12 Days Rwanda Primates |12 days Uganda Rwanda primates and Wildlife Safari
12 Days Rwanda primates ,12 days Uganda Rwanda primates and Wildlife Safari. Rwanda is known as a small clean city in the East African region, however in it, there is a hidden gem, there are 3 National parks with in the country volcanoes national park, Nyungwe forest national park, Akagera national park and lastly gazetted Gishwati Mukula National Park.
The 12-day over all Rwanda tour is a highlight of the endangered mountain gorillas, shared in Virunga conservation area, wildlife game and viewing in one of the only savannah parks in the country with more than 70 mammal species in Akagera national park as well as primate watch in Nyungwe forest national park among them include chimpanzees, the little human cousin sharing 98% with human beings.
Other than Gorillas, primates and wild life the parks are also birders haven, there are special birding spots and some of the notable birds include; Great Blue and Ruwenzor i Turacos, White-headed Wood-hoopoe, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, Chestnut Owlet, Olive Woodpeckers, Little grebe, White-bellied Robin Chat, Mountain Masked Apalis, Northern pintail, Handsome francolin, White-headed Black Chat, Secretary bird, Western banded eagle, African hawk eagle, black bellied bustard and Caruther’s Cisticola, Collared Pratincole, Emerald spotted wood-dove, Klaas’s Cuckoo, African wood Owl, Broad billed Roller, Malachite Kingfisher and so many others.
Tour highlight for 12 Days Rwanda primate Safaris
- Gorilla trekking
- Chimpanzee Trekking
- Game drive and viewing
- Bird watching
- Boat ride in Akagera
Detailed Itinerary 12 days Uganda Rwanda primates and Wildlife Safari
Day 1: Arrival at the Airport
Today you arrive in Rwanda “the land of a thousand hills.” You will be welcomed by your safari guide from Mum and Dad Uganda Tours, gets you briefed on how a 12 days Uganda Rwanda primates and Wildlife Safari will go. After the briefing it will depend on your arrival time, either go for a city tour and visit some of the interesting places around the city or transfer to the Hotel for your dinner and an overnight stay at,
Location: Kigali city
Accommodation option
Luxury: The Retreat by Heaven
Mid-range:2000 Hotel
Budget :The manor hotel
Meal plan full board:
Day 2: Kigali City Tour
Have a relaxed morning breakfast and later you will visit prominent and historical Rwandan sites with in the city. These sites are remarkable and memorable in the lives of the Rwandan, for example the Genocide memorial site, very many of them with in the city commemorates and are a sign of remembrance to the lost lives of 1994 genocide. In here you will find recap videos, photographs, remain of clothes and there is much to learn from the dark side of the story. You will visit Kandt museum house, craft markets for beautiful African art pieces. A day will be basically spent with in the city as there is much more interesting to see. Return to the lodge, refresh for dinner and overnight stay.
Location: Kigali city
Accommodation option
Luxury: The Retreat by Heaven
Mid-range:2000 Hotel
Budget :The manor hotel
Meal plan full board:
Day 3: Transfer to Nyungwe forest National Park
Today we drive to Nyungwe forest from Kigali, stopover in Nyanza and proceed to the park. This Park is known for its quite 
number of primates, canopy walk and bird species. You will reach in the late afternoon, check in at the lodge to relax over looking the moist tropical Nyungwe forest.
