6 Days Rwanda Primate Safari
This is a 6 days Rwanda primate safari which starts and ends in Kigali City. This tour package takes you to two major primate destinations in Rwanda, which are; Nyungwe Forest National Park and Volcanoes National Park. The major highlights of this 6 Days Rwanda Primate Safari are the habituated mountain gorillas in Volcanoes national park and habituated chimpanzees in Nyungwe national park. In order to book this trip, please make sure that your flight to Kigali arrives in the early morning hours.
Tour Highlights.
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali and Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Day 2: Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Day 3: Nyungwe Canopy Walk.
Day 4: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park.
Day 5: Gorilla Trekking and Iby’ Iwacu Community visit.
Day 6: Transfer back to Kigali.
Detailed Itinerary for 6 Days Rwanda Primate Safari.
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali and Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park.
You will be picked up by your guide from Explore Rwanda Tours upon arrival at Kigali International Airport. You will have a short tour of the Kigali Genocide Memorial Site before proceeding with your transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park. The drive from Kigali city to the park takes about 5 hours and covers approximately 218km. Also, air transfers to Nyungwe from Kigali international airport are available in case you wish to skip the long road trip, just in form our travel consultant in advance when making your bookings for this trip.
Upon your arrival at Nyungwe Forest National Park, check into your lodge for dinner and accommodation at Nyungwe One & Only Guesthouse (Luxury).
Day 2: Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Have an early breakfast and then head to the Park’s headquarters in Uwinka where you will be briefed by the park’s head ranger and placed in trekking groups of 8 members per group. Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe forest national park begins at exactly 8am, so endeavor to keep time and make sure you are at the Uwinka center by 7am.
Nyungwe Forest National Park is home to approximately 80 habituated chimpanzees. While tracking chimps in the forest, you might as well spot other primate species such as; the black and white colobus monkey, red-tailed monkey, golden monkey and other monkey species. You will have your packed lunch after your chimp trekking activity or return to your hotel for lunch and good rest. Later in the evening, you can opt to go on a cultural encounter to one of the nearby villages. While there, you will get to learn more about the Rwandan culture, interact with the local people, get to see their daily lifestyles and even enjoy performances from the local dance groups.
Later return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight.
Day 3: Nyungwe Canopy Walk.
Wake up early in the morning, have your breakfast and head back to the park’s headquarters at Uwinka Centre. This is where you will being your hiking trip, which will lead you to the Canopy Walkway. The Nyungwe Forest Canopy Walk is the most exciting and adventurous activity in Nyungwe National Park. This activity is not for the faint of hearts as it involves walking along the canopy walkway, which stretches 160 meters long and extends 70 meters above the forest ground. The Canopy walkway in Nyungwe national park gives visitors a chance to explore the national park from above, as visitors along the canopy walkway can get a panoramic view of the forest canopy. In addition to this, visitors also have an opportunity to see wildlife in the park such as; monkeys, chimpanzees, butterflies and different bird species.
Head back to your lodge for dinner and accommodation.
Day 4: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park.
Start your day with an early morning breakfast and later meet up with your guide who will transfer you to Volcanoes National Park, which is located in Ruhengeri district in Rwanda. This national park is the capital for all gorilla trekking tours in Rwanda, with 12 habituated gorilla groups available for tourists to track. The park was established in 1925 and is one of the oldest national parks in Africa. It covers approximately 160 square kilometers and is home to over 178 species of birds, with 13 species that are endemic to the Virunga Conservation Area.
Upon your arrival in Volcanoes national park, check into your lodge for dinner and accommodation at Kinigi Guesthouse/ Virunga Lodge/ One & Only Gorilla’s Nest.
Day 5: Gorilla Trekking and Iby’ Iwacu Community visit.
This day marks the highlight of your gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda. Have an early morning breakfast and transfer to the park’s headquarters in Kinigi by 7am. Upon your arrival in Volcanoes national park; you will be met by the park’s head ranger, who will brief you and give you guidelines to follow while tracking the gorillas and also when you are in their presence. You will then be placed into tracking groups, comprising 8 members per gorilla trekking group.
Gorilla trekking activities in Volcanoes begin at exactly 8am and you will be accompanied by armed park rangers, skilled guides and porters, in case you have luggage to carry with you. Don’t forget to carry packed lunch with you on this day, because gorilla trekking can take between 2-7 hours, trying to locate the gorillas.
Once the mountain gorillas have been located, you will get to spend only an hour with the majestic giants. Use this time well and do take as many photos as you wish; only bear in mind that your camera’s flash is disabled.
After your amazing gorilla trekking experience, you will return to the park’s headquarters for your gorilla trekking certificate and then drive back to your lodge. Later in the afternoon, you will drive to the Iby’iwacu village and get an insightful peek into the spectacular Rwandan culture. You will get to interact with the local people, see their day-to-day lifestyles and also watch dance performances from the local intore dance troupe.
While there, you will get to learn of how most of the members of the Iby’iwacu village, were once poachers, who have be rehabilitated and now take part in conservation programs in the national park. You also have an option of hiking to the Musanze caves and exploring them. You will learn about the history of these caves and their cultural significance to Rwanda’s historical past.
Later return to your lodge for dinner and accommodation.
Day 6: Transfer back to Kigali.
Unfortunately, this is your last day with us and we hope you enjoyed most of your tour. Take your breakfast at leisure and then drive back to Kigali City. You then proceed with a tour of Kigali City, depending on when your flight back home departs. While on your Kigali city tour, you can visit places like; camp Kigali Nyamirambo Women’s Center, Caplaki craft village and Kimironko market; where you can grab yourself and your loved ones back home some souvenirs. Your guide will then drive you back to your hotel of straight to Kigali International Airport in time for you to check in and board your flight back home. End of Tour.
