3 Days Chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda – Nyungwe National Park Safari

1. Chimpanzee tracking
2. Forest Canopy walk
3. Nature Walk
4. Kigali City Tour
5. Visiting Gisakura tea estate
6. Visiting historical and cultural sites along the way

Day 1: Pickup – Kigali City Tour – Transfer to Nyungwe with stops at cultural and historical sites – Canopy Walk

Day 2: Chimpanzee and Primates Tracking – Nature Walk

Day 3: Visit the Gisakura tea estate – Transfer back to Kigali with stops at cultural and historical sites.

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

Wake up very early in the morning and finish with all home or hotel business as you wait for the company Guide. The Guide will take you for a brief tour of the city of Kigali (the genocide memorial center, the central city market, former presidential palace and artisan shops). After the city tour, the journey continues to Butare with amazing views of the countless hills of Rwanda. There will be stops at the Kamegeri’s rock, the National Ethnographic Museum in Huye, Murambi Genocide Memorial and the former King’s palace. The Museum is houses a collection of artifacts and ethnographic objects from Belgium, Rwanda and other parts of the world. Much of the museum showcases all the cultural aspects of the country and the people. Lunch will be taken from a restaurant in one of the sites. The final part of the six-hour journey ends in a hotel or lodge close to the park. You will check-in and proceed to register for the canopy walk.

The amazing canopy walk takes you across a hanging platform which crosses over the tall and majestic trees of Nyungwe.  The hanging platform is built 50 meters above the ground and is 200 meters long. You will have an aerial view of the forest enabling you to spot birds and more of the primates feeding on top of the trees or jumping from one tree to another.

Dinner and overnight at One & Only Nyungwe House (Ultra Luxury), Nyungwe Forest Lodge (Luxury) Nyungwe Top Hills Hotel (Mid-range) and Gisakura Guest House (Budget), Gorilla Nest (budget).

Day 2: Chimpanzee Trekking – Nature Walk

Wake up early for breakfast at the lodge and prepare for a long day of activities. The driver will take you for the briefing which starts at Uwinka by 5:30 am. Chimpanzee tracking in Rwanda starts earlier than chimpanzee trekking in Kibale forest of Uganda because the chimps are more mobile. There are two trails for chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest – The Uwinka and Cyamudongo trail. After the briefing, park officials will assign you one of the trails depending on the number of participants. Each group will be driven to the starting point of the trek.

Chimpanzees and bonobos are the closest relatives to humans. They share 98% of our DNA. They are highly intelligent, can be taught sign language and how to use specific tools. During your time with them expect to observe individuals grooming, breast feeding, mating and playing. Unlike mountain gorillas, chimpanzees spend a lot of time on top of trees which can be very inconveniencing if you want to take good photos. They are also very mobile and rarely stay in one place for a long time like gorillas. The good thing is that they are very noisy and easy to detect even in very thick forest.

During chimpanzee tracking, expect to spot 12 smaller species of primate including Hamlyn’s Monkeys, owl-faced monkeys, golden monkeys, Dent’s Mona Monkeys, Angola Colobus, Silver monkeys, Olive Baboons, Red-tailed Monkeys, grey-cheeked Mangabeys, vervet monkeys and l’hoest’s monkeys. Nyungwe forest is one of the top places for birding in Rwanda. Apart from small primates, expect to spot birds like the Rwenzori Turaco, great blue Turaco, paradise flycatcher and forest hornbills among others. Throughout the activity, the park guides will share information about each of the species encountered – their behavior, feeding and reproductive habits. It is important to note that there is no guarantee that you will see chimps in Nyungwe forest because the chances are only 89 percent.

After spotting the chimps, you will go for lunch at the hotel. After refreshment from the hotel, you will be taken for a nature walk to spot more birds, smaller primates and waterfalls. Nyungwe National Park has over 14 trials for nature walks. The trails are designed to allow visitors experience the flora and fauna in the park. The waterfall trail is popular and takes 3 hours to complete. If time permits, you could be taken to track Angola Colobus in Gisakura. Tracking Colobus monkeys takes a far shorter time than following any of the trails or chimpanzee trekking because they live at the edge of the forest.

