4 Day Rwanda Chimpanzee trekking and Lake Kivu safari
This 4 days Rwanda chimpanzee trekking and Lake Kivu safari will take you to Nyungwe national park in southwestern Rwanda which is known for harboring various primate species including chimpanzees, red tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys olive baboons among others which will be seen during the interesting chimpanzee trekking activity. While in the park you will also participate in an incredible canopy walk where you will view different tree species, birds among others. From Nyungwe national park you will connect to Lake Kivu where you will enjoy cool breeze, take beautiful pictures and view aquatic animals during the boat cruise.
Highlights of the 4 days Rwanda chimpanzee trekking and Lake Kivu safari
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Nyungwe national park
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and canopy walk
Day 3: Transfer to Lake Kivu
Day 4: Departure to Kigali
Detailed itinerary
Day 1 of the 4 days Rwanda chimpanzee trekking and Lake Kivu safari
Transfer to Nyungwe national park, depending on the time of arrival on the first day of your 4 days Rwanda chimpanzee trekking and Lake Kivu safari you will be welcomed by our driver guide at Kigali international airport who will brief you about your safari and then start the journey to Nyungwe national park which is located in the south western part of Rwanda. On your way you will have a stopover at the King’s palace and museum in Nyanza which was formerly the residence of King Mutara 111 Rudahigwa where you will have great views of the long horned Inyambo cattle at the back and different traditional materials in the museum. After the tour at the King’s palace you will have en-route lunch and then continue with the journey to Nyungwe national park where you will check into the lodge, have dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and canopy walk
Chimpanzee trekking, after an early breakfast on the second day of your 4 days Rwanda chimpanzee trekking and Lake Kivu safari you will meet up with your driver guide and transfer to the park headquarters for the briefing about the rules and guidelines of chimpanzee trekking. After the briefing you will be allocated a chimpanzee group to trek, a park guide who is well conversant with trails in the jungle and then start trekking. Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe national park takes about 30 minutes to 4 hours depending on the location of the chimpanzees because they like to move from one place to another in search of food. Once the chimpanzees are found you will be allowed to spend one hour with the chimpanzees in their natural habitat which gives you an opportunity to know more about their lifestyle, habits, behaviors, take photos and record videos to show people back home. After spending an exciting moment with the chimpanzees you will trek back to the park headquarters, meet up with your driver guide and drive back to the lodge for lunch.
Canopy walk, after lunch you will go for an exciting canopy walk which is 90meters long above the forest. The canopy walk was opened in 2010 and Nyungwe national park is the only forest in East Africa offering this breathtaking activity. The canopy walk starts at Uwinka visitor’s center and goes through steep and deep valley filled with thick forest. The interesting canopy walk takes about 2 hours and offers you with spectacular views of bird species, butterflies, primates like blue monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, tree species among others which gives you unforgettable experiences. After enjoying the canopy walk you will trek back to the starting point where you will meet up with your driver guide and transfer back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Transfer to Lake Kivu
After breakfast on the third day of your 4 days Rwanda chimpanzee trekking and Lake Kivu safari, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Gisenyi where you will participate in an exciting boat cruise on Lake Kivu which is the largest fresh water lake in Rwanda. During the boat cruise you will have great views of the steep terraced hills, beautiful scenery, landscape, views of the sunset, various bird species like malachite kingfishers, majestic crowned cranes, pelicans among others. You will also interact with the fishermen who will be fishing in dugout canoes, engage in various activities along the lake shores such as swimming, sunbathing, speed boating, canoeing among others which gives you lifetime memories. After the amazing experience on the lake you will go back to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Departure to Kigali
On the last day of the 4 days Rwanda chimpanzee trekking and Lake Kivu safari you will have a relaxed breakfast at the lodge, check out and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Kigali for a city tour. During the city tour you will visit Kigali genocide memorial center where you will know about brutal killing of many people in Rwanda during the 1994 Rwanda genocide between the Hutus and Tutsi, visit Kandt museum of natural history, craft centers where you will buy souvenirs to take back home. After the city tour you will have lunch in one of the restaurants where you will taste different Rwandan dishes and then start the journey to Kigali international airport where the driver guide will drop you off for your next flight.
End of 4 days Rwanda chimpanzee trekking and Lake Kivu safari
Tour includes
- Chimpanzee trekking permit
- Canopy walk
- Kigali city tour
- Boat cruise on Lake Kivu
- Services of an English speaking driver guide
- Full board accommodation
- Pick up and drop off
- Vehicle and fuel
- Bottled water
Tour excludes
- Air flight tickets
- Visas
- Optional activities not included on the itinerary
- Personal expenses like buying souvenirs, crafts, drinks, laundry services, tips among others.
