8 Days Rwanda Safari; Gorillas and chimpanzees

This tailored 8-Day Safari to Rwanda, is a perfect package to explore the land of a thousand hills with  African Jungle Adventures Ltd. The tour takes you to Nyungwe Forest National Park for an exciting primate trekking safari, and later connects to Volcanoes National Park for gorilla trekking. Bird lovers will also receive special treatment here because both parks are rich in bird diversity, some of which are rare/endangered. The tour starts and ends in Kigali, Rwanda.

Upon arrival, you will be welcomed in Rwanda by our professional tour guide, transferred to your Hotel for a welcome meal and a briefing about the Chimpanzee and gorilla trekking safari. Then you will take a city tour of Kigali, visit the genocide memorial in Gosozi or Maramba, the old town of Nyamirambo, the new handicraft village, the Batwa pottery and dance centre, and the Kimironko fruit market. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Gorillas, Kigali Serena Hotel, or Kigali Marriott Hotel.

This morning, after breakfast, we head to Butare, an intellectual city in Rwanda and the second-largest city in the country. Visit Nyanza, now Nyabisindu, the former Mwami’s palace (King’s palace) and the seat of the feudal kingdom. Later, you will attend a thrilling concert by the national ballet, with lunch en route in Butare.   Connect to Nyungwe Forest National Park, dinner, and overnight at Gisakura Guest House, One & Only Nyungwe House, Nyungwe Forest Lodge.

After an early breakfast, you will assemble at the Uwinka tourist information centre for a briefing before you start your hike in Nyungwe forest. The hike will expose you to the most common species, such as large communal troops of Angolan Colobus, which may number over 300, and many bird species. It may be a strenuous walk, but the guides always make it more enjoyable and informative by sharing details about the flora and fauna you encounter along the way.

After Lunch, the exploration continues along different beautiful trails, and then encounters the superb waterfall trail of Gisakura, which is probably the most thrilling. The afternoon trek may take 2 – 3 hours and will also expose you to more bird and primate species, including the Angola Colobus Monkeys and the endangered Golden Monkeys.

A trek into Nyungwe Forest (a trekkers’ paradise) offers the opportunity to encounter Chimpanzees, L’Hoest’s monkeys, and blue monkeys around Uwinka after a less strenuous hike. You will connect to the Bigugu Mountain trail, which takes you to the highest peak in Nyungwe Forest at   3000m above sea level. Along the trek, bird lovers are certainly in for a treat as Nyungwe hosts so many Albertine Rift endemics that you will encounter along the trek to Bigugu Mountain. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Have an early breakfast, then embark on our journey to Kibuye through the green tea plantations before exploring the shores of Lake Kivu. Kibuye is the most beautiful of the three towns on Lake Kivu. To relax from trekking in Nyungwe, you may spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Have breakfast and proceed to Gisenyi by speedboat.  You will encounter fishing villages on Lake Kivu and have the opportunity to interact with people of Idjwi Island, which is thought to be the largest inland island in Africa and the eighth-largest in the world. Idjwi is roughly halfway between the DRC and Rwanda. You can also cross the border into Congo (Goma) (Optional).

Goma was devastated by the eruption of the Nyiragongo volcano.  The Nyiragongo Volcano, which is 3470 metres above sea level, erupted on the 17th of January 2002, shattering part of Goma town.  The eruption ruined the homes of over 120,000 people and caused over 100 victims. Your visit to this site will showcase the local population’s fantastic ability to overcome this natural upheaval! We drive to Kinigi for an overnight at Kinigi Guest House, Mountain Gorilla’s Nest, or Wild Bisate Lodge.

After an early breakfast, drive for an assembly at Kinigi Park Head quarters with packed lunch, meet your ranger guide for a briefing about the greatest primates experience ever to see the only left Mountain gorillas in the world the ones that might have led to the murder of an American Zoologist Dianne Fossey as she tried to research about them and also save them from poachers.

The gorilla trek in Rwanda starts from the foothills of the Virunga volcanoes, and you will be led by an experienced English-speaking ranger guide. The guide will provide information not only about the gorillas but also about the other flora and fauna you will encounter along the trek. The time required to track gorillas is unpredictable and depends on their movements. If tracking ends early enough, you will take a short excursion to discover the beautiful lakes of Lake Bulera and Ruhondo. Here you will have a magnificent view of the Virunga chain of Volcanoes.  Return for dinner and overnight at your lodge.

This is the day to say farewell to your fellow travellers, the guide and to a country that has been your home for a short while. Following breakfast, you will drive to Kigali City, transfer to the airport and catch your flight back home.

END OF CHIMPANZEE GORILLA TREKKING SAFARI IN RWANDA

The tour quotation includes:
– Gorilla and Chimpanzee tracking permits
– Ground transport in a comfortable 4WD safari van equipped for game viewing, photography and touring
– Full board accommodation
– All park entrance fees to include government taxes
– Full-time English-speaking professional driver/guide
– All tour activities as detailed in the itinerary
– Bottled water while on safari
– Airport transfers

The tour quotation excludes:
– Tips
– Laundry services
– Beverages/Drinks
– International flights
– Visas
– Items of a personal nature
-Optional activities and any other extras not detailed in the above itinerary