6 Days Rwanda Primates Safari

Rwanda Primates Safari – 6 Days

Overview | Highlights | Detailed Itinerary | Includes | Request Quote

Overview

On this 6-day Rwanda Primates Safari you will trek Mountain Gorillas in their haven in the Volcanoes National Park; trek chimpanzees and other primates in Nyungwe Forest National Park; visit a Tea factory to learn about how locally grown tea is processed to become one of Rwanda’s popular export commodities; test your guts to withstand the fear of heights at the Nyungwe forest canopy walk; enjoy game drives and boat cruise in the Akagera National Park, and to visit the prominent memorial sites of the tragic genocide that occurred in Rwanda.

Safari Highlights

• The thrill of trekking Mountain Gorillas in the challenging forest terrain and the humbling experience of coming face to face with them as they feed, play, rest, and bond with their young.

• A thrilling encounter with the delightful chimpanzees and watching them as they make awesome acrobatic maneuvers in the tree branches
• Having ago on the challenging canopy walk, one of the most thrilling Rwanda adventures for those with guts where your ability to withstand heights is tested
• Listening to the horrific tales of the genocide that claimed more than 1,000,000 lives in Rwanda in the 1990s
• Viewing the mesmerizing and awesome features of the volcanic landscapes

Activity Schedule

Day 1: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest, Butare & Visit to Tea Plantation and Factory
Day 2: Trekking Chimps and other primates & canopy walk
Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Day 4: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Day 5: Transfer to Akagera National Park
Day 6: Full day game drive in Akagera & transfer to Kigali

Safari Itinerary

Day 1: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest via Butare & Visit to Tea Plantation and Factory

You will begin the Rwanda Primates Safari by traveling to Nyungwe Forest National Park. En-route you will visit the Butare Museum, Murambi Memorial and Nyanza Palace to learn about the history of the Rwanda and its people, listen to the horrendous tales of the genocide in which more than one million people were brutally killed and pay tribute to the victims.

You will check in at the lodge of your booking near the Park for lunch and in the afternoon go for a tour of the adjacent Tea factory to see how the locally grown tea is processed to become one of the finest products Rwanda has for export.

Dinner and overnight will be at your lodge.

Day 2: Trekking Chimps and other primates & Forest Canopy walk

You will have an early Rwanda Primates Safari breakfast and report to the Park Headquarters for a briefing on Chimpanzee tracking rules before setting out with guides to find the Chimpanzees.

During the chimp trekking you will also come across other primates such as Golden monkey, L’Hoest’s monkey, Angola colobus, Silver monkey, Hamlyn’s Monkey, Dent’s Mona Monkey, Red-tailed Monkey, Grey-cheeked Mangabeys, and Olive Baboon among others.

You will also see various types of birds in the verdant flora of this ancient forest. The trekking is for 2 hours after which you will go for the famous Nyungwe Forest Canopy walk. The canopy walkway is suspended 50 meters in the air between big trees and stretches over a steep and deep valley across a massive forest cover offering breathtaking views across the misty forest.

You will have sightings at eye-level of a number of unique wildlife inhabiting the canopies including birds, butterflies, and several monkey species. For those who lack the guts for the canopy walk you can choose to go for a nature walk around the park, visit homesteads to learn about their traditional settings and activities or relax at your lodge.

Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park

You will have breakfast and then transfer to Volcanoes National Park. This is a whole day drive of 341km taking about 9 hours. You will have lunch en route and view various wildlife attractions.

You will arrive in the late afternoon and check in at the lodge/hotel of your booking to relax and unwind.

Day 4: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park

Today you will track one of the habituated Gorilla groups. You will begin with a briefing on the rules of Gorilla trekking. The time taken to track the Gorillas can take as little as half an hour to as much as 5 hours! The trekking will be an exciting journey along forested slopes, entwined vines, bushes and bamboo before you eventually reach the Gorillas.

Your guide will point out signs of previous Gorilla activity, including dung, nests and chewed bamboo shoots. Once the Gorillas have been located, you will be allowed a maximum of one hour with them watching them as they feed, play, communicate and bond with their young.

You will return to the Rwanda Primates Safari lodge for relaxation till dinner and overnight.

Day 5: Transfer to Akagera National Park, Game drive & Boat ride

You will have an early Rwanda Primates Safari breakfast and travel with your guide to Akagera National Park. The drive to this place is approximately 2½ hours. On the way you will visit Rusumo waterfall and Imigongo, the place of traditional handcraft makers.

You will have lunch at your Lodge and in the afternoon go for a game drive in the Akagera National Park and a boat ride on Ihema Lake to see crocodiles, hippos and various species of rare birds around the Nyirabiyoro Island.

You will have dinner and overnight at the lodge of your booking.

Day 6: Game drive in Akagera & transfer to Kigali

After an early breakfast, you will embark on a morning game drive. In a circuit you will visit different lakes where you will see buffaloes and elephants drinking from the water ponds and various species of birds including the Egyptian goose and Fish eager. You will have a picnic lunch in the park then continue with the hills game drive where you will see; impalas, zebras, bush bucks, water bucks, topis, oribis, baboons, giraffes, cape elands and more.

En route you will go through the beautiful rolling hills to the northern exit of the park from where you will transfer to Kigali for dinner and overnight or to the Airport for your departure flight.

Requirements for this Safari

• A Visa for Rwanda which you can get at the airport
• Gorilla trekking permit paid for in advance
• Travel & Health insurance arranged by you in your home country before you travel.
• Yellow fever vaccination (certificate for proof)
• Physical fitness

The Safari package includes:

• Accommodation as per the itinerary
• 4WD safari vehicle
• Bottled drinking water
• Gorilla trekking permit
• Chimpanzee trekking permit
• Canopy walk fee
• Services of an English speaking driver/guide.
• Return airport transfers.

The Safari package excludes expenses of a personal nature such as:

• Other drinks apart from bottled water
• Laundry
• Tips to local guides
• Telephone expenses
• Porter fees while trekking Gorillas
• Personal insurance
• Cigarettes