5 days Rwanda chimpanzee and wildlife safari
The 5 days Rwanda chimpanzee and wildlife safari covers 70 percent of Rwanda’s most visited national parks with a wide range of activities to do and attractions to see. This tour package that allows visitors to explore also realise the topography of Rwanda given the Akagera national park is located in a relatively flat area while Nyungwe national park is located in the mountainous region given that Rwanda is main hilly hence the name “country of a thousand hills”. This safari features wild animal viewing for animals like lions, elephants, buffaloes, antelopes to mention a few and a boat trip on Lake Ihema in Akagera national park and also features chimpanzee trekking and Nyungwe canopy walk which stands as the first of a kind in East Africa in Nyungwe forest national park. Oher features include; genocide memorial sites, Nyanza King’s palace to mention a few.
Highlights
- Day 1: Kigali City tour and transfer to Akagera national park
- Day 2: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise
- Day 3: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest national park
- Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking experience and Canopy walk
- Day 5: Transfer to Kigali/Departure
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Akagera national park
Depending on your location in Kigali city or upon arrival at Kigali international airport, you will be picked up by your safari guide who will drive you to Akagera national park. The park is located in the Eastern part of Rwanda taking about 2-3 hours to access the park. Enter the park through one of the gates to connect to check-in your lodge. Later in the evening, enjoy an evening game drive to explore some of the available animals before you return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation and meals;
- Ruzizi Tented Camp for luxury option
- Akagera game lodge for Mid-range option
- Dereva Hotel for budget option
Day 2 of 5 days akagera and nyungwe forest park safari: Early morning game drive and boat cruise on Lake Ihema
After early morning breakfast, meet with your guide who will introduce you to your ranger guide who will be guiding you through the trials of game drives. A game drive may take 2-3 hours depending on availability of animals that exist in the park including the big 5 – buffaloes, Elephants, Leopards, lions and Rhinos. Other animals to expect include giraffes, hippos, Kobs, Zebras, Bushbucks, and waterbucks. Bird species can be spotted in places including the woodland, swamps, lakes and Savannah. Return to the lodge for lunch.
After lunch, connect to starting point for a boat trip on Lake Ihema, this boat will take 1 to 2 hours exploring the water animals such as the hippos, crocodiles and the water birds. Return to the lodge before dark to refresh, have dinner and overnight stay as above.
Day 3of 5 days rwanda chimpanzee and wildlife safari : Transfer to Nyungwe Forest national park
Wake up very early, have your breakfast and embark on your journey to Nyungwe national park. It’s approximately 6-7 hours’ drive with en-route stopover at the King’s palace and the ethnographic center and learn about the history and culture of Rwanda. You will have en-route lunch before you proceed to Nyungwe national park where you will proceed to check-in your accommodation where you will have dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation; Nyungwe One and Only Hotel for luxury, Nyungwe Top hill view Hotel for Mid-range, Gisakura Visitors Centre for Budget option
Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking experience and Canopy walk
After breakfast, meet your safari guide to connect to Nyungwe forest. Nyungwe is one of the largest rain forest in East Africa and habitant for 13 species of primates. You will meet for a briefing about the Chimpanzee trekking experience at the park headquarters. Chimpanzees in Nyungwe forest are semi-habituated quite difficult spot however; the rangers will ensure that you get to see the endangered chimpanzees. It will take about 2-5 hours to find the chimpanzees and on finding them, you will be allowed to view them for a hour before you return to the starting point where you will meet your guide the drive back to the lodge for lunch.
After lunch, head for the canopy walk experience. Nyungwe forest has the most outstanding canopy which is a 70 meter suspended bridge which gives the aerial perfect view of the forest. Walking along the canopy offers an opportunity to view some of the available primates and birds at the top. After the walk, meet your guide and drive back to your accommodation to relax, have dinner and overnight stay.
Day 5: Transfer to Kigali/Departure
After breakfast, check-out of the lodge and embark on your journey back to Kigali city. Depending on your departure schedule, you will leave quite early to catch your check-in time or you will be dropped off at a location you will advise within Kigali. End of trip
Inclusions of this tour package;
- Ground transfers throughout the trip including airport pick up and drop off
- Ground transportation in a 4X4 Safari Vehicle and fuel
- Accommodations and meals and En-route meals
- All permits required; Chimpanzee permits
- Park entry fees and boat cruise fees in the required parks
- Full time English speaking, knowledgeable and professional safari guide driver
- Bottled drinking water throughout the trip
Exclusions of the tour package
- International Airfares
- Rwanda Visa fees
- Optional activities
- Personal Insurance
- Extra meals and accommodation not indicated on the itinerary
- Expenses of personal nature such as; laundry, drinks, telephone usage to mention a few
- Tipping and gratitude rendered .
