Destination

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Duration
8 Days
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Tour Type
Gorilla And Wildlife
Rwanda Wildlife and Primates Safari
Rwanda

8 Days Rwanda Wildlife and Primates Safari

Rwanda Wildlife and Primates Safari

This 8 Days Rwanda Wildlife and Primates Safari promises an unforgettable adventure through Rwanda’s breathtaking landscapes and incredible wildlife, leaving you with lasting memories. Start your adventure in Akagera National Park, a hidden treasure teeming with wildlife. Cruise along the picturesque Lake Ihema, keeping an eye out for hippos, crocodiles, and a multitude of bird species. Take a game drive through the park’s vast plains, where you may spot majestic elephants, giraffes, zebras, and elusive predators like lions and leopards.

One of the main attractions of Rwanda is its population of mountain gorillas, which can be found in the Volcanoes National Park. This park is part of the Virunga Mountains, a chain of volcanoes that straddle the borders of Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The park is home to around half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas, making it one of the best places in the world to see these incredible creatures in their natural habitat.

In addition to mountain gorillas, Rwanda is also home to other primate species, including chimpanzees, golden monkeys, and various species of monkeys. Nyungwe National Park, located in the southwest of the country, is particularly well-known for its primate safari, offering visitors the chance to see these fascinating animals up close in their natural environment.

Rwanda’s diverse landscapes also provide a habitat for a wide range of other wildlife, including elephants, buffalo, giraffes, and numerous species of birds. Akagera National Park, in the east of the country, is the best place to see these animals, with its savannah plains, swamps, and lakes providing a variety of habitats for different species.

For those interested in birdwatching, Rwanda is a paradise, with over 700 species of birds found throughout the country. The diverse habitats, from the dense forests of Nyungwe to the wetlands of Akagera, offer birdwatchers the opportunity to spot a wide variety of bird species, including numerous endemic and rare birds.

When planning a wildlife and primate safari in Rwanda, it is important to consider the conservation efforts that are in place to protect these precious animals and their habitats. Responsible tourism is key to ensuring that these species continue to thrive, and visitors are encouraged to choose tour operators and accommodations that are committed to sustainable and ethical practices.

In recent years, Rwanda has become increasingly popular as a primate safari destination, attracting visitors from around the world who are eager to experience its unique wildlife and natural beauty. The country’s commitment to conservation and ecotourism has made it a leader in sustainable tourism in Africa, and its well-managed national parks and reserves offer visitors the chance to experience some of the most incredible wildlife encounters on the continent.

\Whether it’s the thrill of encountering mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, the serenity of birdwatching in lush forests, or the awe-inspiring landscapes that captivate your senses, a wildlife and primate safari in Rwanda offers an unparalleled opportunity to connect with nature and contribute to the conservation of some of the world’s most precious species.

As visitors depart from Rwanda with memories of their encounters with its extraordinary wildlife, they also carry with them a deeper understanding of the importance of preserving our natural world for future generations. A wildlife and primate safari in Rwanda is not just a journey of exploration and discovery; it is a meaningful contribution to the protection of our planet’s biodiversity.

Tour includes;

Gorilla trekking permit

Professional English speaking driver guide

Full board accommodation

A 4 X4 Safari Vehicle

Bottled drinking water

Chimpanzee permits

Golden monkey permits

Park entrance fees

Round trip/ airport pickups and drop off

Tour excludes                      

International air flight tickets

Visas

Optional activities not included on the itinerary

Life insurance

Details

Tour highlights

  • Arrival and transfer to Akagera national park
  • Morning game drive and boat cruise
  • Transfer to Nyungwe national park
  • Chimpanzee tracking and canopy walk
  • Transfer to Volcanoes national park
  • Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park
  • Golden monkey tracking and cultural tour
  • Departure

