellers, larger groups and luxury lodges are priced on request.
4 days
Nyungwe Chimpanzee and Canopy Escape
Chimpanzees, the canopy walkway and the King’s Palace. From US$1,450 per person.
5 days
Gorillas and Chimpanzees
Volcanoes and Nyungwe, both of Rwanda’s great apes. From US$3,550 per person.
5 days
Savannah and Rainforest
Akagera game drives, Nyanza and Nyungwe chimpanzees. From US$1,950 per person.
Good to know
Nyungwe National Park: Frequently Asked Questions
In south-west Rwanda. It is one of the oldest and best-preserved mountain rainforests in Africa, about 5 to 6 hours by road from Kigali.
US$150 per person for foreign visitors, issued by the Rwanda Development Board. Prices are set by the RDB and may change, so we reconfirm the fee before we quote.
The minimum age is 15. If you are travelling with younger children, tell us early and we will plan other forest activities for the family.
Our shortest Nyungwe trip is 4 days from Kigali, with chimpanzee tracking and the canopy walkway. Five days lets you add gorillas in Volcanoes or game drives in Akagera.
Chimpanzee trekking runs all year. June to September and December to February usually mean easier trails, while the wetter months bring lush forest and fewer visitors. Rain is possible at any time, so pack for it.
Yes. Our 5 Days Gorillas & Chimpanzees journey combines both, with a scenic drive along Lake Kivu between Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Parks.
Plan your trip: read our guides to the best time to visit Rwanda, how many days you need, what a safari costs and visa requirements. Combine Nyungwe with Volcanoes and the mountain gorillas, or Lake Kivu.
Written by the Epic Rwanda Safaris team in Kigali and reviewed by Eric Sabi, one of our Rwandan guides. Permit fees checked October 2026; the RDB sets permit prices and they may change.
Begin the journey
Plan Your Nyungwe Journey with a Rwandan Team
Share your dates and who is travelling. We secure your permits, arrange your guide, vehicle and lodges, and reply to every enquiry within 24 hours, or message us on WhatsApp.