6 days Uganda and Rwanda primates highlight is a thrilling adventure that will start in Kigali and then take you to Rwanda’s two famous primates protected areas namely Nyungwe forest National Park known for harboring chimpanzees and Volcanoes National Park which is the only home for gorillas in Rwanda. You will also have the opportunity to enjoy an exhilarating experience as you walk on a suspended bridge 70meters high above the great Nyungwe forest and engage with the locals within the Ibyi’wacu cultural village. Crossing to Uganda, you will encounter mountain gorillas and golden monkeys in their natural habitat that houses half of the world’s population of the endangered gorillas. Meeting the former forest keepers of Bwindi forests known as the Batwa pygmies is part of this excursion as you learn about their ancient ways of living.
Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Nyungwe National Park
You will be received by our driver guide at Kigali International Airport who will brief you through your travel itinerary and then set off for Nyungwe National Park. This is a 4 hours’ drive where you will arrive to check-in at your reserved lodge to have lunch. After lunch you will head off for a canopy walk where you will have the opportunity to have a guided tour along a 70meters high suspended bridge while you enjoy great views of the great East African region, Lake Kivu and sections of Nyungwe National Park as you spot several animals, plant species, bird types and other organisms that live within the forests. Return to your lodge to have dinner and an overnight.
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking and transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Wakeup very early the morning to have your breakfast and report to the Park headquarters for a briefing about chimpanzee trekking. You will then proceed to the forests with the guidance of ranger guides to embark on the search of a habituated troop of chimpanzees which lasts for about 1 to 4 hours depending on their movements. An hour will be allowed having located the chimpanzees where you will watch them go by their routine duties like feeding, grooming the young ones and many more habits. Get back to the lodge for your early lunch, checkout to be driven to Volcanoes National Park while you have great views of traditional homesteads, beautiful landscapes, rolling hills and many more. Arrival will be in the evening to check-in at your booked lodge for relaxation, dinner and an overnight.
Day 3: Gorilla trekking and Ibyi’wacu cultural village
Wake up to a hefty breakfast, have your lunch packed and meet up with your driver guide to be transferred to the Park headquarters for a briefing about gorilla trekking rules and regulations. You will be divided into groups of 8 people and each group allocated a gorilla family to go trekking after. Ranger guides will lead you as you search for the gentle giants in their natural habitat which lasts for about 30 minutes to 6 hours depending on their movements. You will enjoy an hour close to the gorillas as you watch them go by their daily activities. The ranger guide will locate a safe place for you to have your lunch before you proceed to the Ibyi’wacu cultural village where you will meet the local Rwandese and Batwa people and learn about their ancient way of life style. Return to your lodge to have dinner and an overnight.
Day 4: Golden monkey trekking and transfer to Bwindi
Today morning, enjoy your breakfast and report back to the Park headquarters to catchup with a briefing about golden monkey trekking. Ranger guides will lead you through the Park’s trails as you search for a troop of habituated golden monkeys. Golden monkeys live at the bottom of Volcano Mountains with in the bamboo forests and they are easily located by following after clues of fresh bamboo shoots and leaves leftovers. Having located the golden monkeys, an hour will be allowed with these endangered monkey specie as you closely watch them feed, jump from one tree to another and many more about their lifestyle and habits. Return back to your lodge for lunch after which you will checkout to be transferred to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda where you will arrive in the late afternoon to check-in at your booked lodge to have dinner and an overnight.
Day 5: Gorilla trekking and Batwa cultural experience
Wake up to a hefty breakfast and report to the Park headquarters for a briefing about gorilla trekking rules and regulations. You will be led by ranger guides into the misty forests of Bwindi to encounter the gentle giants in their natural habitat. Several other primates and bird species will be spotted during your gorilla trek and an hour will be allowed with the gorillas as you closely watch them go by their routine duties. Get back to your lodge to have lunch after which you will head off to meet the former forest keepers of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You will have an insight of how they lived in harmony with the gorillas and their ancient way of life such as medicinal herbs, traditional dishes, cultural performances and many more. Get back to your lodge for relaxation, dinner and an overnight.
Day 6: Transfer to Kigali and departure
Your last safari day starts with a relaxed breakfast, checkout of the lodge and meet your driver guide to be transferred to Kigali city for a city tour as you make visits to genocide memorial sites such as the Gisozi genocide memorial where you will have an insight of what transpired during the 1994 Rwanda genocide where the Tutsi were brutally killed by the Hutus. You will have your lunch after a city tour then proceed to Kigali International Airport for your departure flight.
