8 Days Primates  & Safari Experience In Rwanda

Day1:  EARLY MORNING PICK UP AT AIRPORT & TRANSFER TO AKAGERA NP – BOAT CRUISE

Welcome to Kigali, Rwanda.  Our tour representative from Karisimbi Tours Africa, your driver/guide will meet you at 8am, Kigali International Airport.  Then we provide you with a detailed briefing before we head off on the 2-hour drive to Akagera National Park in the east of Rwanda after drive to akagera national park. 

At 3PM we will do a thrilling boat cruise at Lake Ihema and sundowner.   This is an opportunity to get up close from a whole new perspective and see hippo’s, crocodiles and many of the 423 bird species of Akagera, all whilst watching the sun set over this magical first day. We then return to your accommodation of choice for dinner and overnight at Akagera Game Lodge

DAY 2:  FULL DAY GAME DRIVE AND RETURN TO KIGALI.

 Early breakfast as today is a full day’s game drive as we make our way from the southern part of Akagera all the way to the northern sector.  The northern sector has wide savannahs and is where we are most likely to spot Lions and Rhinoceros’.  The lions where introduced 4 years ago and their numbers are increasing very healthily and the Rhinos are only less than a year in the park so it will be a great day if we manage to spot them.  This is big savannah country with several lakes dotting the landscape creating further opportunities to spot birdlife and hippos. Late in the afternoon we exit via the northern gate of Akagera and return to Kigali via a 2 hour drive. Dinner and overnight at ParkInn Hotel.

DAY 3; TRANSFER FROM KIGALI TO NYUNGWE FOREST VIA BUTARE ENROUTE VISIT MUSEUMS

After breakfast at your Hotel, embark to your 4×4 vehicle and drive to Nyungwe.  First stop is a 2-hour drive en route to the traditional power and cultural Centre of Rwanda in Butare.First stop is the Kings Palace which offers a detailed look into the Rwandan traditional seat of their monarchy.  very interesting site.

Right nearby in 40 minutes is Ethnographic Museum of Rwanda which displays ancient and historic artifacts from throughout Rwandan history.  Here we also have organized a traditional Rwanda dance troupe.  Rwanda’s dancing culture is a site to behold and very passionate and graceful.

We will take lunch in Butare before transferring a further two hours to Nyungwe National Park.  Check in and refresh ready for Dinner and overnight at Nyungwe top view hill Hotel.

DAY4: COLOBUS MONKEY TREKKING  AND OTHER MONKEYS & CANOPY WALKWAY 

After breakfast it’s time to embark on a few experiences in the Ancient Temperate Rain-forest, besides the Chimpanzees Nyungwe is probably most well-known for its large populations of Colobus Monkeys plus other types of primates. These unique black and white monkeys are found usually not too far from the park headquarters and the trek not too strenuous

We will take a packed lunch today.  After refueling you will go for a famous Canopy walk, about a 20 minute trek from the park headquarters.  The suspension foot-way gives you a super interesting perspective of the rainforest canopy. After the trek return to your accommodation, Dinner and overnight at Nyungwe top view hill Hotel

DAY 5: CHIMPANZEE TRACKING & TRANSFER TO KIBUYE LAKE KIVU

Wake up very early in the morning at 04:00am; take a cup of tea or coffee at 04:30am.  Breakfast will be packed and eaten on the way to the starting point of your Chimpanzee Trek by 5am. At the park offices you will be briefed about the chimpanzees and the other primates in this forest and after entering into the forest searching for the shy chimpanzees and you may have a chance to see other primates on your way. Either way chimpanzees are usually much more active than the Mountain Gorillas and are truly amazing to watch and try keep up with.  Sharing 98.7% of human DNA you will be astounded by their intelligence, confidence and traits.

After the trek we transfer you along the shores of Lake Kivu to Kibuye.  Check in to your accommodation of choice.  Relax and enjoy the tranquility and views of Lake Kivu.  At 5pm we have arranged a gentle sundowner on Lake Kivu and after such an early start if will be easy to go to sleep after such a relaxing end to the day. Dinner and overnight at Inn on the lake Hotel.

DAY 6:  TRANSFER TO MUSANZE, VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK ENROUTE DO A COFFEE TOUR:

 After breakfast, you will check out and transfer to Musanze, Volcanoes National park via Gisenyi, where you will do a coffee tour to learn all the methods coffee passes through from crop to cup coffee tour at any Coffee Station.  Here you will see the process of picking, drying, packaging and tasting of the Bourbon Arabica beans from the nearby coffee farms.  Lunch at any Lodge on the shores of Lake Kivu.

After lunch we head towards the lake border town of Gisenyi.  We will also visit the Batwa Pottery and learn their activities and the ways of living ever since the beginning. The Batwa where the original forest dwellers in these lands but are now a struggling minority.  They have found a niche as fisherman and pottery artisans and they are known to make the best handmade pottery in the region

After the Batwa Pottery experience it a further 1.5 hours towards Musanze, Volcanoes National Park.  The road is excellent and as you approach you will witness the stunning scenery of 5 Volcanoes. On arrival we have a special tour organized with the Gorilla Doctors.  Here you will see their programs and contribution to the conservation of this rare species.  Every life counts when your population is only 1000 and these dedicated experts make a difference.  They also have an amazing in depth knowledge of Gorillas, their behaviors and language which will have a lot of value to your trek tomorrow.

Check in and enjoy dinner at Davinci Gorilla lodge.

DAY 7: GORILLA GUARDIAN VILLAGE AND RETURN BACK TO KIGALI

Early in the morning after breakfast you will be taken to gorilla guardian village where you have a unique and privileged experience to meet the local people in their environment and test our culture and get entertained with our culture traditional dance with more aspects of traditional and beliefs, after you will return back to your Lodge for a fresh up and check out

Drive back to Kigali. Dinner and overnight at ParkInn Hotel.

DAY 8:  GENOCIDE MEMORIAL SITE & DROP OFF TO AIRPORT

After and early breakfast we leave for a visit to Kigali genocide memorial which is the largest memorial in Kigali   where more than 250,000 victims are interred there, it’s a place for remembrance and learning the victims of genocide against Tutsi in 1994 and you will find more information photographs, testimonies collected all over the country after   drop off at Airport for your flight home. End of the tour.

     Includes

• Ground transportation in a 4WD Safari Vehicle with driver Fuel
• Meals + Accommodation
• Park entrance fees
• Chimpanzee permit , colobus monkey and canopy walk permit
• Game drive in Akagera National park
• Service of an English-speaking driver-guide
• Museums fees
• Community tourism site fee
• All government taxes

All mentioned activities except for the optional ones 

       Excludes

• Airfares & Rwanda Visa
• Luxury drinks
• Laundry
• Tips to local guides
• Personal insurance and shopping
• Covid-19 test certificate