Dinner and overnight at One & Only Nyungwe House (Ultra Luxury), Nyungwe Forest Lodge (Luxury) Nyungwe Top Hills Hotel (Mid-range) and Gisakura Guest House (Budget)

Day 3 Departure to Kigali with stops at the Gisakura Tea Factory

Wake up early for breakfast as you wait for the Guide/ Driver. The driver will take you to Gisakura Tea Estate for a tour of the farm and factory. While at the tea estate, you will learn how tea is grown, processed and packed at the factory. You will then continue the long journey to Kigali. The driver will make stops to any of the places you didn’t check out on the first day. The final destination is either the airport, your hotel or accommodation in Kigali. We hope that by the end of this three days tour, you go back with great memories of your 3 Days Nyungwe Forest Chimpanzee Tour.

The 3 Days safari in Nyungwe forest  includes: –

1. Chimpanzee permits
2. Canopy walk
3. Transport and a Guide/Driver with good English speaking skills
4. Visiting Kigali city, cultural and historical sites
5. Breakfast
6. Lunch and Dinner
7. Full board accommodation for 2 nights
8. Airport transfers

The 3 days Nyungwe forest tour excludes: –

1. International and domestic flight
2. Rwandan Visa
3. Medical and Travel insurance
4. Optional activities
5. Personal expenditures on Tips, alcoholic drinks, laundry and international phone calls

What should you pack for the 3 Days Nyungwe Forest Chimpanzee Safari? For the best experience tracking chimpanzees and during the nature walks, we recommend that you pack an insect repellent to keep off mosquitoes, a rain jacket, a hat to protect your head from the sun, water-proof hiking boots with good traction, long sleeved shirts, socks and trousers to protect your legs from insects/scratches. Do not forget to carry a backpack to keep all your belongings (cameras, clothes and toiletries) together. Other things to consider packing are a water bottle to contain thirst after walking for long hours in the heat. A good camera is important for capturing the beautiful moments with the chimps and during the canopy walk.

Nyungwe Forest Lodge: This lodge was launched in 2010 and is the second best luxury lodge around Nyungwe National Park if we are to consider awards, user experience and quality of services. It is built at the edge of the park and sits in the middle of a tea plantation. All materials used to build the lodge are ecologically friendly and got locally. The lodge has 24 private luxury rooms facing the forest. Each room has a private deck, an electronic safe, a flat TV screen, wireless internet, a telephone, a tea making device, private bathroom, air-conditioning, a mini bar and a fireplace. Other amenities in the lodge include a bar, a conference center, a gym, a restaurant, a souvenir shop, a lounge area, facilities for the disabled and a heated swimming pool overlooking the tea plantations/forest. Staff working at the hotel are very friendly and pay attention to detail when preparing food.

Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel: This mid-range hotel was opened in 2011 and consists of 12 beautiful cottages – 4 twin and 8 with double beds. The cottages are built on a hill with amazing views of the forest, the Virunga volcanoes, Kahuzi Biega National Park, Idjwi Island, Lake Kivu and vast tea plantations.  Each of the cottages has a bedroom, a verandah, a sofa, a working table/chair and a fireplace. The bathroom has a sink, shower, toilet, clean toiletries and towels. Other facilities, amenities and services include constant power supply, a restaurant, a bar, free Wi-Fi, laundry facilities, airport transfers, shuttle services, parking space, a large garden and a picnic area. Nyungwe Top Hill offers great value when you consider the price offered compared to much more expensive luxury hotels. Staff are very friendly and serve guests with a cheerful smile.

Gisakura Guest House: This is arguably the best budget lodge in the area. The Guest house is located 2 kilometers away from the park and provides comfortable self-contained rooms with single, double, twin or triple beds. The restaurant serves tasty continental and local dishes that are prepared by very experienced chefs. Meals range from sandwiches, meat, vegetables, fried pork, omelet, fried banana, fried eggs, scrambled eggs, salads, desserts, coffee and vegetarian dishes. Alcoholic drinks can be bought from the well-stocked bar offering both local and international brands. Staff at Gisakura are very friendly and will ensure that you have a memorable experience while with them.