8 Days Gorilla Tracking & Nyungwe Chimp Safari

Journey Time: 61/2 Hrs
After breakfast depart for Nyungwe National park via Butare.
Have a quick stop over in Butare and visit the famous Rwanda National Museum at Butare & the ancient King´s Palace at Nyanza. The museum was donated in 1989 by the Belgian. Ethnographic objects are grouped together according to the theme giving premium information on the daily life. Traditional ceramics & basketry are still manufactured & belong to the finest handicrafts of the region. The National Museum remained surprisingly untouched during the civil war in 1994. Have Lunch in Butare & thereafter continue to Nyungwe National Park.
OVERNIGHT: Gisakura Guesthouse, Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel – Or Similar (Full Board)

After breakfast, you will be handed your packed lunch head as you head out to the National Park. Today you will have the opportunity to do Columbus monkey trekking. The most famous of Nyungwe primates is the Ruwenzori Columbus a race of the further wide spread Angola Columbus which is confined to the Albertine Rift.
The Ruwenzori Columbus is extremely arboreal as well as acrobatic leaf-eater, simply differentiated from any different primate discovered in Nyungwe by its contrastive black general color in addition to snow-white whiskers, shoulders plus tail tip.

After the trek, have your picnic lunch then head out for a canopy walk set 50 meters above the ground with a 150-meter walkway, the first of its kind in East Africa & third on the continent after South Africa & Ghana. It allows visitors to see the forest from above the trees & be at eye level with birds & monkeys that inhabit the upper storeys of the forest.

OVERNIGHT: Gisakura Guesthouse, Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel – Or Similar (Full Board)

Today is another early morning breakfast and packed lunch. Drive to the starting point for chimpanzee trek. Two species of chimpanzee occur in Africa. There is the Bonobo & the Common Chimpanzee Pan troglodytes (often shortened to Chimpanzee, & sometimes referred to as the Robust Chimpanzee).
The largest remaining populations occur in central Africa (Gabon, DR Congo & Cameroon). About only 400 individuals, the population in Rwanda is an endangered one. However; it should be mentioned that it is not guaranteed to see the chimps as they are unpredictable & can move long distances in one day.
Nyungwe National Park is the largest block of montane forest in East & Central Africa & it is an incredibly rich area of biodiversity. Later depart for your nature walk visiting Kamiranzovu waterfall. The forest comprises amongst many things at least 200 tree species over 280 bird species & more than 100 different types of colorful butterfly which make it a true feast of the senses for the nature lover.
Later return for dinner & overnight at your hotel.
OVERNIGHT: Gisakura Guesthouse, Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel – Or Similar (Full Board)

Journey Time: 5 Hours
After breakfast head out to Gisenyi, Rwanda, the largest port on Lake Kivu arriving in time for check in & later lunch at your hotel. Take a swim at Lake Kivu one of the African Great Lakes. It lies on the border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo & Rwanda.

The afternoon will be spent in this largest port on the Rwandan shore of Lake Kivu (You will be in the company of our guide to show you around). Enjoy a boat ride to one of the islands in Lake Kivu. Simply explore the town, enjoying the hustle & bustle of the local market or wander through the leafy streets admiring the old colonial buildings. Later stay for dinner & overnight at your hotel.
OVERNIGHT: Hillview Hotel Kivu/ Kivu Serena Hotel – Or Similar (Full Board)

Journey Time: 1 – 2 Hours

After a leisurely breakfast at about 09: 15am you will depart for Ruhengeri area the second largest town in Rwanda, with its stunning backdrop of five volcanic mountains and the Virungas towering above the town. On arrival, you will visit the Gorilla Guardian’s village popularly known by its former name Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village. All proceeds from your visit go to the local communities to buy seeds for farmers & scholastic materials for children.

Highlights;

• Intore dancers showcasing drumming & Dancing


• Short community walk


• Church visit


• Consultation with a traditional healer


• Shooting a bow & arrow with local Batwa Pygmies


• Making Banana beer


• Grinding millet & Sorghum

Later drive to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

OVERNIGHT: La Palme/ Le Bombou Gorilla Lodge – Or Similar (Full Board)

OVERNIGHT: La Palme Hotel, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge – Or Similar (Full Board)
After an early breakfast, you will proceed to the National Park headquarters – Kinigi to meet your guides for the day. The Gorilla Trek will commence after completing all park formalities and briefing.
Tracking the gorillas through the light mountain forest on the slopes of the Virunga is a magical experience and perhaps one of the most breathtaking wildlife experiences.
The Gorilla to can be tough so amole preparation is needed before taking part in this experience. Read about How to prepare for your Gorilla Safari
You will spend a maximum of one hour with the gorillas and thereafter start your trk back to the starting point.
Later return to your lodge for lunch.

After breakfast have a leisurely morning before being transferred to the airport for your flight for your flight back home.
END OF SAFARI
DISCLAIMER: 1. The journey time(s) stated in the itinerary is an estimation & it is subject to variation depending on traffic & road conditions.
2. Listed accommodation options are subject to availability at the time of booking. If not available, similar properties will be considered