Safari Day by Day of the 5 Days Rwanda Gorilla Tour and Chimpanzee Trekking Safari Rwanda

Day 1 of the 5 Days Rwanda Gorilla Tour and Chimpanzee Trekking Safari Rwanda: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park in the south west of Rwanda. Make a stop in Butare to visit the National Institute of Rwandan Museum in Butare

After breakfast at your place of stay in Kigali City, embark on the transfer to the south west of the country where Nyungwe National Park is located. The drive to Nyungwe is 268km about 6 hours’ drive excluding stops en route. The rolling hills of Rwanda derive magical sceneries and remarkable sight-seeing encounter. You make a stop in Butare to visit the National Institute of the Rwandan Museums where you encounter the ethnographic Museum which is one of the largest and finest museums in East Africa with a collection of over 100,000 artifacts. You also visit the Nyanza palace which is a Royal home to the two Kings of Rwanda namely; King Musinga and his successor King Rudahigwa. You have the opportunity of viewing the traditional inyambo cows with their beautiful long horns. You settle for lunch in Butare town and transfer to Nyungwe arriving in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Nyungwe Forest Lodge (Upmarket / Luxury), Nyungwe Hill Top View Hotel (Midrange / Standard) or Gisakura Guesthouse (Budget / Basic)

Day 2 of the 5 Days Rwanda Gorilla Tour and Chimpanzee Trekking Safari Rwanda: Undertake Chimpanzee trekking experience and afternoon canopy walk

Gather at the Nyugwe forest headquarters for the chimpanzee trekking experience. You attend to briefing by the park rangers at 8am after which you head to the forest in search the man’s closest relative – the chimpanzees. The trek exposes you to impressive scenic landscapes of the largest mountain forest in East Africa marked with verdant flora including the beautiful orchids. The park is also supports other 12 primate species apart from Chimpanzees which might be encountered too during the hike including the Black and White Colobus Monkeys. The eventual encounter with the chimps as they munch fruit, the young chimps rolling themselves on tree branches and playing with their mothers, the male chimpanzees doing the patrolling along with scary pant hooting calls and viewing them eye to eye lures you to the world of the unknown that you have never dreamt of. You come to accept the reality that indeed man and chimps share the common ancestor. The chimpanzee trekking activity tends to last 2 – 5 hours inclusive of one hour direct encounter with the chimps. Retreat from the activity and transfer to the lodge for lunch and relaxation. In the afternoon, you embark on the adventurous Nyungwe canopy walk which is noted as the first of its kind in East Africa and the third on the African continent. The 90m long and 40m high walkway with the views of the deep forested saddles, the lush canopy filled with primates, birds and butterflies make the activity worth undertaking while on Rwanda safari. Retreat for the two hour adventure and return to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight

Accommodation: Nyungwe Forest Lodge (Upmarket / Luxury), Nyungwe Hill Top View Hotel (Midrange / Standard) or Gisakura Guesthouse (Budget / Basic)

Day 3 of the 5 Days Rwanda Gorilla Tour and Chimpanzee Trekking Safari Rwanda: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park. Drive along the Congo Nile divide trail

After breakfast, embark on the transfer to Volcanoes National Park in the north west of Rwanda 338km about 8 hours’ drive. It is a whole day drive passing through the Congo Nile divide and along Lake Kivu with magical sceneries. The resort towns of Kibuye and Gisenyi are also rewarding to encounter. Arrive in Volcanoes National Park in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Mount Gorilla View Lodge (Upmarket / Luxury), Hotel La Palme (Midrange / Standard) or Muhabura Hotel (Budget / Basic)

Day 4 of the 5 Days Rwanda Gorilla Tour and Chimpanzee Trekking Safari Rwanda: Undertake gorilla trekking and visit the Musaze Caves in the afternoon

You wake up early in the morning at your lodge for breakfast and embark on the transfer to Volcanoes National Park Park headquarters Kinigi. At the headquarters as you wait for the briefing time, you are treated for a warm cup of coffee served courtesy of Rwanda Development Board while being entertained by the Kinyarwanda dance troupes before the park rangers set to allocate the respective gorilla families and then briefing in your respective gorilla groups at 8am. After briefing you drive to the respective gorilla family trail heads to head to the jungle in search of the critically endangered apes. The hike through the volcanic slopes marked with steep slopes and dense vegetation beautiful in nature present amazing scenic views. The eventual encounter with the mountain gorillas as they forage to feed their huge tummies, attending to the frightening welcome of the silverback, watching the baby gorillas as they roll themselves on tree branches, play with other and respective mothers among other aspects will lure you into an unforgettable amazement. The one hour is availed to you to experience what you have heard, read and thought of for long and the remarkable pictures will form a lasting memorabilia for this lifetime experience that is so far the best in Africa. The gorilla trekking activity tends to last 2 – 8 hours depending on how long the gorillas have moved. You retreat from the activity and embark on the transfer to the lodge for short relaxation. In the early evening, you head to the Musaze caves to encounter the ancient caves of Musaze whose formation dates back to 65 million years ago accruing from the lava flow for the eruption of Sabyinyo and Bisoke Mountains. The caves stretch for 2km inside and have got 31 entrances with a large bat colony inside. The inside of the caves is actually frightening to walk along. However, you are always accompanied by the armed guide. The activity tends to last 2 hours after which you return to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Mount Gorilla View Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Hotel Lapalme (Midrange / Standard) or Muhabura Hotel (Budget / Basic)

Day 5 of the 5 Days Rwanda Gorilla Tour and Chimpanzee Trekking Safari Rwanda: Transfer to Kigali City and visit the Gisozi genocide memorial in the afternoon

After breakfast, embark on the transfer to Kigali City 116km about 3 hours’ drive passing through the impressive countryside landscapes of Rwanda. You arrive in time for lunch after which you visit the Gisozi genocide memorial to pay tribute to the counts of Rwandese that lost their lives in the 1994 bloody genocide. The site has a detailed interpretation of what transpired during that time. Retreat from the activity to mark the end of the tour.

End of the 5 Days Rwanda Gorilla Tour and Chimpanzee Trekking Safari Rwanda