8-Day Rwanda Gorilla & Chimpanzee Trekking Safari

This morning, after breakfast, we will depart for Ruhengeri, a town located at the gateway to Volcanoes National Park, a reserve covering 125 km² on the border between Rwanda and Congo. The transfer drive through Rwanda’s rolling hills, local communities and small towns is an interesting journey. Hotel. Meal plan: breakfast.

Have an early morning breakfast, and with packed lunch transfer to the Kinigi Park headquarters for briefing about the gorilla trekking rules and regulations. You will be registered and allocated a gorilla family to trek. At 8:00am, start the hike through the bamboo forest searching for the endangered mountain gorillas. The trek can take between 2-6 hours depending on where gorillas will be located that day. After meeting the gorillas, you will be allowed to spend an hour in their presence. Enjoy to see gorillas play, feed and socialize in their natural habitat. Take memorable photos and enjoy tis magical encounter. You will then hike down and transfer to your lodge. In the evening go for a visit to the Iby’iwacu cultural village to learn and experience the traditions, norms customs and beliefs of Rwanda local people. Dinner and overnight at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge /Le Bamboo Lodge. Meal plan: breakfast and lunch.

After breakfast, transfer to Kinigi to briefing on guidelines of golden monkey trekking experience. The trek to meet these playful primates start at 8:00am and can last for between 2-4 hours. Enjoy an encounter with these playful primates which continuously jump across tree branches. Return to the lodge for refreshment, check out and transfer to Gisenyi for dinner and overnight at Palm Garden Lodge/ Paradise Malahide Meal plan: breakfast and lunch.

Following breakfast, go for a boat cruise on Lake Kivu to visit the Nyamyumba hot spring and learn about them. You can also do an optional traditional massage at the hot springs ($30pp). The cruise is also an opportunity to explore different corners and islands of the Lake. The cruise also offers you scenic views of the calm waters, fishing villages, Virunga Volcanoes and terraced farmlands. In the afternoon, drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park for dinner and overnight at Nyungwe Top View /Chimpanzee Lodge. Meal plan: breakfast and lunch.

Have an early breakfast and transfer to the park headquarters for briefing and registration on the dos and don’ts of chimpanzee trekking. At 8:00am the trek begins up and down hill through the forest searching for the chimpanzees, man’s close relatives. The trek searching for gorillas is an opportunity to meet other primates and birds which live in this rain forest. The allowed time with chimpanzees is strictly an hour counted from the time you meet the endangered primates. In the afternoon, you can do an optional canopy walk for greater aerial views of the forest, Virunga mountains and communities. Alternatively do an optional colobus monkey trekking to learn and enjoy an encounter with these amazing primates. Dinner and overnight at Nyungwe Top View/Chimpanzee Lodge. Meal plan: breakfast and lunch.

After breakfast, departure. Stop in Huye (Butare), the country's second largest city and a cultural center. Highlights include the University and the National Museum. Interesting artisan shops and workshops. We continue to Nyanza, the former political capital. The Royal Palace has been renovated and features an exhibition of artifacts belonging to King Mwami. We then proceed to Kigali. Hotel. Meal plan: Breakfast.

Free time in Rwanda's fascinating capital until your transfer to the airport for your return flight to Origin country. Meal plan: Breakfast.