6 Days Rwanda Gorillas & Chimpanzees Safari
6 Days Rwanda Gorillas & Chimpanzees Safari takes you to Rwanda’s gorilla trekking and chimpanzee destinations respective. Volcanoes national park is Rwanda’s home of the endangered mountain gorillas. The park is located on Virunga Mountains shared with Uganda and Congo. Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park is different from other parks because it is quite easier to find the gorillas even with the steep hills of Virunga Mountains. There are about 10 habituated gorilla families for visitors to see. Apart from gorilla trekking, Volcanoes national park is also a home to the endangered golden monkeys and other primates, a few of the forest animals, about 200 different bird species and a Mountain hiking destination.
Nyungwe forest national park on the other hands is home to the endangered chimpanzees and 12 other species of primates. Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe forest is one of the most scenic experiences under the montane rainforest and walking on a canopy above the forest is an added beautiful experience. Other excursions include visiting Lake Kivu bordering Congo and a city tour in Kigali city.
Highlights of the
- Day 1: Arrival in Kigali – and transfer to Volcanoes national park
- Day 2: Gorilla trekking experience
- Day 3: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park
- Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking and Canopy walk
- Day 5: Transfer to Lake Kivu
- Day 6: Return to Kigali – Departure
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali and transfer to Volcanoes national park
Upon arrival at Kigali international airport with your morning confirmed booked flight or Depending on your location in Kigali, you will be met by your safari driver who will be your guide throughout the trip, meet and greet, pack your luggage in the safari vehicle and Volcanoes national park. It’s a 2-3 hours’ drive from Kigali to Musanze where we find the home of the endangered mountain gorillas.
Arrive in Musanze at good time for lunch after checking-in your booked accommodation. Later afternoon, visit Iby’wacu Cultural Village-a Non-Profit umbrella organization that aims at improving the lives of reformed poachers and communities around Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park through provision of conservation incentives, supporting community enterprise development and livelihood based projects. It’s a rewarding place where you will be guided around the place as you enjoy the Kinyarwanda traditions including the Intore dance, traditional ceremonies and a guided community walk. 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 2: Gorilla trekking experience
On the 2nd day of your 6 Days Rwanda Gorillas & Chimpanzees Safari After early morning breakfast, you will be transferred to the Kinigi park headquarters with your trekking gears for a briefing about the endangered mountain gorillas. You have been allocated a gorilla family to trek, connect to the starting point and start trekking along with the guidance of the armed ranger guides together with the ranger guides. This activity may take between 2-8 hours searching for the gorillas depending on their movement. However meeting them is so rewarding and you will spend maximally 1 hour with them as you take time studying them and taking pictures and videos. After spending your time with the fascinating mountain gorillas, return to the base and meet your driver to connect to your lodge for lunch and refresh. Spend the rest of your day at leisure. Dinner and overnight stay at booked lodge as above
Day 3: Transfer to Nyungwe forest national park
After enjoying your delicious breakfast, embark on your journey to Nyungwe forest national park which is a 6-7 hours’ drive from Musanze. Drive through the rolling hills and great views of Virunga Mountains. Upon arrival in Nyumgwe forest, connect to your booked lodge for dinner and 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 4: Chimpanzee trekking and canopy walk
Enjoy breakfast and go for 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 provided lodge as above
Day 5: Transfer to Lake Kivu
After your breakfast, transfer to Gisenyi. It’s a 5-6 hours’ drive through the rolling hills of Rwanda and sights of Virunga Mountains and Nyungwe forest. Transfer to explore Lake Kivu and connect to Rubavu town at the shores of Lake Kivu where you will spend the rest of the day enjoying the shores while taking boat trips to the island of the lake, a town tour with lunch en-route and relaxing at the shores as you enjoy the breeze. Dinner and overnight stay at your booked accommodation
- Luxury option: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel
- Mid-range option: Palm Garden Hotel
- Budget option: Paradise Malahide Hotel
Day 6: Return to Kigali – Departure
After breakfast, and if you missed any interested activity at Lake Kivu, do your activity before you embark on your journey back to Kigali. Upon arrival in Kigali, have lunch and proceed to Kigali airport for your onward flight back home.
End of safari
