This 9 Days Rwanda Great Apes, Wildlife and Ziplining Safari starts and ends in Kigali, Rwanda. Get a chance to trek chimpanzees and the black & white colobus monkeys in Nyungwe Forest National Park as well as take a 2-hour hike to and from the famous canopy walkway bridge, which will give you a panoramic view of the forest canopy. You then drive to Volcanoes National Park, where you will trek Mountain Gorillas and golden monkeys before finally driving to Akagera National Park for a game drive and boat cruise on Lake Ihema.
Highlights for 9 Days Rwanda Great Apes & Wildlife Safari.
Day 1: Pickup and Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Day 2: Chimpanzee Trek and Canopy Walk.
Day 3: Colobus Monkey Trekking and Ziplining Experience
Day 4: Transfer to Gisenyi- Coffee Tour at Kinunu Washing Station Lake Kivu
Day 5: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park and Ibyiwacu Village Tour.
Day 6: Gorilla Trekking and Optional Visit to Karisoke Center
Day 7: Golden Monkey Trek and Transfer back to Kigali.
Day 8: Transfer to Akagera National Park and Afternoon boat cruise
Day 9: Morning Game Drive and Transfer Back to Kigali.
Detailed Itinerary for 9 Days Rwanda Great Apes & Wildlife Safari.
Day 1: Pickup and Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park.
In the morning, you will be picked by the driver from your hotel in Kigali and drive southwards to Nyungwe Forest National Park. You will have a stopover in Butare, where you will visit the national museum of Rwanda, the king’s palace in Nyanza with lunch enroute. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
Day 2: Chimpanzee Trek and Canopy Walk.
Enjoy breakfast and go for briefing before entering the forest, searching for the active and playful fellows in Nyungwe forest. The Chimpanzees are easy to spot, as they jump from one tree to another, chattering and laughing. Chimp tracking usually takes about 3 hours. You will then have your packed lunch and later return back to base where you will meet up with your driver guide.
After having your packed lunch, you will embark on a guided nature walk along the famous canopy walkway bridge- a swing bridge 50 meters in length that is suspended from large trees. You will be able to see the amazing rainforest with a bird’s eye view, spotting wildlife moving about below you there after connecting to your accommodation to spend the evening at leisure. This hike takes only 2 hours. Later transfer back to your lodge/hotel for dinner and overnight same as above.
Day 3: Colobus Monkey Trekking and Ziplining Experience
Have breakfast early in the morning and meet up with your driver guide. You will then drive to the park headquarters, where you will be briefed for your colobus monkey trek. Trekking begins at 8 am in the morning and can last between 4-6 hours or more depending on their location.
After your colobus monkey trek, you will have your packed lunch and then participate in the ziplining experience in Nyungwe park. The newly introduced activity offers you a chance to conquer your fear of heights as you will be about 20-50 meters above ground. Get a chance to view the stunning natural beauty of Nyungwe forest from above; with a chance to spot some primates hoping from on tree to another if you are lucky.
Later drive back to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 4: Transfer to Gisenyi- Coffee Tour at Kinunu Washing Station Lake Kivu
After breakfast, you will embark on about 2-3 hours’ drive to Gisenyi and arrive in time to check-in at your hotel and have lunch. You will enjoy a boat cruise on Lake Kivu as you head to Kinunu Washing Station for a coffee tour. You will learn how coffee in Rwanda is harvested and processed for exportation. Wind up your tour with a sip of Rwandan-made coffee, and you can also purchase some as a show of support to the local community.
Later, head back to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 5: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park and Ibyiwacu Village Tour.
After having breakfast in the morning, you will meet your guide and drive to Volcanoes National Park with a stopover for lunch enroute to the park. Enjoy the beautiful views as you traverse the countryside, arriving in Volcanoes National Park in the late afternoon. You will embark on a cultural tour to Ibyiwacu village aka ‘The Gorilla Guardians Village’ where you will get to interact with the locals and watch dance and singing performances from the local dance troupe. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge.
Day 6: Gorilla Trekking and Optional Visit to Karisoke Center
The fifth day of this 8 Days Rwanda Safari highlights a gorilla trekking activity. Early in the morning after breakfast and a briefing from the RBD officials, set off for the gorilla tracking. This experience of gorilla tracking is a once in a life time adventure.
The rangers will lead you deep into the forest in search of the Gorillas. You will move up and down the rugged terrain until you finally meet these harmonious creatures that will entertain you with performances for about 1 hour. The activity in Rwanda can take 3-5 hours since the gorillas move up and down.
This is an awesome and exciting moment. En route, there are a lot of chimpanzees and other types of primates such as monkeys, birds, and so more. Return for lunch at the Lodge and in the afternoon, you may embark on an optional visit to the Karisoke research center, where you can visit the Dian Fossey Museum and also the graves of the Late Diane Fossey, an American primatologist who was murdered because she was protecting these endangered mountain Gorillas. Return for dinner and overnight stay at your lodge.
Day 7: Golden Monkey Trek and Transfer back to Kigali.
After breakfast on the sixth day of your 8 Days Rwanda Safari, you will go for golden monkey tracking. This activity also takes like 2-3 hours in the Virunga Forest. Later return back to your lodge for early lunch and drive back to Kigali, arriving in the evening in time for dinner and overnight stay at your hotel.
Day 8: Transfer to Akagera National Park and Afternoon boat cruise
Have breakfast at your hotel in the morning. You will be met by your driver guide at your agreed location in Kigali to transfer to Akagera national park where you will arrive in time to embark on the late afternoon boat cruise on Lake Ihema where you will see game like hippopotamuses, Crocodiles and many bird species that live around the lake and the surrounding swamps. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Day 9: Morning Game Drive and Transfer Back to Kigali.
After having breakfast at your lodge, check out of your lodge and meet up with your driver guide. You will then embark on a morning game drive where you will explore the northern sector of the national park. You may view a variety of wildlife animals including lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras and antelopes, among others. Later, meet up with your guide and drive back to Kigali. Upon your arrival in Kigali city, you can choose to have your driver drop you off at any hotel of your choice or at Kigali International Airport, where you will board your flight back home.
End of the 9 Days Rwanda Great Apes, Wildlife and Ziplining Safari.
