The 5 day Rwanda tour is a 4 nights/5 day tour in Rwanda trip taking you gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park and Dian Fossey hiking, Chimpanzee trekking, and Canopy walk in Nyungwe National Park.
The 5 days Rwanda tour offers beautiful scenic views and cultural encounters at Iby’wachu village, Nyanza palace, Butare Museum and genocide memorials of Murambi combine to make your 5 days African safari in Rwanda memorable.
After breakfast, embark on the transfer to Nyungwe forest National Park 268km about 6 hours’ drive excluding stops en route.
The journey passes through the farmed landscapes of southern Rwanda with stops in Butare to visit the ethnographic museum, Nyanza palace, and Murambi genocide memorial site.
You will have lunch en route in Butare before proceeding on your journey to Nyungwe Forest in the afternoon.
Accommodation: Nyungwe Forest Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Nyungwe Hill Top View Hotel (Midrange/Basic) or Gisakura Guest House (Budget/Basic).
After breakfast, embark on the Chimpanzee trekking experience that starts at 08:00 am. You will set off to the montane forest of Nyungwe which is praised to be among those few forests that survived the last ice age in search of man’s close relative – the common chimpanzee.
The 2 -5 hours trek is very interesting as it involves passing through the jungle, hiking steep landscapes, and descending on the same terrain amidst bird sights and other wildlife including monkeys.
Upon encountering Chimpanzees, you will marvel at their intelligent tactics, how they gather fruit, swing in tree branches, socialize, and their general characteristics for one full hour.
After this, you will return to the lodge for relaxation. In the afternoon, you will embark on the rewarding Nyungwe canopy walk that takes you through the views of the Nyungwe forest canopy that is filled with birds and primate species like monkeys.
The 90m long and 40m high Nyungwe canopy is an exciting adventure to undertake on Rwanda safari.
Accommodation: You will have dinner and overnight at your previous lodge.
After breakfast, embark on this long journey drive to gorilla trekking haven of Volcanoes National Park 338km about 9 hours’ drive from Nyungwe.
The drive involves amazing scenic views of Lake Kivu en route and farmed hillsides of Rwanda. You will have lunch en route and arrive in Volcanoes National Park in the evening for relaxation and overnight.
Accommodation: Mount Gorilla View Hotel (Upmarket/luxury), La Palme Hotel (Midrange/standard) or Muhabura Hotel (Budget/Basic).
Wake up very early for breakfast such that by 8:00 am, you are already at the park headquarters –Kinigi for briefing and eventual gorilla trekking experience.
During this session, you are allocated to a gorilla family to track, and if with a special case, rangers can be consulted for special arrangements.
You will head off to the volcanic lush vegetation in search of gorillas. The trek is quite thrilling as you go through amazing landscapes amidst bird sights and another wildlife crossing including monkeys, wild pigs, and if lucky wild elephants.
The trek takes 2 – 8 hours as gorillas are unpredictable thus packed lunch is required. The jungle sounds will accompany you up to that long waited moment of direct contact with gorillas. You will see them as they forage, play, socialize, and sometimes charge.
The state of wonder that will engulf your heart could leave your camera film with no space for other encounters.
The full one hour is enough to optimize this experience after which you will retreat to the starting point to drive to your lodge for relaxation.
If time permits, you can go for a caves walk in the evening to wonder about the structure of these natural houses or you can opt to visit the Iby’ iwachu cultural village to encounter the culture of the Banyarwanda.
Accommodation: You will have dinner and overnight at your previous lodge.
After breakfast, you can hike the Dian Fossey site. The hike to Dian Fossey center to pay tribute to one of the gorilla conservationists the world is proud to have had is an interesting activity.
This American Primatologist championed the conservation of these critically endangered mountain gorillas. The Karisoke center is located at a raised landscape thus involves a relative hike but less strenuous.
The grave of the Silverback digit is also seen at this center. The activity takes 3 – 4 hours. You will return from this activity to the lodge for lunch after which you will embark on the transfer to Kigali 116km about 3 hours’ drive.
Airport transfers Transportation by safari van Accommodation and meals as per itinerary Gorilla permits, one per person to be paid in advance Driver allowances En-route lunches Visit the equator and Igongo cultural Center.
personal nature expenses of excludes: laundry, tips to local guides, telephone, porter fee while trekking, Air fare, Visa, drinks, personal insurance, personal shopping bills and cigarettes.