Main Info
Meet the great apes on the 8 Days Great Apes safari through Nyungwe Forest, the Volcanoes National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest of Uganda. Meet the mountain gorillas and chimpanzees on this trip.
Trip Itinerary
Day 1: Travel to Akagera National Park
The guide will pick you up from Kigali and travel to Akagera National Park, Rwanda’s only savanna national park. You will have convenient stops for lunch and some sightseeing. Connect to Akagera National Park, Eastern Rwanda. Upon arrival in the park, check into the lodge. Relax at the lake shores. Overnight at Mantis Akagera Game Lodge (Deluxe)
Day 2: Game Drive in Akagera National Park
After breakfast, go for a game drive within the Akagera National Park. The game drive will start from the south to the north of the savanna park. Watch out for amazing wildlife including elephants, buffaloes, and even the big cats. In the afternoon take a boat cruise on Lake Ihema. Overnight at Akagera Mantis Lodge (Deluxe)
Day 3: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park
The guide will then drive you to Nyungwe National Park. The journey takes you through beautiful areas characterized with green plantations and amazing scenery. We will have stopover at places of interest such as museum and Butare Town. You will arrive in the late afternoon. Relax at the lodge as you wait for dinner. Overnight at Gisakura Guest House (Budget) / Emeraude Kivu Resort (Deluxe) / Nyungwe Hill Top View Hotel (Luxury)
Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking & Transfer to the Volcanoes Park
After breakfast, the guide will drive you to Nyungwe Park briefing point. Go on a guided chimpanzee trek within the Nyungwe forest, that is home to not only chimpanzees but also other 12 primate species. The chimpanzee trek is rewarding with sightings of unique flora and fauna within the forest. After the trek, you will have lunch. Travel to the Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda. Dinner and overnight stay at Muhabura Hotel (Budget) / Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge (Deluxe) / Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (Luxury)
Day 5: Travel to Volcanoes National Park
Breakfast. Pick up by our guide from Kigali in Rwanda. Do a brief Kigali City Tour. Visit the Gisozi Genocide Memorial Site. Later, transfer to the Volcanoes National Park in Northern Rwanda. You will arrive at the foothills of the Volcanoes National Park in the evening. Relax at the lodge as you wait for dinner. Overnight at Five Volcanoes Lodge (Luxury)
Day 6: Gorilla Trekking in PNV Rwanda
After breakfast, the guide will transfer you to the park headquarters (with some snacks and water) for briefing about mountain gorilla trekking. Led by the park rangers, go on a trek through the forest to search for the mountain gorillas. The time taken while searching for the humble giant apes is unpredictable however; it ranges between 2-5 hours depending on the movements of the gorillas. Upon meeting the mountain gorillas, you have one hour to watch them in the wild – take photos, films. You will find the guide at the starting point of the trek. You will have lunch at the lodge. Travel to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in South Western Uganda. Cross the border via the Cyanika Border. Continue to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Dinner and overnight at Chameleon Hill Lodge (Luxury)
Day 7: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Forest
Breakfast will be served early. Transfer to Rushaga Tourism Information Center for a briefing about the gorilla trek. Go on a guided gorilla trekking expedition into Bwindi. The ranger guide will give you highlights of specific details about the way of life of the gorillas you will be tracking. The hike can take anything from 1 to 8 hours. Trekking through the thick forested hills of Bwindi and then finally coming across the gorillas camouflaged in the vegetation is an inspiring and privileged moment. On finding the mountain gorillas, you will be allowed to spend up to maximum one hour watching them from 6 meters away – a regulation the Gorillas don’t seem to heed themselves. Overnight at Chameleon Hill Lodge (Luxury)
Day 8: Return Trip to Rwanda
After breakfast, embark on a return trip to Kigali in Rwanda.
