5 Days Rwanda Budget Primates Tour

5 Days Rwanda Budget Primates Tour : This 5 Days Rwanda Budget Primates tour features visiting 2 of the most visited national park in Rwanda offering primates experience That is Volcanoes national park and Nyungwe forest national park.

Volcanoes national park is Rwanda’s home for the endangered mountain gorillas. The park is located on Virunga Mountains shared with Uganda and Congo. Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park is different from other parks because it is quite easier to find the gorillas even with the steep hills of Virunga Mountains. There are about 10 habituated gorilla families for visitors to see. Apart from gorilla trekking, Volcanoes national park is also a home to the endangered golden monkeys and other primates, a few of the forest animals, about 200 different bird species and a Mountain hiking destination. Mountain gorillas and Golden monkeys are the main primates in Volcanoes national park although they are poorly represented by comparison with other forests in Rwanda and Western Uganda.  Little information is available regarding the current status of other large mammals, but 70-plus species have been recorded in Uganda’s neighbouring Mgahinga National Park, most of which probably only occur in the larger Rwanda section of the Virunga Mountains. Elephant and buffalo are still quite common in this park judging by the amount of spoor encountered on forest trails but is very timid and infrequently observed. Also present are giant forest hog, bush pig, bushbuck, black-fronted duiker, spotted hyena, and several varieties of small predator.

Whilst Nyungwe forest national park is home to the 13 primates’ species of Africa including the endangered chimpanzees. Trekking chimpanzees in Nyungwe forest is one of the most scenic experiences under the montane rainforest and walking on a canopy above the forest is an added beautiful experience. Chimpanzee Trekking; Nyungwe Forest National Park is home to about 25% of primate species in Africa with majority of them being chimpanzees. Chimpanzees trekking is the main highlight of Nyungwe forest with 500 chimpanzees. Chimpanzees in Nyungwe forest are not habituated like gorillas so it is not guaranteed to spot them in particular places. But more often you will see them because they are quite common in the forest. The park rangers know where and how to find the chimpanzees even when they are not habituated, so be assured of spotting the chimpanzees in Nyungwe forest.

Chimpanzee trekking takes place every day with an early morning start since the chimpanzees are easily seen in the morning hours, trekking starts as early as 8 am at Uwinka, Kitabi and Gisakura after briefing about the primates. Chimpanzees trekking takes about 2-5 hours depending on the location of the chimpanzees. However, to be able to trek chimpanzees in Nyungwe forest, you are required to have a chimpanzee permit which is booked months before your trekking date. A permit in Nyungwe National Park costs USD 90 dollars per person and it is valid for a simple day. Canopy Walk: The forest canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest National Park is one of a kind in Africa. It was introduced in October 2010 as a new tourism product for the park. The Canopy walkway was built at 160 meters stretch between trees and it extends to up to 90 feet above the forest floor. The Nyungwe Forest canopy walk begins. The canopy walk way starts at Uwinka Visitors center and it’s a 2km walk with untouched natural rainforest below the forest filled with exciting biodiversity of the forest with beautiful views of the forest. A canopy walk costs US 60 dollars per person.

Safari highlights

Day 1: Arrival and Transfer to Ruhengeri

Day 2:  Gorilla trekking in Parc National Des Volcans

Day 3: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park

Day 4: Chimpanzee tracking & Canopy Walk.

Day 5: Transfer back to Kigali

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and Transfer to Ruhengeri

Depending on your location in Kigali, your allocated safari guide will meet you and transfer to Volcanoes national park. Volcanoes national park is located in the north-western part of Rwanda about 2-3 hours’ drive from Kigali city. The park is located on one of the eight Virunga Mountains and it is basically home to some of the mountain gorillas only found in East and central Africa.  Connect to your booked hotel in Ruhengeri to check-in your accommodation where you will dinner and overnight stay at Hotel Muhabura

Day 3: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park

You will have breakfast at your hotel and connect on a leisurely transfer to Nyungwe forest. This is a 6-7 hour drive. You will have an en-route lunch and continue to transfer to Nyungwe forest park with lunch en-route and arriving in the evening. Dinner and overnight stay at Gisakura Visitor Centre

5 Days Rwanda Budget Primates Tour
5 Days Rwanda Budget Primates Tour

Day 4: Chimpanzee tracking & Canopy Walk.

Enjoy breakfast and go for briefing before entering the forest, searching for the active and playful fellows in Nyungwe forest. The Chimpanzees are the easy to spot, as they jump from one tree to another, chattering and laughing. Chimp tracking usually takes about 3 hours. You will then return to your accommodation for lunch.

After lunch, you will go on a walking trail that will take you to the Canopy Walk at Uwinka; a swing bridge 50 meters in length that is suspended from large trees. You will be able to see the amazing rainforest with a bird’s eye view, spotting wildlife moving about below you. Before night fall, you will return to your hotel for dinner and overnight at Gisakura Visitor Centre as above

Day 5: Transfer back to Kigali

After breakfast at your hotel, you will transfer back to Kigali. If the city tour wasn’t possible on the day of arrival, you will have a brief city tour and transfer to the airport for your onward flight.

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