2 Days Nyungwe Forest safari – Canopy Walk, Igishigishigi trail and Chimpanzees

1. City tour and stop overs at interesting cultural sites
2. Hiking through the Igishigishigi trail
3. A Canopy walk
4. Chimpanzee trekking

Day 1: Pickup from Kigali –  City tour – Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park – Canopy Walk

You should wake up early enough and prepare to meet our Guide/Driver for a briefing about the tour. The pickup will be at your residence, hotel or at the airport. After the briefing, the Guide will take you for a short tour of the city of Kigali. Kigali is small but one of the cleanest cities in Africa. The trip will include a visit to the genocide memorial Centre, the city market and the former presidential palace.

The Guide/Driver will then start the journey to Nyungwe forest but with a stopover at the museum in Butare. This Museum is one of the best places to learn about the cultural heritage of the people of Rwanda. You will have an opportunity to buy local crafts and souvenirs. If time permits, you can also stop at the Kamegeli Rock and the palace of the Nyanza King Palace Lunch will be at Huye. After that, you will continue the journey through beautiful Rwanda countryside. You will know why Rwanda is referred to as a land of a thousand hills.

Once you arrive at your hotel, you will have lunch and then be taken to the Uwinka visitors center to start hiking along the Igishigishigi trail which leads to the canopy walkway. While at the Igishigishigi trail, you will spot several species of trees, birds and primates for about thirty minutes. You will then step into the canopy walkway for even more amazing views of the forest. The walkway is a 60 meters suspended metallic bridge that is built on top of the trees. It offers an aerial view of the forest and its creatures like birds, colobus monkeys, grey cheeked mangabeys, baboons and countless species of plants. After the canopy walk, you will go and relax by the waterfalls.  The canopy walk takes about 2 hours depending on your pace or that of your group.

Dinner and overnight at Gisakura Guest House (budget) and One&Only Nyungwe House (Luxury). Other hotel options include Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel (Luxury) and Emeraude Hotel (Budget).

Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking –  Transfer back to Kigali

You should wake up early a take your breakfast as you prepare for an adventurous day tracking the primates. Chimpanzee trekking starts at 5 am. The reason why the activity starts early is because meeting the primates is not guaranteed.  Starting early increases your chances of finding the primates. The Driver will take you to the park offices and visitor center in Uwinka for briefing and meeting the park Rangers/Guides who will be leading you into the forests. The Guides/Rangers will brief you about the rules and requirements for chimpanzee trekking. If there are many travelers booked for the day, you will be divided into two groups – One will start the trek from the Uwinka Visitor Centre and the other from the Cyamudongo area. There are about 500 chimpanzees in Nyungwe forest. As you enter into the forest, you will be welcomed by beautiful jungle noises of birds, primates and insects. Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe forest is just as unpredictable as gorilla trekking in the Volcanoes National Park. The activity can take up to 4 hours depending on the location of the primates that day. Chimpanzees move as they wish and you will have to follow them through the forest. They are different from gorillas which generally stay in one place for longer periods of time. The good thing about chimps is that they are very vocal. Because of the constant loud screams, hoots and barks made by chimps, it is easy to pinpoint their location even before seeing one.

As you continue your search for the chimps, you will continue to encounter more beautiful scenery, birds, insects, butterflies, primates, waterfalls and so much more. The nature lover and birder will be very impressed even before finding the chimps. Once you find the find them in a stationary position, you will only be allowed one hour with them. This one hour excludes the time spent following them as chimpanzees can be very mobile. In that one hour with the primates, you should see them feed, play, build nests, mate and tease each other. Chimpanzees are our closest relatives – even more than gorillas. Each individual chimp has a unique character. Some are more aggressive while others are calm and mind their own business. The park Ranger will let you know which individuals to keep away from.

The tour includes:–

1. Chimpanzee permits
2. Canopy Walk Permits
3. City Tour
4. Accommodation for one night
5. All meals and bottled drinking water including lunch outside the hotel
6. An experienced Guide/Driver with excellent English speaking skills
7. Transportation in a Tour Van
8. Airport Pickup and drop off if departure is on the last day of the safari
9. Government Taxes
10. Park entrance

The Tour excludes:-

1. Air tickets and Visas
2. Accommodation at the beginning and end of the trip
3. Tips for the Guide
4. Travel insurance, souvenirs and other expenses of a personal nature

Nyungwe forest can be visited throughout the year but the best time to visit is in October and February especially if you are planning to do chimpanzee trekking. There are no rains then. The high season is between June to September because it is when most tourists come to do gorilla trekking. Travelers love combining gorilla trekking, golden monkey trekking and chimpanzee trekking to make a complete primates safari.

In order to have the best possible experience, we recommend that you carry with you the following:

1. A back pack to keep your valuables and clothes safe
2. Long sleeved shirts and trousers to protect you from insects and sharp tree branches
3. Sturdy hiking shoes and a walking stick
4. A rain coat especially during the rainy season to keep off the cold
5. A hat to protect you from the suns raise during the hot season
6. Sunglasses to protect your eyes from the strong rays coming from the sun
7. An insect repellent to keep off mosquitoes and other tropical insects
8. Anti-malarial tablets to avoid getting sick

One&Only Nyungwe House: This is the best accommodation facility in the Nyungwe forest are and was built for travelers who desire excellence and perfection. The government came up with the idea of the resort but One&Only started managing it in 2017 after upgrading all facilities. Built in a mountainous area and in the middle of a tea plantation, Nyungwe House lets you enjoy the nature while providing great comfort. The resort has a high end wellness Centre, excellent furniture and spacious rooms that rival the best in East African. Other facilities in the hotel include free Wi-Fi, a bar, restaurant and cozy lounge. One&Only Nyungwe House allows you to take part in several activities including canopy walk, chimpanzee trekking, birdwatching and nature walks.

Emeraude Kivu Resort: This is a family owned budget hotel located in Kamember. It is built on top of a hill near Cyangugu hence offering beautiful views of Lake Kivu. All the eight rooms are self-contained with balconies facing the lake Kivu. Emeraude Kivu resort is known for excellent food and client service even though it is considered a budget hotel on paper. Because of its location near Cyangugu, it is close to Cyamudongo (where chimpanzee trekking is carried out).

Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel: Nyungwe Top View Hotel was opened in 2011 and is also built on top of a hill. This location on a hill allows residents to get beautiful views of the forest and surrounding areas including tea plantations, the Virunga volcanoes, Lake Kivu and Kahuzi Biega National Park. There are only twelve rooms consisting of 8 doubles and 4 twins. The rooms are built in traditional African style but with a modern touch. Each room has balcony/sitting area and a fireplace. Other facilities include a well-stocked bar and a restaurant serving delicious meals by an experienced resident chef. Guests can also enjoy an evening camp fire where local cultural groups are contracted for entertainment. As they sing and dance, you are free to join them.