Get the best of primate safari only on 5 days Rwanda gorilla and chimpanzee tour that takes you to Volcanoes National Park to track mountain gorillas and Nyungwe Forest for chimpanzee tracking.
These are 2 unique primate experiences you shouldn’t miss out on your safari in Rwanda. Volcanoes National Park is in Northern Province and Nyungwe Forest National Park in the Southern Province of Rwanda. Your journey will commence and end in Kigali Rwanda.
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Kigali to Nyungwe Forest National Park (5-6 hours’ drive)
Wake up early and begin your day with breakfast, then drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park in the Southern Province about 5-6 hours’ drive from Kigali. En-route, visit the National Museum in Butare, Nyanza King’s Palace plus Murambi genocide centre. After, check into your lodge for dinner and night stay.
Day 2: Chimp tracking and canopy walk tour
Have an early morning cup of tea or coffee and after report to Uwinka to meet the team from the park. You will be briefed on existing dos and don’ts for chimp tracking then begin your search for chimps at 8:00am with park guide. Nyungwe Forest is endowed with over 13 primate species and not will you sight chimps but also diversity of other primates like L’Hoest’s, baboons, pottos, bush babies, red tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys as well as bird species.
Retreat from 2-4 hours’ chimp trek to enjoy lunch, relax and have an afternoon canopy walk. On a canopy walk, expect to enjoy excellent views of primates, birds, Nyungwe Forest canopy, Virunga Volcanoes and other surrounding areas.
Day 3: Nyungwe Forest to Volcanoes National Park in Northern Province
Leave Nyungwe Forest National Park for Volcanoes National Park in the Northern Province of Rwanda after breakfast and check out from your lodge. En-route, you will enjoy exceptional view of scenic rolling hills and surrounding areas, check in at the lodge for dinner and night stay.
Day 4: Gorilla trekking
After a tasty cup of tea, report Kinigi to get briefed on gorilla trekking guidelines and once you have been assigned to a gorilla group, begin your trek at 8:00am. Enjoy 2-6 hours trekking to see mountain gorillas and spend one hour face to face with once you have come across them.
Get back to have a relaxed evening in the lodge as you wait to make a return journey to Kigali the next day or opt to visit the Iby’Iwacu cultural village.
Day 5: Leave Volcanoes National Park in Ruhengeri for Kigali
Have breakfast and after, be ready to drive back to Kigali 2-3 hours then enjoy a Kigali city expedition shortly once you have arrived at Kigali capital city. You will visit Kigali genocide site and other sites then connect to Kigali airport early to fly back home or to your next destination.
