This 2 Days Rwanda Primate Tracking Safari in Nyungwe Forest National Park gives you the feel of an adventure experience of the wild primates in Rwanda’s largest montane forest. This is short 2 days chimpanzee trekking safari is an alternative to the 2 days gorilla trekking safari in Volcanoes National Park. This safari is ideal for those who have a fixed time budget and also cannot take up the gorilla safari because of the high price of the gorilla permit. Here in Rwanda, chimpanzee trekking permits are sold at only $100 which is far less than the gorilla permit at $1500.00.
You have will have an enroute stopover on your way to Nyungwe Forest National Park at the ethnographic museum of Rwanda to learn more about the cultural heritage and the historic background of the Rwandan people.
DAY 1 : DRIVE TO NYUNGWE FOREST NATIONAL PARK
Very early in the morning, we depart from Kigali for a 2 day chimpanzee trekking safari to Nyungwe forest national park. You can have a stopover in Huye at the ethnographic museum formerly the national museum of Rwanda if you have time. You will then have lunch after the stopover and proceed to the park. When you get to the National Park, you can take a canopy walk thru the forest. The drive to Nyungwe forest is interesting because you get to see several hills, Lake Kivu and Kibira national park in Burundi.
Meal plan – Lunch & Dinner. Accommodation: Upmarket – One & Only Nyungwe Lodge, Mid-range – Nyungwe Forest Lodge, Budget – Gisakura Guesthouse
DAY 2 : RWANDA CHIMPANZEE TREKKING IN NYUNGWE FOREST NATIONAL PARK
You will set out at 5:00 am to go to the park headquarters in Uwinka for an early morning briefing about the chimpanzee trekking safari activity. The forest is rich in botanical diversity hosting over 200 species of trees and flowering plants and about 300 bird species. Nyungwe Forest National Park is home to 13 species of primates including Olive baboons, L’Hoest’s monkeys, Ruwenzori colobus, Vervet monkeys, silver monkey, Grey-cheeked manga-bey, red-tailed monkey, etc. Our main focus on this safari will be trekking the chimpanzees.
The chimpanzee trekking activity starts at either Uwinka center or at Cyamudongo. The latter will, however, require your driver guide to transfer you there from the park headquarters. You will enjoy the trek in the forest as your guides keep in touch with fellow ranger guides to easily locate the chimpanzee troop. The trek usually takes between 1 hours – 4 hours of search depending on where chimpanzees nested the previous night. On meeting the chimpanzees, you will be allowed to stay with them for a maximum of 1 hour. You may enjoy the photography during this 1 hour but with NO FLASHLIGHT. After the trek, you will be transferred to Kigali for your outbound flight departure. Meal plan – Breakfast and Lunch
End of the 2 Days Rwanda Primate Tracking Safari.
Your 2 Days Rwanda Primate Tracking Safari includes;
- 1 Chimpanzee trekking permit per person.
- Ground transport.
- Water in vehicle.
- Full board accommodation for one night.
- Service of an English-speaking driver-guide.
- All mentioned activities except for the optional ones.
However, the 2 Days Rwanda Primate Tracking Safari excludes;
- Airfares.
- Rwanda Visa.
- Luxury drinks.
- Laundry.
- Tips to local guides & drivers.
- Telephone fee.
- Visit to the Ethnographic museum.
- Personal insurance.
- Any other item not mentioned above.