6 Days Rwanda Primates Safari
6 Days Rwanda Primates Safari is an incredible primate adventure that starts and ends in Kigali. The safari will take you to Nyungwe forest national park where you will take part in chimpanzee trekking, canopy walk, and Volcanoes national park where you will be able to visit two different gorilla families in their natural environments to compare experiences.
Highlights of the 6 days chimpanzee and double gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda
- Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Nyungwe forest national park
- Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and canopy walk in Nyungwe national park
- Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes national park
- Day 4: 1st gorilla trek in Volcanoes national park
- Day 5: 2nd gorilla trek in Volcanoes national park
- Day 6: Departure to Kigali
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Nyungwe forest national park, upon arrival at Kigali international airport on day 1 of the 6 days chimpanzee and double gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda you will be welcomed by our driver guide who will brief you about the safari and then start the journeys to Nyungwe national park which is situated in the south western part of Rwanda. The journey takes about 6 to 7 hours drive and on the way you will have a stopover at the King’s Palace which formerly acted as the residence of King Mutara 111 Rudahigwa. The King’s palace is a beautifully crafted thatched dwelling shaped like a beehive and offers stunning views of the long horned Inyambo cattle at the back which descended from the King’s herd, the long horned cows played an important role during ceremonies in honour of the King. After the tour at the King’s palace you will have lunch and later continue the journey to Nyungwe national park, upon arrival you will check into the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and canopy walk
Chimpanzee trekking, after an early breakfast on day 2 of the 6 Days Rwanda Primates Safari your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge to transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing about the rules and regulations of chimpanzee trekking. After the briefing you will be allocated a chimpanzee family to trek and a park guide who is well conversant with trails in the forest. Trekking of chimpanzees in Nyungwe national park takes about 30 minutes to 4 hours depending on where the chimpanzees are located 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 them in their natural habitat which gives you a chance to know more about their habits, behaviors, take photos and record videos with a flash less camera. After the one hour encounter with the chimpanzees you will trek back to the park headquarters where you will meet up with your driver guide and drive back to the lodge for lunch.
Canopy walk, after lunch you will go for an interesting canopy walk which is the best canopy walk in Africa. The canopy walk starts at Uwinka visitor’s center and goes through huge trees across the steep and deep valley filled with thick forest where you will have spectacular views of different bird species, colorful butterflies, primates like blue monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, different plant and tree species among others. After the canopy walk which takes about 2 hours you will trek back to the starting point where you will meet up with your driver guide to return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes national park
After breakfast on day 3 of the 6 Days Rwanda Primates Safari in Rwanda, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Volcanoes national park. The journey takes about 7 hours drive passing though the rolling hills, tea plantations with en-route lunch. Upon arrival in the park you will check into the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: 1st gorilla trek in Volcanoes national park
1st gorilla trek, after an early breakfast on day 4 of the 6 days chimpanzee and double gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda, you will carry packed lunch and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Kinigi park headquarters to join others for a briefing about the rules and regulations of gorilla trekking. After the briefing you will be allocated a gorilla family to trek and a park guide who is knowledgeable about the endangered mountain gorillas as well as conversant with the trails in the jungle. Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park takes about 30 minutes to 7 hours depending on the location of the gorillas and during trekking you will have views of other wildlife species like birds, primates, plants among others. Once the gorillas are found you will be able to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which helps you to learn about their habits, behaviors, watch them feed, play, breastfeed, take photos and record the incredible moments to show people back home. After the gorilla trek you will return back to the park headquarters, meet up with your driver guide and transfer to the lodge for an evening dinner and overnight.
Day 5: 2nd gorilla trek in Volcanoes national park
2nd gorilla trek, after an early breakfast on day 5 of the 6 Days Rwanda Primates Safari in Rwanda you will meet up with your driver guide and transfer to the park headquarters for a gorilla trekking briefing. After the briefing you will be allocated a different gorilla family to trek in order to compare the experiences of different gorilla families. Just like the first gorilla trekking experience you will move into the forest in search of the endangered gorilla family and once found spend one hour with the mountain gorillas which gives you an opportunity to observe their behaviors, watch them carry out their daily activities and take beautiful photos. After the one hour with the gentle giants you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 6: Departure to Kigali
On day 6 of the 6 days chimpanzee and double gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda, you will have a relaxed breakfast, check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Kigali for a city tour. During the city tour you will be able to visit Kigali genocide memorial centre, Kimironko market, craft centers among others. After the city tour you will go for lunch and after transfer to Kigali international airport for your departure flight or transfer to the hotel depending on your schedule.
End of the 6 Days Rwanda Primates Safari
Tour includes
- Chimpanzee trekking permit
- Canopy walk
- Gorilla trekking permits
- Kigali city tour
- 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
- Life insurance
- Personal expenses like buying souvenirs, crafts, drinks, laundry services, tips among others.
Chimpanzee and Gorilla trekking tips
- Hiking shoes
- Garden gloves
- Long sleeved shirt and trouser
- Insect repellent
- Water proof rain jacket
- Warm sweaters
- Long stockings
- Water proof back pack to carry your equipment’s
- Camera
- Energy snacks like drinking water and packed lunch from the lodge
- Walking stick
- Hiring a Porter who will help you carry your equipment’s and gives you a pull or a push in steep and slippery areas.
