Primate Encounters – Gorillas and Chimpanzee

Morning tour of Kigali City and visit to the Genocide Museum. Lunch in a local restaurant. Depart on a scenic drive westwards to Ruhengeri, the base for Gorilla trekking at the Parc National des Volcans. The town itself, located only 25km from the Uganda border, is relatively small with about 350,000 people. The constant flow of humanity is quite remarkable. The town has magnificent views of the surrounding volcanoes. People are very friendly here, and although a former Belgian colony (and thus French-speaking), many people speak English here.
Overnight at your lodge as per selected option.

Early breakfast at your lodge
0630 hrs; Transfer to the Volcanoes National Park HQs
0700 hrs; Registration, where the park staff determines which group of gorillas you will visit.
There is a total of ninety-six gorilla permits available each day, with a maximum of eight trekkers visiting any one group. Once the trekkers are put into groups, each group’s Lead Guide briefs the trekkers on the trekking procedures as well as the “dos and don’ts” while in the presence of gorillas. After the briefing, trekkers return to their respective vehicles for the drive up the mountain to the starting point.
Trekking can take from two to six or more hours if the gorillas move before the park rangers locate them the next morning. The guides stop frequently to allow trekkers a chance to rest and take photos along the way. Have lunch at the lodge; Afternoon time/, weather permitting, visit the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo.
Overnight at your lodge as per the selected option.

After breakfast, travel by road to Nyungwe National Park, a rainforest reserve at an altitude range of between 1600-2950 metres above sea level with temperatures varying between 0°C and 30° C; average day temperature is 15°C. Nyungwe receives rainfall ranging from 1800 to 2500 mm per year. The rainy season is from September to May, the dry season is from June to August, with some dry weeks in December and January. The main features and attractions in Nyungwe Forest include the largest montane rain forest remaining in Africa, Mt. Bigugu (2925M), and Kamiranzovu Marsh (13 km²). Nyungwe Forest has 260 species of trees, shrubs and over 100 species of orchids and giant lobelias. For those interested in botany, the flora in Nyungwe is a bonus. You have lunch in Kibuye and then continue to Nyungwe Forest.
Overnight at your lodge as per the selected option.

Early breakfast at your lodge and then hike into Nyungwe Forest, the natural habitat for a huge population of Chimps. Chimpanzees are great apes that are closely related to humans. Nyungwe Forest hosts these intelligent primates, who are an endangered species. The forest harbours more than 275 endemic and migratory bird species recorded, including the Ruwenzori turaco, Ross’s turaco, Grey–cheeked hornbill, Red-throated alethe, Red-breasted sparrow hawk, White-headed wood-hoopoe, Kungwe apalis, Ruwenzori batis, Blue-headed and Regal sunbirds. After the trek, have lunch at the lodge. Afternoon at leisure or re-enter the forest to visit Colobus Monkeys, do the canopy walk, visit the Kamiranzovu waterfall or other activities (optional, at extra cost).
Overnight at your lodge as per the selected option.

Have breakfast at your lodge. Drive back to Kigali in time for your departure flight (reporting time to the airport is 2 to 3 hours prior to departure time). The drive takes an estimated 5 hours.

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