5 Days Rwanda Golden monkey and Chimpanzee trekking Safari
This 5 Days Rwanda golden monkey and chimpanzee trekking safari takes you to Rwanda’s gorilla trekking and chimpanzee destinations, respectively.
Volcanoes National Park is Rwanda’s home for the endangered mountain gorillas and golden monkeys; this park is located on Virunga Mountains shared with Uganda and Congo. Apart from gorilla trekking, Volcanoes National Park is also a home to the endangered golden monkeys and a few more primates and about 200 different bird species and a mountain hiking destination.
Also featured is Nyungwe Forest National Park, which is home to the endangered chimpanzees and 12 other species of primates. 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.
Safari highlights
- Day 1: Transfer to Volcanoes national park
- Day 2: Golden Monkey trekking
- Day 3: Transfer to Nyungwe forest national park
- Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking and canopy walk
- Day 5: Return to Kigali
Day 1: Arrival and transfer to hotel
Upon arrival in Kigali, you will be met by your safari guide and transferred to Volcanoes National Park; it’s a 2-3 hour drive from Kigali. Upon arrival in Musanze, you will check into your hotel and then do an optional community tour around Ruhengeri for a Rwandan cultural experience or unwind and spend the evening at leisure. Dinner and overnight at
- Luxury option: 5 Volcanoes Gorilla lodge
- Mid-range option: Le Bambou Gorilla lodge
- Budget option: Hotel Muhabura for budget
Day 2: Golden Monkey Tracking
You will enjoy early morning breakfast and transfer to the park headquarters with your packed lunch and bottled drinking water for a briefing by the park ranger guides at 7:00 am. After the briefing about the golden monkeys, enter into the park, taking the golden monkey tracking trail and on this experience other primates, birds, and butterflies will be spotted. The trek takes 2-5 hours depending on the location of the golden monkeys. Return to your lodge for relaxation dinner and an overnight stay at the lodge as above.
Day 3: Transfer to Nyungwe forest national park
After breakfast, check out of the lodge and transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park. It is about a 6- to 7-hour drive to reach the park with en route lunch and views of the Virunga Mountains and Lake Kivu; you will also stop for pictures.
Proceed to the Nyungwe and connect to your accommodation to rest and dinner and overnight stay at One and Only Nyungwe House hotel for luxury/Nyungwe Top Hill Hotel for Mid-range/Gasakura Guesthouse for budget option
Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking and Umuyove trail for birdwatching experience
Wake up early for breakfast, then drive to report at Nyungwe Forest National Park for a briefing about your experience. Enter the forest through one of the leading trails for chimpanzees and bird watching that is the Unuyove trail.
The chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest are not habituated so they tend to be shy and run away from tourists and that means the chances of seeing the chimpanzees and other primates like the grey-cheeked mangabeys are not guaranteed; however, the rangers usually do their best to ensure that you see the chimpanzees by all means.
This trail is also best for bird watching, as different bird species can be spotted. This trail will also lead you to the waterfalls where you can relax before you walk back to meet your safari guide. It takes about 3 to 4 hours to complete the trail. Drive back to your accommodation for relaxation, dinner and an overnight stay at:
- Luxury option: One and Only Nyungwe Hotel
- Mid-range option: Nyungwe Hill Top Hotel
- Budget option: Gisakura Guesthouse
Day 5: Return to Kigali
After breakfast, embark on your journey back to Kigali with lunch en route. You will either be dropped off at your own booked hotel or at Kigali International Airport for your return flight with memories.
End of the 5 Days Rwanda Golden monkey and Chimpanzee trekking Safari
