5 Days Rwanda Primate Safari & Ibyiwachu cultural village

This 5-days primate’s safari in Rwanda will take you away from the hustles and bustles of the city of Rwanda to the magnificent primate destinations of Nyungwe forest national park famous for being home to the chimpanzees in Rwanda as well as the primate capital of this land of a thousand hills and Volcanoes national park in the Virunga conservation area, home to the gentle though highly endangered mountain gorillas.

Itinerary overview

  • Day 1: Pick up from Kigali and Nyungwe national park
  • Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and Canopy walk
  • Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes national park
  • Day 4: Gorilla trekking and Visit to the Dian Fossey fund
  • Day 5: Golden monkey trekking then transfer to Kigali

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Pick up from Kigali and Nyungwe national park

Upon arrival at the airport, you will be met and greeted by our friendly driver guide who will brief you and take you through your trip plan. After this, we shall proceed on a scenic drive to Nyungwe forest national park where we will check into our lodge upon arrival for dinner and an evening of relaxation.

  • Meal plan; Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  • Accommodation;
  • Luxury; One & Only Nyungwe house
  • Midrange; Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel/Kivu Marina Bay Hotel
  • Budget; Chimpanzee lodge Nyungwe

Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and Canopy walk

After early breakfast at the lodge, we leave for Nyungwe forest for the chimpanzee trekking experience. Nyungwe forest is a rich biologically diverse forest famous for being home to 13 species of primates including Chimpanzees, L’hoest monkeys, colobus monkeys, among others as well as over 300 bird species. Once at the park headquarters’ will transfer you will settle down for a briefing before you start your trek. After the trek, you will hike out of the forest and have your lunch. After lunch, proceed on a canopy walk. This is a 30 minutes guided walk starting from the Uwinka Visitors center in Nyungwe Forest via the Igishigishi Trail. The trail begins with a steep slope and offers stunning views. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Meal plan; Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Accommodation;

  • Luxury; One & Only Nyungwe house
  • Midrange; Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel/Kivu Marina Bay Hotel
  • Budget; Chimpanzee lodge Nyungwe

Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes national park

After a tasty breakfast at the lodge, set off for a scenic drive with beautiful views of the hilly landscape of Kigali and the sparkling surfaces of Lake Kivu on a sunny day. You will reach at your gorilla lodge just in time for lunch. After lunch you will spend the rest of the evening relaxing at the lodge.

Meal plan; Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Accommodation;

  • Luxury; One & Only gorilla’s nest/Farm house Rwanda/Amarembo by Touchdown
  • Mid-range; Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel/Ingagi Parkview lodge
  • Budget; Le Bambou gorilla lodge/Classic resort Musanze

Day 4: Gorilla trekking and visit to the Dian Fossey fund

Wake up for a breakfast at the lodge then at 6:45 am we shall leave for the park headquarters for a briefing. On arrival, you will settle down for a briefing on the code of conduct for gorilla trekking. After the briefing, your driver guide will take you to the starting point from where you will join your group of 8 continue into the forest in search of the gorillas. This hike will take about 2-6 hours then after locating them you will be allowed 1 hour in their presence. This is a somewhat strenuous hike therefore a certain level of fitness is required.

After 1 hour with gorillas, hike out of the forest and return to the lodge for refreshment and lunch. Later in the afternoon, you will go a visit to the Ellen DE Genres museum of Dian Fossey. Here you will come face to face with Dian Fossey’s gorilla research, learn more about gorilla behavior and the mountain gorillas of her time. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Meal plan; Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Accommodation;

  • Luxury; One & Only gorilla’s nest/Farm house Rwanda/Amarembo by Touchdown
  • Mid-range; Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel/Ingagi Parkview lodge
  • Budget; Le Bambou gorilla lodge/Classic resort Musanze

Day 5: Transfer to Kigali

Just like the day before, have an early breakfast then head for a briefing at the park headquarters. The briefing will take place as the same place as the day before. Today you will be briefed on the dos and don’ts of golden monkey trekking. After the briefing, you will begin the hike in search of the golden monkeys. This hike will take you through the potato fields of the neighboring community and it takes between 1-5 hours.

After this, you will return to the lodge for lunch then after you will check out of the lodge proceed back to Kigali

Inclusions

  • Ground Transportation
  • Driver guide
  • Gorilla permit
  • Golden monkey permit
  • Chimpanzee permit
  • Canopy walk
  • Accommodation
  • Meals
  • Water

Exclusions

  •  Tips
  • Porters
  • Donations
  • Visas and international flights
  • Laundry