6 Days Chimpanzee and Gorilla Safaris in Rwanda

“A safari experience more than the average!”

6 Days Chimpanzee and Gorilla Safaris in Rwanda

Nyungwe Forest National Park - Volcanoes National Park - Lake Kivu

Primate Safari Rwanda

This primate safari in Rwanda gives you the opportunity to visit the Nyungwe Forest National Park to trek the chimps and see other primates along the way. It will also take you to the Volcanoes National Park for gorilla trekking and to Lake Kivu for a boat cruise to see the water animals and birds. The Rwanda national parks are protected ecosystems and wildlife reserves located within the borders of Rwanda in east central Africa.

Highlights

Nature walk in Volcanoes National Park
Gorilla tracking in Volcanoes National Park
Boat cruise and bird watching on Lake Kivu
Covers chimpanzee and gorilla permits and park entrance fees
Chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest National Park
Transportation in a 4 x 4 safari vehicle
Daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner
5 nights accommodation

5 activity days
English

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Accommodation

L’Hoests monkey house

You will be staying here on the first and second night of the safari.

Kinigi guest house

This guest house is situated in Kinigi district, only 11 kilometers from Ruhengeri City. It is constructed at the bottom of Sabyinyo volcanic mountain with an altitude of 4,480 meters. It accommodates over 40 people, all rooms have electricity and warm water. There are four VIP suites together with an ideal hall with 400 seat capacities for conferences, seminars, weddings, and other social functions.

You will be staying here on the third night and have the option to stay here or in Muhavura lodge on the fourth night of the safari.

Muhavura lodge

When visiting the land of a thousand hills, a wonderful stay is advised at the Muhabura lodge in the northern province, set in the calm of the Musanze town surroundings. It has 30 rooms and apartments at very reasonable rates, and offers a cozy environment to relax in after gorilla trekking or a day visit to the Northern area of Rwanda. You have the option to stay here or in Kinigi guest house on the fourth night of the safari.

Paradis Malahide

Paradis Malahide is ideally situated in an area of unparalleled natural splendor. Located just seven kilometers from downtown Gisenyi, this beautiful space provides the perfect escape. Each comfortable bungalow was built using local wood and volcanic rock to blend seamlessly into the natural beauty of the area. A perfect night’s sleep awaits you as you fall asleep to the sounds of Lake Kivu floating into the shore. You will be staying here on the last night of the safari.

Saso Uganda Safaris Rwanda Safari Itinerary

Day 1

Upon your arrival at the airport, you will be met by Saso Uganda Safaris' safari guide who will drive you to Nyungwe Forest National Park. This is a 240-kilometer journey that takes about seven hours. Time allowing, you will be taken for a nature walk after lunch, after which you will be returned to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 2

You will have an early breakfast, after which you will be taken to the park headquarters for a briefing on chimpanzee tracking. During the chimpanzee tracking, you will also come across other primates such as golden monkey, L’Hoest’s monkey, Angola colobus, silver monkey, Hamlyn’s monkey, Dent’s mona monkey, red-tailed monkey, grey-cheeked mangabeys, and olive baboon.

You will also see various types of birds in the verdant flora of this ancient forest. After the chimpanzee tracking, you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 3

You will have breakfast and then transfer to Volcanoes National Park. This is a whole day drive of 341 kilometers, taking about nine hours. You will have lunch en route and en route view to various wildlife attractions. You will have your dinner and overnight at your lodge.

Day 4

You will have an early breakfast and transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing on gorilla tracking rules. You will be allocated a gorilla family to track and guides to lead you to them. The tracking experience will be a two to five hour exercise, after which you will be returned to the lodge for lunch. Later in the afternoon, you will be taken on a nature walk, after which you will retire to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 5

You will have your breakfast and then head to the Kibuye area where you will have lunch. After lunch, you will go to Gisenyi for a boat cruise on Lake Kivu to see birds, crocodiles, hippos, and other water animals. You will meet the fishermen who will explain to you their fishing activities and give you opportunity to participate in fishing with them. You will have your dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Day 6

After breakfast, you will visit the islands on Lake Kivu to see birds and some primates. You will then transfer to Kigali for your international flight back home. Lunch will be en route.

Included excursions

A nature walk in Volcanoes National Park and a boat cruise in Lake Kivu is included in the price.

