Wildlife and Chimpanzee Safaris in Rwanda. Rwanda's wildlife safari offering extends far beyond the mountain gorillas of Volcanoes National Park — the country holds three distinct national parks, thirteen primate species, the Big Five, over 700 bird species, and some of the most biologically rich and scenically extraordinary landscapes in Central Africa. A Rwanda wildlife safari built around chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest, Big Five game drives in Akagera National Park, and the full primate diversity of the Albertine Rift delivers an East Africa safari experience that rivals any destination on the continent — and at Kenlink Tours, we design Rwanda wildlife safaris that do justice to everything this extraordinary country offers.
Rwanda's reputation in the international safari market has long been anchored by a single experience — gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park. It is a deserved reputation, and the Rwanda gorilla trekking safari remains the centrepiece of most Rwanda visits. But the country's wildlife offering is far more diverse than this single experience suggests, and for travellers who look beyond Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda reveals itself as a destination with one of the richest primate concentrations on the continent, a recovering savannah ecosystem in the east that has become one of Africa's great conservation success stories, and an ancient montane rainforest in the southwest that holds more biodiversity per square kilometre than almost any protected area in Africa. Understanding Rwanda as a complete wildlife safari destination — not just a gorilla trekking destination — is the starting point for designing a Rwanda safari that delivers its full potential. Our guide on short tours in Rwanda covers the full range of experiences available even within two to five days, and our gorilla safari holidays page situates Rwanda within the broader East Africa gorilla circuit.
Rwanda's wildlife credentials — beyond the gorillas
Rwanda is home to 13 species of primates — the highest primate diversity of any country in East Africa. Its three national parks protect three entirely distinct ecosystems: the ancient montane rainforest of Nyungwe (one of the oldest and most biodiverse forests in Africa), the volcanic montane forest and afro-alpine moorland of Volcanoes National Park, and the savannah-wetland-lake mosaic of Akagera in the east. Together, these parks hold mountain gorilla, chimpanzee, colobus monkey, golden monkey, L'Hoest's monkey, olive baboon, grey-cheeked mangabey, lion, leopard, elephant, black rhino, buffalo, hippo, Nile crocodile, and over 700 bird species including 29 Albertine Rift endemics. Rwanda's wildlife is not a footnote to gorilla trekking. It is a complete safari destination in its own right.
Chimpanzee Tracking in Nyungwe Forest National Park
Nyungwe Forest National Park — Africa's Oldest Rainforest
Nyungwe Forest National Park in southwestern Rwanda is one of the most biologically extraordinary protected areas in Africa — an ancient montane rainforest covering 1,020 square kilometres that has remained largely intact for millions of years, serving as a refuge for species that were eliminated from surrounding areas during the ice ages of the Pleistocene. It is the largest intact montane rainforest in Central or East Africa, and its biological richness per unit area is exceptional even by the standards of the continent's most celebrated forests. The WWF Albertine Rift Programme identifies Nyungwe as one of the highest-priority conservation areas in the Albertine Rift — a biodiversity hotspot that spans six countries and holds more endemic species than anywhere else in Africa.
For safari visitors, Nyungwe's defining experience is chimpanzee tracking — following the habituated chimpanzee communities of the forest with Rwanda Development Board ranger guides through dense, ancient rainforest. Rwanda's chimpanzees inhabit the forest in complex communities, and the tracking experience — reading trail signs, listening for the whooping calls that carry through the canopy, and moving through the understorey toward the sound — has a quality of genuine wildness that distinguishes it from more accessible chimpanzee tracking destinations. The encounter itself, when the community is found, is extraordinary — chimpanzees moving through the canopy with a speed and physicality that makes the gorilla encounter seem, by comparison, almost meditative. Both are unforgettable. They are simply different in character.
