7 Days Gorilla Safari in Rwanda & Primates Tours
This 7 days safari gives you chances to experience Rwanda’s Primates including Gorillas, Golden Monkeys and Diane Fossey in Volcanoes National Park and Chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1, Travel to Nyungwe Forest National Park (6-7hrs)
Around 7:00am in the morning, you will be served your breakfast at the Hotel after which you will be transferred to Nyungwe forest national park. En route to the Park, you will visit the tourist attractions sites of traditional Rwanda King’s palace in Nyanza and also the Cultural Museum in Butare. Later on drive past green tea fields which are scattered on the hillsides of the road and also small wooden houses all the way to Nyungwe. Dinner and overnight at Gisakura Guest House /Nyungwe Forest Lodge/Nyungwe Hotel (FB)
Day 2, Chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest National Park
After breakfast, you will set out early morning for the Chimpanzee tracking activity with in the forest to search for the man’s closest friends. You will be accompanied by Forest Ranger guides who will show you different forest trail. The activity takes around 3-5 hours. Return to the lodge for lunch and in the afternoon, you will take a guided nature walk with in the forest. This will enable all those bird loving tourists to spot different bird species with in the forest. You should look out for birds like the black and white casqued hornbill and the Rwenzori Turacco. Dinner and overnight stay at Gisakura Guest House /Nyungwe Forest Lodge/Nyungwe Hotel (FB)
Day 3, Transfer to Gisenyi
After breakfast, you will transfer to Gisenyi on the shores of Lake Kivu which is the country’s biggest fresh water in western parts of Rwanda. Upon arriving, you will have refreshments and lunch after which you will undertake a 2-4 hours launch cruise along the Lake. The cruise will provide you with a spectacular view of the Kibuye and Gisenyi towns and also the Nyiragongo Volcano in Congo which erupted recently in 2002. Return for dinner and overnight stay at Kivu Sun Hotel /Kivu Serena Hotel (FB)
Day 4, Transfer to Virunga Volcanoes National Park
After breakfast, you will drive to PNV arriving in time for golden monkey tracking. Upon arrival you will go for Golden Monkey tracking and look out also for other primate species like the Monkeys, bird species and so on. Return back to your lodge for lunch and relaxation as you wait for your next days long waited activity of Gorilla tracking.
Day 5, Mountain Gorilla Trek in PNV
After breakfast, make sure by 8:00am you are at the Park headquarters for a short briefing and Gorilla Group distribution. After this you will set out in the forest to search for these rare Mountain Gorillas. In Africa, they are only found in Rwanda and in Bwindi Uganda. You will have with you your packed water since it the trekking can be rough some times especially when it’s a dry season and when the Gorillas have moved a long distance. Unlike in Uganda, Gorilla tracking in Rwanda can take between 2-7 hours depending on the Gorilla Movement. You are only allowed to stay with the Gorillas for one hour which will be enough for you to take Pictures, Video coverage and enjoy your selves. After the one hour, you will return back to your lodge for refreshments and Lunch. In the evening you can visit the twin Lakes or take a short self guided walk around Kinigi (Ruhengeri). Dinner and overnight stay at Gorilla Nest Lodge or Mountains Gorilla View Lodge or Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge or Kinigi Guest House (FB)
Day 6, Golden monkeys trekking and Diane Fossey
After breakfast, you will return to the Forest to track the rare Golden Monkeys. Look out also for other primate species like the Monkeys, bird species and so on. After the trek, you will visit the Dian Fossey Graveyard which is found at Karisoke Research Center. It’s from here that you will get to know more about this wonderful woman who died while saving the lives of these wonderful Mountain Gorillas with in the Virunga Forest. You will also get more information about the Gorillas in the Forest. Dinner and overnight stay at Gorilla Nest Lodge or Mountains Gorilla View Lodge or Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge or Kinigi Guest House (FB)
Day 7, Transfer back to Kigali and departure
After breakfast, you will be transferred back to Kigali. Upon reaching the country’s capital, you will go for the short Kigali City tour and visit the Genocide memorial sites, Cultural sites, craft centers and shops and local markets. Dinner and overnight stay at Step Town Motel/Hotel Chezlando or be transferred to the Airport for your flight back home. (Depending on the time of Departure flight)
End of Safari