Location

Nyungwe National Park

Covering over 1000 square kilometers, Nyungwe is surely one of the world’s most beautiful and pristine mountain rainforests. It’s believed to be one of Africa’s oldest forests, staying green even through the Ice Age, which explains its diversity.

Home to habituated chimpanzees and 12 other primate species (including a 400-strong troop of habituated Ruwenzori black and white colobus), it’s also a birder’s paradise with over 300 species, including 16 endemics, and is home to 75 different species of mammal.

This majestic rainforest is filled with nature and wildlife experiences for you to emerge yourself in. Hiking or even biking the beautiful terrain, tracking the famous chimpanzees, experiencing the canopy walk, witnessing beautiful birds, and relaxing by waterfalls are just a glimpse of activities that Nyungwe offers.

Sounds and views collaborate to create a one-of-a-kind wildlife experience. Exploring through the forest, travelers will witness the lush green mountains and cooling mist in a landscape that won’t be soon forgotten.

Volcanoes National Park

The “Parc National de Volcans”, or PNV as it’s known by the locals, lies along the Virunga Mountains,with eight ancient volcanoes which are shared by Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Just a short two-hour drive from Rwanda’s capital of Kigali, the park is a central location for exploring some distinctly Rwandan experiences.

While a visit to the mountain gorillas is often at the top of visitor’s list, the dramatic landscape also offers thrilling hiking and visits to the fascinating golden monkeys. PNV is also one of Rwanda’s conservation epicenters, where many non-profit organizations base their operations. Visitors can pay homage to the legendary scientist and gorilla advocate, Dian Fossey, with a hike to her tomb or a visit to the Dian Fosse Gorilla Fund that continues her legacy of research and advocacy to this day.

Near the park, the bustling and vibrant markets of Musanze are a place to immerse yourself into everyday Rwandan culture. Go deep into the earth with Musanze’s caves - one of the area’s newest attractions.

5 nights accommodation
Boat cruise and birdwatching in Lake Kivu
Bottled drinking water on safari
Chimpanzee permit
Chimpanizee tracking trip
Daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Gorilla permit
Gorilla tracking trip
Guide ranger fees
Nature walk in Volcanoes National Park
Park entrance fees
Transportation in a safari vehicle

What's not included

How to get there

Arrival by airplane

Please book your flight to arrive at Kigali International Airport (KGL).

Cancellation Policy

A reservation requires a deposit of 50% of the total price.
The deposit is fully refundable if the booking is cancelled up to 12 days before the arrival date.
The rest of the payment should be paid 9 days before arrival.

Testimonials

Review by Emily from Manchester, United Kingdom

10 out of 10

"We went on a 3 day tour to Murchison Falls with Wilson, and he was a fantastic guide from start to finish. We were short of time to do everything we wanted to, but he made sure that the trip was arranged in the best possible way for us to visit everywhere we wished to. "
"We had an incredible time tracking chimps, and rhinos and Wilson took us on some amazing game drives - working tirelessly to help us spot some rare creatures, and hugely knowledgeable about everything that we saw. Wilson was wonderful company, and he really made the trip special for us - by the end of the trip he felt like a friend as well as a guide. I'd hugely recommend taking a trip with this company."

TripAdvisor, edited
Review by Joly Dee

10 out of 10

"My wife and I did a three day safari for our honeymoon "chimps and gorillas" with Michael as our guide. Michael was the perfect guide giving us as much information as we wanted, he was extremely knowledgeable and very friendly. He is by far the best guide we have had all across Africa. The places we stayed were first rate and the vehicle was reliable. Definitely recommend."

TripAdvisor, edited
Review by A traveler from New York, USA

10 out of 10

"My wife and I did a 3-day safari of Murchison Falls NP with these folks. Nothing but the best memories of the entire trip. We could not be more satisfied."
"Some of the highlights:"
"- The owner, Wilson, is friendly and directly reachable on the phone. We have been swindled before, so I wanted to be extra-sure before committing to these folks. I went and met Wilson at his home in Kampala and he immediately put me at ease. They own and rent out several modern, clean vehicles in very good condition, and run safaris all the time."
"- Our driver, Kassim - young, very helpful, observant, drives very well, great conversationalist with lots of interesting tidbits, sharp-eyed spotter in the park"
"- The trip itself: we were very happy because Saso does not do the usual nickel-and-diming that is very prevalent in other economy safari companies, for example in Kenya. Also, in Murchison Falls NP itself, Kassim was very proactive in working the phones and as a result we got to hang out with 12 lionesses and lion cubs for almost an hour, watching them as they ate and played. This was only one of many sightings during the day."
"- Itinerary: even though we made a few last-minute changes to the overall plan, Wilson and Kassim handled everything admirably and made sure we got where we wanted to go"
"- Arrangements for food: I don't know if this is standard across all their safaris, but the food arrangements were all uniformly excellent. Further, Kassim took note of our dietary preferences and only took us to places where we would get good options All in all, a great safari. If you're looking for a good safari company in Uganda, look no further!"
"Side note: something that caused me a bit of anxiety before the safari began was the fact that they have very few TA reviews, and all the reviewers have just 1 review! Unfounded anxiety, as it turned out. These guys are the real deal."