Location: Nyungwe Forest National part
Accommodation options:
Luxury: One & only Nyungwe Top view
Mid-range: Nyungwe Forest Lodge
Budget : Nyungwe Nziza Eco lodge/ Gisakura Guest House
Meal plan: Full board:
Day 4: Chimpanzee tracking & Canopy walk
After breakfast, you will head to Uwinka visitor center for briefing about the do and don’t s while with chimps . Chimpanzee tracking will begin at 07:30am lead by a ranger guide who will lead you through the forest to meet our cousins, you will enter the forest in search for chimps and when they are located enjoy a full hour with them. Alongside chimpanzees, you will also spot other primate species such as the blue monkey, L’hoest monkey, owl-faced monkeys, Red tailed monkeys, crowned monkey, Velvet monkeys. Return for lunch at the lodge for relaxation and lunch and later in the afternoon, you will go for a canopy walk between 50-60 meters above the ground, known as the highest forest bridges in East Africa. It’s an amazing experience to photography, Nyungwe landscape, spot birds and primates. On top of that, you will be in position to stop various species of primates just meters from you its worth a beautiful experience Return to your lodge for diner and overnight stay
Location: Nyungwe Forest National part
Accommodation options:
Luxury: One & only Nyungwe Top view
Mid-Range:Nyungwe Forest Lodge
Budget :Nyungwe Nziza Eco lodge/ Gisakura Guest House
Meal Plan: Full board:
Day 5: Birding & Transfer to lake Kivu
Nyungwe forest national park is part of the remaining large montane forests on the African continent and rich in birds especially the Albertine Rift endemics. So with packed lunch head to Nyungwe forest to search for different species of birds 
that leave in the park. Some of the bird species to look out for include the Handsome Francolin, Great Blue and Rwenzori Turacos, White-headed Wood-hoopoe, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, Chestnut Owlet, Olive and Elliot’s Woodpeckers. Stripe-breasted Tit, Red-collared Babbler, Archer’s Robin Chat, White-bellied Robin Chat, Doherty’s Bush-Shrike, Mountain Masked, Black-faced, and Collared Apalises, Rwenzori Batis, Neumann’s Short-tailed Warbler, White-tailed Blue-flycatcher and Purple-breasted and Regal Sun birds, etc. In the afternoon transfer to Lake Kivu to spend a night at the shores
Location: Lake Kivu
Accommodation options:
Luxury: Lake Kivu Serena
Mid-Range:Paradise Malahide
Budget :Inzonzi Eco lodge
Meal Plan: Full board:
Day 6: Exploring Lake kivu
After breakfast you will have a tour of Lake Kivu which will provide the much-needed rest and opportunities to explore the lake on a canoe ride, swimming, birding along the shores. You will spend a full day here a
Location : Lake Kivu
Accommodation options:
Luxury: Lake Kivu Serena
Mid-Range:Paradise Malahide
Budget :Inzonzi Eco lodge
Meal Plan: Full board:
Day 7: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes Park national park is shared in Virunga conservation between Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Uganda representing one of the richest biological areas of the world. It was here that Dian Fossey began her research into Mountain Gorillas in the late 1960’s. The drive to Musanze/Kinigi from Lake Kivu in Gisenyi is about an hour but with beautiful sights to the landscape, and some small birding along the way . We will have a short stop over at a patch of forest for possible sightings of Narina’s Trogon after which we proceed to our lodge for overnight before gorilla trekking.
Location: Volcanoes national park
Accommodation Option:
Luxury: Bisate Lodge/ Sabinyo Silverback Lodge
Mid-range /Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge/ Mountain gorilla View Lodge/
Budget: Kinigi Guest House/ Garden Palace Hotel
Meals Plan:Full board (Breakfast and Lunch and )
Day 8: Gorilla Trekking experience in Volcanoes National Park
Early morning breakfast report to the park headquarters to receive short briefings about gorilla trekking and also gets you allocated to the gorilla family before 7.00am. The topics covered during the briefing include the history of the park, Dian Fossey, gorilla groups, gorilla trekking rules and what to expect during the trek. Then at 8:00am you will start to hike into 
lead by the ranger guide hike deep into the forest to have a chance to meet the endangered gorillas in their natural habitat.The allocation of gorilla groups is based on age and overall physical fitness of trekker, so the guide will be in position to help help.
Gorilla trekking is unpredictable as meeting them depends on where they last spent their night from. After reaching the gorillas, u will spend an hour with them ounce they are met. While observing the gorilla family, listen to instructions from the Rangers and avoid doing things that might alert the primates. After a successful sighting descend back to the lodge for lunch .In the afternoon on this 12 days Uganda Rwanda primates and Wildlife Safari, take shower and relax as you wait to be taken to the Gorilla Guardians Village in Musanze. Formerly known as the Iby’iwacu Cultural village,expect wonderful entertainment and grate experience from the batwa.
