The 6-Days Rwanda Gorillas and Chimpanzee Trekking Safari offers an ultimate trekking experience up-close two of the biggest apes – the mountain gorilla and chimpanzee in their native rainforest habitats. A trek experience up-close these man’s closest relatives is often dubbed the “most humbling life-time experience” by most trekkers. Their enormous size, similar human-like expressions and the connection one feels in the presence of these giants is immemorial. An hour-long time spent with these apes, is magical, very personal and often times indescribable!
Overview and Safari Highlights
The 6-Days Rwanda Gorillas and Chimpanzee Trekking Safari begins from Kigali, the capital city, to transfer through a scenic countryside characterized by towering highlands and tea covered hillsides of Rwanda to come onto Nyungwe Forest. In the biodiversity rich Nyungwe Forest, you will be led on a guided trek to any of the 3 habituated communities of chimpanzee that range across these forested montane ranges. Another highlight here, will be an optional adventure on a canopy walk, where you will get a bird’s eyes view over the towering montane ranges of Nyungwe Forest.
The 6-Days Rwanda Gorillas and Chimpanzee Trekking Safari will the continue north onto the Volcanoes NP where the highlight will be a trek to any of the local 13- habituated mountain gorilla families that occur here. Mountain gorillas are sedentary and almost vegetarian, occurring in smaller family groups of 8 to 25 individuals headed by a silverback. Still at Volcanoes NP, you will wrap up your primates safari with a trek along the charismatic and beautiful golden monkey, an Albertine endemic that occur along the bamboo ranges on these volcanic slopes.
6 Days Rwanda Gorillas and Chimpanzee Trekking Safari Detailed Itinerary
Arrival Day
Upon your arrival at Kigali Airport our representative will receive and transfer you to your hotel in the city of Kigali. With time on your hands, you could opt for a short tour around the green and clean city of Kigali for personal shopping and enjoy the warm hospitality of Rwanda. Accommodation and Meal Plan: Optional at your convenience.
Safari Day One: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest and Visit The King’s Palace at Nyanza
This morning after your breakfast, you will meet your driver guide and after a short brief on your 6 Days Rwanda Primates Safari, start a drive towards Nyungwe Forest in the southwest part of this beautiful country. The 5/6-hr long drive from Kigali passes through the heart of Rwanda, exposing its scenic terraced highlands hemming in expansive wetlands, colorful and clean towns bustling with life. This heartland of Rwanda is alive with agricultural activity, from highland covered tea estates, coffee and dairy farms to individual crop and vegetable gardens. You will have health and scenic stops with an option to visit the Royal Kings palace at Nyanza. The impressive palace commands stunning views across the landscapes but also host the beautiful traditional Tutsi/Ankole long-horned cattle.
A hot lunch break will be in the town of Huye and thereafter drive on to your accommodation on the edges of Nyungwe Forest NP. Accommodation and Meal Plan: Nyungwe Hill Top View, FB. Drive time: 5hrs
Day 2: Chimpanzee Tracking at Nyungwe NP
With an early start this morning, you will check in at the visitors center by 5:30am local time to transfer to the trekking trail head. The early start is aimed to reach the chimp community as it sets off from their nests for an active day ahead. Coming in at the briefing point, the ranger guides will take you through activity expectations, safety regulations and park rules concerning the trekking experience.
The trek then begins, heading out to the chimpanzee home range where on locating them you will be allowed One-full-Hour with the chimps to observe the group social behavior and various interaction. The trekking experience duration varies daily, but anywhere between 4 to 6-hrs is normal. Appropriate clothing and foot-ware is crucial to this trek experience and your guide will advise you well in advance. Evening rest at the Lodge. Accommodation: Nyungwe Hill Top View, FB
Day Three: Guided nature walk at Nyungwe Forest and Canopy Forest Walk
This morning after breakfast, your guide will transfer you to Uwinka reception area, where the rangers will lead you out for a nature walk to any of you preferred trails. Nyungwe Forest trails vary in both difficult and duration but all explore the forest interior where snow-white waterfalls occur, impressive viewpoints and a chance to encounter several endemic birds, plants, butterflies and primates. The most impressive of the trails is the Igishigishi trail that lead on to the Canopy Walk. The canopy walk rises over 200ft over the forest forest floor to spread some 200m long across forest ridges giving you commanding views of the sprawling montane ranges of this vast forest.
