Overview
On this 9 days Rwanda primates and wildlife safari, visitors will be presented with a once in a lifetime golden opportunity to trek through the rainforests of Rwanda in search for the rare primates especially the golden monkeys, colobus monkeys and the chimpanzees.
Rwanda is a renowned habitat for several species of primates that visitors will have a chance to set their eyes on as they trek through the lush vegetation. Visitors will have to feel the adrenaline rush as they hike through the captivating volcanoes of the Volcanoes National Park, trek through the rainforests of Nyungwe surrounded by the breathtaking views over the towering canopies as they marvel at beautiful bird species endemic to the great East African Rift Valley region.
Visitors will not leave this safari the same as they will be guided by experienced tourist guides who will provide information about the creatures that most certainly the travellers did not know. Indeed this is a combination of exploration and learning which further makes the trip worthwhile.
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Arrive at Kigali airport and transfer to your hotel
The guests will be welcomed by a professional tourist guide as soon as they land at Kigali International Airport. They will interact with the guests and brief them about the trip.
You will then undertake the transfer to the hotel where the guests will relax and get served afternoon delicious meals. Relax in the premises of the hotel as you enjoy the views of the bustling clean city. Dinner will be served at sunset and you will be accommodated overnight.
Day 2: Transfer to Akagera National Park. Boat cruise on lake Ihema and evening game drive
Upon waking up at crack of dawn, the esteemed guests will be served breakfast by the catering team. After breakfast, you will then undertake the transfer to Akagera National Park which will take you approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes for the 110 kilometer distance.
A boat cruise will be conducted on lake Ihema as soon as you arrive in the National Park. This will present to you opportunities to observe the various wildlife species that converge around the shores of the lake to take water and hunt.
Visitors will therefore have the opportunity to observe African Bush elephants, buffaloes, hippopotami and a variety of bird species. The boat cruise will go on until midday when you will make your way to the lodge to go and have lunch.
After lunch, you will relax in the premises of the lodge. An evening game drive will be conducted in the park for more opportunities to observe the big 5 animals. Transfer back to the lodge at sunset for dinner and rest for the night time.
Day 3: Full day game drive in Akagera National Park and transfer to Kigali.
The beautiful day will be kickstarted with a delicious morning meal at the lodging facility. After the meal, you will then get into the wild to undertake the morning game drive that will present to you the opportunities to encounter the big 5 animals of Akagera National Park and other exciting wildlife sightings especially the hyenas, hartebeests, defasa waterbucks and warthogs.
Enjoy the views of the animals the entire morning and at around midday transfer back to the lodge for a delicious lunch. An additional afternoon game drive will be conducted to further equip you with opportunities to spot the animals.
In the evening, you will then undertake the transfer back to Kigali which will take you approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes. Continue to the hotel upon arrival in the city to get served dinner and rest for the night.
Day 4: City tour of Kigali and transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Arise at around 8:00 AM. The team at the hotel will get you served a delicious breakfast that you will enjoy as you watch the captivating landscapes of Kigali. After breakfast, you will then undertake a city exploration where you will have visits conducted to the most significant tourist attractions within especially the Kigali convention centre and the genocide museum where you will have a deep immersion into the history of Rwanda.
Enjoy exploring the historic destinations up to around midday when you will get served at delicious lunch. Go ahead and visit the BK arena, a renowned destination for sports in Rwanda. You will also have the opportunity to participate in some of the sports especially basketball.
In the evening, you will undertake the drive to Volcanoes National Park which will take you around 2 hours and 18 minutes covering the 105.3 kilometer distance.
On arrival in the park, you will continue to the lodging facility, check in and unwind in the premises as you enjoy the views of the breathtaking volcanoes covered with lush vegetation. Dinner will be served at sunset and you will be accommodated overnight.
Day 5: Dian Fossey hike in Volcanoes national park and visit Iby’iwacu cultural village
After breakfast at the lodging facility, guests will get prepared to undertake the Dian Fossey gravesite hiking challenge. The hike will take you approximately 2 to 4 hours and will present to you opportunities to learn about the celebrated deeds of the researcher.
Visitors will also be presented with the breathtaking views of the entire Virunga conservation area. There will be opportunities to watch several primates since the National Park is a home to over 8 primates especially the mountain gorillas.
Guides will provide information about the plants and animals within the park and after, you will undertake the descending journey back to the lodge at around midday.
