7 Days Burundi Primates and Rwanda Gorilla Safari
7 Days Burundi Primates and Rwanda Gorilla Safari
Burundi borders Rwanda directly in the North making it easily accessible via Rwanda’s southern tourism corridor, the two countries share a boundary via Africa’s oldest rainforests of Nyungwe and Kibira forest national park respectively, this package will also take you to Rwanda’s volcanoes national park for your ultimate encounter with mountain gorillas in the tropical rain forest north of the capital Kigali.
Safari highlights
Detailed safari itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Bujumbura international airport
On arrival at Bujumbura international airport, you will be received by a representative from Wilderness Explorers Africa and transferred to your hotel in the city for relaxation and overnight.
Day 2: Boat cruise on Rusizi River
After morning breakfast you will drive to Rusizi national park where you will do a boat cruise where you expect to encounter wildlife like hippopotamus, antelopes, and monkeys along with numerous species of beautiful birds and later you will also visit Lake Tanganyika for lunch on the beach and later return to the lodge for overnight.
Day 3: Primate trekking in Kibira national park and transfer to Nyungwe forest
After early morning breakfast, you will depart Bujumbura for Kibira national park for your ultimate primate walk, the park is a habitat to 98 mammal species, a dozen primates (numerous families of chimpanzees, baboons, red-tailed monkeys, black colobus, and some 200 species of birdlife and after you will be transferred to the border of Rwanda where you will cross over and meet our guide from Rwanda and transfer to Nyungwe forest national park for an overnight.
Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe forest and transfer to Lake Kivu
With a lot of excitement, you will start the day early with a packed breakfast and drive to the Gisekura park office to meet the rangers, After meeting the rangers you will then drive to Cyamudongo where you will trek the chimpanzees on foot in the dense forest cover, after locating the chimpanzees you will spend 1 hour with them and later return to the lodge for lunch after lunch you will drive to Lake Kivu in Karongi where you will stay on a beach resort overlooking the Lake and if time allows you do an optional sunset boat cruise on Lake Kivu and this can be arranged by your guide.
Day 5: Drive to volcanoes national park
After morning breakfast you will start your drive to Rwanda’s famous safari destination the volcanoes national park which is home to the endangered mountain gorillas and the rear golden monkeys, this drive will take you through the famous Kivu belt road and the Congo Nile trail, upon arrival at the lodge you will check-in for relaxation and overnight.
Day 6: Gorilla trekking experience in Volcanoes national park
The unique opportunity to see gorillas in their natural habitat is unforgettable, some even say life-changing. Encounters with gorillas as they go about their daily lives are carefully managed, with expert trackers and guides leading small groups of tourists up bamboo-covered slopes to spend a precious and awe-inspiring hour just a few feet away from the gentle creatures, after morning breakfast you will transfer to Kinigi park headquarters for a gorilla briefing and later you will transfer to the trailhead, after locating the Mountain gorillas you will spend 1 hour with the gorillas and later return to the lodge for relaxation.
Day 7: Golden monkey trekking and transfer to Kigali for your onward journey
Today you will head into the forest to discover the playful and inquisitive nature of the golden monkey, a beautiful little creature found only in the high-altitude forests of the Volcanoes National Park. Spend the morning searching the lush vegetation at the foot of Mount Sabyinyo for one of two habituated groups of the golden monkeys, one of them a troop of more than 80 members. Spend an enchanted hour watching their frolics as they leap among the slender shoots of bamboo or tumble among the dense foliage on the forest floor after you will be transferred to Kigali for your onward journey.
Trip includes
- Accommodation
- Vehicle, guide, and Fuel
- Gorilla, chimpanzee permits for Rwanda
- Primate permits for Burundi
- Park entrance
- Boat cruise
Trip excludes
- Post safari accommodation
- Burundi, Rwanda visa fees
- International flights
- Travel insurance
- Tips for guides and hotels
When to book this safari package
We recommend booking 6 months in advance to allow us to secure gorilla and Chimpanzee permits for Rwanda.
Best time to visit East Africa for a safari
The best time to visit East Africa is from mid-June to October when the parks are dry, the weather sunny, and the wildlife excellent.