Beyond chimpanzees, Nyungwe is home to twelve other primate species — the most diverse primate community of any protected forest in Africa. The Angolan colobus monkey (Colobus angolensis) is found in particularly large troops, sometimes numbering over 400 individuals — the largest primate troops in Africa — and their black-and-white acrobatics in the forest canopy are one of Nyungwe's most visually spectacular regular sights. The grey-cheeked mangabey, L'Hoest's monkey, olive baboon, and vervet monkey are all regularly seen on guided walks, and the forest's 310 recorded bird species include 29 Albertine Rift endemics, making Nyungwe one of the premier birding destinations on the continent. The park's canopy walkway — suspended 70 metres above the forest floor between giant trees — is one of Rwanda's most thrilling non-wildlife experiences, and a guided dawn forest walk along it is one of the great morning experiences of any Rwanda wildlife safari.
The Chimpanzee Tracking Experience in Nyungwe
Nyungwe's habituated chimpanzee community — known as the Cyamudongo group — is the primary focus of the daily chimpanzee tracking programme. The tracking begins at the park's Uwinka visitor centre in the early morning, with a briefing by RDB ranger guides before entering the forest. Unlike gorilla trekking, where the encounter zone is reached and the group stays relatively stationary for the one-hour encounter, chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe involves moving continuously with the community — following a group that may cover significant distance through the forest canopy at a speed that requires active, attentive movement from the tracking group.
The one-hour permitted encounter with the chimpanzee community, once located, is timed from the moment of first visual contact. During that hour, you may see the dominant male display with dramatic charging runs and canopy shaking, watch feeding behaviour in the fruiting trees, and observe the extraordinarily complex social interactions — grooming, play, conflict, and reconciliation — that make chimpanzee communities so compelling to observe. Chimpanzees are our closest living relatives, sharing approximately 98.7% of human DNA, and the sense of recognition that accompanies watching their behaviour is immediate and affecting. The chimpanzee tracking permit for Nyungwe costs USD $90 per person, managed by the Rwanda Development Board.
Canopy walkway — do not miss this. The Nyungwe Forest canopy walkway — a 160-metre suspension bridge system 70 metres above the forest floor — is one of only a handful of such structures anywhere in Africa. Walking it at dawn, with the forest waking around you and the Albertine Rift birds calling from the canopy above, is an experience with no equivalent elsewhere in Rwanda. It can be combined with the chimpanzee tracking programme on the same day, or done as a standalone forest walk. Walkway access is included in the park entry fee — ask our Kenlink Tours team to include a dawn canopy walk in your Nyungwe itinerary.
Big Five Game Drives in Akagera National Park
Akagera National Park — Rwanda's Conservation Comeback
Akagera National Park in eastern Rwanda is one of Africa's most compelling conservation restoration stories — a park that was devastated in the aftermath of Rwanda's 1994 genocide, with its wildlife largely eliminated and its boundaries dramatically reduced by returning refugee resettlement, and which has since been transformed through a landmark partnership between the Rwanda Development Board and African Parks into a thriving Big Five savannah ecosystem. Lions were reintroduced from South Africa's Akagera in 2015, black rhinoceros were reintroduced in 2017 and 2021, and populations of elephant, buffalo, zebra, giraffe, topi, roan antelope, eland, hippo, and Nile crocodile have recovered to levels that now rival East Africa's most celebrated game parks.
The park covers 1,122 square kilometres of open savannah, papyrus swamp, miombo woodland, and a chain of interconnected Rift Valley lakes — Lake Ihema, Lake Rwanyakizinga, Lake Shakani, and others — that form one of the most productive freshwater wetland systems in the region. The combination of open plains, dense lakeshore vegetation, and the seasonal flooding patterns of the Akagera River create an ecosystem of exceptional biodiversity that supports over 500 recorded bird species, making Akagera one of the finest birding destinations in Rwanda. The shoebill stork — one of the most sought-after birds on the continent — is found in the papyrus swamps of Lake Ihema, and the park's waterbird diversity is extraordinary.
