9 Day Around Rwanda Primates Tracking & Big Five Safari
Overview
Embark on an unforgettable journey through Rwanda’s most iconic national parks. This exclusive safari experience combines thrilling primate encounters in Nyungwe and Volcanoes National Parks with classic big game viewing in Akagera National Park. From lush rainforests to open savannahs, explore the rich biodiversity and cultural heritage of the Land of a Thousand Hills.
Included/Excluded
- Meals ( 8 Breakfasts, lunches & Dinners)
- Accommodation listed on the itinerary or similar
- Roundtrip Transfers in a standard 4X4 Safari Van
- Parks entrance fees
- English speaking guide/driver.
- 1X Gorilla Trekking Permit
- 1X Chimpanzee Trekking Permit
- Canopy Walk Permit
- Game drives and boat trips among others
- Price excludes all other things of personal nature like the bar bills, visas, gratitudes, personal insurance, porter hire among others
Tour Plan
Day 1: Arrival Kigali Airport, Rwanda – Hotel
Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by our representative and transferred to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, you may opt to visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial for an introduction to Rwanda’s history and resilience. Overnight at Hotel Des Melli Collines or Similar
Day 2: Kigali – Nyungwe National Park
Following a morning breakfast begin a scenic transfer to Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda’s southwest. En route, enjoy breathtaking views of the countryside and a stop at cultural or historical landmarks (Kings Palace Nyanza & Butare national museum) . Overnight Nyungwe Top View Hills Hotel or similar.
Day 3: Chimpanzee Trekking & Canopy Walk, Nyungwe National Park
After an early breakfast, set off into the dense rainforest for an exhilarating chimpanzee tracking experience. In the afternoon, take a guided canopy walk suspended above the forest, offering stunning views and the chance to spot birdlife and other primates. Overnight Nyungwe Top View Hills Hotel or similar.
Day 4: Colobus Monkey Trekking, Nyungwe National Park – Volcanoes National Park
This morning, enjoy a guided trek in search of the endangered Angolan colobus monkeys. Later, transfer north through scenic landscapes to the foothills of the Virunga Mountains, home of the mountain gorillas. Overnight Mountain Gorilla View Lodge or similar.
Day 5: Gorilla Trekking Experience, Volcanoes National Park
Today is the highlight of your journey — an extraordinary gorilla trekking expedition. Spend an awe-inspiring hour with a habituated gorilla family, guided by expert rangers. This once-in-a-lifetime experience offers a deep connection with one of our closest relatives. Overnight Mountain Gorilla View Lodge or similar.
Day 6: Golden Monkey Trekking, Volcanoes National Park - Kigali
Track the rare and energetic golden monkeys in the bamboo forests of Volcanoes National Park. Afterwards, visit the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund or the Gorilla Guardians Village before returning to Kigali. Overnight Hôtel des Mille Collines or similar.
Day 7: Kigali – Akagera National Park
Following an early morning breakfast, Depart Kigali for Akagera National Park, Rwanda’s only savannah park. