Explore the finest natural wonders in a 5 days Rwanda gorillas & wildlife safari. Move across the dense forests of two national parks; Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Parks. Trek the rare mountain gorillas and chimpanzees which are both man’s close cousins. Undertake the only canopy walk in East Africa, hike and visit the Dian Fossey graveyard. If time allows visit the town of Kigali where you will learn more about the Rwanda people and culture. The safari is exciting, short and less tiresome, bringing you close to wildlife and local people.
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Pick up from Kigali Airport to transfer to Volcanoes National Park
On your arrival, transfer to volcanoes national park a journey that can take 2 hours’ drive. The road trip rewards you with exciting features such as the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo. Volcanoes is one of the national parks located within the Virunga ranges. Rare mountain gorillas live here. People trek them only in this region in the whole world live here.
Other features found in this park are the rare golden monkeys, black-fronted duiker, spotted hyenas, bush bucks. Meanwhile, 300 birds species have found a precious home in this place. They include common moorhen, long-crested eagle, grey throated tit, paradise flycatcher, red-faced woodland warbler, archer’s ground robin, Rwenzori Batis, and Rwenzori double collared sunbird. Upon arrival, you will check in the accommodation room and have dinner.
Day 2: Gorilla trekking and Dian Fossey hiking
Start with breakfast at around 7:00 am and then drive to the park headquarters. What follows is briefing where you will receive information about trekking rules. Get allocated to a group of eight people to trek a gorilla family in the park. Meanwhile get insight on what to wear and minimum distance to maintain while in the presence of the gorillas.
An armed park ranger will guide trekkers into the forest to start the search of these great apes. Upon locating them, you will be allowed an hour in their presence. After a trek, head back to the office of the park where you will be awarded with a certificate of gorilla trekking.
After lunch, hike to Dian Fossey graveyard where a scientist researcher, Dian Fossey was buried. She saved most of the mountain gorillas from poachers, and was also the first person to introduce gorilla habituation in Rwanda. But, she was later murdered by the poachers in 1985. She is remembered for the love she offered to save these great apes and her research centre still exists. Enjoy the primates and birds as you take a hike. After that, head back to the lodge for your dinner and overnight stay.
Day 3: Transfer to Nyungwe NP
Transfer to Nyungwe National Park after breakfast, famous for its primates like chimpanzees mostly referred to as our cousins. Others include L’Hoest’s monkeys, Rwenzori monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, olive baboons, Mona monkeys and many others. Plus, some 310 bird species live here, like red-faced woodland warbler, collared apalis, Ruwenzori batis, regal sunbird and many others. Among many other mammals in the park include jackals, mongooses, duikers, spotted hyenas, elephants and leopards. Check in the accommodation on arrival. Enjoy the dinner served for you later. Get some sleep thereafter.
Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking and canopy walk in Nyungwe forest
Chimpanzee trekking starts immediately after breakfast at the hotel and briefing at the ranger station by the park warden or ranger guide. Enter the jungle to start a search with the help of park ranger guides fully armed to protect you if there is any attack. You can spend between 2-4 hours trekking depending on where you find the chimpanzees. After trekking you will head to the lodge to get a break and wait for lunch.
Head for a canopy walk – the only one in East Africa where you will be able to spot a diverse range of primates. Such include owl-faced monkey, Mona monkey, blue monkey, red-tailed monkey, vervet monkey, grey-cheeked mangabeys, black and white colobus, eastern needle-clawed galago, greater bush baby, dwarf galago, and olive baboon. Then, there are the birds. So many species of these exist and onclude red-faced woodland warbler, collared apalis, Ruwenzori batis, regal sunbird etc.
Day 5: Transfer to Kigali city and a drop off at the airport/hotel
The day starts with a morning breakfast, followed by a checkout from the lodge/hotel room. Transfer to Kigali city, and if time allows, you will take a short city tour. Opt to visit the Rwanda Genocide Memorial Centre, presidential palace museum, or local craft/food markets. Fly back home after drop off at the airport. This is after lunch. End of the 5 days Rwanda gorillas & wildlife safari.
