7 Days Rwanda Primates Tour

Our 7 Days Rwanda Primates Tour is tailored for travelers seeking for an encounter with Rwanda’s fascinating primates that is mountain gorillas, golden monkeys and chimpanzees. This tour takes you to Nyungwe Forest National Park for chimpanzee trekking and Volcanoes National Park for an encounter with mountain gorillas on gorilla trekking and golden monkeys on golden monkey trekking.

On this 7 Days Rwanda Primates Tour, you will also visit Lake Kivu, Twin lakes – Burera and Ruhondo and the genocide memorial sites where you will get a deeper information about the genocide.

Highlights of 7 Days Rwanda Primates Tour – Gorillas, Golden Monkeys and Chimpanzees

  • Day 1: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest
  • Day 2: Chimpanzee Tracking at Nyungwe Forest – Going for a Canopy walk
  • Day 3: Transfer to Lake Kivu – Go for an afternoon boat ride
  • Day 4: Tour of Lake Kivu and fishing villages – Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
  • Day 5: Mountain gorilla trekking – Visiting the Gorilla Guardians Village.
  • Day 6: Golden Monkey Tracking – Visiting the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo
  • Day 7: Transfer back Kigali – Tour of Kigali, the genocide memorial Centre and other sites

Detailed itinerary of 7 Days Rwanda Primates Tour – Gorillas, Golden Monkeys and Chimpanzees

Day 1:  Transfer to Nyungwe Forest

Our representative “Our safari driver-guide” will pick you up from your hotel in Kigali City or from the Airport upon arrival to start the long journey to Nyungwe Forest – Rwanda’s Primate Capital, the journey takes about 5 hours and allows you to enjoy the beautiful views of the Rwanda’s countryside.

Once you reach the park, you will head to your lodge for check-in, refresh and relax as you wait for your dinner.

Dinner and Overnight will be at Nyungwe Forest Lodge (Luxury), Nyungwe Top View Hotel (Mid-range) and the Gisakura Guest House (Budget).

Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner

Day 2: Chimpanzee Tracking at Nyungwe Forest – Going for a Canopy walk

You will wake up early and have breakfast at your lodge, then head to the park headquarters for briefing about chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest, a senior range will take you through the rules and regulations to follow during the trek. Head into the forest looking for the chimpanzees, the trek takes approximately 2 to 6 hours or more, once you locate the chimpanzees you will have enough time to take pictures, watch them play from one tree branch to another.

Though chimpanzees in Kibale Forest are habituated, they are still wild and you are not allowed to get close to them. They are very mobile and if they feel threatened by the actions of the visitors they will quickly disappear.

After spending an incredible with the chimpanzees, you will return to your lodge for lunch and prepare to be taken for the Canopy Walk.

The Canopy Walk is one of the top attractions in Nyungwe Forest National Park allowing you get an aerial view of the park and watch several monkeys and birds from a different angle, after the amazing canopy walk you will return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation and dinner will be at Nyungwe Forest Lodge (Luxury), Nyungwe Top View Hotel (Mid-range) and the Gisakura Guest House (Budget).

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 3: Transfer to Lake Kivu – Go for an afternoon boat ride

Wake up at your leisure and transfer to Lake Kivu – the largest fresh water lake in Rwanda, this beautiful lake extends to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Lake Victoria is world famous for the boiling Methane gas that comes out from underneath.

On arrival at your hotel, you will have lunch overlooking the lake and in the afternoon. You will can go for swimming in the lake. If swimming is not your thing, you can simply relax by the lake and admire the beautiful scenery and local people going on with their lives.

Dinner and accommodation will be at Lake Kivu Serena hotel (Luxury), Paradise Marahide (Mid-range) and Palm Resort Gardens (Budget).

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 4: Tour of Lake Kivu and fishing villages – Transfer to Volcanoes National Park

Wake up early at your own time, have breakfast for a tour of the different sites around the Lake Kivu including the fishing villages. For bird watchers, this is the perfect time to spot several resident and migratory species of birds.

You will also have encounters with the locals as they go about with their daily activities, after exploring the Lake in detail you will set offer for the Volcanoes in Musanze. Check in to your room and enjoy the beautiful views of Virunga Volcanoes before retiring early in bed.

Dinner and accommodation at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (Luxury), Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge (Mid-range) and The Garden Place Hotel (Budget).

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 5: Mountain gorilla trekking – Visiting the Gorilla Guardians Village.

Wake up early for breakfast and with packed lunch, head to the Kinigi Park headquarters for briefing at 07:00 am. The head Guide and Rangers will let you know what you need to bring along during the trek and how to conduct yourself around the gorillas.

You will then be allocated a gorilla family to trek, have a chance to hire a porter if you have any heavy luggage. Enter into the forests of Volcanoes National Park looking for mountain gorillas on a trek that takes approximately 2 to 6 hours or more.

Once you locate the gorilla family, you are allowed to spend one hour in their presence observing them go on with their lives in the forest, watch them groom each other and take as many photos and videos as possible. After this incredible wildlife experience, you should head back to the starting point to meet our Guide who will take you back to the lodge for lunch and rest.

In late afternoon, you will be taken to visit the Ib’Iwacu Cultural Village located near Volcanoes National Park. The village was started as a place where former poachers could sell art and crafts to tourists, it has since become the leading place to learn about the culture of the people of Rwanda. During the visit, you will be entertained by local dances and drama and get to learn more about the local Kinyarwanda culture and practices. Expect to be involved in the performances and also get a chance to buy souvenirs.

Dinner and accommodation at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (Luxury), Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge (Mid-range) and The Garden Place Hotel (Budget).

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 6: Golden Monkey Tracking – Visiting the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo

Have another early wake up, take your breakfast and head to the park headquarters for briefing on golden monkey tracking. After the briefing you can hire a porter to help you with your backpack during the trek or any other heavy equipment for a comfortable trek.

With armed ranger guides you will head into the forest looking for the golden monkeys and when you do find them, you will spot the monkeys on top of trees and the ground feeding. Golden monkeys are rare and endangered species of primates, they look very cute and you should get your camera ready to take as many photos as possible.

Once you are done, you will head back to the park headquarters, meet your guide and return to the lodge for lunch.

Later in the evening, our guide will take you to the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo for a boat cruise.

7 Days Rwanda Primates Tour
Twin Lakes

Dinner and accommodation at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (Luxury), Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge (Mid-range) and The Garden Place Hotel (Budget).

Day 7: Transfer back Kigali – Tour of Kigali, the genocide memorial Centre and other sites

Have a leisurely breakfast and prepare for the journey back to Kigali, depending on your flight schedules you will have a short Kigali City tour visiting the Gisozi Genocide Memorial Site, local souvenior shops and local markets.

Our guide will drop you off at the airport for your onward flight or to your hotel.

End of 7 Days Rwanda Primates Tour

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