Akagera's game drive circuit covers the full range of the park's habitats in a day — open savannah plains for lion, giraffe, zebra, and the large antelope herds; the lakeshore woodland for elephant and buffalo; and the wetland channels for hippo, crocodile, and the extraordinary waterbird concentrations of Lake Ihema. The park's boat safari on Lake Ihema is one of the finest wildlife boat experiences in East Africa — offering close-range encounters with hippo pods, basking crocodiles, and fish eagles fishing from their lake-edge perches in an atmosphere of complete peace. Our guide to Queen Elizabeth National Park covers how Uganda's equivalent savannah ecosystem compares for travellers considering an extended East Africa circuit.
| Animal | Status in Akagera | Best Viewing Location & Time |
|---|---|---|
| Lion | Reintroduced 2015 from South Africa — population now established and breeding. Regularly seen on the northern and central plains. One of Akagera's headline sightings. | Northern sector plains; early morning and late afternoon game drives. |
| Black Rhinoceros | Critically Endangered — reintroduced 2017 and 2021 in collaboration with African Parks. Population monitored closely; sightings not guaranteed but increasingly regular. | Northern Akagera sector; specialist rhino tracking drives available through the park. |
| Elephant | Resident population — thriving throughout the park. Frequently seen at the lakeshore and in the woodland corridors between lakes. | Lakeshore woodland, Lake Ihema area; morning game drives. |
| Hippopotamus | Abundant — Lake Ihema and associated channels hold some of the densest hippo populations in East Africa. Excellent boat safari sightings year-round. | Lake Ihema boat safari — best at dawn and dusk when hippos are most active. |
| Nile Crocodile | Very common — large adults bask on the lake margins and river banks throughout the park. Spectacular on the boat safari. | Lake Ihema margins; Akagera River channels; boat safari. |
| Giraffe | Rothschild's giraffe — resident and visible across the open plains and woodland edges. One of the park's most reliably sighted large mammals. | Open savannah, particularly central sector; visible throughout the day. |
| Zebra, Topi & Roan | Large herds of plains game across the central and northern sectors — Burchell's zebra, topi, roan antelope, waterbuck, eland, and impala all present in good numbers. | Central plains; full-day game drives. |
| Shoebill Stork | Rare and sought-after — one of Africa's most coveted birding targets. Present in the papyrus swamps of Lake Ihema. Boat safari or guided swamp walk gives the best access. | Lake Ihema papyrus swamps; early morning boat excursion. |
Rwanda's Full Primate Diversity
Rwanda's thirteen primate species — distributed across the three national parks and the forest reserves of the western highlands — represent one of the richest primate assemblages of any country in Africa. The combination of mountain gorilla in Volcanoes National Park, chimpanzee in Nyungwe and Volcanoes, and a further eleven species across the country's forest ecosystems gives Rwanda a primate safari depth that is unmatched in its geographic footprint. The table below sets out Rwanda's key primate species and their primary viewing locations.
