9 Days Classic Rwanda Gorilla Tour

Activities of the 9 Days Classic Rwanda Gorilla Tour

• Birding
• Gorilla tracking
• Chimpanzee trekking
• City Cultural Tour
• Forest Walks

Detailed Itinerary  of the 9 Days Classic Rwanda Gorilla Tour

Day 1 of the 9 Days Classic Rwanda Gorilla Tour:  Arrival at Kigali Airport
Arrive in Kigali; meet our Guide who will transfer to your hotel for an evening rest.

Day 2 of the 9 Days Classic Rwanda Gorilla Tour:  Transfer to Nyungwe Forest

You will have a sizzling early morning breakfast and drive to Nyungwe forest. En’route you will stop at Nyanza King’s Palace, and the National Museum of Butare.
Have lunch en-route, arrive and check in at Nyungwe Forest Lodge in the evening.

Day 3 of the 9 Days Classic Rwanda Gorilla Tour:  Chimp tracking, Nature walk and Bird watching.

After breakfast, you will enter the lush rainforest in the search of the chimpanzee, may be able to view some of over 300 bird species, 24 of which are regional endemics, additional over 100 varieties of Orchidaceae and butterflies can be seen in this beautiful forest. In the afternoon you have the opportunity to explore the area, relax at the lodge or better still go for another birding dose in the area.

Day 4 of the 9 Days Classic Rwanda Gorilla Tour:  Primate and monkey Tracking, Bird watching (optional)

After breakfast, you will once again enter Nyungwe forest to track the black and white colobus monkeys, you will have chance to view thirteen species of primates including chimpanzee, Rwenzori colobus and le’Hoest monkey. The colobus live in large groups, including a four hundred-strong semi-habituated group arguably the largest troop of arboreal primates in Africa. In the afternoon you will relax at the lodge and (or) go birding in the area.

Day 5 of the 9 Days Classic Rwanda Gorilla Tour:  Ground and Suspended Bridge Forest walk, transfer to Lake Kivu

This morning you will view the forest through the canopy walkway. You will walk for about 50mins into the forest and then walk above tree tops on a suspended bridge. This gives you excellent view of one of African’s largest temperate rainforests and offers the opportunity to view primates and birds at eye level.
In the afternoon you will drive to Kibuye on the shores of the beautiful Lake Kivu, reach hotel in the afternoon for check in and relaxation.

Day 6 of the 9 Days Classic Rwanda Gorilla Tour:  Transfer from Lake Kivu to Volcanoes National Park

After your breakfast, transfer from Kibuye (Lake Kivu) to Gisenyi allowing you to appreciate the beauty of Lake Kivu and the numerous islands. You will have lunch in Gisenyi before driving to Volcanoes National Park. The Volcanoes National Park protects the steep slopes of this magnificent mountain range and the rich mosaic of montane ecosystems, which embrace evergreen, bamboo forests, open grassland, swamp and heath. The Volcanoes National Park (Parc National de Volcans) is situated in north-western Rwanda and renowned habitat for the mountain gorillas among other mammals such as the golden monkey, black-fronted duiker, buffalo, spotted hyena and bush buck. There are nearly 178 recorded bird species with at least 13 species and 16 subspecies endemic to the Virunga and Rwenzori Mountains respectively.

Day 7 of the 9 Days Classic Rwanda Gorilla Tour:  Gorilla Trekking
After breakfast we take a short drive to Park Headquarters and meet with excellent local guides and trackers who will brief you on the etiquette of Gorilla trekking (Do’s and Don’ts). You will then hike into the forest and home of the great Gorillas. The trekking can take from 1 to 6 hours and climb to altitudes not in excess of 7,500 feet. The terrain is rough and at times muddy. Although the hike is physically tedious and demanding, the magnificence of the forest and surrounding scenery make the trekking worthwhile, once locate, site of the humongous Gorillas expressly erases all the fatigue.
The experience is universally described as being the most profound natural experience in the world.  Picnic lunches are provided and you are advised to take plenty of fluids. Good camera and plenty of fast speed film/memory cards are a must carry to capture the memorable and captivating encounter with the great Ape (Gorilla). In the forest, It can rain without warning hence the need to put on light waterproof clothing, sturdy shoes, a hat or cape. You will spend about one hour with the Gorilla and there after retire to your hotel

Day 8 of the 9 Days Classic Rwanda Gorilla Tour: Primate Habituation

This morning you will explore Volcanoes National Park in the search for the rare golden monkeys. There is a fully habituated group of the beautiful primates in the park and this is one of the countable places in Africa where this activity is offered. You will there after drive back to Kigali later in the afternoon.

Day 9 of the 9 Days Classic Rwanda Gorilla Tour: City /Cultural Tour, Departure

This morning we have a city tour, including a visit to the Genocide Memorial Centre and other cultural sites. In the afternoon you will transfer to the airport for your departure flight home.

Inclusions:
• Accommodation on full board
• Entrance Fees
• Airport Transfers
• Gorilla Permits
• Chimpanzee trekking

Exclusions:
• Alcoholic drinks
• Personal Shopping
• Air tickets & Visas
• Optional Activities