TripAdvisor, edited
Review by A traveler

10 out of 10

"I highly recommend these guys, they've got good quality reliable safari vehicles. Kizza Ahmed who was our driver was very experienced, friendly and informative. Been on two safaris to Murchison Falls NP with Saso and look forward to many more."

TripAdvisor, edited
Review by Danielle B

10 out of 10

"I really enjoyed my trip with Saso. I was travelling alone but that was not problem due to my friendly guide Kassim. He showed me a lot of animals in Queen Elisabeth NP (even the lions!), he has a lot of knowledge about Uganda, the animals and the culture and he was nice company during dinner! "
"Saso made a good program for a travel of 5 days, it was never bored and the accomandations were very clean and luxury with good food. "

TripAdvisor, edited
Review by Fulda from Germany

9 out of 10

"We had a great four day trip to Queen Elizabeth national park and Kibale. Thanks to Wilson and his team from Saso Uganda Safaris. The communication with Wilson during the organisation of the trip was great. The prices are good. The trip was well organised, we got to enjoy the wilderness of the national park and the nature in Kibale plus the Chimp. trekking was a great experience. well, when you book with Saso Uganda Safaris, you can never go wrong."
"thanks Wilson and your team."

TripAdvisor, edited
Review by Anna B

10 out of 10

"We were a couple of friends who went on a 5 day safari trip with Wilson. Everything was perfect. He knows a lot about the wildlife and the animals. He arranged everything after our needs and made sure we saw everything in our interest. The gorilla trip and queen Elizabeth nationalpark were fantastic experiences. We also visited the chimpanzees in Kibale nationalpark. The accommodation was very nice. We couldn't have had a better guide. Thank you Wilson!"

TripAdvisor, edited
Review by Eli

"What a fantastic trip with Saso Uganda Safaris! We went on a five-day tour visiting the gorillas in Bwindi, game drives in queen Queen Elizabeth National Park and chimpanzee and primate safaris in Kibale. Wilson had arranged everything to perfection. He had arranged excellent hotels, the best guides in the parks, and good lunch places. When the guide on the chimpanzee tour was about to give up on seeing chimpanzees on the ground, Wilson encouraged him to continue and make an effort so that we could see them (which we did). He was so flexible and easy going. He drove very safely in the chaotic Ugandan traffic. We felt safe all the time. If I’m ever going back to Uganda, I would absolutely go on another trip with Saso and I will definitely recommend it to my friends. Maybe it sounds like I’m exaggerating, but I have been traveling to about 60 countries, but this experience was definitely one of the best!"

Saso Uganda Safaris website, edited
Review by Hannes

"We went on a tour with Saso Uganda Safaris and I could not be more satisfied. We went on a gorilla safari, a game drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and a chimpanzee safari in Kibale. Our guide, Wilson, arranged everything to perfection. With his experience and knowledge, he made sure we got to see the gorilla family that is most used to humans. Because of that, we got really close to the gorillas, which was a truly amazing experience. Furthermore, the trip was affordable and all accommodations were of good standard. If you would like to go to Uganda on a vacation or a safari, I would recommend you to contact Saso Uganda Safaris. You will not be disappointed!"

