7 Days Rwanda and Congo lowland primates’ safari
Safari overview
7 Days Rwanda and Congo lowland primates’ safari : This 7 Days Rwanda primates and Congo lowland gorilla safari takes you to Rwanda’s 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. Nyungwe National Park is the best destination for primates’ tours especially the Chimpanzees in Rwanda and is one of the largest remaining montane forest in Africa and has been in existence since the Ice Age period. Nyungwe forest national park covers an area of about 970 square kilometers and is located in south western part of Rwanda in a town called Cyangungu near Lake Kivu and the border of Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Nyungwe forest national Park canopy walk is the best ever experience in East Africa, it is the only national park where nature lovers can go for a true canopy walk. The canopy walk starts at the Uwinka Visitors Center and goes through a hanging platform that is about 45 meters above the ground. From these heights, visitors get spectacular views of the rain-forest, animals and birds. The safari also features visits to Kahuzi Biega national park where we find some of the remaining Eastern lowland gorillas while the rest can be found in Maiko national park however those in Kahuzi beiga are the only ones accessible for visitors. Kahuzi Biega national park has 2 dormant volcanoes within it including; mount Kahuzi (3,308 m) and Mount Biega (2,790 m) with 2 sectors; Highland (Open for visits) and the lowland (closed for visits) and has only 3 guerrilla groups habituated for visit by the tourists. The park doesn’t only have lowland gorillas but a number of other animals like the Forest Hog, the forest Elephant, Antelopes and the bush duikers. Book with us this trip for a lifelong remember.
Safari highlights
Day 1: Transfer to Volcanoes national park
Day 2: Gorilla trekking – community tour
Day 3: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park
Day 4: Chimpanzee tracking and Isumo waterfall walk
Day 5: Canopy walk and transfer to Bukavu – Congo
Day 6: Lowland gorilla trekking
Day 7: Drive back to Kigali – Departure
Detailed safari
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali and transfer to Volcanoes national park
Depending on your location in Kigali, you will be met by your safari driver who will be your guide throughout the trip, meet and greet, pack your luggage in the safari vehicle and Volcanoes national park. It’s a 2-3 hours’ drive from Kigali to Musanze where we find the home of the endangered mountain gorillas. Arrive in Musanze at good time for lunch after checking-in your booked accommodation. Connect to your booked accommodation for dinner and overnight stay at 5 Volcanoes Gorilla lodge/Virunga lodge for luxury/ Le Bambou Gorilla lodge for mid-range/Hotel Muhabura/Kinigi Guesthouse for budget
Day 2: Gorilla trekking experience – Community tour
After early morning breakfast, you will be transferred to the Kinigi park headquarters with your trekking gears for a briefing about the endangered mountain gorillas. You have been allocated a gorilla family to trek, connect to the starting point and start trekking along with the guidance of the armed ranger guides together with the ranger guides. This activity may take between 2-8 hours searching for the gorillas depending on their movement. However meeting them is so rewarding and you will spend maximally 1 hour with them as you take time studying them and taking pictures and videos. After spending your time with the fascinating mountain gorillas, return to the base and meet your driver to connect to your lodge for lunch and refresh.
Later afternoon, visit Iby’wacu Cultural Village-a Non-Profit umbrella organization that aims at improving the lives of reformed poachers and communities around Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park through provision of conservation incentives, supporting community enterprise development and livelihood based projects. It’s a rewarding place where you will be guided around the place as you enjoy the Kinyarwanda traditions including the Intore dance, traditional ceremonies and a guided community walk. Dinner and overnight stay at booked lodge as above
Day 3: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park
On the 3rd day of your 7 Days Rwanda and Congo lowland primates’ safari, after breakfast, you will be met up by your safari driver and transfer to Nyungwe forest National park. It’s a 6-7 hours’ drive from Volcanoes national park with en-route lunch. Proceed to the park and connect to your booked accommodation for relaxation, dinner and overnight at Gisakura Visitor Centre for budget/Nyungwe Top Hill View Hotel for mid-range/One and Only Nyungwe Hotel for luxury
Day 4: Chimpanzee tracking and Isumo trail waterfalls walk
Enjoy breakfast and go for a briefing about the endangered chimpanzees before entering the forest in search of the active and playful fellows in the Nyungwe forest. The Chimpanzees are not quite easier to spot as they jump from one tree to another, chattering and laughing. Chimpanzee tracking usually takes about 3-5 hours. On finding them, spend an hour while taking pictures and videos.
Connect to visit Nyungwe’s biggest waterfalls on Isumo trail. This is one of the most refreshing experience with sights of different birds and some primates. The walk is approximately 4 hours walking up and down the Nyungwe forest. Thereafter, return to your hotel for relaxation and good memories. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 5: Canopy walk trail and transfer to Bukavu – Congo
After breakfast, you will go on a walking trail that will take you to the Canopy Walk-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. Thereafter, embark on your scenic journey to cross to Bukavu in Congo which is a 2 hours’ drive from Nyungwe forest with wonderful views of the hills in Rwanda through the tropical forest of Nyungwe National park and a clear view of Lake Kivu. Cross to Congo and proceed to your booked accommodation for relaxation, dinner and overnight at Hotel Elizabeth for budget option/Orchid Hotel for Luxury/Panaroma Hotel for mid-range
Day 6: Lowland Gorilla tracking tour in Kahuzi Biega – DR Congo
In the morning, you will head for the memorable adventure of tracking the lowland gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National park. Tracking lowland Gorillas is very amazing, lowland Gorillas differ from mountain gorillas, the lowland gorillas are bigger in size, usually takes 1-4 hours to track the lowland Gorillas. The lowland Gorillas stay in bigger families as compared to mountain gorillas; you will not regret the safari effort once you meet the amazing Gorillas! Later in the afternoon drive back to your hotel. Dinner and overnight at a hotel as above
Day 7: Return to Kigali – Rwanda
After breakfast, meet your driver again and cross back to Rwanda where you will meet your Rwanda guide to transfer back to Rwanda. At the border, your will meet your driver guide and proceed back to Kigali. It’s a 7-8 hours’ drive with en-route lunch, you will have a stopover in Butare, where you will visit the national museum of Rwanda, the king’s palace in Nyanza. proceed to Kigali and you will be dropped off at a location you advise. End of the trip
