5 Days Rwanda Primate Tour – Gorilla & Chimp Trekking
Book the five days Rwanda primate tour which involves you exploring diverse species of primates in iconic tourist sites like Nyungwe Forest National Park and Volcanoes National Park for chimpanzee and gorilla trekking respectively. On this Rwanda primate tour, you will also come across other species of primates including vervet monkeys, L’Hoest monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, and several bird species. Nyungwe Forest National Park is found in the Southern Province of Rwanda and it is incredibly a home to 13 primate species including about 500 chimpanzees, L’Hoest monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys; 1068 plant species, 322 bird species 29 of which are Albertine rift endemic, 120 butterflies and many more.
Volcanoes National Park lies in the Northern Province of Rwanda, approximately 2 to 3 hours’ drive away from Kigali. This park expands up to 160 square kilometers, inhabiting the endangered mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, 200 bird species and several plant species. Your 5 days Rwanda primate tour begins and ends in Kigali.
Highlights of your 5 days Rwanda primate tour
• Chimpanzee tracking
• Canopy walk
• Mountain gorilla trekking
• Golden monkey tracking
• Visit the Twin Lake-Ruhondo and Burera
• Travel in 4×4 drive safari vehicle
• 4 nights and meals
Trip summary
Day 1: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park
Day 2: Chimpanzee tracking and canopy walks
Day 3: Drive to Volcanos National Park
Day 4: Mountain gorilla trekking and visit the Twin Lake
Day 5: Golden monkey tracking and drive back to Kigali
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park
Your first day starts with you leaving your hotel or place of residence in Kigali after your cup of tea or coffee and drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park which is found in the Southern Province of Rwanda about 6 hours’ drive. On the way, you will make a stopover at cultural/historical sites in Butare and lunch. Later, you will proceed to Nyungwe National Park to check-in at your lodge for relaxation, dinner and a night stay.
Accommodation in Nyungwe Forest National Park
Budget: Gisakura Guesthouse
Mid-range: Nyungwe Hill Top Lodge
Luxury: Nyungwe Forest Lodge
Day 2: Chimpanzee tracking and canopy walks
Trekking chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest National Park begins with an early morning breakfast and later, you gather at Uwinka for a briefing on guidelines for chimpanzee tracking. At 8:00 am, you will commence the search for chimpanzees and the entire adventure may cover about 2-4 hours and once you locate these unique apes, you will have an hour of magical encounter. Chimpanzees are believed to be the closest relatives to humans the fact that 98 percent of their DNA is the same as that of humans. You will return from the chimpanzee trek to have lunch at the lodge.
At 2:00 pm, after relaxation you will take part in canopy walk along the suspended trail which is about 2 hours walk. It is a remarkable experience that lets you catch a glimpse at diverse primate species, unique flora, bird species, butterflies and canopy of Nyungwe Forest.
Accommodation in Nyungwe Forest National Park
Budget: Gisakura Guesthouse
Mid-range: Nyungwe Hill Top Lodge
Luxury: Nyungwe Forest Lodge
Day 3: Drive to Volcanoes National Park
Leave Nyungwe Forest National Park for Volcanoes National Park which is set in Northwestern Rwanda. This is about 6 hours’ road trip and along the way, you will be served lunch. Arrive at Volcanoes National Park early to check-in at the lodge for dinner and a night stay.
Accommodation in Volcanoes National Park
Budget: Kinigi Guesthouse, Hotel Muhabura
Mid-range: Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge, Le Bambou Lodge
Luxury: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Day 4: Mountain gorilla trekking and visit the Twin Lake
Gorilla treks in volcanoes National Park involves exploring anyone of the park’s ten habituated gorilla families in a group of 8 visitors. You will be briefed on guidelines that you have to observe while trekking mountain gorillas and at 8:00 am, you start your search for these humble primates. Trekking mountain gorillas is an adventure that lasts for about 2-6 hours depending on your speed of hiking, nature of the habitat and where they are found. After you have located them, you have an hour of face to face encounter, photography and then you return to the lodge.
The driver-guide will take you the scenic Lake Burera and Lake Ruhondo to explore these magical water bodies, identify bird species and later, get back to the lodge to dine and spend a night.
Accommodation in Volcanoes National Park
Budget: Kinigi Guesthouse, Hotel Muhabura
Mid-range: Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge, Le Bambou Lodge
Luxury: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Day 5: Golden monkey tracking and drive back to Kigali
Following breakfast, briefing at Kinigi park headquarters pertaining golden monkey tracking. You will then set off to search for golden monkeys at 8:00am in the jungles of Volcanoes National Park and you will spend about 2-4 hours. One hour will be given to you for photo taking and exploring their behaviors then you return to check out of the lodge. Drive to the airport to fly back home in case your flight is planned today or hotel.
End of your 5 days Rwanda primate tour
5 days Rwanda primate tour includes
• Gorilla permit
• Golden monkey permit
• Visit to the Twin lakes
• Airport transfer
• Bottled drinking water
• Travel in 4×4 drive safari car
• Relevant government taxes
• Service of an English-speaking safari guide
5 days Rwanda primate tour excludes
• Tips
• Visa fees
• Optional activities
• Laundry services
• Telephone calls
• Cigarettes
• Hotel fees outside your travel plan