7 Days Rwanda primates safari
The 7 days Rwanda primates safari is an exceptional primate safari that starts and ends in Kigali Rwanda. The safari will take you to Volcanoes national park, Nyungwe forest national park which is the largest montane forest in African located in south eastern part of Rwanda and Lake Kivu which is the largest lake in Rwanda. During the 7 days Rwanda primates safari, you will be able to engage in an adventurous gorilla and chimpanzee trekking experience where you will be able to spend time with the gorillas and chimpanzees in their natural habitat. You will also engage in and exciting canopy walk where you will be able to enjoy aerial views of the park, boat cruise on Lake Kivu and Ibyi’wacu cultural tour where you will be able to interact with the local people in the neighboring villages.
Highlights of the 7 days Rwanda primates safari
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Nyungwe forest national park
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking experience and canopy walk tour
Day 3: Transfer to Lake Kivu-boat cruise
Day 4: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Day 5: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Day 6: Golden monkey trekking and Ibyi’wacu cultural tour
Day 7: Departure to Kigali
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Nyungwe forest national park
Depending on your location on the first day of the 7 days Rwanda primates safari, our driver guide will pick you up from your hotel or airport, brief you about the safari and then start the journey to Nyungwe forest national park with a stopover at the former Kings Palace and another stopover for en-route lunch on the way. After lunch, you will continue the journey to the park and upon arrival, you will connect to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and Canopy walk tour
After an early breakfast on the second day of the 7 days Rwanda primates safari, you will meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the park headquarters for chimpanzee trekking briefing. After the briefing, you will start trekking in the forest in search of the chimpanzees with an experienced park guide which takes about 30 minutes to 5 hours depending on where they are located. During trekking you will be able to view other wildlife species and once the chimpanzees are located, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their habitat which gives you an opportunity to learn more about their behaviours, habits, watch them carry out their daily activities like feeding, breastfeeding, playing, grooming young ones, resting, fighting, take photos and record videos to show people back home. After the one hour with the chimpanzees, you will trek back to the starting point where you will meet up with your driver guide and return to the lodge lunch.
After lunch, you will transfer to the park headquarters go for the canopy walk briefing where after you will have a 200m walk along the forest trail to the amazing canopy walkway where you will be able to enjoy aerial views of the forest, trees, spot different bird species, primates among others. After the canopy walk tour, you will meet up with your driver guide and return to the lodge for an evening relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Transfer to Lake Kivu-boat cruise
After a relaxed breakfast on the third day of the 7 days Rwanda primates safari, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Lake Kivu with stunning views on the way. Upon arrival, you will check into the lodge for lunch where after you will go for an amazing boat cruise on Lake Kivu where you will be able to enjoys great views of the lake, scenery, landscape, bird species among others. After the boat cruise, you will return to the lodge for an evening relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Transfer to Volcanoes national park-twin lakes tour
On the fourth day of the 7 days Rwanda primates safari, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to start the journey to Volcanoes national park. On the way, you will enjoy great views of the landscape, hills, traditional homesteads among others. Upon arrival, you will connect to your lodge for lunch.
After lunch, you will go for the twin lakes tour where you will visit Lake Burera and Lake Ruhondo and either engage in a boat ride where you will explore the twin lakes or just enjoy the beautiful scenery of the lakes, terraced farmlands, landscape among others. After the twin lakes tour, you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Gorilla trekking experience
After an early breakfast on the fifth day of the 7 days Rwanda primates safari, you will carry your packed lunch and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the park headquarters for gorilla trekking briefing. After the briefing, you will start trekking in the forest with an experienced park guide which takes about 30 minutes to 6 hours depending on where the gorillas are located. During trekking you will be able to view other wildlife species and once the mountain gorillas are located, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their habitat which gives you an opportunity to learn more about their behaviours, habits, watch them carry out their daily activities like feeding, breastfeeding, playing, grooming young ones, take photos and record videos to show people back home. After the one hour with the mountain gorillas, you will trek back to the starting point where you will meet up with your driver guide and return to the lodge for an evening relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Day 6: Golden monkey trekking and Ibyi’wacu cultural tour
On the sixth day of the 7 days Rwanda primates safari, you will have an early breakfast, check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to go for golden monkey trekking briefing at the park headquarters. After the briefing, you will start trekking in the jungle in search of the golden monkeys which takes about 30 minutes to 5 hours depending on where they are located. Once they are found, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their habitat which gives you a chance to watch them feed, play, jump up in trees, take photos and record videos. After the encounter with the golden monkeys, you will trek back to the starting point where you will meet up with your driver guide and return to the lodge for lunch.
After lunch, guide to go for an exciting cultural tour where you will be able to interact the local people who live in the neighboring villages, learn about their history, culture, lifestyle, way of living, visit their homesteads, listen to their ancient stories, enjoy their traditional performance among others. After the cultural tour, you will drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 7: Departure to Kigali
On the last day of the 7 days Rwanda primates safari, you will have breakfast at leisure, check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver to start the journey back to Kigali. Upon arrival, you will go for a short Kigali city tour where you will be able to visit art/craft centres, Kigali genocide memorial centre, Kimironko market among others. After the city tour, you will have lunch and later your driver guide will drop you off at Kigali International Airport for your departure flight or drop off at any place of advise.
End of 7 days Rwanda primates safari
Tour includes
- Chimpanzee trekking permit
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Golden monkey trekking permit
- Ibyi’wacu cultural tour
- Kigali city tour
- Canopy walk tour
- Boat cruise
- Services of a professional English speaking driver guide
- Full board accommodation
- Pick up and drop off in Kigali Rwanda
- Vehicle and fuel
- Bottled drinking water
Tour excludes
- Air flight tickets
- Visas
- Life insurance
- Optional activities not included on the itinerary
- Personal expenses like buying souvenirs, cigarettes, crafts, drinks, laundry services, hiring a porter, tips among others.
