Detailed Itinerary for the 5 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Chimpanzee tour
Day 1: Start from Kigali, drive Nyungwe Forest National Park
We start your Rwanda gorilla and chimpanzee trek tour with a meeting in Kigali, at your hotel or t the Kigali International Airport at 8 am. Your Rwanda tour guide shall be giving a brief about your safari and ensure your are well prepared for the trip. We then start our drive off to Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Rwanda is a truly beautiful land to traverse and has as such been referred to as the land of 1000 hills. Driving through virgin African villages wild traditional crop farms, hills and valleys in this tropical African country is such a rewarding experience.
Along the way, make stops at places of interest including local markets, the traditional palace of Rwanda’s Former King in Nyanza. Drive past green fields of tea scattered across the hillsides and the small wooden houses unique to the areas surrounding Nyungwe Forest.
[Approximate driving time: 6 hours]
Accommodation options available
Top Luxury: One & Only Nyungwe House
Upmarket: Nyungwe Top View Hill Lodge or request upgrade to One & Only Nyungwe House
Mid-range: Chimpanzee lodge Nyungwe
Lower Budget: Chimpanzee lodge Nyungwe
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 2: Chimpanzee Tracking in Nyungwe Forest
Breakfast will be served early morning and after you will proceed to the park headquarters for briefing at 6:00am. Unlike other countries like Uganda where chimpanzee tracking activity starts at 8:00am, here in Nyungwe Forest National Park the activity starts at 6:00am.
You will enter into the forest when it’s dark, but you will be able to see primate species such as colobus monkeys, forest birds and later, you will be able to see the chimpanzees when it’s already daytime.
Accommodation options available
Top Luxury: One & Only Nyungwe House
Upmarket: Nyungwe Top Hill Lodge
Mid-range: Chimpanzee lodge Nyungwe
Lower Budget: Chimpanzee lodge Nyungwe
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 3: Volcanoes National Park
Have breakfast and drive to Volcanoes National Park, home to the Mountain Gorillas.
Ranging in altitude from 2400km to 4,507 the Volcanoes National Park (French: Parc National des Volcans) is dominated by the setting of volcanoes after which it is named. Best known to the outside world as the place where for almost 20yrs the American primatologist Dian Fossey undertook her pioneering studies of mountain gorilla behaviour. Day hikes to see the gorilla families can be strenuous on tracks climbing through the forest, and time is very limited once contact is made with the gorilla families. It is a rare and memorable experience to visit with these giant cousins of man.
Our accommodation is ideally positioned for those who want to watch animals in their habitat, specifically the endangered Rwanda Mountain Gorillas that still roam these areas. Share in the cuisine of Rwanda, which is served with the hospitality for which we all return to African countries.
Accommodation options available
Top Luxury: Virunga Lodge | The Bishop's House | Silverback Sabinyo Lodge
Up-market: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Moderate: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge
Low Budget: Hotel Muhabura
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 4: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Today is certainly for most tourist visitors to Rwanda. Tracking to the mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park is a pure lifetime experience. There are only about 1063 mountain gorillas remaining on earth and having an opportunity to meet face to face with a gorilla group is an experience many only dream about.
Your Rwanda primates tour guide shall ensure you are ready in time to drive to the volcanoes National Park offices for the pre-gorilla trekking briefing before setting off into the mostly bamboo jungle forests.
A thrilling trek through the refined foothills of the Virungas provides inspiring views in all directions. Then, suddenly, the trail enters the national park, engrossing trekkers in the strange closeness of the rainforest, alive with the calls of colorful birds and chattering of the rare golden monkey and besieged with fresh spoor of the mountains' elusive populations of buffalo and elephant.
Through gaps in the forest canopy, the marvelous peaks are sighted, easily easy to get to and among the uppermost in Africa, indicating an ascent. Gorilla trekking is quite strenuous but a worthwhile on encounter of these gentle giants. The enthusiasm of your coming across with these apes will wipe away your intricacy of the strenuous trek.
Spend time watching gorillas, watch the adults feeding their young ones, brushing and resting as the youngsters play from vines in a pleasurably playful display.
Accommodation options available
Top Luxury: Virunga Lodge | The Bishop's House | Silverback Sabinyo Lodge
Up-market: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Moderate: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge
Low Budget: Hotel Muhabura
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Day 5: Drive back to Kigali, end the Rwanda gorilla trekking chimpanzee tour.
Leave for Kigali. Time permitting; go for a tour of the city including shopping. Transfer to airport for your flight. [Approximate driving time: 3 hours].
