Safari Overview 

Enjoy 5 days Rwanda safari, one of the best Rwanda short tours that takes you through various remarkable African primate adventure experiences. This primate tour package covers top primate adventures like mountain gorilla trekking & golden monkey tracking in Volcanoes National Park (VNP) in the North-west and chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest National Park Rwanda. On this remarkable primate tracking holiday package, expect to spend 4 nights and 5 days which starts and ends in Kigali.

Brief itinerary 

Day 1: Depart Kigali capital for Nyungwe 

Day 2: Chimp Tracking & Canopy Walk-Nyungwe Forest

Day 3: Vacate Nyungwe for Volcanoes N/Park-short visit to the Twin Lakes

Day 4: Gorilla Trekking and Iby’Iwacu Village for cultural interaction

Day 5: Volcanoes N/Park Golden Monkey Tracking & departure

Detailed itinerary 

Day 1: Depart Kigali capital for Nyungwe 

Leave your lodge or hotel after a heavy breakfast for city tour in the beautiful Kigali Capital City, lasting you about 2 hours. Your driver guide will take you to pay a visit to Gisozi/Kigali genocide site, museum, craft shops. Depart Kigali after city tour & leisurely lunch then drive for 6 hours to Nyungwe Forest National Park. A stopover will be made at the national museum in Butare and then you proceed to check into the lodge in Nyungwe.

Where to stay

• Gisakura Guesthouse for basic/low budget
• Nyungwe Top Hill Lodge for moderate/mid-range
• Nyungwe Forest Lodge for up-market/luxury

Day 2: Chimp Tracking & Canopy Walk-Nyungwe Forest

Wake up and enjoy a heavy breakfast in your respective lodges in Nyungwe Forest. Transfer to Nyungwe offices at Uwinka for briefing after you have had breakfast. Chimpanzee Tracking in Nyungwe is such a memorable experience in that you have more than chimpanzees to keep an eye on. 

A total of 13 primate species exist in Nyungwe Forest and other than chimps, you can also come across other primates like colobus monkeys, L’Hoest monkeys; birds, flora, butterflies to mention but a few. You will have a complete 1 hour with chimpanzees, take pictures and learn more about their daily behaviors. After having ample time with chimps, retreat to have lunch break at the lodge. 

After a leisurely lunch, you can an amazing canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest-the only experience so far that is available in the whole of East Africa. Enjoy the best view of primates, birds and Nyungwe Forest canopy while on a suspended canopy walk. Later, after 2 hours, return to enjoy a relaxed evening, dinner and night stay. 

Where to stay

• Gisakura Guesthouse for basic/low budget
• Nyungwe Top Hill Lodge for moderate/mid-range
• Nyungwe Forest Lodge for up-market/luxury

Day 3: Vacate Nyungwe for Volcanoes N/Park-short visit to the Twin Lakes

A leisurely breakfast early morning and after, vacate the lodge ready to take 6 to 7 hours’ drive trip to Volcanoes N/Park. Lunch be provided en-route and next short visit will be made at the Twin Lakes of Ruhondo & Lake Burera. Go check into your lodge at Volcanoes N.Park after your Twin Lakes Tour. 

Where to stay

• Kinigi Guesthouse/Muhabura Hotel for low budget/basic
• Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge/Da Vinci Lodge-for mid-range
• Mountain Gorilla View Lodge-up market or luxury

Day 4: Gorilla Trekking and Iby’Iwacu Village for cultural interaction

Today, the main highlight of your 5 days Rwanda primate safari will be trekking to see mountain gorillas. This begins after breakfast from your lodge and briefing at Kinigi. You will have enjoyable 3-6 hours of trekking with mountain gorillas and once you have relocated a gorilla group, enjoy 1 hour with these rare species. After, walk back to be awarded your gorilla certificate and later, proceed to your lodge for relaxation. 

In the evening and a relaxed afternoon, go enjoy Iby’Iwacu village walk-interact with local residents. Get entertained by the dances, music performances and stories told by the elders. 

Where to stay

• Kinigi Guesthouse/Muhabura Hotel for low budget/basic
• Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge/Da Vinci Lodge-for mid-range
• Mountain Gorilla View Lodge-up market or luxury

Day 5: Volcanoes N/Park Golden Monkey Tracking & departure

Early morning breakfast and after, briefing about golden monkey tracking guidelines at Kinigi. Today, you will spend 2-4 hours on a trek to see golden monkeys and once you have located them, there is absolute 1 hour of face to face encounter. After enjoyable moment with golden monkeys, walk back to the lodge to have lunch before setting off to Kigali Airport-KGL where you fly back home. 

End of the 5 days Rwanda primate safari holiday