Upon arrival at Kigali international airport, you will be welcomed by an African Safari Tour Holidays safari guide who will brief you on the safari before embarking on Kigali city tour. During the Kigali city tour, you will have a chance to visit fascinating locations such as the Kigali genocide memorial center, Kings Palace, and art centers. You will have lunch along the way in a local restaurant where you will have a chance to taste local food. Following lunch you will continue with your city tour by visiting the Kimironko market and after you will drive to Akagera national park where you will have dinner and overnight stay.
Following an early breakfast, you will meet your safari guide to embark on an early morning game drive where you will have a chance to see a variety of wildlife, including mongoose, warthogs, bush pigs, elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, impalas, oribi, bushbucks, waterbucks, topi, elands and, if you're lucky you will witness some predators like leopards, lions, and hyenas and also a variety of different bird species like lesser kestrel, Hadada ibis, cattle egret, pied crow among others. You will drive back to the lodge for lunch after the game drive. After lunch, you will embark on a thrilling two-hour boat cruise on Lake Ihema, which begins at 3:30 p.m. Lake Ihema is the largest lake in the Akagera National Park. It is home to large populations of hippos and crocodiles, which can be seen in the water. You can also see animals like elephants, warthogs, buffaloes, and waterbucks drinking water along the banks, as well as water birds like the African fish eagle, malachite kingfisher, open-billed stork, African fish eagle, herons, and egrets. Following the boat cruise, you will return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Following breakfast, you will depart from the lodge and meet your driver guide to begin your drive to the southwest Rwandan for national park. You will enjoy a delicious lunch and breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape, including homesteads, on the way. Upon arrival, you will check into the lodge, enjoy dinner, and spend the overnight stay.
Following an early breakfast, you will rendezvous with your tour guide to head to the park headquarters for an overview regarding on the guidelines for chimpanzee trekking. Following the briefing, you will be allocated a habituated chimpanzee group to trek and an armed ranger guide who has much knowledge about forest trails and chimpanzee species. Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe national park begins at approximately 8:00 am and lasts anywhere from 1 to 4 hours, depending on the chimpanzees' location. This is because chimpanzees prefer to move around in search of food, particularly during the dry season. Once the chimpanzees are located, you will have the opportunity to spend an hour with them in their natural habitat. Following your hour-long experience with the chimpanzees, you will hike back to the park headquarters, where you will meet your driver guide and make your way back to the lodge for lunch. Following lunch, you'll embark on a journey to Uwinka reception center for an intriguing canopy walk. The canopy walk activity was introduced in 2010 and spans steep, deep valleys teeming with dense forest. Nyungwe National Park is the only location in East Africa that offers this thrilling 90-meter bridge above the forest. The two-hour canopy walk provides fantastic views of various bird species, butterflies, primates such as vervet, hoest, blue, and black-and-white colobus monkeys, and tree species. Following the incredible experience, you will hike back to the starting point, where you will meet your safari guide to embark on your journey back to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Following a leisurely breakfast, you will depart from the lodge and meet your safari guide to make your way to the Volcanoes National Park. During your journey, you will make a stopover at Lake Kivu, where you can take in breathtaking views of the setting sun, surrounding scenery, wildlife, and various bird species. From Lake Kivu, you will have a stopover for lunch before continuing on drive to Volcanoes National Park, which takes approximately 4 to 5 hours to reach. Upon arrival in the park, proceed to the lodge check-in, dinner, and overnight.
Today you will have an early breakfast, carry packed lunch and then embark on your transfer to the park’s headquarters for a briefing about gorilla trekking safari. From the briefing you will be allocated a gorilla group to trek and park ranger guide to accompany you in the jungle. Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park lasts between 2 to 8 hours and once gorillas are located you will be allowed to spend an hour in their presence where you will have a chance to observe them as there are going through their daily activities, you will also have an opportunity to take photos and record videos. Following a one-hour gorilla encounter, you will return to the park headquarters, where you will meet your safari guide and transfer back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Following an early breakfast, you will meet your safari guide and depart back to the park headquarters for a briefing about dos and don’ts while trekking golden monkey. Following the briefing, you will begin your trek through the dense forest Nyungwe and the trekking lasts between 1 to 6 hours depending on their location on the tracking day as they like roaming in quest for food. Once you locate them you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their natural environment, where you will be able to watch them jump from one tree to another, take photos, record videos, and learn more about their lifestyle, behaviors, and habits, among other things. Following an hour with these amazing primate you will descend back to the lodge for lunch. After lunch you will go for a cultural tour in the neighboring communities where you will visit Ibyi’wacu cultural village. During the cultural tour you will have an opportunity of interacting with the local people, learn about their culture, lifestyle, tasting Kinyarwanda food and their locally brewed beer made from bananas, enjoy entertainment by the Rwandese women as they perform Kinyarwanda songs, dance, music, drama, listen to ancient stories about their culture and tradition among others. After the cultural tour you will transfer back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
On the final day of your safari, you will enjoy a leisurely breakfast before checking out of the lodge to meet your safari guide to embark on you transfer to Kigali for the city tour. During the city tour, you will visit the Kigali genocide memorial center, Kimironko market to buy some souvenirs or gifts. Following the city tour your safari guide will drive to the airport to catch your flight back to your home country.

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