Of the 13 species-list of primates present in Nyungwe NP, the most charismatic include the shy Owl-faced Monkey, Angola Colobus and L’hoest Monkey all Albertine Endemic, but Silver, Red-tailed, Dent’s Monkeys occur across several vegetational zones of this montane park. After the nature walk, we will transfer to the lakeside hotel at Lake Kivu. Accommodation: Emeraunde Kivu Resort, HB
Day Four: Transfer to Volcanoes NP
Today after a late breakfast, you will transfer to Volcanoes NP set along the Virunga Mountain ranges. The scenic drive runs parallel with Rwanda’s biggest lake, Lake Kivu that is shared with the DRC, exposing amazing scenery dotted with terraced hill sides, tea estates and patches of montane forests. Once in a while along this route, you will have scenic stops to marvel at the breath-taking views of lake shores, peninsulas and open skies across this western countryside of Rwanda. Lunch shall be at the lakeside town of Rubavu and thereafter drive out to your lodge near Kinigi village on the slopes of Volcanoes NP arriving by evening. Drive Time: 6hrs. Accommodation: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge, FB
Day Five: Gorilla Tracking at Volcanoes NP
After an early breakfast, you will take a short drive to briefing office arriving around at 7am. At the visitor’s complex, the ranger guides will give a brief on Gorilla tracking activity, conservation efforts being carried out here and there after distributing visitors into an eight-member groups to track located Gorilla groups. After the briefing session, there will be a short drive towards a trailhead on the park boundary to begin the incredible trekking experience towards the home range of the gorilla group allocated.
While on these treks, the ranger guides will point of various fauna and guidelines on how visitors should conduct themselves at the meeting with gorilla family, including the 7m distance required and other safety measures. On locating the gorilla group, visitors are accorded One-Hour with the gorillas, observing the social structure, behavior and photography. Trekking duration varies daily, but anything between 4-7hrs is considered normal.
Today’s evening is free but you can have an optional village of Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village in Kinigi for a sample of traditional Rwanda lifestyle and music. Accommodation Plan: Le Bambou GorillaLodge, FB
Day Six: Golden Monkey Tracking at Volcanoes NP
This morning we check in again at the visitors center for a short briefing from rangers. There after we will drive to a trailhead to trek along the agile and charismatic golden monkey. The golden monkey is an Albertine near-endemic that occur along the bamboo range across the Virunga mountain ranges. A troop is led by a dominant male, characteristic by big size and blue genitals forage in large numbers up to 120 individuals across the bamboo forest floor feeding mainly on bamboo shoots and leaves. Apart from a steep ascent to the bamboo zone from a trail head, the activity seem easier and can last up to 4 hrs.
Your driver guide will advise the same packing and dress code as for gorilla tracking. After tracking, you will head out to your lodge for a hot lunch then transfer on to Kigali city. Accommodation Plan: Depends on your flight program. Dinner in Kigali City. Drive time: 3hrs
6 Days Rwanda Gorilla and Chimpanzee Trekking Safari Includes
- A 4WD with diver guide
- All accommodations and meal plan
- Canopy walk and Forest walks at Nyungwe Forest
- King’s Palace Fees
- Gorilla, Chimp and Golden monkey permits
- Bottled drinking water in the car.
- Airport transfers
6 Days Rwanda Gorilla and chimpanzee Primates Trekking Safari Excludes
- Tips and gratuities
- Air tickets and travel insurance
- Other activities mentioned here as optional.
- Optional accommodation and meal plan on Arrival Day and last day
- Other meals and drinks other than mentioned.