Summary of the trip
Day 1: Arrive in Kigali
Day 2: Visit the Genocide Memorial and Proceed to Nyungwe Forest
Day 3: Chimpanzee Tracking and Optional canopy walk
Day 4: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Day 5: Gorilla tracking
Day 6: Fly to Nairobi
Day 7: Drive to Masai Mara & Evening game drive
Day 8: Masai Mara full day encounter
Day 9: Morning game drive and departure
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Kigali
You will be picked by our guide from African Apes Tours on arrival at the airport in Kigali and drive through the cleanest city in Africa Kigali as you head straight to the hotel to relax and rest from the long flight. You will chat the evening away at the Hotel, have dinner, and sleep at the Hotel.
Day 2: Visit the Genocide Memorial and Proceed to Nyungwe Forest
After an early breakfast at the lodge, you will drive off to visit the historical Genocide memorial grounds, you will learn that the country has moved on since the tragic times of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. You will then have lunch in the city and transfer to Nyungwe forest which is located in the Southwest of Rwanda. Nyungwe is known for its dense montane forest that is a great habitat for the Chimpanzees and several other primates like the colobus, mangabey, and blue monkeys among others. Arrive in the evening and rest at the lodge for dinner and night stay.
Day 3: Chimpanzee Tracking and Optional canopy walk
the day starts with an early morning breakfast and heads to the park headquarters for the morning briefing with other guests as a group. You will be guided on clear precautions as you enter the jungle to track the chimps. This experience takes 2-5 hours since the Chimps keep moving to different destinations of the forest feeding. After a long walk in the thick forest, you will get to see the chimps and be allowed one full hour of face-to-face encounter as you take pics and get all your questions answered by the guides. You will then return to the starting point after watching the chimps and head to another activity after your lunch. Canopy walk in the afternoon is optional but another great way to spend your day walking on 50 meters suspended walkway on top of the forest. You will later return to the lodge to rest as you reflect on the day’s activities. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Day 4: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
You will set off after the morning meal and drive heading to Volcanoes National Park which is the home to the giant apes; the mountain Gorillas. The park is also home to the golden monkeys that are tracked along with the Gorillas. The scenic views of the lush vegetation of this countryside are also another great highlight of this journey. Arrive in the evening and check-in at the lodge, chat the evening away, have dinner, and overnight at the lodge.
Day 5: Gorilla tracking
The morning starts with a hot meal and head to the park headquarters to meet the guides to brief you on the guidelines for gorilla tracking as a team. You will then be led into the forest in search of the mountain Gorillas by the guides. Tracking requires some level of fitness for one to enjoy the experience, you will then meet the Gorillas after hours of tracking. A full-hour encounter is given to you as you take pics and monitoring the behavior of the Gorillas. The young ones are seen playing around as the old ones are resting after feeding. You will then return to the starting point after this mind-blowing encounter with the Gorillas. Meet your guide and transfer to the lodge immediately to have some rest. Dinner and night stay.
Day 6: Fly to Nairobi
You will have breakfast at the lodge and set off with your driver to Kigali city where you will have your lunch and proceed to Kigali international airport for your flight to Nairobi Kenya. You will be picked up at Nairobi by our standby team and then take you straight to a hotel in Nairobi for relaxation. Dinner and night stay at the Hotel.
Day 7: Drive to Masai Mara & Evening game drive
You will be picked from your hotel by our driver/guide after your breakfast and drive towards Kenya’s most famous and largest game reserve Masai Mara. Mara is home to the big five and some of the rare game-like large herds of wildebeest, eland, and zebras in large numbers. You will arrive in the afternoon, have lunch, and head to the park for an evening game drive to explore the beauty of this beautiful Kenyan reserve. Return from the Park and retire at the lodge for dinner and nightfall.
Day 8: Masai Mara full day encounter
After breakfast in the morning, you will set out to the park for a full-day encounter with wildlife in this wildlife reserve. You will have an early morning game drive to catch up with the early hunting cats like the lions, cheetah, leopards, and other predators as they devour the weak and helpless vegetarians. You will have a lunch break after this game drive and launch an evening game drive later to catch up with wildlife that you missed in the morning. Return to the lodge in the evening, have dinner, and overnight.
Day 9: Morning game drive and departure
After breakfast on this day, you will have an en-route game drive as you depart Masai Mara and head straight to Nairobi and proceed to the airport for your flight.
End of the trip
May 08, 2024