5 Days Nyungwe Chimpanzee Trekking and Akagera Safari
This 5 Days Nyungwe Chimpanzee Trekking and Akagera safari will give you an opportunity to track chimpanzees in Nyungwe forest national park and also view a variety of wildlife in Akagera national park. This 5 Days Nyungwe and Akagera tour is perfect if you are on a budget and wish to skip gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park.
Highlights for 5 Days Nyungwe Chimpanzee Trekking and Akagera Safari.
Day 1: Pickup from Kigali & Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park
Day 2: Chimpanzee Trek and canopy walk
Day 3: Waterfall Hike and Transfer Back to Kigali
Day 4: Transfer to Akagera National Park– Game Drive & Boat Cruise
Day 5: Northern Circuit Game Drive and Transfer Back to Kigali.
Detailed Itinerary for 5 Days Nyungwe Chimpanzee Trekking and Akagera Safari.
Day 1: Pickup from Kigali & Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park
On day one of your 5 Days Nyungwe chimpanzee trekking and Akagera national park safari, wake up early in the morning, you will be picked by the driver from your hotel in Kigali and embark on a 6 hours’ drive to Nyungwe national park. You will have a stopover visit to the King’s Palace in Nyanza and national museum in Butare and then have lunch enroute to the park. Arrive in Nyungwe in the evening and connect to your accommodation to spend the evening at leisure. Dinner and overnight at your designated lodge or hotel.
Day 2: Chimpanzee Trek and canopy walk
Enjoy breakfast and go for briefing before entering the forest, searching for the active and playful fellows in Nyungwe forest. The Chimpanzees are easy to spot, as they jump from one tree to another, chattering and laughing. Chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe forest national park usually takes about 3-6 hours or more depending on the location of the chimpanzees. Once you have located a chimpanzee group, you will be given an hour to spend with the chimpanzees. Have your packed lunch and head back to base.
After lunch, you will go on a walking trail that will take you to 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. This hike takes between 1-2 hours depending on your pace. Before night fall, you will return to the lodge for dinner as above
Day 3: Waterfalls Hike and Transfer to Kigali (Approximately 6 hours’ drive)
Have breakfast early in the morning then drive to the park for a guided nature walk to one of the Isumo waterfalls in the park. This is a 4 hours hike to and from and you will get to see a lot of wildlife and bird species during your hike.
After your hike, have lunch and later transfer to Kigali where your driver/guide will drop you off at a hotel of your choice or Kigali International Airport where you will you will board your flight back home. If a city tour was not possible on your first day, then you can opt for a short tour of Kigali city.
Day 4: Transfer to Akagera National Park- Southern Game Drive and evening Boat Cruise.
On the fourth day of your 5 Days Nyungwe chimpanzee trekking and Akagera national park safari, you will be picked up from your hotel and embark on a 2 hour’s drive to Akagera national park. Upon your arrival in the park, you will embark on a game drive in the southern part of the park where you will view a number of wildlife animals such as lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, Sitatunga, giraffes, waterbucks, kobs, zebras and so many more. You will then drive to your lodge for lunch and rest for a while.
After lunch, you will head out for an evening boat cruise on Lake Ihema where you will see a variety of wildlife basking along the lake shores including hippos and crocodiles. Also look out for some bird species around the lake area such as the Ibis, Hawks, Plovers, and the Malachite Kingfisher to mention but a few.
Later head back to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 5: Northern Circuit Morning Game Drive and Transfer Back to Kigali.
On the last day of your 5 Days Nyungwe Chimpanzee Trekking and Akagera national park safari, you will have breakfast early in the morning and head out for a morning game drive in the northern part of the park. Do look out for any wildlife animals that you might not have seen in your previous game drive in the park. You will then exit the park and head back to Kigali with a stopover for lunch. Drop off will be in Kigali at any location of your choice as you will advise your driver guide.
End of 5 Days Nyungwe chimpanzee trekking and Akagera national park safari!