Lunch will be served to you after which, you will undertake the drive to Iby’iwacu cultural center. At the cultural village you will have a deep immersion into the Rwandan cultural way of life.
The troupes at the village provide sensational cultural entertainment that tells the Rwandan story. Elders of the society also tell interesting folklore which most guests find exciting.
Enjoy the cultural experience the entire afternoon and in the evening transfer back to the lodge to unwind and stare at the captivating Virunga mountains. Dinner will be served and you will be accommodated overnight.
Day 6: Golden monkey trekking and transfer to Kibuye town
A delicious breakfast will be feasted on at the lodge as soon as the guests get up at the crack of dawn. Guests will then embark on the exciting golden monkey trekking activities that will be kick started by a briefing with the Rangers of the park to know more about the guidelines of the activity.
At around 8:00 AM, the guests will then be accompanied to the jungle by the tourist guides to have the opportunity to set their eyes on the exciting golden monkeys. This activity will go on for about 4 to 5 hours.
Guests will observe the golden monkeys as the tourist guides provide information about them. Transfer back to the lodge at high noon for a delicious lunch.
After lunch, you will undertake the transfer to Kibuye town in the edges of lake Kivu, a journey that will take you about 3 hours and 14 minutes covering the 144.5 kilometre distance. Guests will then embark on the bird watching activity since the area is a renowned home to several but species endemic to the Great Lakes region.
Enjoy watching the bird species the entire evening and later transfer to the lodge for dinner and overnight rest to get you prepared for the next day’s exhilarating adventures.
Day 7: Optional activities on and around lake Kivu and the transfer to Nyungwe national park
After feasting on a scrumptious breakfast , the guests on this beautiful day will then embark on an optional exploration around lake Kivu. This will be conducted in form of a nature walk around the shores of the lake provide the visitors with views of the captivating flora and fauna species.
Visitors are more likely to watch beautiful bird species especially the Abyssinian ground hornbill, black bee eaters, cinnamons, egrets, cuckooshrike, African fish eagles, turacos and piapiacs.
The nature walk further helps to immerse oneself into the beauty of nature and reflect on life in the calm environment as you listen to the sounds of various animals. Head back to the lodge in the midmorning to check out and undertake the transfer to Nyungwe forest National park. This journey will take you about an hour as you drive for the 57 kilometer distance.
On arrival in the National Park, you will continue to the lodging facility to relax and get served a delicious lunch. Enjoy the views of the forest the entire evening where you will have the opportunity to view some of the primates within the canopies. Dinner will be served and you will be accommodated overnight.
Day 8: Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National park and Canopy walks
Morning delicious meals will be served to the guests at the lodging facility after which you will embark on the chimpanzee trekking activities. These are usually started with a briefing by the Rangers who help inform the visitors about the dos and the don’ts well on the chimpanzee treks.
Visitors will thereafter be accompanied by the rangers to the jungle to meet the chimpanzees. The activity will take about 2 to 4 hours. Transfer to the lodge after the chimpanzee trekking activity to get served a delicious lunch.
A canopy walk will thereafter be conducted in the afternoon where the visitors will be presented with the once in a lifetime sightseeing opportunity to view the towering canopies of the forest. It is also a great opportunity for photography and watching several other primates.
Enjoy the activity the entire afternoon and at sunset travel back to the lodge to unwind in the premises and enjoy the serene environment. Dinner will be served at twilight and you will be accommodated for the night time.
Day 9: Colobus monkey trekking, visit to Tea factory and it transferred to Kigali
Guests will kick start the day with a scrumptious breakfast as presented to them by the the team of waiters and waitresses at the lodge. After breakfast, you will then undertake the colobus monkey trekking activity in the forest.
The Rangers of the park will guide you into the jungle where you will have the opportunity to encounter the primates. This activity will take about two to four hours as marvel at the primates and enjoy the full immersion into the observation of the beautiful flora and fauna of the park.
You will thereafter undertake the visit to the Gisakura tea factory in the surroundings of the National Park. This will give you deep insights into the processes of cultivation, manufacture of tea until it is ready for consumption.
The beautiful scenery at the site is good for photography, sightseeing and videography which the guests will gladly indulge in. In the afternoon, you will have lunch at the restaurants of the factory after which you’ll undertake the transfer to Kigali which will take you approximately 5 hours and 9 minutes for the 234.2 kilometer distance. Arrival in Kigali will be the end of the exciting tour.