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Rwanda. Rwanda Primate Safari

Day 1: Arrive Kigali

Depending on your arrival time you may have the afternoon at leisure or you may simply transfer directly to the Kigali Serena for overnight.


Kigali Serena Hotel

Day 2: Nyungwe Forest National Park

Depart Kigali with your guide headed to the Nyungwe Forest; today’s drive is about 7 hours. Along the way visit Nyanza King’s Palace and the National Museum of Butare. Arrive late this afternoon at Nyungwe Forest Lodge.


Nyungwe Forest Lodge

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Click for Photo Gallery

Days 3-4: Nyungwe Forest National Park

Extending for 1,000 square kilometers across the majestic hills of southeast Rwanda, Nyungwe National Park is the largest block of montane forest in East and Central Africa. It is also one of the most ancient, dating back to before the last Ice Age. The forest has more than 200 different types of trees, and a remarkable floral diversity including the other-worldly giant lobelia and a host of colorful orchids. Nyungwe is most alluring for its primates: 13 species in all, including humankind’s closest living relative the chimpanzee, as well as the handsome L’Hoest’s monkey and hundred-strong troops of the delightfully acrobatic Angola colobus. The most important ornithological site in Rwanda, Nyungwe harbors almost 300 bird species of which two dozen are restricted to a handful of montane forests on the Albertine Rift. The avian highlight of Nyungwe is the great blue turaco, an outlandish blue, red and green bird that flits from tree to tree in procession. Spend two full days exploring the National Park in search of chimpanzees and Angolan black and white colobus monkeys. Overnight Nyungwe Forest Lodge.

 

Nyungwe Forest Lodge

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Canopy Walk/Lake Kivu

Spend the morning traversing the Nyungwe National Parks’ canopy walkway to get a bird’s eye view of the upper reaches of this verdant expanse. After lunch depart on a four hour drive to Lake Kivu, one of Africa’s Great Lakes and 18th deepest in the world. Split between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda this serene lake is surrounded by majestic mountains and makes for the perfect stop over point before continuing on to the Volcanoes National Park. Overnight at Cormoran Lodge.


Cormoran Lodge

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Volcanoes National Park

Stunning vistas greet you this morning as the road winds its way over hills and through valleys on the way to Volcanoes National Park. Rwanda is known as ‘The Land of a Thousand Hills’ for a reason! Spend the next few nights at Gorilla Mountain View Lodge.


Gorilla Mountain View Lodge

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Click for Photo Gallery

Days 7-8: Gorilla Tracking, Volcanoes National Park

The Virunga Mountains in Uganda, Rwanda, and Congo are home to the world’s population of mountain gorillas. Some of the gorilla families have been habituated to human presence, and it is possible to visit them in their natural habitat within the forest. Take a short drive to Park Headquarters and meet with local guides and trackers who present an orientation about gorilla tracking ethics. 

Spend two days in the Volcanoes National Park on full day treks to view two different families of mountain gorillas. The search, with experienced trackers leading the way, can take up to eight hours although the gorillas are usually found after two to four hours. Some hiking areas lie at altitudes above 7,500 feet over rough and muddy terrain. The hike can be physically demanding, but the forest and surrounding scenery are beautiful. Once the gorillas are spotted the encounter is a most profound natural history experience. Picnic lunches are provided and it is important to take plenty of water. Return to the lodge to share stories and enjoy dinner. Overnight Gorilla Mountain View Lodge.

 

Gorilla Mountain View Lodge

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9: Golden Monkey Trekking & Return to Kigali

This morning we have the opportunity to explore Volcanoes National Park in the search for the rare golden monkeys. There is a fully habituated group of the beautiful primates in the park and this is one of the only places in Africa where this activity is offered. After golden monkey trekking we drive back to Kigali. Overnight at Kigali Serena Hotel.


Kigali Serena Hotel

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10: Departure

This morning your guide will take you for a tour of Kigali, including the Kigali Memorial Center. Completed in 2004, 10 years after the end of the Rwandan genocide, the memorial is a powerful reminder of the tragedies of that time. Transfer to the airport in Kigali for your international departure or extend your trip with a visit to the stunning National Parks of Kenya, Tanzania or Uganda.


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Scheduled Departure Dates
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Departures available on request
Call 1.800.345.4453 or click here to request more information.

    2/9 - 2/18/2013

    6/28 - 7/7/2013

    8/10 - 8/19/2013

    9/14 - 9/23/2013

    10/5 - 10/14/2013

    12/4 - 12/13/2013

Dates listed are current scheduled departures only, other departure dates are available.

Contact us for details!