Location: Volcanoes national park
Accommodation Option:
Luxury: Bisate Lodge/ Sabinyo Silverback Lodge
Mid-range /Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge/ Mountain gorilla View Lodge/
Budget: Kinigi Guest House/ Garden Palace Hotel
Meals Plan:Full board (Breakfast and Lunch and )
Day 9: Transfer to Akagera National Park
On this day 12 Days Rwanda primates wildlife safari, after breakfast at your hotel, we set off for Akagera National Park in Eastern Rwanda bordering with Tanzania. You will have a game drive thorough the park to the lodge for lunch and in the 
afternoon, you will do a boat ride on lake Ihema, where you be able to see other species of animals such as elephants, water bucks, Buffaloes, crocodiles, hippos at the banks of the lake and water bird species, African fish eagles, Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters, Rufous-bellied Heron, Greater Swamp Warblers, Slender-billed Weavers, and Swamp Flycatcher. More species include Goliath, Black-headed, and Squacco Herons, Little Bittern, Grey Crowned Crane, African Open bill, African Darter, Black tern, African Wattled Plover, Long-toed and Senegal Lapwings, Water Thick-knee, and Giant, Pied and Malachite Kingfisher etc. Return to the lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight stay.
Location: Akagera National Park
Accommodation Option:
Luxury: Wilderness Magashi Camp/ Akagera Game Lodge
Mid-range: Ruzizi Tented Camp
Budget: Karenge Bush Camp
Meals Plan:Full board (Breakfast and Lunch and )
Day 10: Game drive and viewing
Wake up at 06:00am have a cup of coffee and after head out to the open Savannah for a sunrise game drive. Expect to see animals such as leopards, hyena, lion as you go thorough different tracks in the park. You also look out for Rhinos, 
Elephants, Giraffes, Buffaloes, Topi, Zebras, Impala. The Park is a varied habitat for wildlife and a birders haven with over 500 species such as African fish eagle, African harrier hawk, African jacana Bateleur, Squacco heron. The game drive will last about 6 hours or more depending on your interests. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay
Location: Akagera National Park
Accommodation Option:
Luxury: Wilderness Magashi Camp/ Akagera Game Lodge
Mid-range: Ruzizi Tented Camp
Budget: Karenge Bush Camp
Meals Plan:Full board (Breakfast and Lunch and )
Day 11: Nature walk and transfer to Kigali
Have an Early morning breakfast and go for a nature walk to search for different bird species. A nature walk in Akagera national park takes you so close to even the slightest insights of nature. view different species of insects, butterflies and others. Return back to the lodge for lunch and drive to Kigali city.
Location: Kigali city
Accommodation option
Luxury: The Retreat by Heaven
Mid-range:2000 Hotel
Budget :The manor hotel
Meal plan full board:
Day 12: Departure
Wake up at a convenience time, have breakfast and have one more round of game drive through the park exiting back to Kigali city, you may pass through craft shops to buy souvenirs and proceed to the airport for Departure.
End of your 12 Day Rwanda Primates and Wildlife Safaris
Location: Kigali International Airport
Accommodation: No accommodation
Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch
Drinks: Drinking Water
Thank you for choosing to travel with mum and dad Uganda tours
Tour includes in the 12Day Rwanda Primates and Wildlife Safaris
- Ground transport per 4X4 vehicle
- Park entrance fees
- Game drives
- Birding fees
- Boat trip
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Bottled water
- Full board accommodation
- Service of an English-speaking bird guide
- All mentioned activities except for the optional ones
Tour excludes in the 12Day Rwanda Primates and Wildlife Safaris
- Extras at the accommodation i.e. drinks, telephone, laundry etc.
- Tips to porters, site guides and driver/ guide
- Insurance
- Optional activities
What to bring
- Waterproof binoculars
- Sun hut
- Sunscreen
- Good camera
Gorilla trekking tips
Recommended clothing is long trousers and long-sleeved sweaters or shirts while in the forest to avoid insect stings.
Insect repellent
Gardening gloves
Waterproof hiking boots and rain gear
Carry your day pack with lunch or some snacks. Eating, drinking and smoking near the gorillas is forbidden – designated time and place will be communicated.
Photography is permitted, although you must not use flash
Porters are available to help you carry your day pack for a small charge.
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