5 Days Rwanda Primates Safari – Gorillas & Chimps
Be part of this 5 Days Rwanda primates safari for a close encounter with these primates in their natural habitats with Africa Adventure Safaris. The 5 Days Rwanda gorillas & chimpanzee safari takes you to Volcanoes National park in North western Rwanda and Nyungwe Forest National park in south western Rwanda. Visit one of the 10 habituated mountain gorilla families in Volcanoes National Park. Altogether, Volcanoes Park comprise of over 20 gorilla families but only 10 are habituated and open for trekking. These include Hirwa, Karisimbi, Sabyinyo, Pablo, Susa A, Umubano, Agashya, Amahoro, Titus and Ugenda gorilla family. Each family is unique in its own and offers a different experience. You can do a 3 Days Rwanda double gorilla trek to visit two different gorilla families.
The park spread over 160 square kilometers but is currently being expanded to create more space for the increasing population of gorillas. In addition to gorillas, Volcanoes National Park shelters the endangered golden monkeys habituated into two communities. The forest park is also believed to host wild chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, forest elephants and African buffalos among other wild animals some of which you may encounter during your gorilla trek. The park also hoss 5 of the 8 volcanoes in Virunga Conservation Area. This makes it a centre of volcano climbing experience. You can do hiking alone or combine mountaineering with gorilla trekking for a more lifetime experience. Mount Karisimbi(4,507m) and Bisoke(3,696m) are the most hiked mountains in Volcanoes National park. Vegetation in Volcanoes park comprise of bamboos, swamps, meadows, thickets and grasslands. Drive time from Kigali to Volcanoes Park is roughly 3 hours
About Nyungwe Forest National park, it’s the prime destination for chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda. The rain forest spreads on a land area of 1,029 square kilometers which make it one of the large forests in Africa. Chimpanzee trekking there can be done either in the main Nyungwe Forest or te Cyamudongo Forest which was detached from the main forest by deforestation. Vegetation in Nyungwe Forest entail Entandrophragma excelsum and herbaceous ferns, swamps, grasslands and thickets which provide food and habitation for animals and birds. The drive time from Kigali to Nyungwe Forest is roughly 6 hours
Brief Itinerary
- Day 01: Transfer to Nyungwe
- Day 2: Chimpanzee Tracking – Canopy Walk
- Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes national park.
- Day 4: Gorilla Tracking
- Day 5: Transfer back to Kigali
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Nyungwe.
Of recent Nyungwe chimps are increasingly becoming unpredictable as they keep moving forth and backward between forests of Nyungwe and Kibira in Burundi. Therefore, at Africa adventure Safaris we advise our clients to opt for trekking chimps in Kibale national park Uganda and we pay for your Ugandan visa to enable you track chimps in Kibale Forest national park.
Upon your arrival at the airport, our driver guide will pick you and transfer southwards to Nyungwe forest national park with en route visit to the national museum in Butare, the Murambi genocide memorial site, the Nyanza king’s palace. Dinner and overnight at stay Nyungwe Forest Lodge(Luxury).
Day 2: Chimpanzee Tracking – Canopy Walk
After an early breakfast, you will set off to discover the primates and scenic splendor of Nyungwe. Viewing the primates on the steep slopes of Nyungwe forest is quite challenging but the park guides at Nyungwe are experienced and very knowledgeable about most of Nyungwe’s wildlife. The guides shall provide you with all the relevant information about thße primates in Nyungwe forest; primates lifestyle, feeding, reproduction among other details. Other primates seen in Nyungwe Forest include L’Hoest’s monkey, golden monkeys, large troops of the Angola Colobus, vervet monkeys, Silver Monkey, Hamlyn’s Monkey, Red-tailed Monkey, Dent’s Mona Monkey, Olive Baboon, Grey-cheeked Mangabeys among other primates.
Return to the lodge for lunch, and in the afternoon embark on a canopy walk. Later return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes national park.
In the morning, you will enjoy a scenic long drive to Volcanoes national park in Ruhengeri. The drive takes you through different towns, farms and local communities giving with spectacular views of Rwanda’s rolling hills after which the country was named the “Land of a Thousand Hills”. Dinner and overnight at Muhabura hotel(Budget)/La Palme hotel(Deluxe)/Mountain gorilla view lodge(Luxury) as you prepare for the following day’s memorable adventure.
Day 4: Mountain Gorilla Tracking
After breakfast, our tour guide will lead you to the park headquarters for briefing from the head of the park rangers. At 8.30 am local time, commence the memorable gorilla tracking experience. Trek through the forest up and down hill searching for the allocated gorilla family. The trekking time can range between 30 minutes to over 6 hours. However after meeting the endangered gorillas, you will be left in the presence of the awesome mountain gorillas for an hour. You are reminded to keep a distance, keep calm and enjoy this once a lifetime experience. Hold your camera tight to take photographs and enjoy the antics of baby gorillas as they swing from tree branch to another. Gorilla trekking is the best wildlife experience in Africa.
Day 5: Transfer back to Kigali.
After breakfast transfer back to Kigali. You may wish to enjoy a city tour including a visit to Gisozi genocide memorial site. The will be ready to transfer you to the airport for your departure flight to the next destination.
End of safari.
Tour Inclusions
- Mountain gorilla permit
- Chimpanzee permit
- Full time english speaking guide
- Accommodation & meals
- Bottled drinking water
- Government taxes
- Ground Transport
- All activities listed in the itinerary
Tour Exclusions
- Porte’s fee
- Alcoholic beverages
- Extra activities not included in the itinerary
- Tips
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