5 Days Bwindi Gorilla Trek and Nyungwe Chimps Safari
This 5 days Bwindi gorilla trek and Nyungwe chimps safari is the perfect combination for visitors looking to experience gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda and chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda’s Nyungwe Forest National Park, and wind up your safari with a coffee tour in Huye. This tour begins and ends in Kigali, Rwanda.
Highlights for 5 Days Bwindi Gorilla Trek and Nyungwe Chimps Safari
Day 1: Pickup from Kigali & Transfer to Bwindi
Day 2: Gorilla trek in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Day 3: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park and Optional Tea
Day 4: Chimpanzee Trek and Canopy Walk
Day 5: Coffee Tour in Huye and Transfer Back to Kigali.
Detailed Itinerary for 5 Days Bwindi Gorilla Trek and Nyungwe Chimps Safari
Day 1: Pickup from Kigali & Transfer to Bwindi (Approximately 4-5 hours’ drive)
Following your arrival, your guide will pick you up from the airport or any other agreed-upon pickup in Kigali and, depending on time, go for a short tour of Kigali city that includes a visit to Kimironko market and the genocide memorial. Have lunch enroute as you transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, crossing into Uganda through Cyanika border. Proceed to Bwindi, arriving in the evening.
Day 2: Gorilla trek in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Early in the morning, after your tasty breakfast, you will meet your driver, who will transfer you to the park headquarters for a briefing from the UWA officials about the dos and don’ts of gorilla trekking. After this, you will set off for the gorilla trek. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and an unforgettable adventure. The ranger guides will lead you into the thick forest and start your search for the endangered Mountain Gorillas. You will move up and down the rugged terrain until you finally meet these harmonious creatures that will entertain you with performances for about 1 hour.
The activity can take 2 to 8 hours, depending on the movement of the Gorillas. This is an awesome and exciting moment. En-route, there are other types of primates such as monkeys, birds, and more. After the trek, you will receive your Gorilla trekking certificate and meet up with your driver/guide and return to the lodge, where you will spend the evening at leisure.
Day 3: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park and Optional Tea Tour (Approximately 6-7 hours’ drive)
Have breakfast at your lodge in the morning. You will then meet up with your driver guide and embark on your journey to Nyungwe Forest National Park, which is about a 6-7 hour drive via Kivu. You will have a stopover to stretch and have lunch enroute to the park. Upon your arrival in Nyungwe, you will check into your hotel. You can choose to do an optional visit to the tea plantations near the park in case you wish to explore more of the park.
Dinner and accommodation at your lodge/hotel.
Day 4: Chimpanzee Trek and Canopy Walk
Enjoy breakfast and go for a briefing about the endangered chimpanzees before entering the forest in search of the active and playful fellows in Nyungwe forest. Chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe usually takes about 4-6 hours or more, depending on their location. On finding them, spend an hour taking pictures and videos. You will have a break to enjoy your lunch, which you packed from your lodge/hotel.
After lunch, you will embark on a 2-hour hike to and from the Canopy walkway. Take time to do the canopy walk- a swing bridge 50 meters in length that is suspended from large trees. You will be able to see the amazing rainforest with a bird’s eye view, spotting wildlife moving about below you.
Day 5: Coffee Tour in Huye and Transfer Back to Kigali. (Approximately 6-7 hours’ drive)
After your breakfast, you will check out of your lodge and embark on a drive to Huye Mountain Coffee Co-operative for a coffee tour. You will be taken through the coffee plantations, where you will learn how coffee is planted, harvested, and processed for final consumption. Windup your tour with a tasty cup of Rwandan-made coffee, and you can purchase some as souvenirs for yourself and loved ones back home.
Later, drive you back to Kigali International Airport or any location you advise in Kigali.
