Overview

Nyungwe Forest National Park is the only destination in the world where you can see up to 13 species of primates in a single location, including rare species such as Chimpanzees, the Blue Monkeys, L'Hoest's Monkeys and the Angolan black and white Colobus Monkeys. Nyungwe presents a unique phenomenon in primate tourism due to its huge concentrations of habituated primates whose troops can include 400 to 500 individuals!

As one of the most important ornithological hubs in Rwanda, Nyungwe is also home to almost 300 species of birds, making it a bird watcher's paradise!

Day 1: Pick-up from hotel in Kigali, Rwanda and transfer to Butare.

Our professional, local guide will greet you at your hotel in the morning and brief you on your trip. We will then begin our journey to the city of Butare, the original capital of Kigali and intellectual centre of Rwanda. Passing through magnificent hills and cultivated countryside, we will stop along the way and visit the famous King's Palace in Nyanza, which offers visitors a window into pre-colonial Rwandan history. For those who are interested, we can also visit the art museum at Rwesero Nyanza. Upon arrival in Butare, we will have lunch and then go to the National Museum, which will provide you with a deeper insight into Rwandan history and culture.

Day 2: Transfer to Nyungwe and Afternoon Colobus Monkey Trek

Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park. Check-in at your hotel, have a relaxing lunch and then spend the afternoon trekking to the Colobus Monkeys, hiking through lush forests, endless, green tea fields and taking in the stunning views of your surroundings.

Day 3: Trek chimpanzees

Early morning trek to the chimpanzees. Afternoon is free to relax, hike or go to visitor's interpretive centre.

Day 4: Nature Walk

On this day, you will embark on a on a nature walk in the forest to explore Nyungwe’s unique features including waterfalls and orchids in the high altitude swamps. While hiking, you may see a variety of primates and bird species found only in this amazing park.

In the afternoon, (depending on available time), we offer you a choice of value-added activities from the following:

Participate in tea harvesting in the neighboring local communities. Visit a tea factory and learn about the production processes of one the highest quality teas produced in East Africa.

Visit local artisan groups to learn and participate in this and other local community income-generating projects. This is also an opportunity to purchase locally-made crafts and products.

Listen to a presentation on the ecology of Nyungwe Forest National Park and the ongoing conservation efforts, including the managing of the dynamics and coexistence of park/wildlife and local communities.

Day 5: Transfer to Kibuye along the shores of Lake Kivu

Lake Kivu is one of the great lakes in Africa and the largest of the fresh water lakes that gleam in the Albertine (Western) rift of the Great Rift Valley. Lake Kivu stands at 1461m (4,790ft) above sea level establishing it as Africa’s highest lake. The northern shore of the lake is often subject to eruptions from nearby Mt Nyiragongo.

Kibuye is Rwanda’s most attractive of lake ports, nestled in a series of interwoven and undulating hills and offering visitors spectacular views of the lake, its islands and the stunning surrounding countryside. It is considered one of Rwanda’s hidden treasures, with its lush green hills and peaceful breeze.

On the way, we will visit the L’Esperance Orphanage located in Kigarama on the way to Kibuye and witness first hand how generous organizations and donations from individuals have helped this Children’s Village to thrive and have funded various innovative projects in and around the Village.

Day 6: Transfer to Kigali and Kigali City Tour

Morning transfer to Kigali. Upon arrival, you will be given a tour of Rwanda's capital city which was named in 1907 by Dr. Richard Kandt, the first colonial resident governor of Rwanda. It is the main administrative and economic centre of Rwanda. Surrounded by lush hills of green, it is the cleanest and safest city in the region. Kigali’s face is her fortune: a dramatic beauty from which its name is derived. There are, however, other contributing factors - it is a city that delights the mind as well as the eye of any visitor and is a city where the past lives comfortably with the present.

On the tour, you will have the opportunity to see the following:

Visit an artisan shopping centre to view and purchase local arts and crafts.

Visit the Kigali Museum and learn the history of Kigali’s and Rwanda’s pre-colonial and colonial period as well as the colonial masters in Rwanda.

Tour around the city and see, first hand, the post-genocide development and expansion of Kigali.

Visit the 1994 Gisozi Genocide Memorial site.

Transfer to airport or hotel.

Date and Price

Safari Departure Dates: Group Size: Max: 10 pax, Min: 2 pax

2013: October 6th and 20th; November 3rd and 17th; December 1st, 15th and 29th

2014: January 12th and 26th, February 9th and 23rd, March 2nd, 16th and 30th, April 13th and 27th, May 11th and 25th, June 8th and 2nd, July 6th and 22nd, August 3rd, 17th and 31st, September 14th and 28th, October 12th and 26th, November 9th and 23rd, December 7th and 21st.

Customs Tours: Please contact us to customize your tour according to your needs.

Overnight/Accomodation facilities:

BB - Bed and Breakfast, FB - Full Board

Safari Prices: Please contact us directly for a quote.

Prices Include: Services of a professional, French/English-speaking guide and a safari vehicle (4x4), accommodation and meals as indicated, park entry fees, 1 Chimp permit, 1 Colobus Monkey permit, 1 Nature Walk and Kigali City Tour.

Prices Exclude: All items of personal expenditure such as entry visas, tips, telephone calls,laundry,gifts, airport taxes and all alcoholic drinks.

Condition: Rwanda Eco- Tours reserves the right to vary the safari services agreed with the client in the event of unforeseen circumstances. In such cases, alternative arrangemants will be made without notice.

Gorilla Permits Notice: Gorilla Permits sell out quickly and can only be booked by a non-refundable down payment of $200.00 USD and must be paid in full at least 30 days prior to trekking date.

Giving back to the community: Through our corporate social responsibility, we give back 20% of our revenues to the community through direct funding of community-based projects to increase both incentives for conservation and linkages to community socio-economic development.

Booking and Payment

Booking & Payment information

Online booking is not possible at this time. Please contact us directly for payment information.