6 Days Primate Safari and Wildlife Rwanda
Day 1: Nyungwe Forest National Park
Arrive at Kanombe (Kigali) airport. Meet, greet and start for Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Along the way, make stops at places of interest including local markets, the traditional palace of Rwanda’s Former King in Nyanza. Drive past green fields of tea scattered across the hillsides and the small wooden houses unique to the areas surrounding Nyungwe Forest. [Approximate driving time: 6 hours]
Accommodation options available
Up-market: Nyungwe Forest Lodge
Moderate: Top Hill Nyungwe Lodge
Low Budget: ORTPN Gisakura Guest House
Day 2: Chimpanzee Tracking in Nyungwe Forest
Breakfast will be served early morning and after you will proceed to the park headquarters for briefing at 6:00am. Unlike other countries like Uganda where chimpanzee tracking activity starts at 8:00am, here in Nyungwe Forest National Park the activity starts at 6:00am.
You will enter into the forest when it’s dark but you will be able to see primate species such as colobus monkeys, forest birds and later, you will be able to see the chimpanzees when it’s already day time.
Return to your lodge after the tracking for lunch and in the afternoon, you will set out for the guided forest walk with in the forest.
Accommodation options available
Up-market: Nyungwe Forest Lodge
Moderate: Top Hill Nyungwe Lodge
Low Budget: ORTPN Gisakura Guest House
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 3: Lake Kivu
Take breakfast and head to Lake Kivu. Enjoy a breath-taking scenery of the Virunga Mountains and the green vegetation enroute.
You will have lunch en route and proceed for either a boat cruise along Lake Kivu or relaxing on the shores.
Dinner and overnight at Paradise Malahide. Enjoy the rolling hills for which Rwanda is well known.
Accommodation options available (all on full board basis)
Up-market: Serena Lake Kivu Hotel
Moderate: Paradise Malahide.
Low Budget: Paradise Malahide
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 4: Volcanoes National Park & Golden Monkey Tracking
Have breakfast and drive to Volcanoes National park to catch up with the golden monkey tracking activity. These are the most endangered primate species at Parc des Volcans.
In the evening, you may go for cultural walk to Iby’wachu for cultural entertainment by the Banyarwanda community.
Transfer to Kinigi Park headquarters to track gorillas in Parc National des Volcans. Gorilla tracking through the forest, hills and swamps can be tough, arduous and tiring, sometimes taking up to 8 hours in the forest. But coming face to face with the great primates is well worth the effort.
Accommodation options available
Up-market: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Moderate: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge | La Palme Hotel | Volcanoes Gorilla Lodge
Low Budget: Kinigi Guest House | Muhavura Lodge.
Day 5: Gorilla Trekking in Parc National des Volcans
Have breakfast and go to ORTPN offices for briefing after that set off in the forest for gorilla trekking.
A thrilling trek through the refined foothills of the Virungas provides inspiring views in all directions. Then, suddenly, the trail enters the national park, engrossing trekkers in the strange closeness of the rainforest, alive with the calls of colorful birds and chattering of the rare golden monkey, and besieged with fresh spoor of the mountains' elusive populations of buffalo and elephant.
Through gaps in the forest canopy, the marvelous peaks are sighted, easily easy to get to and among the uppermost in Africa, indicating an ascent. Gorilla trekking is quite strenuous but a worthwhile on encounter of these gentle giants. The enthusiasm of your coming across with these apes will wipe away your intricacy of the strenuous trek.
Spend time watching gorillas, watch the adults feeding their young ones, brushing and resting as the youngsters play from vines in a pleasurably playful display.
Accommodation options available
Up-market: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Moderate: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge | La Palme Hotel | Volcanoes Gorilla Lodge
Low Budget: Kinigi Guest House | Muhavura Lodge.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 6: Kigali
Leave for Kigali. Time permitting; go for a tour of the city including shopping. Transfer to airport for your flight. [Approximate driving time: 3 hours].