8 Days Rwanda Primate Safari Overview
The 8 Days Rwanda primates safari offers unforgettable mountain gorilla trekking and chimpanzee tracking experiences. It is an amazing primate encounter package designed for enthusiastic wildlife or primate lovers to enjoy up close with the endangered mountain gorillas and chimpanzees. Your gorilla tour will be conducted in Volcanoes National Park and chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest National Park. It combines Kigali memorial site tour during a city tour and a cultural encounter in which you will explore the distinct traditions and cultures of Rwandese.
Brief Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at KGL –Rwanda
Day 2: Kigali city tour –Nyungwe Forest N/Park
Day 3: Chimpanzee encounter + canopy walking
Day 4: Drive to Lake Kivu Rwanda
Day 5: Lake Kivu-Ruhengeri to tour Volcanoes NP
Day 6: Gorilla trekking
Day 7: Golden monkey/Dian Fossey trek & Iby’Iwacu village tour
Day 8: Departure
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at KGL –Rwanda
Day one of this long Rwanda primate safari is dedicated to arrival. Meet and greet our company representative for a briefing on your special 8 Days Rwanda primate safari tour. After, board a 4×4 safari vehicle and he will transfer you from the airport to a comfortable place of stay in Kigali.
Dinner & Overnight stay
- The Retreat/Kigali Marriott Hotel
Day 2: Kigali city tour –Nyungwe Forest N/Park
Following a hefty breakfast, board your 4×4 vehicle ready for the Kigali city tour. The 2 hours city expedition in Kigali comes with a great opportunity to explore the Kigali genocide memorial center, craft shops and more. Leave Kigali after lunch and drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park a rich home to variety of primates including over 500 chimpanzees, l’hoest monkeys, Mona monkeys, colobus monkeys, pottos, bush babies, olive baboons and over 310 bird species. En route to Nyungwe, a stopover will be made at Butare to visit the Nyanza King’s palace if time allows or drive straight to the park to check in at the lodge.
Dinner & overnight
- Budget: Gisakura Guesthouse
- Midrange: Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel
- Luxury: One&Only Nyungwe House
Day 3: Chimpanzee encounters + canopy walking
Enjoy hot cup of Rwanda tea/coffee, after, connect to Uwinka/Cyamudongo Forest to get briefed about chimpanzee tracking guidelines. You will leave the briefing area at 8:00am and the park guide takes you on a search for chimpanzees. These are unique apes and over 500 of them reside in the tropical forest of Nyungwe National Park. The trek to explore these interesting primates takes 2-4 hours with a guarantee of one hour for a magical encounter and photography.
In the afternoon after you have had lunch, set off for Nyungwe Forest canopy walking experience. Nyungwe Forest canopy walk is suspended about 60m from the ground and you will be exploring the Igishigishi trail. The walkway is 200 meters long and diversity of primates, flora and birds will be spotted.
Dinner & overnight
- Budget: Gisakura Guesthouse
- Midrange: Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel
- Luxury: One&Only Nyungwe House
Day 4: Drive to Lake Kivu-Rwanda
Transfer from Nyungwe Forest NP to Lake Kivu. This is one of Africa’s freshwater Lakes and known for its virgin islands including Napoleon Hat Island. It is a shared water lake by Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo. You will have a relaxed evening at the cool shores of the lake and overnight stay at a comfortable Hotel Faucon/Lake Kivu Serena Hotel
Day 5: Lake Kivu-Ruhengeri to tour Volcanoes NP
Enjoy a tasty breakfast and after, start Lake Kivu boat ride that leads you to the charming island. Visit the Napoleon Hat Island, enjoy the remarkable views of the surrounding areas, and sight the interesting bird species. Later, retreat from the recreational boat ride and check out then connect to the gorilla safari lodge in or at Volcanoes National Park.
Dinner & Overnight
- Budget: Muhabura Hotel/Kinigi Guesthouse
- Midrange: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge/La Palme Hotel/Da Vinci
- Luxury: Five Volcanoes/Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
- Upper Luxury: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge/One & Only Gorilla’s Nest/Bisate Lodge/Volcanoes Virunga Lodge/Singita Kwitonda Lodge
Day 6: Gorilla trekking
After a delicious breakfast, expect to report to Kinigi for a briefing on guidelines. You will get to know what to do or not to do while trekking gorillas, an exhilarating adventure that will take you about 2-6 hours inclusive of one hour for a magical encounter and taking pictures. When you get back, have a relaxed evening, dinner and retire for the night.
Dinner & Overnight
- Budget: Muhabura Hotel/Kinigi Guesthouse
- Midrange: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge/La Palme Hotel/Da Vinci
- Luxury: Five Volcanoes/Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
- Upper Luxury: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge/One & Only Gorilla’s Nest/Bisate Lodge/Volcanoes Virunga Lodge/Singita Kwitonda Lodge
Day 7: Golden monkey/Dian Fossey trek & Iby’Iwacu village tour
After a heavy breakfast, briefing about golden monkey tracking rules & procedures/Dian Fossey trek will be done at Kinigi. If you set off for golden monkey trek, expect to explore more about golden monkeys and Dian Fossey trek offers an insight into the Dian Fossey & her legacy in gorilla conservation. In the evening, you will leave the lodge for a cultural expedition in the Gorilla Guardian Village.
Dinner & Overnight
- Budget: Muhabura Hotel/Kinigi Guesthouse
- Midrange: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge/La Palme Hotel/Da Vinci
- Luxury: Five Volcanoes/Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
- Upper Luxury: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge/One & Only Gorilla’s Nest/Bisate Lodge/Volcanoes Virunga Lodge/Singita Kwitonda Lodge
Day 8: Departure
Early morning breakfast will be followed by check out of the lodge. After, start your journey back to Kigali, connect to the airport or drop off at the hotel for an overnight stay.
End of safari
Inclusions
- Gorilla & chimp permits
- Park entrance fees
- Guide services for 8 days
- Bottled water
- All travel activities except the optional ones
Exclusions
- Expenses on laundry, cigarettes, beverages, insurance, shopping, telephone calls, extra accommodation after the trip, etc.