Tour overview
Your 6 days best of Rwanda primates safari will take you to Rwanda’s premier primate destinations namely Nyungwe forest National Park which is Africa’s oldest preserved montane rainforest sheltering 13 primate species, more than 300 bird species, 85 mammal species and many more. Your other primate destination on this safari is the Volcanoes National Park renowned for harboring mountain gorillas and golden monkeys as well as other vibrant unique mammal species. You will make visits to Rwanda’s historical sites and cultural villages for proper understanding of this country’s history and culture as you mingle with the locals in the city.
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Arrival & transfer to Nyungwe National Park
Upon arrival at the airport, you will be received by your driver guide from Omangwa Safaris who will take you through a briefing about this safari highlighting your safari expectations and activities. You will then hit the road to be driven through Rwanda’s rolling hills and ever green vegetation lasting for about 3 and a half to 4 hours arriving to check-in and have lunch. You will have a relaxed evening at your lodge gazing at several primates that often make visits as you wait to have dinner and an overnight.
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking & canopy walk
Enjoy your early morning breakfast and report to Uwinka Park headquarters for a briefing about chimpanzee trekking by the Park’s ranger guides. You will set off immediately after the briefing to embark on the search a habituated troop of chimpanzees as your eyes are easily taken away by several other primates and bird species that call these forests home. After trekking through the forests for about 30 minutes to 4 hours, a troop of chimpanzees will be met carrying on their routine activities where an hour will be allowed amidst them which are so captivating and charming. Return back to your lodge for lunch before you head off for a walk along a 70 meter high bridge above the Park’s tree tops. Great views of the entire surrounding will be captured as well as viewing several bird species and many more before you return to your lodge to have dinner and an overnight.
Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Today morning have your breakfast, checkout to meet your driver guide and set off to Volcanoes National Park being driven through the country’s undulating lanes. Along your drive, you will make a stopover at Lake Kivu for relaxation along the lake while you mingle with the local fishermen. You will have your lunch before you proceed with your drive to Volcanoes National Park where you will be arriving in the evening to check-in at your reserved lodge as you wait to have dinner and an overnight.
Day 4: Gorilla trekking & Ibyi’wacu cultural village
Have your morning breakfast, have your lunch parked and set off to Kinigi Park headquarters for a briefing about the dos and don’ts during gorilla trekking. You will be driven to a starting point of your gorilla trek to embark on the search of these gentle giants with the guidance of ranger guides in their natural habitat. The gorilla search lasts for about 1 to 6 hours depending on how far the gorilla family could have moved in search for a better foraging spot. An hour is allowed close to the gorillas as you have an eye to eye contact with the gorillas which is a once in a lifetime experience. Ranger guides will secure a place for you to have lunch after which you will head off for a cultural experience at Ibyi’wacu cultural village. You will learn about their ancient way of life style for example dressing code, cultural architecture, organization structure of their kingdom and many more. Return back to your lodge for dinner and an overnight.
Day 5: Golden monkey trekking & twin Lakes visit
You will have your breakfast and return to the Park headquarters for a briefing about golden monkey trekking. Golden monkey trekking lasts for about 30 minutes to 4 hours and locating a habituated troop will involve following after broken bamboo shoots and leaves while your ears are widely open listen to their hoots. An hour is allowed amidst this endangered monkey species before you return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight. After lunch you will proceed for a visit to the country’s Twin Lakes of Burera and Ruhondo. You will cruise along the Lakes while capturing the scenic beauty of the surrounding areas as well as several bird species. Get back to your lodge to have dinner and an overnight.
Day 6: Transfer to Kigali for a city tour & departure
Enjoy your morning breakfast and checkout to embark on your drive to Kigali city where you will have a city tour making visits to genocide memorial sites such as Kigali and Nyanza genocide memorial cites as well several museums where you will have an insight into Rwanda’s history. You will have lunch in the city center before being driven to Kigali International Airport for your outbound flight back home.
