The 7 Days Rwanda Primates Safari gives you the thrilling opportunity to see the best of Rwanda’s Primates as you visit Volcanoes National Park, home to mountain gorillas and golden monkeys and Nyungwe Forest National Park, home to 13 primates species including chimpanzees.
You will also visit Akagera National Park for wildlife adventures and the Kigali Genocide Memorial in Rwanda’s Capital Kigali where you will learn about the tragic history of the 1994 genocide war which claimed close to a million of Rwandan people.
Highlights of 7 Days Primates of Rwanda Safari
- Day 1: Arrival In Kigali, Rwanda
- Day 2: Kigali City Tour, Afternoon Transfer To Ruhengeri
- Day 3: Mountain Gorilla Trekking In Volcanoes National Park
- Day 4: Golden Monkey Tracking
- Day 5: Transfer to Gisenyi On Lake Kivu
- Day 6: Transfer To Nyungwe Forest National Park
- Day 7: Chimpanzee Tracking In Nyungwe, Transfer To Kigali For Departure
Detailed itinerary of 7 Days Primates of Rwanda Safari
Day 1: Arrival In Kigali, Rwanda
On arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed to the land of “a Thousand Hills” by our tour guide who will then drive you to your pre-booked hotel in Kigali City for your dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Kigali Serena Hotel (Luxury) Hotel des Mille Collines (Midrange) 2000 Hotel (Budget)
Day 2: Kigali City Tour, Afternoon Transfer To Ruhengeri
After a delicious breakfast in the city, your driver-guide will take you for a comprehensive Kigali City Tour to visit remarkable tourist destinations including the Gisozi Genocide Memorial Centre, the center is a one stop center for the exhibition of the history of the genocide on the video tapes, photographs, documentaries and some written accounts as well as personal testimonies.
You will have lunch and then embark on a 2.5 hours’ drive to Volcanoes National Park in Ruhengeri a Northern Province of Rwanda where you will do trek the gorillas the next day.
Accommodation: Kinigi Guest House, La Palme or Luxury Mountain gorilla view Lodge. Luxury accommodation is Sabinyo Silverback lodge (FB)
Day 3: Mountain Gorilla Trekking In Volcanoes National Park
Mountain gorilla trekking is undoubtedly the highlight of your safari to Rwanda on this 7 Days Primates of Rwanda Safari. Volcanoes National Park located in the northern province of Ruhengeri is a destined place where visitors goes for this exhilarating gorilla trekking adventure.
The highly endangered mountain gorillas were first discovered by Dian Fossey an American Primatologist during her research study in the park 13 years ago. With her persistent efforts of fighting against gorilla poaching, this explains why she is a highly respected figure in as far as gorilla conservation in Rwanda is concerned.
You will search for the allocated gorilla family for about 1-6 hours until you meet these gentle giants. Please remember, only 8 visitors are allowed to visit a particular gorilla family per day. After spending a full hour with the gorillas, you will hike back to the hotel and relax as you retreat from the fateful gorilla trekking adventure.
Accommodation: Budget: Muhabura Guest House, Midrange: Da Vinci Lodge and Luxury: Virunga Lodge.
Day 4: Golden Monkey Tracking
Wake up to a tasty breakfast and head on to for the amazing golden monkey trekking adventure in the Southern section of the park. After a trek of approximately 2 to 6 hours or more and 1 hour of being with in the presence of these playful primates, you will have lunch and go for a community walk to interact with the Rwandan locals to get entertained by their musical performances and cultural dances.
Accommodation: Budget: Muhabura Guest House, Midrange: Da Vinci Lodge and Luxury: Virunga Lodge.
Day 5: Transfer to Gisenyi on Lake Kivu
After breakfast in the morning, drive to Gisenyi Lake Kivu and upon arrival, you will definitely have a boat ride to visit the Napoleon’s Hat Island and there you can ascend to the peak of the hat to view the thousands of Angola bats in the blue skies.
Have lunch thereafter and continue to Butare the intellectual centre of Rwanda to visit the national university plus the Institute of Scientific Research as well as the National Museum.
Accommodation: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel
Day 6: Transfer To Nyungwe Forest National Park
Today you will wake up to a sumptuous breakfast and then embark on a 4 hrs and 30 Minutes’ drive (213 km) from Gisenyi town to Nyungwe forest national park in Rusizi, a Rwandan province. Nyungwe Forest is among the greatly safeguarded montane rainforests in the whole of Africa, it extends over an expanse of 970 sq km and offers breathtaking scenery looking over the forest plus Lake Kivu.
In addition to the sights to the north of the far away Volcanoes of Parc National des Virunga. The primary attraction here are the guided tours when tracking the large troops of black and white Angolan Colobus Monkeys, which may have as many as 400 members in every troop or even chimpanzees. Roughly, there are 270 species of trees, more than 70 species of mammals, 275 species of birds plus a profusion of orchids as well as butterflies.
Accommodation: Gisakura Guest House, Nyungwe Top View Hotel or Nyungwe Forest Lodge
Day 7: Chimpanzee Tracking In Nyungwe, Transfer To Kigali For Departure
After breakfast at the lodge, you will be prepared for yet another primate adventure in Nyungwe Forest this time for an insightful chimpanzee trekking activity. Nyungwe National Park is a hub of huge chimpanzee troops only compared to those in Uganda’s Kibale Forest National Park.
While on the trek, other primates you will see include L’Hoest’s monkeys, White Angolan Colobus Monkeys among others. After the chimpanzee trekking, you will have lunch and then start your journey back to Kigali for your departure flight back home.
End of 7 Days Primates of Rwanda Safari
Inclusions
- All Airport transfers
- All ground transfers by 4 WD safari vehicle
- Accommodation and meals as per the itinerary
- Park entrance fees
- Gorilla ne gorilla trekking permit (Rwanda) per person
- One golden monkey tracking permit (Rwanda) per person
- Guides allowances throughout the safari
- Bottled drinking water
- Driver/guide fees
- Administrative costs
Exclusion
- Airfare to and from Rwanda
- Visa to Rwanda
- Airport tax
- Travel / Medical / Baggage insurance
- All beverages [both alcoholic and non-alcoholic]
- Any activity, meal or accommodation NOT mentioned in the itinerary
- Tips
- Telephone bills
- Souvenirs, other items of a personal nature