5 Days Rwanda Safari – Primates and Other Wildlife Tour

1. Kigali city tour – visiting the Genocide memorial site, city markets, artisan shops and the former presidential palace museum
2. Gorilla Trekking at the volcanoes national park Rwanda
3. Chimpanzee Tracking in Nyungwe forest
4. Golden Monkey trekking
5. Forest Canopy walk in Nyungwe forest
6. Touring the Gorilla Guardians Village

Day 1: Pick up from Kigali – Transfer to Nyungwe forest

We will send a company guide to pick you up at the airport or your hotel in the morning to start the tour. After the initial briefing, the driver will take you for a 2-hour tour of Kigali. Kigali is a small but very well organized city. Many look at it as an example of what cities in Africa should be. You will visit the Genocide memorial Centre, the palace of the former president of Rwanda, the main city market and artisan shops. After the city tour, you will start the long journey to Nyungwe forest. The park is located in the southwestern part of Rwanda and it take about 5 hours to get there by road. You will not be bored during the journey if you love nature. Moreover, the driver will stop at several place along the way. You will stop at the palace of the former King of Rwanda and other key places. Lunch will be taken in a situation hotel/restaurant along the way.

Dinner and Overnight will be at Gisakura Guest House (Budget), Nyungwe Top View Hotel (Mid-range) and Nyungwe Forest Lodge (Luxury).

Day 2: Chimpanzee Tracking – Canopy walk in Nyungwe forest

Wake up very early and have breakfast before being driven to the Nyungwe forest offices for briefing on chimpanzee tracking. The briefing covers topics about the history of the forest, wildlife to be found, what to expect and how to prepare. Chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda takes between 2 to 6 hours. You will be escorted by very experienced Guide/Rangers. Although you will be looking out for the chimps, Nyungwe forest is home to 12 other species of primates. Golden monkeys are almost impossible to spot here but expect to see the 11 other species. The park Guides will explain everything about the forest and the different species of wildlife.

After tracking the chimpanzees, you will be taken back to your lodge for lunch and rest. Late in the afternoon, you will go for the forest canopy walk. The canopy walk in Nyungwe was one of the very first to be established in East Africa. It offers tourists an opportunity to get an aerial view of the park while working across the viewing platform. From the viewing platform, you can spot butterflies, birds, primates and the different trees species. By the end of the day, you would be tired but happy to have had amazing wildlife encounters in a lush green African forest. We hope that you ask as many questions as possible during your time with the park officials.

Dinner and Overnight will be at Gisakura Guest House (Budget), Nyungwe Top View Hotel (Mid-range) and Nyungwe Forest Lodge (Luxury).

Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park – Visit the Twin Lakes of Ruhondo and Burera

Wake up at your own time, take breakfasts and checkout. The driver will come to pick you and start the journey to the volcanoes national park. You will drive by the beautiful Lake Kivu and other beautiful features. Take as many photos of the lake as you can. Rwanda has a beautiful countryside with rolling hills, green plantations and welcoming locals. Lunch will be taken along the way. Once you reach the park, you will check in and have rest before going out to visit the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo. If there is time, you can take a boat and visit the islands or watch birds.

Dinner and overnight at The 5 Volcanoes Lodge (Luxury), Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge (Mid-range) and Hotel Muhabura (Budget).

Day 4: Gorilla trekking – Tour the Iby’iwacu cultural village

Briefing for gorilla tracking at the volcanoes national park starts at 7:00 am. Wake up early and take your breakfast then head to the park headquarters in Musanze. Request your hotel to pack for you lunch and enough drinking water.  While attending the briefing, you will learn about the gorilla trekking rules, what to expect and the creatures in the park. There are 10 habituated gorilla families in Rwanda. You will be assigned one based on your overall fitness and age among other factors. The time taken tracking mountain gorillas is unpredictable but we estimate between 2 to 6 hours at most.  The activity can be very challenging but the opportunity to observe a group of gorillas in the wild is very special indeed. The safety and security of visitors while tracking mountain gorillas is guaranteed as mountain gorillas are generally calm and peaceful. Take as many photos of the group as you will be with them for only one hour.  Always remain calm even when they get close to you and follow guidance from your park guide.

