5 Days Nyungwe chimpanzee and Akagera Wildlife Safari

The 5 days Nyungwe chimpanzee and Akagera wildlife safari is an amazing adventure that starts and ends in Kigali Rwanda. The safari will take you to Akagera national park which is one of the biggest national parks located in the Eastern part of Rwanda and Nyungwe Forest National Park. During the 5 days Nyungwe chimpanzee and Akagera wildlife safari, you will be able to view different wildlife species including the big five mammals like buffaloes, elephants, rhinos, lions, leopards and other animals like waterbucks, duikers, elands, roan antelopes, giraffes, impalas, zebras, hippos, hyenas among others during the game drives and boat cruise on Lake Ihema. You will also engage in chimpanzee trekking experience where you will be able to spend time with the mountain gorillas in their natural environment and canopy walk tour where you will be able to enjoy aerial views of the forest.

Highlights of the 5 days Nyungwe chimpanzee and Akagera wildlife safari

Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Akagera national park

Day 2: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise

Day 3: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park

Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking experience and canopy walk tour

Day 5: Departure to Kigali

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Akagera National Park

Depending on your location on the first day of the 5 days Nyungwe chimpanzee and Akagera wildlife safari, our driver guide will pick you up from your hotel or airport, brief you about the safari and then go for a short city tour where you will visit the Kigali genocide memorial centre, Kimironko market, art centres among others. After the city tour, you will have lunch where after you will start the journey to Akagera national park which takes about 2 to 3 hours drive with great views of the rolling hills, beautiful scenery, landscape among others. Upon arrival, you will check into the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 2: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise

Morning game drive

After an early breakfast on the second day of the 5 days Nyungwe chimpanzee and Akagera wildlife safari, your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge to go for a morning game drive in the park where you will be rewarded with great views of animals like elephants, buffaloes, rhinos, impalas, waterbucks, warthogs which will be grazing in the open savannah plains, view predators like lions, leopards, hyenas among others if you are lucky, variety of bird species among others. After the game drive you will drive to the lodge for lunch.

Boat cruise,

After lunch you will go for an amazing boat cruise on Lake Ihema where you will get a chance to view animals like hippos and crocodiles in water, view elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, warthogs along the shores, water birds like martial eagle, papyrus gonolek, pelicans, hornbills, African skimmers, cormorants, African spoonbills, fish eagles, king fisher’s among others. After the boat ride you will return to the lodge for an evening relaxation dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Morning game drive and transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park

Morning game drive

After breakfast on the third day of the 5 days Nyungwe chimpanzee and Akagera wildlife safari, your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge to go for a short game drive in the park where you will be able to view some of the animals that you might have missed during the previous game drive.

After the game drive you will drive out of the park and start the journey to Nyungwe Forest National Park with en-route lunch and great views of the beautiful scenery, landscape among others on the way. Upon arrival, you will connect to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking and canopy walk tour

Chimpanzee trekking,

After an early breakfast on the fourth day of the 5 days Nyungwe chimpanzee and Akagera wildlife safari, you will meet up with your driver guide to transfer to the park headquarters for a chimpanzee trekking briefing. After the briefing you will be allocated a chimpanzee family to trek and an experienced park guide who is knowledgeable about chimpanzee trekking trails. Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe forest national park takes about 30 minutes to 5 hours depending on where they are located because they like to move from one place to another in search of food. During trekking you will be able to view different bird species, other primate species, plant and tree species among others. Once the chimpanzees are located, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them in their habitat which gives you an opportunity to learn more about their behaviours, habits, take photos, watch them carry out their daily activities and record the incredible moments to show people back home. After the one hour with the chimpanzees, you will return to the lodge for lunch.

Canopy walk tour

After lunch, you will go for an adventurous canopy walk tour which starts at Uwinka Visitors Centre. During the canopy walk, you will be able to view different bird species, primates, animals, enjoy aerial view of the forest, tree tops among others. After the canopy walk, you will drive back to the lodge for an evening relaxation, dinner and overnight.

5 Days Nyungwe chimpanzee and Akagera Wildlife Safari
Canopy walk in Nyungwe

Day 5: Departure to Kigali

On the last day of the 5 days Nyungwe chimpanzee and Akagera wildlife safari, you will have breakfast at leisure, check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer back to Kigali. On the way you will have en-route lunch upon arrival, your driver guide will drop you off at Kigali International airport for your flight or drop off at any place of advise.

End of 5 days Nyungwe chimpanzee and Akagera wildlife safari

Tour includes

  • Chimpanzee trekking permit
  • Canopy walk tour
  • Park entrance fees/ game drive
  • Boat cruise fees
  • Kigali city tour
  • Services of a professional English speaking driver guide
  • Full board accommodation
  • Pick up and drop off in Kigali Rwanda
  • Vehicle and fuel
  • Bottled drinking water

Tour excludes                                   

  • Air flight tickets
  • Visas
  • Life insurance
  • Optional activities not included on the itinerary
  • Personal expenses like buying souvenirs, cigarettes, crafts, drinks, laundry services, hiring a porter, tips among others.
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