ITINERARY- 7 Day gorillas and chimpanzee tracking Tour in Rwanda
Day 1: Kigali to Akagera National park, afternoon game drive in southern sector
Morning breakfast at the hotel followed by 3 hours drive to Akagera wildlife Park. The journey passed through phenomenal landscapes and living lifestyles to arrive at Akagera Game Lodge and after a quick rest at the hotel, continue on with a southern game drive alongside the Lake Ihema circuit.
Expect an encounter with a plenty of animals such as elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, hippos, crocodiles and also many other mammal species.
Time permitting, we offer you a choice of value-added activities from the following:
– Evening birding walks around the lodge
– Participate in day-to-day local pastoral lifestyle.
– Presentation on the ecology of the Akagera ecosystem and the conservation efforts, including the coexistent dynamics between the local people and wildlife.
Day 2: Northern game drive and transfer to Butare via Kigali
Early morning game drive starts with a spectacular sunrise and early morning bird calls. Enjoy the beautiful scenery and landscape through the northern circuit to see hippos, crocodiles and even more wildlife than on the lake circuit. Later transfer to Kigali for a quick / enroute lunch and then on to Butare, the original capital and intellectual centre of Rwanda. The journey goes through the magnificent hills and cultivated countryside, enroute visit to the famous King’s Palace in Nyanza, that offers visitors a window into pre-colonial Rwandan history, also visit the art museum at Rwesero Nyanza.
Day 3: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park
Breakfast and a visit to the National Museum, providing you with a deeper insight into Rwandan history and culture. Then proceed to Nyungwe Forest National Park, a home to 13 primate species including rare species such as Chimpanzees, the Blue Monkeys, L’Hoest’s Monkeys and the Angolan black and white Colobus Monkeys, as well as 300 bird species. Nyungwe primates forest presents a unique phenomenon in primate tourism due to its huge concentrations of habituated primates whose troops can include 400 to 500 individuals!
In the afternoon, proceed for colobus monkey trekking. You will hike through lush forests, endless, green tea fields and take in the stunning views of your surroundings. Overnight at Nyungwe Forest Lodge / Gisakura Guest House.
Day 4: Nyungwe Forest Chimpanzees Tracking and afternoon Canopy Walk
Morning breakfast followed by adventure trek to see wild chimpanzees and other primates like Angolan Colobus monkeys, vervets, Black and white colobus monkeys among other. Also see over 300 forest birds. Retire for lunch and take a canopy walk to explore more of Nyungwe forest. All meals, dinner and overnight at Nyungwe Forest Lodge / Gisakura Guest House.
Day 5: Depart to Volcanoes National Park, driving along the shores of Lake Kivu.
Have breakfast and start a picnic drive to Parc des volcans, a home to the endangered mountain Gorillas. It is a pleasant 7 hours journey through beautiful rolling hills, tea plantations and lake kivu shores. Picnic lunch enroute, dinner and overnight at Sabinyo Silverback Lodge / Mountain gorilla view lodge / Kinigi Guest House / Hotel la Palme.
Day 6: Adventurous Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Early morning transfer to Park offices for pre-trek briefing for all gorilla trekkers. After trekking, drive back to the hotel, have lunch and relax or take a walk to the Ruhengeri local Market, see and buy local Rwandan fabrics, foods, handicrafts, etc. and to see how local markets are organized. Dinner and overnight.
Day 7: Depart for Kigali
Morning breakfast followed by a picnic drive back to Kigali. Depending on your scheduled flight, you will be transferred to the airport where the tour ends.
End of the tour
POSSIBLE TOUR EXTENSIONS
Dian Fossey Hiking adventure in Volcanoes National Park (One Day)
Early breakfast followed by a wonderful excursion to visit the grave of Dian Fossey, situated at the former Karisoke Research Center, nestled between the volcanic peaks of Karismbi and Visoke. This is where Dian spent close to 20 years studying the Mountain Gorillas. The hike to Dian Fossey tombs is quite spectacular, goes through bamboo forest and afro-montane habitats, criss-crossed trails with tracks of forest animals like buffaloes and elephants! Expect an encounter with all sorts of wildlife as you make our way up and down to the site.