This 7 days Rwanda Primates, Karisimbi Hike and Bwindi Gorilla Safari encompasses top tour experiences in Rwanda and Uganda. During your 7 days Rwanda and Bwindi safari, you will be doing chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park, golden monkey trekking and Mount Karisimbi Hiking in Volcanoes National Park and gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Highlight for 7 Days Rwanda Primates, Karisimbi Hike and Bwindi Gorilla Safari
Day 1: Pickup in Kigali, transfer to Nyungwe Forest national park.
Day 2: Chimpanzee tracking.
Day 3: Golden Monkey trekking in Volcanoes National Park.
Day 4: Hike up to Mount Karisimbi
Day 5: Reach the summit, descend
Day 6: Drive to Bwindi National Park- Batwa Cultural Tour
Day 7: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi and Transfer Back to Kigali.
Detailed Itinerary for 7 Days Rwanda Primates, Karisimbi Hike and Bwindi Gorilla Safari
Day 1: Pickup in Kigali, transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park.
You will be met by our company representative from Explore Rwanda Tours. You will take a brief city tour as you set off for a longer safari to Nyungwe Forest, taking the southern direction. You will make stopover at the traditional king’s palace at Nyanza and later National Museum at Butare for lunch, if time allows.
Dinner and overnight stay at your lodge in Nyungwe.
Day 2: Chimpanzee tracking and Drive to Volcanoes National Park
Begin your Rwanda safari day with an early morning breakfast to warm up your body from coldness of the night and boost your body into chimpanzee tracking moods. The safari guide will escort you to ranger guides’ office by 7.45am to formalize the forest procedures. You will then be led into the forest on the dot of 8.00am for an exciting chimpanzee tracking expedition that averagely takes 4 hours.
Once sighted you will spend an hour with them and watch them interacting with each other, take photos and share lots of wilderness information with the ranger guides, transfer to Volcanoes Nationals National Park.
Dinner and overnight stay at your lodge.
Day 3: Golden Monkey Trekking in Volcanoes National Park.
Early in the morning after breakfast and a briefing from the park officials, set off for the golden monkey trekking. This experience of golden monkey trekking is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. The rangers will lead you deep into the forest in search of these playful primates.
You will move up and down the rugged terrain until you finally meet these harmonious primates whose company you will cherish for 1 hour. The activity in Rwanda can take 1-3 hours depending on the movement of the primates. In the afternoon you may go for an optional village tour for a cultural experience with a resident local guide. Return for dinner and overnight stay as above
Day 4: Hike up to Mount Karisimbi
Wake early, have breakfast and drive to the park headquarters for a briefing about the activity as early as 7am, you will then be allocated the ranger guides and you head for the hike. Karisimbi volcano is the highest of the 8 mount peaks of Virunga conservation region.
The hike to the summit offers spectacular and magnificent views of different volcanoes including Nyiragongo and Nyamuragira volcanoes. The hike is strenuous and challenging so you need to be physically fit to do this hike. This is a 6 hours hike with great views different bird species and primates. On reaching at an altitude of about 3700m, you will stop at the first camping site where you will spend a night.
Day 5: Reach the summit, descend
After early morning cup of coffee, embark on an hour’s hike to the summit. At this level, the hike is very steep going through trials of thick jungles surrounded by stunning scenery. On reaching at the summit, enjoy amazing views of the surrounding areas like mount Muhabura. After enjoying your time at the summit descend to the starting point where you will meet your driver readily waiting to receive you and connect for late lunch. Later head back to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 6: Drive to Bwindi National Park- Batwa Cultural Tour
Breakfast will be served by your lodge in the morning. You will then check out of your lodge and meet your guide. Embark on about a 3 hours’ drive to Bwindi national park crossing via the Cyanika border and arriving in time for lunch at your lodge.
Later, you can head out for an afternoon community walk to the neighboring Batwa local communities for a cultural experience. Take it to interact with the friendly locals as they go about their day-to-day lifestyles. Do take this opportunity to learn more about the ancient Batwa culture as you immerse yourself in their traditional dances and cultural history.
Later head back to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 7: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi and Transfer Back to Kigali.
Early in the morning after breakfast and a briefing from the park officials, set off for the gorilla trekking. This experience of gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a once in a life time adventure. The rangers will lead you deep into the forest in search of these gentle giants.
You will move up and down the rugged terrain until you finally meet these harmonious creatures whose company you will cherish for 1 hour. Gorilla trekking excursions in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park can take 3-5 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas.
After your gorilla trek, you will have your packed lunch and head back to base where you will be issued a gorilla trekking certificate. Depart to Kigali reaching in evening and you will be dropped off at a hotel of your choice or later connect to the airport to find your scheduled flight back home.
End of the 7 Days Rwanda Primates, Karisimbi Hike and Bwindi Gorilla Safari