| Species | Primary Location | Best Viewing Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mountain Gorilla Gorilla beringei beringei |
Volcanoes National Park | Habituated families — guided trek, one-hour encounter. Permit USD $1,500. See our full Volcanoes gorilla trekking guide for detail on all twelve families. |
| Chimpanzee Pan troglodytes |
Nyungwe Forest NP (primary); Volcanoes NP (secondary) | Habituated community tracking in Nyungwe — the Cyamudongo group. High energy, fast-moving encounter through ancient rainforest. Permit USD $90. |
| Golden Monkey Cercopithecus kandti |
Volcanoes National Park — bamboo zones | Habituated troops in the lower bamboo forest. Brilliant orange-gold coat. Highly active and photogenic. Excellent addition to a Volcanoes gorilla trek day. Permit USD $100. |
| Angolan Colobus Colobus angolensis |
Nyungwe Forest NP | Supertroop groups of up to 400 individuals — the largest primate troops in Africa. Spectacular canopy acrobatics. Seen on guided forest walks from Uwinka visitor centre. |
| L'Hoest's Monkey Allochrocebus lhoesti |
Nyungwe Forest NP; Volcanoes NP | Albertine Rift endemic — a distinctive dark monkey with white chest markings. Regularly seen on Nyungwe forest walks and around the Volcanoes sector lodges. |
| Grey-Cheeked Mangabey Lophocebus albigena |
Nyungwe Forest NP | Noisy, distinctive canopy species. Heard more often than seen but regularly encountered on chimpanzee tracking routes and forest walks. |
| Olive Baboon Papio anubis |
Nyungwe Forest NP; Akagera NP | Common in Nyungwe forest edge zones and Akagera's woodland — large troops easily observed on game drives and forest walks. |
| Vervet Monkey Chlorocebus pygerythrus |
Akagera NP; Volcanoes NP forest edge | Common and widespread — highly visible around lodge areas in Akagera and the Volcanoes sector. Easy sightings on any Rwanda visit. |
Rwanda Wildlife Safari Packages
The packages below cover the full range of Rwanda wildlife safari options — from a focused Nyungwe chimpanzee tracking experience to a comprehensive circuit combining all three national parks. All packages include accommodation at the stated category, all park entry and activity fees, ground transfers in a private vehicle, and a professional Kenlink Tours guide. The Rwanda gorilla permit (USD $1,500) is included where specified. International flights are not included.
Nyungwe Chimpanzee & Canopy Safari — 4 Days
Kigali · Nyungwe Forest NP · KigaliA focused four-day safari to Nyungwe Forest National Park — Rwanda's most biodiverse and least-visited national park. Two nights in the forest give time for chimpanzee tracking, the dawn canopy walkway experience, an Angolan colobus troop walk, and a guided birding session targeting Albertine Rift endemics. This is the best-value wildlife safari in Rwanda — combining primate tracking, birding, and one of Africa's most spectacular nature walks without the gorilla permit cost.
Best for: nature-focused travellers, birders, primate enthusiasts, and anyone who wants a deep Rwanda forest experience outside the high-season gorilla permit competition. Excellent combination with a Volcanoes NP gorilla trek on the return journey to Kigali.
Akagera Big Five & Boat Safari — 4 Days
Kigali · Akagera NP · KigaliA four-day Big Five game safari to Akagera National Park — Rwanda's eastern savannah, managed by African Parks as one of the continent's most celebrated conservation restoration projects. Two full game drive days targeting lion, black rhino, elephant, buffalo, and giraffe on the open Akagera plains, with a sunset boat safari on Lake Ihema for hippo, crocodile, and shoebill stork. One of the finest game park experiences in Central Africa, within three hours of Kigali — and no gorilla permit required. Excellent for travellers who have already done a gorilla trek and want to add a savannah dimension to their Rwanda visit, or for those building Akagera into a broader Rwanda wildlife circuit.
Primates of Rwanda — Gorillas, Chimps & Golden Monkeys — 6 Days
Kigali · Nyungwe Forest · Volcanoes NP · KigaliThe complete Rwanda primate safari — six days that cover all three of Rwanda's habituated primate tracking experiences: chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest, golden monkey tracking in Volcanoes National Park, and mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park. This is the most primate-rich safari available in Rwanda within a single itinerary — and it travels the length of the country's western highland spine, from the ancient forest of the southwest to the volcanic peaks of the northwest, along one of the most scenic drives in Central Africa. The route follows the Albertine Rift escarpment through tea estates, terraced hillsides, and the Lake Kivu shore, arriving at Volcanoes National Park via the spectacular western highlands road.
This package is the Rwanda equivalent of Uganda's great apes circuit — and for travellers who want to maximise primate encounters within Rwanda alone, it delivers an unmatched depth of experience. The gorilla permit (USD $1,500) and chimpanzee permit (USD $90) are both included.
