6 Days Rwanda Primates Safari (Chimpanzee, Gorilla and Golden Monkey Trekking Safari)
6 Days Rwanda Primates Safari is an extraordinary safari that will take you to Nyungwe national park which is located in the southwestern part of Rwanda and Volcanoes national park in the north western part of Rwanda. During the safari you will get an opportunity to engage in adventurous activities like canopy walk and chimpanzee trekking where you will be able to spend time with the chimpanzees in their local habitat. you will also engage in gorilla trekking and golden monkey trekking activities in Volcanoes national park.
Highlights of the 6 Days Rwanda Primates Safari
- Day 1: Pick up from Kigali airport and transfer to Nyungwe national park
- Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and canopy walk
- Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes national park
- Day 4: Gorilla trekking
- Day 5: Golden monkey trekking and cultural tour
- Day 6: Departure to Kigali
Detailed itinerary
Day 1 of the 6 days Rwanda chimpanzee, gorilla and golden monkey trekking safari
Arrival and transfer to Nyungwe national park, depending on your arrival time at Kigali international airport on the first day of the 6 Days Rwanda Primates Safari, you will be welcomed by our representative who will brief you about the safari and then start the journey to Nyungwe national park in the south western part of Rwanda. On the way you will have a stopover at the King’s Palace in Nyanza which formerly acted as the residence of King Mutara 111 Rudahigwa, the palace is a beautifully crafted thatched dwelling shaped like a beehive and offers great views of long horned Inyambo cattle at the back which descended from the King’s heard. The long horned cows played an important role during important ceremonies in honour of the King. You will also visit the museum where you will view collections of Africa’s tradition materials. After the tour at the King’s palace and museum you will have lunch and then proceed the journey to Nyungwe national park, upon arrival you will check into the lodge have dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and canopy walk
Chimpanzee trekking, after an early breakfast on the second day of the 6 days Rwanda chimpanzee, gorilla and golden monkey trekking safari you will meet up with your driver guide and transfer to the park headquarters for the briefing about the rules and regulations of chimpanzee trekking. After the briefing you will be allocated a chimpanzee family to trek, a park guide who is well conversant with trails in the forest and start trekking in the jungle which takes about 30 minute to 4 hours depending on the location of the chimpanzees. During chimpanzee trekking you will have views of other primates like l,hoest monkeys, silver monkeys, red tailed monkeys, olive baboons, grey checked mangabey, view different birds, plant and tree species among others. Once the chimpanzee family is found you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you an opportunity to know more about their lifestyle, behaviors, habits, watch them feed, play, hunt, rest, take great 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, meet up with your driver guide to return back to the lodge for lunch.
Canopy walk, after lunch you will go for an exciting canopy walk which is 60meters long above the forest. The canopy walk starts at Uwinka visitor’s center and goes through huge trees across the steep and deep valley filled with thick forest and takes about 2 hours. During the canopy walk you will have aerial views of Nyungwe forest, Virunga volcanoes, have great views of bird species, butterflies, primates like blue monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, view different tree species among others. After the canopy walk you will trek back to the starting point where you will meet up with your driver guide and drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes national park
After breakfast on the third day of the 6 Days Rwanda Primates Safari, you will check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Volcanoes national park in the northwestern park of Rwanda. The journey takes about 4 to 5 hours drive and on the way you will pass via Lake Kivu where you will have great views of the beautiful scenery, birds among others on the shores of the lake. You will also have lunch and then continue the journey to Volcanoes national park where you will check into the lodge for dinner and overnight upon arrival.
Day 4: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park
Gorilla trekking, after an early breakfast on the fourth day of the 6 Days Rwanda Primates Safari you will carry packed lunch and your driver will pick you up from the lodge to transfer to Kinigi park headquarters for a briefing about the rules, regulations and expectations of gorilla trekking. After the briefing you will be allocated a park guide who will lead you during trekking and a habituated gorilla family to trek. Allocation of gorilla families in the park is done according to age, physical fitness and personal preference therefore in case you are not physically fit you are advised to communicate with your guide so that they allocate you a gorilla family that is near to trek.
Trekking of the mountain gorillas in Volcanoes national park starts at around 8:00am and takes about 30 minutes to 6 hours depending on where the gorillas are located. During trekking you will have stunning views of different plants, birds, other primates among others and once the gorillas are found you will be able to spend one hour with them in their natural habitat which gives you an opportunity to observe their habits, behaviors, watch them carry out their daily activities like feeding, breastfeeding, take photos and record the moments to show people back home. After the face to face encounter with the gentle giants, you will trek back to the park headquarters and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the lodge for an evening relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Golden monkey trekking and cultural tour
Golden monkey trekking, after an early breakfast on the fifth day of the 6 days Rwanda chimpanzee, gorilla and golden monkey trekking safari, you will meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing about the rules and regulations of golden monkey trekking. After the briefing you will be allocated a park guide who is well conversant with trails in the forest and start trekking which takes about 30 minutes to 4 hours. During golden monkey trekking you will follow fresh leftovers of bamboo shoot and leaves and once they are located you will be allowed to spend one hour with them where you will be able to watch them jump up from one tree to another, learn about their lifestyle, behaviors, take photos and record videos. After the one hour with the golden monkeys you will trek back to the park headquarters where you will meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the lodge for lunch.
Cultural tour, after lunch you will go for an exciting cultural tour where you will visit Ibyi’wacu cultural village. During the cultural tour you will be able to interact with the local people which gives you an opportunity to learn about their culture, traditions, way of living, engage in their daily activities, taste their local dishes, enjoy their traditional dances, listen to ancient stories among others. After the cultural tour you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 6: Departure to Kigali for a city tour
On the last day of the 6 days Rwanda chimpanzee, gorilla and golden monkey trekking safari, 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 you will be able to visit Kigali genocide memorial centre where you will learn about the 1994 brutal killing of the Tutsi and Hutus, visit Kimironko market where you will buy souvenirs , clothing, interact with traders among others. After the Kigali city tour you will have lunch and then 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
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Golden monkey trekking permit
- Canopy walk
- Cultural tour
- 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.
