Rwanda Primates Safari – 8 Days. See chimps & gorillas in the wild

8 Days Rwanda Primates Safari Overview

This 8 Days Rwanda Primates Safari takes you on a journey to see Rwanda’s gorillas and chimpanzees in their natural jungle habitats.

The 8 Days Rwanda Primates Safari starts and ends in Rwanda’s capital- Kigali. We’ll start with a trip to Nyungwe Forest National Park where you will explore the rainforest’s inhabitants, especially the chimps.

You will then drive north towards Volcanoes National Park which is well known as a home for endangered mountain gorillas. After your hike through the thick rainforest and steep slopes, you will spend 1 hour with the mountain gorillas.

After your gorilla trekking experience, you will do the Dian Fossey hike the next day, and learn more about her work and contribution to the conservation of gorillas. We’ll leave Volcanoes and head for Kigali for a city tour that includes a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial.

Detailed 8 Days Rwanda Primates Safari

Here is the full day-by-day itinerary for this 8 Days Rwanda Primates Safari

Day 1:Arrive in Rwanda

Your 8 Days Rwanda Primates Safari guide/tourist driver will be waiting for you at the airport to welcome you to Rwanda. Later transfer you to Kigali city and check in to your accommodation for dinner and overnight stay.

  • Accommodation: Mille Collines Hotel
  • Meal plan: Dinner

Day 2:Drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park

Breakfast at leisure before heading to the Nyungwe Forest National Park on an easy 260-kilometer drive.

Attractions along the way include the National Museum of Butare and the Genocide Memorial of Murambi. After lunch in Butare, then check into your lodge for dinner and overnight.

  • Accommodation: Nyungwe TopView Hotel
  • Meal plan:Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

 

Day 3:Hiking in Nyungwe Forest

An early start in this equatorial forest teeming with wildlife yields colonies of the Black and White Colobus and the habituated groups of chimpanzees

After the morning forest safari, we return to the lodge for lunch and have the evening at leisure before dinner and overnight stay.

  • Accommodation: Nyungwe TopView Hotel
  • Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

 

Day 4:Chimpanzee Tracking in Nyungwe National Park

A very early morning start for the Rwanda Chimps tour. Your 8 Days Rwanda Primates Safari guide will lead you into the forest for an informative primate walk in search of chimpanzees.

You will come across a troop of habituated chimpanzees and other primate species that live in the forest as well. We return for lunch and then take a leisurely four-hour drive through some magnificent scenery on the way to your hotel.

  • Accommodation: Moriah Hill Resort
  • Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 5Drive to Volcanoes National Park

Today you start the 8 Days Rwanda Primates Safari journey by driving up the Volcanoes headed for Kinigi on winding roads. Have lunch in Gisenyi before driving through some beautiful scenic points before heading up into the Volcanoes National Park.

  • Accommodation: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
  • Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 6:Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park

Early morning, have breakfast before driving to the park headquarters for registration.

The gorilla trekking starts here after a briefing by the Ranger Guides. Later, strenuous trekking takes another couple of hours before a gorilla group is finally encountered.

The Gorillas will be viewed for approximately one hour before heading back to the Hotel for lunch. In the evening, you will be free to explore the nearby villages on foot or by safari vehicle.

  • Accommodation: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
  • Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 7:Dian Fossey Grave Hike

This morning, the 8 Days Rwanda Primates Safari guide will be ready to start early for the full-day visit to the Karisoke Research Centre established by the famous Dr. Dian Fossey.

The Movie “Gorillas in the Mist” was shot here on Location and Graves of Dian Fossey together with her once-beloved Mountain Gorillas like Digit can be visited here. Hiking to the gravesite starts at 7:00 am, and porters are available to help you carry some of your luggage is heavy.

It takes 3 to 4 hours to get to the site and it involves moving through forests and hiking up the slopes, therefore requires some level of fitness & patience.

  • Accommodation: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
  • Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 8:Drive to Kigali, Departure

Your 8 Days Rwanda Primates Safari guide will pick you up from your lodge, depending on your departure time, and head to Kigali city.

You will have a Kigali city tour including the Genocide Memorial Center. The history of the genocide is explained in clear detail, and the visit is such an emotional experience. Later transfer to the Airport for your flight.

This will mark the end of your Rwanda primates safari holiday program.

  • Accommodation: None
  • Meal plan: Breakfast & Lunch

Price per person (USD)

Here is the cost per person depending on the group size.
 1 Pax  2 Pax  4 Pax  6 Pax
 8300 6150  5180  4850

  • Trip Duration: 8 days, 7 nights.
  • Starting Point: Kigali, Rwanda.

Note: A 30% booking is due upon booking, with the balance cleared 1 month before the trip starts.

Not quite ready to book yet?

That is fine, you can send us an inquiry so that we figure it all out together. Please use this form to talk to our safari specialists and they will help you.

Inclusions

The price of this tour includes the following items
  • Transport in a 4WD vehicle with a pop-up roof.
  • All fuel for the tour.
  • English-speaking driver/guide.
  • Accommodation and Meals on Full Board.(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
  • Park-entrance fees for all National parks
  • All activities described in the itinerary.
  • Drinking water throughout the safari.

Exclusions

The price of this tour does not include the following items
  • International airfares.
  • Entry visa to Kenya
  • Meals that are not part of your accommodation.
  • A porter. (Helps to carry your backpack & push/pull you on the slippery slopes.)
  • Personal insurance (medical/travel)
  • Tips and gratuities to rangers, driver/guide, porter, hotel staff, etc.
  • All expenses of personal nature.(e.g. drinks, laundry, optional activities.)