Once you have finished observing the primates for one hour, you will go back to the starting point where you will find our company guide waiting for you. Take lunch at the hotel and have some rest. Later in the evening, you will go to the Iby’iwacu cultural village which is very close to the park. The Centre is now referred to as the Gorilla Guardians Village. It started as a place where former poachers would sell their artisan products to tourists but has now turned into a center of excellence in cultural performances. Enjoy watching traditional dance performances and visit each part of the facility to learn about the culture of the different tribes in Rwanda.

Dinner and overnight at The 5 Volcanoes Lodge (Luxury), Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge (Mid-range) and Hotel Muhabura (Budget).

Day 5: Golden Monkey Trekking – Departure

Wake up early once again, take breakfast and proceed to the park offices in Kinigi. You will meet other travelers who have assembled to take part in the briefing for golden monkey trekking. After the briefing, the park guides will take you to search for the monkeys in the bamboo forests. Unlike gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking in Rwanda takes a shorter time. Expect to complete the activity in 4 hours at most. Golden monkeys are cute but endangered primates. They are only found in Rwanda, Uganda and Congo. Golden monkeys are very playful and feel very comfortable with flash cameras unlike gorillas. After spending time with the primates, you will head back to the starting point and find our driver waiting to take you back to the hotel for checkout before departing to Kigali. The journey back to Kigali takes between 2 to 3 hours. The driver will take you to the airport for departure or to your hotel if you are still around.

End of Tour

Gorilla trekking can be a very demanding activity. We recommend that you show up for the briefing with sturdy hiking boots, gators, hand gloves, a light raincoat, packed snack and drinking water. If you have a heavy bag or equipment like cameras, then you might need to hire porters. Porters can be hired for about $15. It is also important to be in good physical shape and to be prepared mentally. After gorilla trekking, you might want to give tip to the Rangers, Guides and Hotel Staff. Tipping is a good gesture on your part and is one way of supporting people who may not be receiving good pay for doing excellent work.

The recommended age for gorilla trekking in 15 and above. To track chimps, you need to be 13 years or older. Almost anyone can track golden monkeys as long as they can handle hiking for long hours.  Remember that you may be required to have your yellow fever vaccination card in order to enter Rwanda. The Rwanda visa can be acquired from the border crossings, airport or online.

The cost of this 5 days Rwanda safari includes: –

1. A 4×4 safari van
2. A company Driver/Guide
3. Fuel for your entire trip
4. Golden monkey permits
5. Chimpanzee permits
6. Gorilla tracking permits
7. Park Entrance fees
8. Visiting the Gorilla Guardians village
9. Drinking water and lunch while traveling
10. Full Board accommodation for 4 nights
11. Pickup and drop-off in Kigali
12. Kigali city tour

Nyungwe Top View Hotel: This is the best mid-range hotel close to Nyungwe National Park. The hotel offers 20 self-contained rooms. Each room has free internet, a flat-screen TV, bottled water, modern showers, clean towels, free toiletries and a working desk. The amenities include free internet in public areas, a bar, a restaurant, a lounge and free breakfast.  There is also a front desk which is open for 24 hours, laundry and dry cleaning services.

Nyungwe Forest Lodge: This is the second best luxury lodge that is close to the Nyungwe National Park. It is built in the middle of a tea plantation just outside the park hence blending in with the beautiful surrounding. Nyungwe forest Lodge offer six wooden villages/cottages that are all self-contained. Each room has a large bed, working desk, modern bathrooms, toiletries, air-conditioning, television and African art. The lodge is one of the top 48 recognized Eco-friendly accommodation facilities in Africa. Book with Nyungwe forest lodge if you want the ultimate comfort at a reasonable price.

Hotel Muhabura: Hotel Muhabura is built close to the headquarters of volcanoes national park. It is where Dian Fossey used to stay in when holding meeting with people or while outside her research station on the slopes of the Virunga volcanoes. The hotel has 30 apartments and rooms that offer all the comfort you need while exploring the park. Each room has warm showers, a bathroom, access to the hotel gardens, a private balcony, satellite TV, free internet access and laundry service. Some of the amenities include a bar and a restaurant. The restaurant serves both international and local meals. Hotel Muhabura is an excellent choice for the budget traveler or those who only need basic services. The Dian Fossey room is slightly more expensive than the other rooms.