Day 1: Start from Kigali, drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park
We start your 4-day Rwanda trekking gorillas and chimpanzee tour when your tour guide meets you in Kigali at your hotel or the Kigali International Airport at 8 am. Your Rwanda tour guide shall give a brief about your Rwanda tour and ensure you 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, and 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
Mid-range: Chimpanzee lodge Nyungwe
Lower Budget: Chimpanzee Lodge Nyungwe
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
Day 2: Chimps Trekking in Nyungwe Forest, Drive to Volcanoes National Park
Breakfast will be served early morning and after you will proceed to the park headquarters for briefing at 6:00 am. You will then assemble with the chimps trekking team and be briefed about the forest and the chimp conservation. You then enter the forest to trek the chimps and other primates in the forest. You will definitely encounter other primates' species such as colobus monkeys, and forest birds along the trek. When you finally meet the chimpanzees, you shall be allowed one hour with them and the rangers will guide you to the finest viewing spots.
You will be back out of the forest at about 11 am. After linking up with your Rwanda tour guide/ driver, we shall embark on our 5 hours' drive to Volcanoes National Park, where we shall be doing our gorilla trekking on the next day.
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 20 years, the American primatologist Dian Fossey undertook her pioneering studies of mountain gorilla behavior. 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
Up-market: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Moderate: Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
Low Budget: Hotel Muhabura
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 4: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Today is the day we shall be trekking Rwanda's most famous primates, the mountain gorillas. Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park is a pure life experience. There are only about 1063 mountain gorillas remaining on earth. Getting a gorilla trekking permit that allows you an opportunity to meet face to face with a mountain gorilla group is an experience many only dream of.
Your Rwanda 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 encounter for 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
Up-market: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Moderate: Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
Low Budget: Hotel Muhabura
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
Day 4: Drive back to Kigali, and end the 4 days Rwanda trekking gorilla and chimps tour.
Leave for Kigali. Time permitting; go for a tour of the city including shopping. Transfer to the airport for your flight. [Approximate driving time: 3 hours].
