5 Days Rwanda Gorilla and Chimp Tour – Rwanda Primates Safari
A 5 days Rwanda gorilla and chimp tour covers mountain gorilla trekking in the pristine rainforest of Volcanoes National Park and chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe National Park. It is a perfect offer set for you to explore and strike your imaginations with 2 great primates while in the wild. This package also covers canopy walk, city tour and cultural exploration in Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village. Your 5 days Rwanda gorilla and chimp safari begins and ends in Kigali.
Things to expect on 5 days Rwanda gorilla and chimp tour
• Gorilla trekking
• Chimpanzee tracking
• Canopy walk
• Visit to Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village
• Kigali city tour
• Ground transportation in 4×4 safari car
• Visit to Kings palace/ethnographic museum
Brief itinerary of the 5 days Rwanda gorilla and chimp tour
Day 1: Travel to Nyungwe Forest National Park
Day 2: Chimpanzee tracking and canopy walk in Nyungwe National Park
Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Day 4: Gorilla trekking and visit to Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village
Day 5: Golden monkey tracking and drive back to Kigali
Detailed itinerary of the 5 Rwanda primate safari
Day 1: Travel to Nyungwe Forest National Park
Enjoy your breakfast at your hotel in Kigali and after, you will be warmly welcomed by our company representative who also will brief you on what your 5 days Rwanda gorilla and chimp tour covers. After, he will drive you to Nyungwe National Park which is found in southern Rwanda and this will cover about 4-6 hours in good and comfortable 4×4 safari vehicle. Along the way, you will make a stopover at Nyanza where you will pay a visit to the Kings palace and at Huye to explore the ethnographic museum. This is for you to explore the unique history of Rwanda. You will have lunch Huye/Nyanza and later, proceed to Nyungwe National Park to check in at a lodge of your choice for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.
Travel time: 4-6 hours
Meal plan: Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation options at Nyungwe National Park
Nyungwe Forest Lodge (Luxury)
Nyungwe Top View Lodge (Midrange)
Gisakura Guesthouse (Budget)
Day 2: Chimpanzee tracking and canopy walk in Nyungwe National Park
After an early morning breakfast, you will be expected at Uwinka trail head at 7:00am for briefing on guidelines for chimpanzee tracking. At 8:00am, you will begin your adventure to look out for chimpanzees in the lush rainforest of Nyungwe National Park and this will last you about 2-4 hours and this also covers the one hour of magical encounter. You will be accompanied by park ranger guide and along the way, you will also come across other primates such as L’Hoest monkeys, red tailed monkeys, grey cheeked mangabeys, baboons and others as well as bird species. After, you will get back to the lodge to have rest and lunch then in the afternoon; you will go for canopy walk. On canopy walk, you have a chance to spot out variety of primates, birds while also enjoying the stunning rainforest.
Meal plan: Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation options at Nyungwe National Park
Nyungwe Forest Lodge (Luxury)
Nyungwe Top View Lodge (Midrange)
Gisakura Guesthouse (Budget)
Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Get up early in the morning to enjoy your cup of tea or coffee and later, check out from the lodge ready to embark on road trip to Volcanoes National Park in northwestern Rwanda about 5 to 7 hours although this may depend on the driver’s speed on the road. You will have lunch along the way and then proceed to Volcanoes National Park to check in at safari lodge of your choice.
Travel time: 5-7 hours
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation options at Volcanoes National Park
Mount Gorilla View Lodge/Bisate Lodge (Luxury)
Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge/Da Vinci Lodge (Midrange)
Garden Palace Hotel/Kinigi Guesthouse (Budget)
Day 4: Gorilla trekking and visit to Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village
Have enjoyable breakfast early in the morning and after, join other trekkers at Kinigi park offices with your bottled water and energy giving snacks for briefing at 7:00a.m. You will be briefed on the set guidelines for gorilla trekking and after, you will be assigned to gorilla family to trek in a group of 8 visitors. The groups to trek in Volcanoes National Park include Susa A, Hirwa, Sabyinyo, Ugenda, Bwenge, Kwitonda, Umubano, Group 13 and Amahoro. This adventure can last you 2-6 hours depending on your speed of hiking, location of gorillas and nature of habitat. A maximum of one hour is given to you to have a magical encounter with these humble creatures, take their pictures and learn how they behave. After, you will get back to the lodge to rest and in the afternoon/evening, you will pay a visit to Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village for cultural exploration.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation options at Volcanoes National Park
Mount Gorilla View Lodge/Bisate Lodge (Luxury)
Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge/Da Vinci Lodge (Midrange)
Garden Palace Hotel/Kinigi Guesthouse (Budget)
Day 5: Drive back to Kigali
Early in the morning, you will have breakfast and after, check out from your lodge ready to drive back to Kigali where you will have city tour. On Kigali city tour, the places to visit include Kigali/Gisozi genocide site, craft markets and others. After, you will have lunch and then transfer to Kigali for flight back home if it is scheduled the same day or to your respective hotel in Kigali.
End of 5 days Rwanda gorilla and chimp tour
5 days Rwanda gorilla and chimp tour includes
• Gorilla trekking permits (each costs $1500 per person)
• Chimpanzee tracking permit
• Canopy walk
• Cultural tour in Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village
• Transportation in 4×4 safari car
• Fulltime English speaking driver guide
• Accommodation and meals
• Relevant government taxes
• All listed activities in the travel plan apart from optional ones
• Bottled water
5 days Rwanda gorilla and chimp tour excludes
• Rwanda visa fees
• Insurance
• Personal expenses such as cigarettes, telephone calls, laundry services, tips, extra activities and accommodation options outside the travel plan.
What to bring
• Waterproof hiking boots
• Long sleeved shirt/t-shirt
• Gorilla and chimpanzee permit
• Camera with no flashlight
• Waterproof daypack
• Rain jacket/poncho
• Sweater
• Insect repellent
• First aid kit
• Walking stick
Guidelines for gorilla and chimpanzee tracking
• Only persons above 15 years are eligible to obtain gorilla and chimpanzee permits.
• A maximum of one hour is given to you to have magical encounter with chimpanzees or mountain gorillas.
• No flashlight camera is allowed when taking photos of chimpanzees or gorillas.
• Keep a distance of 7 meters away from chimpanzees and gorillas.
• Leave chimpanzee and gorilla habitat the same way you found it.
• When coughing, please cover your mouth and nose when sneezing. Visitors who are not feeling well are not allowed to track chimpanzees or gorillas.
• Do not eat, drink or smoke while on chimpanzee or gorilla trekking.