The Complete Rwanda Wildlife Safari — 8 Days
Kigali · Akagera · Nyungwe · Volcanoes NP · KigaliThe definitive Rwanda wildlife safari — eight days that visit all three of Rwanda's national parks in a single, coherent circuit, covering gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, golden monkey tracking, Big Five game drives, a Lake Ihema boat safari, and the full Kigali cultural programme. This is the complete expression of Rwanda as a safari destination — from the savannah of the east to the ancient rainforest of the southwest to the volcanic highlands of the northwest, with every major wildlife encounter the country offers experienced in depth. For travellers who want to understand Rwanda as a complete wildlife destination rather than a single-experience trip, this eight-day circuit is our strongest recommendation.
Rwanda & Uganda Wildlife Circuit — 10 Days
Kigali · Volcanoes NP · Bwindi · QENP · Kibale · EntebbeThe great East Africa wildlife circuit — beginning in Kigali with Rwanda gorilla trekking, crossing into Uganda via the Cyanika border for a second gorilla encounter in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, then moving through Queen Elizabeth National Park for the tree climbing lions of Ishasha and the Kazinga Channel boat cruise, before completing the circuit with chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest National Park — Uganda's primate capital. This ten-day itinerary delivers four of East Africa's five defining wildlife encounters (gorillas twice, tree climbing lions, chimpanzees) within a single, efficiently routed safari starting in Kigali and ending at Entebbe. Our Rwanda and Uganda combining guide and our Uganda–Rwanda connecting safaris page detail every routing option for this cross-border circuit.
The Rwanda–Uganda Primate & Wildlife Grand Circuit
For travellers with ten days or more and a desire to see the full scope of East Africa's primate and wildlife diversity, the Rwanda–Uganda grand circuit is the most wildlife-rich single itinerary available in the region. Starting in Kigali with Rwanda's gorilla and primate experiences, crossing into Uganda for Bwindi gorillas and the western Uganda wildlife corridor, the circuit combines six distinct wildlife encounters across four national parks in two countries — all within a routing that flows efficiently from Kigali to Entebbe without doubling back.
Gorillas + Monkeys
Uganda Gorillas
Tree Lions
Chimpanzees
This grand circuit — gorillas, golden monkeys, tree climbing lions, and chimpanzees — represents the highest concentration of iconic primate and wildlife encounters available in East Africa within a single, coherent routing. Our combining Rwanda and Uganda guide covers this circuit in full, and our bookings team can design and price the complete package for your travel dates and group size.
Rwanda's Exceptional Birding
Rwanda is one of Africa's premier birding destinations — a fact that remains significantly underappreciated in the international safari market relative to its primate and big game reputation. The country's total bird list exceeds 700 species, concentrated across three distinct avifaunal zones that correspond broadly to its three national parks: the Albertine Rift montane forest birds of Nyungwe and Volcanoes, the savannah and wetland birds of Akagera, and the widespread species of the Kigali corridor and highland farmland. The BirdLife International IBA (Important Bird Area) programme recognises both Nyungwe Forest and Volcanoes National Park as Critical IBAs for Albertine Rift endemics — a list of 29 species found nowhere outside the Rift Valley highlands that includes some of the most visually spectacular forest birds in Africa.
For birding visitors, Nyungwe Forest is the primary destination — a forest birding experience that can be built into any Rwanda wildlife safari regardless of duration. A single guided dawn walk along the Nyungwe forest trails, with a specialist bird guide, typically produces twenty to thirty species including multiple Albertine Rift endemics. For serious birders, two to three dedicated birding days in Nyungwe, combined with an afternoon in the Akagera papyrus swamps for the shoebill stork, constitutes a Rwanda birding itinerary of exceptional quality. Ask our Kenlink Tours team about adding specialist birding guide services to any Rwanda wildlife safari.
Practical Tips for Rwanda Wildlife Safaris
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1Nyungwe is a long drive from Kigali — plan your routing carefully — At five to six hours from Kigali, Nyungwe Forest is the most logistically demanding of Rwanda's three national parks to reach. The drive through Butare and the southern highlands is beautiful but long — we always recommend spending at least two nights in Nyungwe to justify the transfer and give the forest experience sufficient time. A one-night stop is possible but leaves little space for the full range of activities. Our bookings team can advise on the best approach routing and lodge options.
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2Chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe is physically demanding — Unlike gorilla trekking, where the encounter zone is typically stationary, chimpanzee tracking involves continuous movement through dense forest following a fast-moving community. The Nyungwe forest terrain is hilly and the trails can be steep — good footwear, a reasonable fitness level, and a willingness to move quickly when the guide signals are all important. The experience is entirely different in character to gorilla trekking — more athletic, more unpredictable, and in its own way equally extraordinary.
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3Two nights in Akagera is the minimum for a rewarding game drive experience — Akagera's Big Five circuit requires at least a full day of game driving to cover the park's key habitats. A single afternoon game drive on arrival is never sufficient — the lion territory in the north, the rhino tracking zone, the Lake Ihema boat safari, and the open plains circuit all require dedicated time. Two nights gives you a full morning drive day, an afternoon boat safari, and a second morning drive — enough to see the park's headline species under good conditions.
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4Book all primate permits well in advance — The Rwanda gorilla permit (USD $1,500), chimpanzee tracking permit for Nyungwe (USD $90), and golden monkey permit (USD $100) are all issued in limited daily quantities by the Rwanda Development Board. For peak season travel (June–August and December–January), gorilla permits in particular should be secured six to nine months ahead. Our Kenlink Tours bookings team manages all permit procurement on behalf of clients and advises on current availability.
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5Rwanda's road network is exceptional — use it — Rwanda's road infrastructure is among the best in sub-Saharan Africa, and the inter-park transfers that might seem daunting on a map are consistently faster and more comfortable than comparable drives in neighbouring countries. The Kigali-to-Akagera highway is smooth and well-signposted. The southern route to Nyungwe through Butare is a scenic highland drive. And the western Lake Kivu road between Nyungwe and Volcanoes National Park is one of the most beautiful drives in Central Africa. Allow time to enjoy the journey as part of the safari — Rwanda's highland landscapes are extraordinary in their own right.
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6Layer your primate experiences across different days — When combining gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, and golden monkey tracking within a single itinerary, avoid scheduling two primate experiences on the same day. Each encounter deserves its own day for processing, photography review, and physical recovery — and the quality of your engagement with each experience is significantly higher when you arrive at the forest rested and focused rather than arriving on the heels of the previous day's trek. Our gorilla safari holidays page covers how we structure multi-primate Rwanda itineraries for maximum depth of experience.
Rwanda's wildlife safari offering is a product of extraordinary conservation commitment sustained over three decades. The mountain gorilla recovery, the restoration of Akagera under African Parks management, and the protection of Nyungwe's irreplaceable montane forest are all conservation achievements of global significance — and all of them are funded, in part, by the tourism revenue generated by visitors who choose Rwanda as a wildlife safari destination. The IUCN Red List mountain gorilla reclassification, the return of lions to Akagera after a generation's absence, and the recognition of Nyungwe by the WWF Albertine Rift Programme as a global priority conservation site — all of these are directly connected to the sustainable tourism model that Rwanda has developed since the mid-1990s. A Rwanda wildlife safari is not a passive consumption of the country's natural heritage. It is an active contribution to its continuation.
To begin planning your Rwanda wildlife and chimpanzee safari — whether a focused Nyungwe forest experience, a complete three-park circuit, or an extended Rwanda–Uganda grand circuit — contact the Kenlink Tours team. Explore our Rwanda safari deals, read our guide on how much a Rwanda safari costs, and browse our full range of Rwanda gorilla trekking safari packages. For the cross-border East Africa circuit, our Uganda–Rwanda connecting safaris page shows every routing option from Kigali to Entebbe and everything in between.
