On this 6-Day Rwanda Chimpanzee and Golden Monkey Trekking Safari, you will track chimpanzees and other primates in Nyungwe Forest National Park. Have golden monkey trekking in Volcanoes National Park on this 6-Day Rwanda Chimpanzee and Golden Monkey Trekking Safari, a signature of Rwanda. Experience authentic Rwandan culture and community, canopy walk adventure, tea experiences and boat cruise. You will be using your Jeep Land-cruiser touristic vehicle.
Day 1: Arrival at Kigali International Airport – Transfer to your Hotel
Your Safari to Rwanda begins with your arrival at Kigali International Airport, where you’ll meet your expert guide. This Safari to Rwanda experience includes an optional exploration of Kigali’s vibrant craft markets, known locally as “Caplaki.” Your afternoon Safari to Rwanda activities can include visits to local art galleries and cultural centers, all within a 15-minute drive from the city center. Check in to your Hotel for rest and relaxation
Location: Kigali
Accommodation Option:
Luxury: Radisson Blu Hotel
Mid-Range: Hotel Des Mille Collines
Budget: Chez Lando
Meal Plan: Dinner
Day 2: Transfer to Nyungwe forest national park
Continue on this Rwanda primates safari to Nyungwe forest after an early breakfast. Have a short stopover in Nyanza before proceeding to Huye to tour the ethnographic museum. In Nyanza district there is an opportunity to visit the Kings palace museum which is an alternative to the ethnographic museum.
You can discuss with your driver guide on which of the museums to stop at depending on your interests. They both share Rwanda’s cultural history but the ethnographic museum has more items and wide coverage. Arrive in Nyungwe forest later in the evening and proceed to your lodge for overnight.
Location: Nyungwe Forest National Park
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Nyungwe Top View Hill Lodge
Mid-Range: Emeraude Kivu Resort
Budget: Nyungwe Nziza Eco Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Rwanda Chimpanzee trekking & Canopy walk
Chimpanzee trekking is an intimate experience with the forest and its inhabitants. Your driver guide will transfer you from your lodge to the briefing area in the forest where you are expected as early as 5.00 am. The ranger guide will share chimpanzee trekking tips with you.
The forest is rich with botanical diversity and home to 13 species of primates including Ruwenzori colobus, L’Hoest’s monkeys, Red-tailed monkeys, silver monkey, grey cheeked mangabey etc., about 300 bird species with a number of Albertine rift endemics and several butterfly species. In the afternoon – take the canopy walk trail from the Uwinka trail head. Enjoy the views of the forest from this walk.
Location: Nyungwe Forest National Park
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Nyungwe Top View Hill Lodge
Mid-Range: Emeraude Kivu Resort
Budget: Nyungwe Nziza Eco Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Colobus Monkey Trekking and Transfer to Volcanoes national park
Today after breakfast, return to Nyungwe forest for Colobus monkey tracking. Just like chimpanzee trekking, you will have a briefing from the community guide and later visit the forest. You are allowed one hour of watching the Colobus monkeys as they feed, play and groom each other. After this experience, leave for Volcanoes national park in the Virunga region. Enjoy the winding roads and scenery of “a thousand hills” driving along Lake Kivu. Arrive at your hotel later that evening.
Location: Volcanoes National Park
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge
Mid-Range: La Palme Hotel
Budget: Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park
Gorilla trekking in volcanoes national park will be your highlight on this 6-Day Rwanda Chimpanzee and Golden Monkey Trekking Safari. The experience coming face to face with the gentle giants in their natural habitat will remain with you forever. After an early morning breakfast, you will carry your day pack and the driver guide will transfer you to the briefing point.
Your ranger guide in communication with earlier trackers will lead you to where the gorillas are. The trek can last from an hour to several hours depending on where the gorillas nested the previous night – you need to be relatively fit to enjoy this experience. After the Rwanda gorilla tracking experience, visit the Gorilla guardians village (Iby’Iwacu village). Learn about the Rwandan culture and engage in some of the activities.
Location: Volcanoes National Park
Accommodation Options:
Luxury: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge
Mid-Range: La Palme Hotel
Budget: Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: Golden Monkey Trekking and Departure
Today on the last day of this 6-Day Rwanda Chimpanzee and Golden Monkey Trekking Safari, you will return to the park headquarters for an experience watching the golden monkeys. After the briefing from the ranger guides, drive to the starting point for the trek. Just like gorillas, you are allowed one hour in the presence of the golden monkeys. They are more active than gorillas but will give you a fulfilling experience. Return to the lodge to freshen up, have lunch and then transfer back to Kigali. We hope you had a fantastic experience on this Rwanda primates safari.