8 Days Rwanda Primates Safari

8 Days Rwanda Primates Safari : Rwanda is incredibly interesting to visit in its incredible scenic hilly landscapes, making her famous as the “Land of a Thousand Hills,” rich in biodiversity. This 8-day Rwanda Primates Safari takes you to Rwanda’s most visited primates’ destinations, which are Volcanoes National Park and Nyungwe National Park, with a bit of relaxation during the trip. Volcanoes National Park, along with two other parks in Uganda and one in the Congo, is the most popular park for gorilla trekking. Volcanoes National Park has about 10 habituated gorilla families for tourism. In addition to gorilla trekking, Volcanoes National Park is home to endangered golden monkeys, a variety of forest animals, and approximately 200 different bird species. Nyungwe Forest National Park, on the other hand, is home to the endangered chimpanzees and 12 other species of primates. Trekking with chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest is one of the most scenic experiences under the montane rainforest, and walking on a canopy above the forest is an additional beautiful experience. Enjoy other excursions, including visiting Lake Kivu bordering the Congo and a city tour in Kigali city.

Highlights

• Day 1: Arrival in Kigali—Rwandan/Kigali city tour
• Day 2: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park—Community Tour
• Day 3: Gorilla trekking experience
• Day 4: Golden monkey tracking and transfer to Gisenyi
• Day 5: Full-day excursion to Lake Kivu
• Day 6: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park
• Day 7: Chimpanzee trekking and canopy walk
• Day 8: Return to Kigali

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Kigali, Rwanda

Your safari driver will meet you at Kigali international airport with your confirmed flight, act as your guide throughout the trip, pack your luggage in the safari vehicle, and drive you to your booked accommodation in Kigali city. Depending on your time of arrival, doing a city tour on this day will be the best. Visit some of the interesting places in Kigali, including the Kigali genocide memorial, and drive to one of the hills in Kigali for a city view and a market tour. Return in the evening to your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.

• Luxury option: Kigali Serena Hotel
• Mid-range option: Des Mille Collins Hotel
• Budget option: Step Town Motel

Day 2: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park—Community Tour

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and embark on your journey to transfer to Volcanoes National Park. It’s a 2- to 3-hour drive from Kigali to Musanze, where we find the home of the endangered mountain gorillas.

Arrive in Musanze at a good time for lunch after checking in your booked accommodation. Later afternoon, visit Iby’wacu Cultural Village, a non-profit umbrella organization that aims to improve the lives of reformed poachers and communities around Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park through the provision of conservation incentives and supporting community enterprise development and livelihood-based projects. Experience the Kinyarwanda traditions, such as the Intore dance, traditional ceremonies, and a guided community walk, at this rewarding place. Connect to your booked accommodation for dinner and overnight stay at

• Luxury option: 5 Volcanoes Gorilla Lodge/Virunga Lodge
• Mid-range option: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge/Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
• Budget option: Hotel Muhabura/Kinigi Guesthouse

Day 3: Gorilla trekking experience

You will transfer to the Kinigi Park headquarters with your trekking gear after an early morning breakfast for a briefing about the endangered mountain gorillas. We have assigned you a family of gorillas to trek with, so connect to the starting point and begin your journey under the guidance of armed ranger guides. Depending on the gorillas’ movements, this activity could take anywhere from 2 to 8 hours. However, meeting them is highly rewarding, and you will spend a maximum of 1 hour with them, during which you can spend time studying them and taking pictures and videos. After spending time with the fascinating mountain gorillas, return to the base, meet your driver, and then proceed to your lodge for lunch and refreshment. Spend the rest of your day at leisure. Dinner and overnight stay at booked lodge as above

Day 4: Golden Monkey Trekking—Transfer to Gisenyi

After early morning breakfast, drive back to the park headquarters for a briefing about the endangered golden monkeys and be allocated a group. Connect to the tracking starting point and enter the forest to search for the rare golden monkey. This activity can span from 1 to 5 hours, allowing you to observe other primates in the park, such as the red-tailed and vervet monkeys, up close. After viewing the rare golden monkeys for an hour while taking pictures and studying their behaviors, return to the base and drive back to the lodge.

After lunch, check-out of the lodge and drive to Gisenyi. It’s a 2-hour’ drive from Musanze. Upon arriving in Gisenyi, connect to your booked accommodation located close to Lake Kivu shores for great views. Relax at the lodge, dinner, and overnight stay at

• Luxury option: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel
• Mid-range option: Palm Garden Hotel
• Budget option: Paradise Malahide Hotel

Day 5: Full-day excursion at Lake Kivu

After breakfast, transfer to explore Lake Kivu and connect to Rubavu town at the lake’s shores. Spend the rest of the day enjoying the shores, taking boat trips to the lake’s island, participating in a town tour with lunch en-route, and relaxing on the shores while enjoying the breeze. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above.

Day 6: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park

After enjoying your delicious breakfast at leisure, embark on your journey to Nyungwe Forest National Park, which is a 6- to 7-hour drive from Gisenyi. Drive through the rolling hills and great views of the Virunga Mountains. Upon arrival in Nyumgwe Forest, connect to your booked lodge for dinner and an overnight stay at your booked lodge.

• Luxury option: One and Only Nyungwe House
• Mid-range option: Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel
• Budget option: Gisakura Visitors Centre

Day 7: Chimpanzee trekking and canopy walk

Enjoy breakfast and go for a briefing about the endangered chimpanzees before entering the forest in search of the active and playful fellows in Nyungwe Forest. The chimpanzees are much easier to spot as they jump from one tree to another, chattering and laughing. Chimpanzee tracking usually takes about 3 hours. On finding them, spend an hour while taking pictures and videos before you drive back to your lodge for lunch.

Connect for a canopy walk. You will go on a walking trail that will take you to the Canopy Walk—a swing bridge 50 meters in length that is suspended from large trees. You will be able to see the amazing rainforest with a bird’s-eye view, spotting wildlife moving below you. Dinner and overnight stay at the provided lodge as above

Day 8: Transfer back to Kigali

After breakfast, meet your guide and begin your journey back to Kigali. En route, you will pass through Butare and visit the Rwanda National Museum. After lunch, you will proceed to Kigali. Once you reach Kigali, your guide will drop you off at a location you specify, or connect you to the Kigali airport for your subsequent flight home.

End of 8 Days Rwanda Primates Safari