Overview
Arrive at the Kigali International Airport meet and greet your guide who will give you a brief about the trip as well as information about Rwanda before you transfer to the Hotel. Overnight at Mille Collines Hotel
Itinerary
Arrive at the Kigali International Airport meet and greet your guide who will give you a brief about the trip as well as information about Rwanda before you transfer to the Hotel. Overnight at Mille Collines Hotel
After breakfast drive to Nyungwe forest enroute visit the King’s palace in Nyanza and traditional Rwanda homes. Proceed to Butare where there is the Ethnographic museum, you’ll get to explore how Rwandans lived, their dressing, cooking, entertaining methods, etc.
Lunch followed by the drive to Nyungwe National Park. On arrival in the afternoon visit the famous canopy walk way, a 70 m high artificial bridge. One of its kind in East Africa, get to see the beautiful views of the thick forest and different bird species at the crown of the trees. Dinner and overnight at Nyungwe Top Hill View Hotel
Early morning (4am) breakfast at the hotel then drive to the Park reception for the briefing and grouping followed by the tracking of chimpanzees. There are two groups of habituated Chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest, the larger one is about 60 plus chimpanzee while the smaller group of 30 is tracked in Cyamudongo Forest area of the Park.
Nyungwe Forest, Africa’s largest Afro-Montane Forest is home to about 500 Chimpanzees and close to 100 that are habituated and used to Humans near them. The forest is the Perfect add on to a Gorilla Safari in Volcanoes National Park.
Pre-Trackers are ahead of you to find your habituated Chimpanzee Groups in the Forest.
Chimpanzees, like Mountain Gorillas, move daily and make their nests in a new area. The Pre-Trackers start at the location where the Chimpanzees were the Chimpanzees were the day before and find today’s spot where the Chimpanzees have moved to.
While you are in search of your Chimpanzee Groups you will most likely see other primates that are residents of the forest such as the large groups of Colobus Monkeys. Add to that the sights and sounds of this rainforest when in the season, you can see Wild Orchids and plants and trees that make up this vast Rainforest.
Long before you see the Chimpanzees, you can hear their almost deafening screams, their hoots, and cackles. Unlike with the Mountain Gorillas who are quite calm as you visit them, the chimpanzees are on the move both on the ground and in the Trees. An amazing sight for the Trekkers who come to visit on that day. You get one hour with the chimpanzees in Nyungwe, one hour that is quite memorable.
Be back at the base later transfer to the hotel for lunch and refreshment.
Afternoon drive to Volcanoes National park via Kibuye, the Rwanda’s most attractive of lake ports, nestled in a series of interwoven and undulating hills and offering visitors spectacular views of the lake, its islands and the stunning surrounding countryside. It is considered one of Rwanda’s hidden treasures, with its lush green hills and peaceful breeze.
Stop for the beautiful Lake view later proceed to Musanze – Volcanoes. Dinner and overnight at Classic lodge
Early morning breakfast then transfer to the Park headquarters, arrival to the park reception, briefings and grouping, completing park formalities then embark on a once in a lifetime experience of tracking mountain gorillas.
Once you spot them you are allowed to spend an hour watching your closest long lost cousin. This is perhaps one of the most breathtaking wildlife experiences on earth!!! You get so close to these awesome giant primates. You stare at each other blankly not knowing who to break the long silence first. Tracking the gorillas through the light mountain forest on the slopes of the Virunga is a magical experience.
Be back at the base in time for lunch! Some gorilla families however are more elusive and tracking can take a full day, especially when it is wet and muddy.
Have a free afternoon or visit the beautiful twin lakes – Burera and Ruhondo. Dinner and overnight at Classic lodge.
Breakfast at the hotel followed by a transfer back to Kigali and to the Airport. Optional: Kigali city tour if departure is in the evening. END OF SERVICE!
