8 Days Rwanda Gorillas, Chimpanzee & Wildlife Safari

Rwanda is referred to as a home of a thousand hills and its one of the classic safari destinations in East Africa for primate safaris, Gorillas occupy the hilly forest covers of the Virunga massif formerly the home of the primatologist Diana Fossey, chimpanzee trekking which takes place in Nyungwe forest national park which sits on the base of rift valley bordering Burundi and DR Congo before descending to savannah in Akagera national park for wildlife viewing and boat safari.

Our 8 Days Rwanda Gorillas, Chimpanzee & Wildlife safari will give you a classic safari experience while on your African safari in Rwanda, encountering the gorillas in their natural habitat in the foothills of volcanoes national park and the Chimpanzees in Nyungwe forest is one of the safari highlights for any traveler to Rwanda.

Safari highlights

• Chimpanzee trekking
• Historical visit
• Kigali city tour
• Gorilla trekking
• Game drives in Akagera NP
• Boat cruise on Lake Ihema

Safari itinerary

Day 1: Drive from Kigali to Nyungwe forest National Park

After early morning breakfast you will start your drive to Rwanda’s premier primate destination, Nyungwe is one of the few rainforests left in Rwanda with stunning 900 sq km making a huge habitat for the wildlife and birds en route to Nyungwe forest you will visit the King’s palace in Nyanza, the ethnographic Museum in Butale before starting the scenic drive to the Forest, this is one of the best drives in the country upon arrival you will check in to the lodge for relaxation and overnight.

Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking experience in Nyungwe Forest

After early morning breakfast you will head to the park station in Gisakura at 4:30 am to meet the park rangers for a briefing, after the briefing, you will start your drive to Cyamudongo where the trekking starts and after locating the troop of chimpanzees you will then spend 1 hour with the chimps and later return to the lodge for relaxation.

Day 3: Drive to Volcanoes National Park

After lazily breakfast you will start your drive to Volcanoes national park, this is one of the scenic drives via the famous Kivu belt, this road literally runs along Lake Kivu making it extremely a scenic drive and there is also incredible tea farms you will visit an also have a glimpse of Rwanda Gishwati Mukura national park upon arrival in the park you will check in to the lodge for relaxation and overnight.

Day 4: Gorilla trekking experience in Volcanoes NP

After morning breakfast full dressed in your trekking gear, you will be picked up by our guide and transfer to the park headquarters in Kinigi where you will meet the park rangers for a gorilla trekking briefing after the briefing you will drive to the starting point for your gorilla trekking on foot, upon locating the mountain gorillas you will spend 1 hour with the gorillas and later return to the lodge for relaxation and overnight.

Day 5: Golden monkey tracking and transfer to Kigali

After morning breakfast you will drive again to Kinigi for a briefing about golden monkey tracking by the park rangers, after you will drive to the starting point for the trek, after locating the golden monkeys you will spend 1 hour with them and later return to the lodge for refreshment and lunch after you will drive to Kigali for overnight.

Day 6-Drive to Akagera National Park

After morning breakfast you will drive to Akagera national park which is one of the top wildlife destinations in Rwanda, this is a home to the African big 5 wildlife, upon arrival at the lodge you will have lunch and later do an evening game drive in the park in search of wildlife and birds.

Day 7: Game drive in the morning and Boat cruise in the Afternoon

After early morning breakfast you will start your slow but extensive game drive in the park as you will be looking out for wildlife like elephants, giraffes, lions, leopards, Rhinos, buffalos, and many others, after the extensive game drive you will have a picnic lunch and later do a boat cruise on Lake Ihema in searches of wildlife like hippos, crocodiles and other wildlife that come to drink water and later you will return to the lodge for relaxation and overnight.

Day 8: Drive back to Kigali for a city tour and Departure flight

After early morning breakfast you will start your drive to Kigali, upon arrival in Kigali you will do a city tour of the Kigali genocide museum and also visit the Belgian peace center and later you will be transferred to the airport for your flight or to your lodge for overnight.

Trip includes

• Accommodation
• Vehicle, guide, and fuel
• Chimpanzee permits
• Gorilla permits
• Kigali city tour
• Game drives in Akagera national park
• Boat cruise on Lake Ihema
• Golden monkey Permits

Trip excludes

• International flights
• Tips for guides and hotels
• Personal expenses like Alcoholic drinks
• Pre and post-safari accommodation
• Travel insurance
• Rwanda tourist Visa

When book safari tour

Due to the fact that their limited gorilla permits sold daily in Volcanoes national park and Nyungwe forest national park it’s advisable to book the safari 6 months to 1 year in advance for perfect planning.

Best time to see wildlife in Rwanda

The best time to visit Rwanda is during the dry season from June to October and from December to February.