New and Exclusive Gorilla & Chimpanzee Experiences in East Africa

A baby and mother mountain gorilla in Rwanda

What to expect on this itinerary

Exclusive and enchanting, this is a safari of East Africa’s new primate experiences. Intimate encounters with legendary primates have evolved as you may now become part of the habituation process as you engage with the incredible wildlife.  Spend hours with researchers alongside a troop of semi-habituated gorillas, as well as a day with chimpanzees as part of your safari adventure. Explore a new national park, encounter more than a dozen species, visit a previously unknown chimpanzee troop, and take part in an iconic gorilla trekking for an exclusive experience you will never forget.

Countries Visited

Rwanda

Places Visited

Kigali, National Genocide Centre, Gishwati Forest, Gishwati-Mukura National Park, Volcanoes National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Kibale Forest National Park

Suggested Duration

9 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Kigali – Culture and History in the Rwandan Capital

Rwanda’s capital is full of surprise and charm, always lingering long in the memory. Markets are laden with an atmosphere as fresh as the fruit that fills the stalls while the cleanliness is remarkable, far exceeding almost any city in the world. Locals are keen to share stories, and an old French influence is seen in the cafes. You are greeted at the airport and have a private guide for the day who can customize a tour to your interests. The National Genocide Centre provides essential viewing for an understanding of the context in the lead up to the events of 1994. More personal and moving is the Nyamata Church Memorial, a building left untouched, stacked full of bones and bloodied rags. There is also the modern face of Kigali to explore, like cocktails around a pool and a couple of outstanding restaurants for the evening.

What's Included:

Transfer
Accommodation
Tour
Dinner
Day 2

Gishwati-Mukuru National Park – Monkeys of East Africa’s Newest National Park

Day 3

Volcanoes National Park – New and Exclusive Chimpanzee Trekking

Day 4

Volcanoes National Park – Rwanda Gorilla Trekking

Day 5

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest – Weaving Through the Rural Landscapes

Day 6

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest – New Gorilla Habituation Experience

Day 7

Kibale Forest National Park – More Monkeys and Mangabeys

Day 8

Kibale Forest National Park – Joining the Researchers

Day 9

Entebbe – Departure

Trip Highlights

  • Engage with a recently habituated chimpanzee troop in the Gishwati Forest as you spend time with primates who have only been seen by visitors since 2017
  • Absorb the charms of Rwandan gorilla trekking for the iconic East African experience in Volcanoes National Park
  • Become part of the research as you participate in the new and exclusive gorilla habituation experience, spending up to four hours with researchers alongside a wild mountain gorilla troop
  • Spend a full day with a troop of semi-habituated chimpanzees in Kibale Forest for an exclusive opportunity to fully understand the behavioral range of the primates
  • Discover East Africa’s newest national park, Gishwati-Mukura, an untrammeled haven for a full range of unusual monkey species
  • Celebrate the diversity of East Africa’s primates as you encounter more than a dozen species as each of the national parks have their special unique wildlife
  • View Rwanda through the stories of its people and tales of a vibrant

Starting Price

$11,700 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

4.8

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 86 reviews

John G.
Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania Vacation Review: Great Migration, 12 Nights

We can't speak highly enough about using Zicasso's travel specialist and her company. They put together a complicated package covering three completely separate areas and were able to connect us with local guides in each place. The guides they worked with were all fabulous, as were the locations we stayed at.

At one point, the airline that was handling our trip out changed the flight due to local conditions. I learned of this first through our specialist, who was immediately on the situation and kept us apprised of the change. The company provided us with an online portal that covered every part of our trip. It was constantly updated and we always knew who the next contact was in the new area.

Throughout the process, we had constant questions and changes. Our travel company was very pleasant and accommodating of our concerns. Their work was in the middle of a larger trip. Even though they were not handling the stops before and after their portion, they were more than happy to help out with those portions and added that information to our itinerary at no cost.

In a word, they were fabulous. If you want more detail on their work and my unqualified recommendation of them, please reach out and I'm happy to provide you with more information.

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Peter D.
Tanzania, Rwanda Tour Review: Wildlife, Gorilla Trekking, 13-Day Trip

Zicasso's travel agent is a superstar. We really didn’t know where to go and what to do in Africa, so his excellent advice was critical. We did exactly what he recommended and, as a result, our trip was just perfect. We are eternally grateful.

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LESLIE W.
Rwanda, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique Trip Review: Gorilla Trek, Bush Camps, 3 Weeks

It was very well planned. Zicasso's travel specialist was responsive and flexible in the planning process and throughout the final details.

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Kannan V.
Rwanda, Kenya Travel Review: Nairobi, Mara North Conservancy, Safari Experience, 2-Week Trip

The trip was well organized and the handoffs across multiple locations were managed very smoothly, without any problems. Our Zicasso travel agent was very responsive throughout the planning process.

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JANA R.
Rwanda Luxury Trip Review: Lake Rwanyakazinga Akagera National Park, Ruhengeri, Wildlife, Gorillas, 2 Weeks

Working with Zicasso’s travel agent was wonderful. She was very responsive and checked on us to make sure we were doing okay once we started our trip. She answered every question and was available as needed. On a previous trip, we used a different African travel company, which was wonderful, and our travel agent for this tour brought the same experience at less cost.

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Pamela S.
Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania Luxury Travel Review: Mountain Gorillas, Big Five, 2 Weeks

The trip was marvelous and well planned by Zicasso’s tour operator. There were no major hiccups and all of our travel connections worked without major incident. Our itinerary included a variety of accommodations, giving us a complete African experience, and the unique experiences we had in the field will be remembered forever.

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

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