3-Day Nyungwe Forest Safari: Chimpanzees, Tea Plantations & Waterfalls

Your journey begins in Kigali, where a professional driver-guide from Volcanoes Gorilla Tours greets you at your hotel or the airport. After a short briefing, you set off for the scenic drive to Nyungwe, a journey of approximately 5 to 6 hours filled with breathtaking vistas and rich cultural encounters.

As the city gives way to the countryside, the landscape transforms into a patchwork of terraced hills, banana groves, and tea estates — the reason Rwanda is fondly called “The Land of a Thousand Hills.”

The first stop is at the King’s Palace Museum in Nyanza, an impressive reconstruction of Rwanda’s royal residence that once housed the country’s monarchs. Here, you’ll encounter the graceful Inyambo cattle, whose long, elegant horns and gentle demeanor symbolize Rwanda’s royal heritage.

Next, continue to Huye (Butare) to visit the Ethnographic Museum, home to one of Africa’s most extensive collections of traditional art, music instruments, and cultural artifacts. The museum provides a fascinating glimpse into Rwanda’s deep cultural roots before you ascend into the highlands toward Nyungwe.

Arriving at Gisakura in the late afternoon, you’ll check in at your lodge of choice — whether the elegant One&Only Nyungwe House, the hilltop Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel, or the charming Gisakura Guest House. The evening is yours to relax amid the cool mountain air and sounds of the forest.

Overnight: One&Only Nyungwe House / Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel / Gisakura Guest House
Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner

Today is devoted to the stars of Nyungwe Forest — the chimpanzees. You’ll rise before dawn, enjoy an early breakfast, and head to either Uwinka or Cyamudongo Forest, depending on the chimpanzee group’s location. After a safety and briefing session from the park rangers, you embark on your chimpanzee trekking expedition — an experience that is both exhilarating and deeply moving.

The forest comes alive in the early hours: the sound of birds, the rustle of leaves, and the occasional hoot of chimps echoing across the valley. Guided by expert trackers, you follow fresh nests and footprints until you find yourself face-to-face with these remarkable primates. Watching them feed, play, and interact is an emotional highlight — a rare window into the behavior of our closest relatives in the wild.

After spending up to one precious hour with the chimps, you’ll return to your lodge for lunch and relaxation. Later in the afternoon, prepare for another unforgettable experience — the Canopy Walk, Africa’s first high-altitude suspension bridge.

Stretching 160 meters long and 60 meters above the forest floor, the Canopy Walk offers breathtaking aerial views of Nyungwe’s treetops, deep valleys, and distant ridges. Birds flutter below you, monkeys swing in the distance, and the mist dances between the trees. It’s a moment of pure wonder that few ever experience.

Return to your lodge in the evening to unwind. Enjoy dinner as the forest night comes alive with the chirping of insects and the rhythmic hum of nature.

Overnight: One&Only Nyungwe House / Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel / Gisakura Guest House
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

After breakfast, lace up your hiking boots once again for the Isumo Waterfall Trail, one of Nyungwe’s most scenic and rewarding hikes. The trail winds through lush rainforest, bamboo zones, and fern-covered slopes alive with butterflies and birdcalls. Along the way, you may spot colobus monkeys leaping through the trees or colorful turacos flashing across the canopy.

The sound of rushing water grows stronger until you reach the Isumo Waterfall, a spectacular cascade plunging nearly 17 meters into a fern-draped gorge. The mist and sunlight create an ethereal glow — the perfect place for quiet reflection and photos that capture the essence of the forest.

After the hike, continue to the Gisakura Tea Estate, located just outside the park. Here, you’ll walk among the endless green fields of tea, meet local pickers, and learn how Rwanda’s premium tea is harvested and processed. The visit offers a calm contrast to the dense forest — a scene of harmony between nature and culture.

Following lunch, begin your drive back to Kigali, arriving in the evening. You’ll be dropped off at your hotel or airport, marking the end of your 3-day Nyungwe Forest Safari — a journey filled with nature, culture, and memories that linger long after you’ve left Rwanda’s misty hills behind.

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch