5 Days Rwanda Chimpanzee & Gorilla safari – Primate Tours
The 5 days Rwanda chimpanzee and gorilla safari allows you to explore and experience two iconic primate species in Rwanda’s pristine rain-forests. It involves you trekking to see and explore in depth the general behavior of chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest National Park in Southern Province of Rwanda and the rare mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park which is set in Northwestern Rwanda. This safari package also allows you to visit the King’s palace in Nyanza and Kigali city tour where you will visit Kigali genocide site. Your safari will begin and end in Kigali.
Highlights of the 5 days Rwanda chimpanzee and gorilla safari
- Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
- Chimpanzee tracking and canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest National Park
- Kigali city tour
- Stopover at Butare
- 4 nights and meals
- 4×4 drive safari vehicle
- Fulltime English-speaking tour guide/driver guide
Brief itinerary of your 5 days Rwanda chimpanzee and gorilla safari
Day 1: Transfer from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Day 3: Travel from Volcanoes National Park to Nyungwe Forest National Park
Day 4: Chimpanzee tracking and canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest National Park
Day 5: Drive back to Kigali
Detailed itinerary of your 5 days Rwanda chimpanzee and gorilla safari
Day 1: Transfer from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park
Get a warm welcome from your driver guide after you have had breakfast. He will brief you on what you should expect on your 5 days Rwanda chimpanzee and gorilla safari. After, you will be transferred from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park and this is 2 to 3 hours’ road trip. On the way, enjoy the breathtaking views of the scenic rolling hills in Northwestern Rwanda and arrive at the park early enough to check in at your desired safari lodge. You will be served lunch and after, you will spend the rest of your evening enjoying and experiencing unique cultures, traditions in Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village.
Journey: 2 to 3 hours
Meals: Lunch and Dinner
Where to stay at Volcanoes National Park
Luxury: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Bisate Lodge, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge
Mid-range: Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge, La Palme Hotel, Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge
Budget: Kinigi Guesthouse, Muhabura Hotel
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Have breakfast early in the morning and after, you will be expected at Kinigi park headquarters at 7:00am for briefing on gorilla trekking rules and regulations. Briefing will be done by the park official and you will be joined by other trekkers. Please do not forget to bring some packed lunch or snacks and bottled drinking water. The park official will assign to you one habituated gorilla group to track in a group of 8 visitors. At 8:00am, you will begin the actual search for mountain gorillas and you will be accompanied by a park ranger guide and trackers.
Volcanoes National Park is comprised of ten habituated gorilla families and they include Susa A, Hirwa, Sabyinyo, Amahoro, Umubano, Karisimbi, Agashya, Ugenda, Bwenge and Kwitonda. The length of gorilla trek varies significantly depending on different factors like your speed of hiking, nature of habitat and where the gorillas thrive. However, a complete trek may take you about 2-6 hours including one hour of photography and exploring in depth about the behaviors of the mountain gorillas. Retreat from your gorilla trek and spend the rest of your evening relaxing, dine and spend a night.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Where to stay at Volcanoes National Park
Luxury: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Bisate Lodge, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge
Mid-range: Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge, La Palme Hotel, Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge
Budget: Kinigi Guesthouse, Muhabura Hotel
Day 3: Travel from Volcanoes National Park to Nyungwe Forest National Park
You will be served with a delicious cup of tea or coffee and after, check out of the lodge ready to connect to Nyungwe Forest National Park. You will have a city tour in Kigali and after, drive to Nyungwe. You will make a stopover at the King’s Palace in Nyanza, murambi genocide site and other sites. Lunch will be served to you at Butare.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Where to stay in Nyungwe Forest National Park
Luxury: Nyungwe Forest Lodge
Mid-range: Nyungwe Top View Hotel
Budget: Gisakura Guesthouse
Day 4: Chimpanzee tracking and canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest National Park
Rise up early in the morning to have breakfast and later, gather at Uwinka Visitor Center for briefing on the set dos and don’ts for chimpanzee tracking. The actual trek to see chimpanzees will begin at 8:00am and the park ranger guide will accompany you. On the way, don’t miss to catch a glimpse at other primates like the red colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys as well as many bird species. Once you locate where chimpanzees are, you will be given one hour which includes learning their behaviors, taking their pictures among others. After, return to have lunch as you wait for the afternoon canopy walk.
On a canopy walk, you will come across different species of primates, birds and enjoy the scenic beauty of Nyungwe Forest. Later, return to the lodge to rest, dine and spend a night.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Where to stay in Nyungwe Forest National Park
Luxury: Nyungwe Forest Lodge
Mid-range: Nyungwe Top View Hotel
Budget: Gisakura Guesthouse
Day 5: Drive back to Kigali
After breakfast, you will still gather Uwinka reception ready to embark on a canopy walk which may last you about 2 hours. Or drive back to Kigali to catch up with your flight back home.
End of your 5 days Rwanda chimpanzee and gorilla safari
5 days Rwanda chimpanzee and gorilla safari includes
- Gorilla trekking permit ($1500 per trekker)
- Bottled water
- Services of an English-speaking driver guide and park ranger guide
- Relevant government taxes
- Visit to Iby’Iwacu cultural village
- Kigali city tour
5 days Rwanda chimpanzee and gorilla safari excludes
- Tips
- Alcoholic drinks
- Optional activities
- Insurance
- Hotel fees in Kigali
- Laundry services
- Cigarettes
- Telephone calls
Some of the safety measures for gorilla and chimpanzee tracking
- Flashlight cameras are highly prohibited, turn it off when taking pictures of chimpanzees or mountain gorillas.
- A maximum of 8 trekkers are allowed to trek mountain gorillas.
- When trekking mountain gorillas or chimpanzees, a distance of 7 meters should be kept at all times.
- Persons above 15 years are eligible to trek chimpanzees or mountain gorillas
- Don’t liter the gorilla or chimpanzee habitat.
- Eating, smoking or drinking in the presence of mountain gorillas or chimpanzees is highly prohibited.
- Once you locate gorillas or chimpanzees, you have only one hour of magical encounter.
5 days Rwanda chimpanzee and gorilla safari
- Sun hat
- Sun glasses
- Long sleeved shirt
- Non flashlight camera
- Insect repellent
- Gardening gloves
- Rain jacket/poncho
- Waterproof hiking boots