4 Days Rwanda Primates Tour
4 Days Rwanda Primates Tour is a classic Rwanda safari that gives you the opportunity to spend quality time with primates such as the endangered mountain gorillas and habituated chimpanzees. This 4 day Rwanda primates tour will take you to Volcanoes National Park and Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Detailed Itinerary for 4 Days Rwanda Primates Tour.
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali and Transfer to Volcanoes National Tour.
Arrival in Kigali & City Tour: On day 1 of your 4 Days Rwanda Primates Tour, your guide from Explore Rwanda Tours will meet you at your designated pick up location in Kigali City. You will then embark on short tour of Kigali city where you will pay a visit to interesting tourist sites like; the Kigali Genocide Memorial Site, Camp Kigali, Caplaki craft village, Nyamirambo Women’s center and Kimironko market among others.
Transfer to Volcanoes: Have lunch and proceed with your transfer to Volcanoes National Park. The national park is located about 106 kilometers away from Kigali city. It takes about a 2½ hours’ drive from Kigali to the national park. Volcanoes national park is located in Ruhengeri district in the north-western park of Rwanda. The national park covers 160 square kilometers of rain forest and was established as a national park in 1925 by the Belgian colonial government. The park is home to 13 primate species and more than 200 species of birds.
Iby’iwacu Cultural Tour: Upon your arrival in the park, you will embark on a community cultural tour to the famous Iby’iwacu village. The Iby’iwacu village community is located just a few kilometers outside the national park. The community members are reformed poachers who have been integrated into the conservation projects in the national park. Get to mingle with the locals, watch cultural dance performances and even listen to interesting folk tales from the elders of the community.
Later drive back to your lodge for dinner and accommodation at Virunga Lodge/ Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge/ One & Only Gorillas Nest.
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking.
Gorilla Trekking: Have breakfast early in the morning from your lodge. It is also recommended that you ask the chef to prepare for you packed lunch which you will take with you to the pack. Transfer to the park headquarters in Kinigi where your gorilla trekking experience will begin. Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park starts at 8am after a briefing from the head ranger at the park. You are therefore advised to arrive at the park by 7am in the morning. Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes lasts between two to eight hours with an hour to spend with the gorillas once you have located a gorilla group. You will be given time to rest and have your lunch in case you packed some. Return back to the park headquarters for your gorilla trekking certificate and reconnect with your guide. Later head back to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 3: Transfer to Nyungwe National Park & Canopy walkway.
Transfer to Nyungwe: Have breakfast at your lodge and check out and proceed with your transfer to Nyungwe National Park. You will have a stopover at the Royal King’s Palace in Nyanza for a short tour of the palace, have lunch and continue with your drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Canopy walkway: Upon your arrival in Nyungwe National Park, check into the visitor center at Uwinka where you will be brief and assigned to a guide, who will take you on a guided hiking expedition to the Canopy walkway. The Nyungwe Forest Canopy Walk is the most exciting and adventurous activity in Nyungwe National Park. This activity is not for the faint of hearts as it involves walking along the canopy walkway, which stretches 160 meters long and extends 70 meters above the forest ground. The Canopy walkway in Nyungwe national park gives visitors a chance to explore the national park from above, as visitors along the canopy walkway can get a panoramic view of the forest canopy. In addition to this, visitors also have an opportunity to see wildlife in the park such as; monkeys, chimpanzees, butterflies and different bird species.
Drive back to your lodge for dinner and accommodation at Gisakura Guesthouse/ Nyungwe One & Only Lodge.
Day 4: Chimpanzee Trekking and Transfer back to Kigali.
Chimpanzee Trekking: Have an early breakfast and then head to the Park’s headquarters in Uwinka where you will be briefed by the park’s head ranger and placed in trekking groups of 8 members per group. Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe forest national park begins at exactly 8am, so endeavor to keep time and make sure you are at the Uwinka center by 7am.
Nyungwe Forest National Park is home to approximately 80 habituated chimpanzees. While tracking chimps in the forest, you might as well spot other primate species such as; the black and white colobus monkey, red-tailed monkey, golden monkey and other monkey species. You will have your packed lunch after your chimp trekking activity or return to your lodge for lunch.
Transfer back to Kigali: After your lunch break, you meet up with your guide and transfer back to Kigali city where your guide will drop you off at a designated hotel or directly at Kigali International Airport. End of Tour.