Saso Uganda Safaris website, edited
Review by FreyaWalnut from Brighton, United Kingdom

10 out of 10

"We were picked up from the airport and greeted by Ahmed who was our driver and your guide for the first 4"
"5 days of our trip. We did safari in the amazing Murchison falls national park and explored the city of Kampala with Ahmed. Our guide become part of the family and we all felt comfortable with him. He was knowledgable about the animals throughout the safari and wanted to give us the best experience possible by seeing as many different animals as we could. We had a jam packed adventure whilst on safari, including an amazing boat trip (organised and arranged by Ahmed), and our days were all planned out including where to eat and stop for water etc. Ahmed was also flexible if we wanted to change any plans. After showing us the safari he gave us a tour of the city so that we could see my mums school and the university that my granddad worked in. We felt safe with Ahmed as he advised us on how to keep our possessions safe and what not to do in the city. He said that he was happy to help booking any further accommodation or trips for us even once our tour ended so that he could barter for us and get a more reasonable price. He also offered to give me and my dad a lift to the airport a week or so after the tour had ended which was really helpful. Overall Saso Uganda safaris were very friendly and welcoming and we had an amazing family adventure organised by them!"

TripAdvisor, edited
Review by Sempijja

"This is the best trip we ever had! I would like to first and foremost thank Saso Uganda Safaris for the great time they gave me and my family. At the beginning of this year, my wife and I decided to take a trip to western Uganda to see the amazing animals in the game parks. Since we both work and live abroad, we decided that when we go back to Uganda for a vacation in June, we should get a safari company that will enable us make our dream come true. A friend of ours who has already went with Saso Uganda Safaris referred us to the company and assured us of having no regrets with them. We got to them and they treated us with a lot of care and comfort. We talked about the places we wanted to visit and how everything would go on. They introduced us to a gentleman by the name of Charles, who was to be our driver and guide. Charles knew his job very well, which helped us in enjoying the trip fully. He first taught us about the safety measures, which showed us that we were in the hands of the right person. We spent three days on the trip and he helped us so much with the animal names since he was so fond of them. He drove us so well and he took us to Queen Elizabeth National Park and Kidepo National Park. We really had fun and look forward to going with Saso for more educational and fun trips. Thank you so much once again."

Saso Uganda Safaris website, edited
Review by Terry Johan

"The three-day tour to Bwindi Bwindi Impenetrable National Park was quite fantastic. I and my family will always prefer to travel with Saso Uganda Safaris as we had the best tour guide. We were able to see the gorillas."

Saso Uganda Safaris website, edited
Review by Namaalwa Gladys

10 out of 10

"The best travel agency that everyone would wish to travel with. Just love the way your people handled my safari."

Saso Uganda Safaris Facebook page, edited
Review by Cherry Mill

"Amazing personalized three-day trip! Saso Uganda Safaris gave me the tour of a lifetime! I was in Kampala on my own for work for the first time and had three free days to see the country. Saso Uganda Safaris created a personal tour which included gorilla tracking in the Bwindi National Park, chimpanzee tracking in Kisoro, and a safari wildlife tour across the Queen Elizabeth National Park, where we saw tree-climbing lions, elephants, hippos, baboons, buffalos, antelopes, monkeys, and some amazing birds close up, more than I could have dreamed of. It was also fascinating to drive across the country and see rural Uganda, the beautiful green countryside, including tea plantations and banana groves and African village life close up. Wilson, my tour guide, could spot and identify any animal at a great distance. We did not miss anything en route. He could answer any question about the animals and locations and knew all the rangers and staff in the parks and lodges, which meant he could adapt our itinerary on the fly and fit in as much as possible to make my trip the best he could. I felt totally safe at every moment of the trip. He was a first class driver and navigated the ‘African massage’ roads with amazing skill. I did not know much about Uganda before this trip. In three days, I saw and learnt so much. I have been on three other safaris in Africa and my Uganda trip was by far the best, thanks to Saso Uganda Safaris. It was very good value for money too. Highly recommended."

Saso Uganda Safaris website , edited
Review by a traveler from Kampala, Uganda

10 out of 10

"It's highly recommended. Saso Uganda Safaris provides a superb experience."

Saso Uganda Safaris Facebook page, edited
Review by Burt

"I decided to visit Uganda after I read about it online and what really grabbed my attention was the term “Pearl of Africa”. I grabbed my bags and came over to Uganda to find out myself. I have to tell you, Wilson and his team at Saso Uganda Safaris did not disappoint at helping me to define that. Thank you, Wilson. God bless!"

Saso Uganda Safaris website , edited
Review by a traveler

"I was so amazed at how our guide told his stories about the wild nature while driving our 4x4 safari vehicle with so many skills. We enjoyed our safari and everyone still talks about it. Thank you guys! "

Saso Uganda Safaris website , edited

6 Days Chimpanzee and Gorilla Safaris in Rwanda