Experience this 5 Days Rwanda Gorillas and Chimpanzee Tracking Tour in the countryside and get up close and personal with Mountain Gorillas at Volcanoes National Park. Drives across Rwanda, also referred to as the “Land of a Thousand Hills,” are scenic and offer breathtaking views of the Lake Kivu, steep mountains, rolling hills, and tea plantations. Enquire Now One of Africa’s most fascinating and cleanest capital cities is Kigali. In the Nyungwe Forest, take a walk to track chimpanzees. See the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre, where 250,000 victims are interred. If you haven’t been to this memorial centre, you really cannot understand how wonderful this nation and its people are. Visit the women’s centre in Nyamirambo.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Kigali City Tour – Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Take a tour of Kigali City after breakfast. You will see some of the recently developed parts of Kigali as well as some of the city’s spectacular artisan centres located in the ancient city, including the Kaplaki market. Make a stop at the Gisozi Genocide Memorial while travelling. Find out how a genocide that lasted almost 100 days claimed the lives of an estimated one million Rwandans. The remains of 250,000 Genocide victims are interred in the memorial museum. It features a library, a genocide exhibition area, and a cemetery. In addition to providing you with a comprehensive understanding of the nation’s traumatic past, a visit to this memorial centre is a very affecting experience.
The memorial is incredibly touching; the two- to three-hour tour honours the many people who were killed during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. The remarkable recovery of the country is evidence of both a troubled history and a promising future. Go by the Hotel des Mille Collines in Kigali, which served as the setting for the 2004 film “Hotel Rwanda,” which was based on the experiences of families who sought refuge at this upscale establishment during the genocide. Later, we drive to the Volcanoes National Park, taking in the breathtaking view of verdant hills and valleys in full bloom.
Accommodation: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge.
Meals: (Lunch, Dinner).
Day 2: Mountain Gorilla Trekking Experience.
Your mountain gorilla trekking experience begins with an early morning departure from the accommodation to the Volcanoes National Park headquarters in Kinigi. Excellent park rangers and guides will meet you here and deliver a lesson on gorilla trekking etiquette. We take a quick drive to the starting spot after you are assigned a gorilla family to visit following the park headquarters’ orientation for rangers conducting gorilla trekking. After that, walk through the woodland. You’ll begin monitoring the gorillas’ previous day’s sightings. Twenty habituated gorilla families are available for tourists to watch in Rwanda. A maximum of eight individuals may visit each group each day.
Trekking typically begins at many locations. Trekking to elevations above 7,500 feet might take anywhere from one to eight hours. One of the most amazing animal experiences in Africa is getting up close and personal with a mountain gorilla. Critically endangered is the mountain gorilla species (Gorilla beringei beringei). This (the Virunga) complex is home to at least 480 mountain gorillas who range in altitude from 2300 to 4500 meters. The gorillas are found in the southern region of Virunga National Park (DRC) and the northern Rwandan Volcanoes National Park.
Despite being physically taxing, the hike is enjoyable due to the stunning forest and surrounding landscape. All exhaustion is forgotten once the gorillas are found, as it is frequently regarded as the world’s most profound natural history encounter. Having a camera and lots of fast-speed film is advised. Since rain can come down at any time, waterproof clothes and zip-lock bags for film and cameras are a smart idea. Bringing bottled water is essential. An amazing, once-in-a-lifetime experience is trekking with gorillas. Only one hour of viewing is permitted during visits. This regulation nevertheless gives you plenty of time to take pictures and see these magnificent animals in their natural setting.
You have two options for this afternoon: either visit the adjacent Gorilla Guardians Cultural Village or the local market, or simply unwind at the lodge. You will be rewarded with a unique and memorable experience as you visit several locations in this neighbourhood on a guided stroll through the town. You’ll get to see the king’s residence, listen to all of his fascinating tales, and gain some understanding of each object in his collection. Experience traditional dances from Rwanda, such as the Intore dance, performed by members of the community with traditional musical instruments found in the area.
Accommodation: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge.
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).
Day 3: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park.
After breakfast, you will check out of the lodge and transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park, the home of chimpanzees in Rwanda. You will arrive at your lodge in Nyungwe in the late afternoon. Have lunch and spend the afternoon relaxing at the lodge as you prepare the next day’s chimpanzee tracking activity.
Accommodation: One & Only Nyungwe House, Nyungwe Top View Hill Lodge.
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).
Day 4: Chimpanzee Tracking in Nyungwe Forest.
After a hearty morning meal at the resort, head to the park office to make reservations for chimpanzee trekking. It is estimated that the 500 or so Rwandan chimpanzees are restricted to Nyungwe Forest National Park. Before you see them, you will be able to hear them. An thrilling hoot will come from somewhere deep in the jungle, one voice at first, then numerous, becoming louder and louder until it stops abruptly or fades away. Chimpanzees, in contrast to most other primates, live in extended groups of up to 100 people rather than in troop formation. They travel in tiny, nomadic subgroups across the forest, frequently centred on a small number of close relatives, such as moms, daughters, and brothers. We will return to the lodge for lunch and a free afternoon after the tour.
Accommodation: One & Only Nyungwe House, Nyungwe Top View Hill Lodge.
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).
Day 5: Return to Kigali – Departure.
You will travel to Kigali City after breakfast. Located in Kigali City’s biggest and liveliest township, you will visit the Nyamirambo women’s centre and re-establish your connection with the community. The centre gives women and girls the chance to learn useful skills so they may help one another and achieve in life. Take pleasure in a meal made by women who work at the centre, giving us a chance to sample regional cuisine and specialties. You could peruse the center’s shop, which sells items manufactured by some of the women themselves, including finely crafted clothing, textiles, and crafts. Sales revenue supports this women’s center’s skill-training initiatives. Transfer to Kigali Airport later in order to board an international aircraft.
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch).
End of the 5 Days Rwanda Gorillas and Chimpanzee Tracking Tour.
The 5 Days Rwanda Gorillas and Chimpanzee Tracking Tour includes;
- 1 Gorilla Permit per person.
- 1 Chimpanzee Permit per person.
- Park Entrance Fees.
- Airport Transfers.
- Accommodation and meals as per the itinerary.
- Services of an English-speaking tour guide.
- Ground Transportation in a 4×4 safari vehicle.
- Tour guide allowances.
- Government Taxes.
However, the tour cost excludes; Visa fees, International Airfare, personal shopping bills, travel insurance, items of personal nature such as cigarettes, laundry, alcoholic drinks and items not listed as included in the cost.