8 Day Rwanda Primates and Wildlife Safari

8 Day Rwanda Primates and Wildlife Safari, You will explore and enjoy all three Rwandan national parks on this eight-day Rwanda wildlife safari.  Beginning with the adventurous Kigali city tour, proceed to Nyungwe Forest National Park for chimpanzee trekking and canopy walk. For gorilla trekking, golden monkey, and a relaxation boat cruise on the twin lakes, visit Volcanoes National Park. Finalise your safari with the beautiful Akagera National Park for boat safaris and game drives. As you bend along the twisting roads, appreciate the various backdrops of natural Rwanda.

Brief itinerary

  • Day 1: Arrival and Kigali city tour
  • Day 2: Transfer to Nyungwe National Park
  • Day 3: Chimpanzee tracking and Canopy Walk
  • Day 4: Travel to Kigali and transfer to Volcanoes National Park
  • Day 5: Gorilla tracking and the twin lakes
  • Day 6: Golden monkey tracking and transfer to Akagera National Park
  • Day 7: Game drives and boat cruise
  • Day 8: Travel to Kigali and departure.

Detailed Itinerary

DAY 1: ARRIVAL AND KIGALI CITY TOUR

On arrival, you will be picked up from the Airport by the driver guide. You will then begin your Kigali city tour. You will visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre, Nyamata Church, or Ntarama genocide memorial, an Art painting Centre like Inema, and local markets like Kimironko. After the city tour, the driver will take you to the hotel for lunch and relaxation.

 Dinner and overnight at  Hotel des Mille Collines
Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner

DAY 2: TRANSFER TO NYUNGWE NATIONAL PARK

In the morning, you will transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park.  Nyungwe Forest National Park is located south of Lake Kivu on the border of Rwanda and Burundi and is the home to chimpanzees and several other primate species. Nyungwe is the main park that offers chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda. Optional en route to the King’s palace in Nyanza or the Ethnographic Museum for more of Rwandan history and culture. En route, lunch will be in one of the good eateries in Huye.
Upon arrival, you will check into your Lodge.

Dinner and Overnight at Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel
MEAL PLAN: Dinner

DAY 3: CHIMP TREKKING & CANOPY WALK

You will have breakfast in the morning and thereafter go for chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest. The forest is rich in botanical diversity and home to 13 species of primates, including Chimpanzees, L’Hoest monkeys, and colobus monkeys, with 300 bird species. Your tour guide
will transfer you to the briefing area where you will meet your ranger guide and receive briefing before you start your trek.

After lunch, you will start a canopy walk in the afternoon. The canopy walk is a guided tour starting from the Uwinka Visitors Centre in Nyungwe Forest with a 30-minute walk via the Igishigishi Trail. The trail begins with a steep slope, but the views atop the canopy make it worth it! The walking activity lasts for 2 hours. On a clear day, you can see Lake Kivu. After the canopy walk, transfer to your Hotel for Dinner and overnight at Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel
MEAL PLAN: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

DAY 4 : TRANSFER BACK TO KIGALI AND THEN TO VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK

Early in the morning, you will check out of the lodge and set off for a 5–6-hour journey to Kigali. You will have lunch in Kigali and then proceed on a 3-hour drive to Volcanoes National Park. Arrival will be in the evening hours, and check into your lodge for relaxation.

Dinner and overnight at Ingagi Park View Lodge

8 Day Rwanda Primates and Wildlife Safari

DAY 5: GORILLA TREKKING IN VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK & TWIN LAKES

On this day, you will have a great time meeting the mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park! After a tasty breakfast, your guide will pick you up from the lodge. On reaching the Volcanoes Park offices, you will be briefed on the rules/guidelines for trekking the gorillas and then assigned to a gorilla group to track. After the briefing, you will then proceed to track the mountain gorillas. Once you spot the gorillas, follow the instructions from the ranger guides. You will be allowed to spend up to 1 hour with them. The experience in the jungle and meeting the gorillas is sometimes underrated when described, but what I can say is, its magical. After the trek, you will trail back to meet your driver guide. After having your lunch, you will go for a boat trip on the twin Lakes. Return to your hotel.

Dinner and overnight at Ingagi Park View Lodge.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

DAY 6: GOLDEN MONKEY TREKKING IN VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK AND   TRANSFER TO AKAGERA

Have breakfast and drive to the park headquarters for registration and briefing.  You will then start the trail, following the ranger guide to trek the Golden Monkeys. Learn more about how they feed, their day-to-day activities, as well as learning how the locals live and survive near the National Park. The ranger guide will share with you more about the park and different features, how golden monkeys survive, among other interesting, related stories. After viewing the golden monkeys, your driver guide will transfer you back to your lodge for lunch,  check out and transfer to Akagera.

Dinner and overnight at Manti Akagera Game Lodge.

Meal plan: Dinner

Day 7: GAME DRIVES AND LAKE IHEMA BOAT CRUISE

After breakfast, leave the lodge for a morning game drive in Akagera National Park. Explore the park’s diverse savannah grasslands and woodlands, where you’ll encounter the Big Five, giraffes, zebras, impalas, and various bird species. With over 500 species of birds, Akagera is a birdwatcher’s paradise.  After the drive, return to the lodge for lunch.

At 3:00 pm, go for an adventurous boat cruise on Lake Ihema, offering a new perspective of the park’s abundant wildlife, including hippos, crocodiles, and the iconic African fish eagle. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight at Mantis Akagera Game Lodge.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

 DAY 8: TRANSFER TO KIGALI AND DEPARTURE

On this day, you will have your breakfast, then drive back to Kigali.
This marks the end of your Safari.

Inclusions:

  •  4×4 WD vehicle with fuel
  • English-speaking driver-guide
  • Meals and accommodation at the provided.
  • 1 Rwanda gorilla permit
  • Park entrance fees.
  • Chimpanzee tracking permit
  • Canopy fees.
  • Boat cruise (In Akagera and the twin Lakes)
  • Golden  monkey permit
  • Kigali city tour
  • Mineral drinking water.

The safari excludes:

  • All items not mentioned  in the itinerary
  • .Tips and gratuities
  • .Visa and flight tickets
  • . Alcoholic drinks and other luxurious items.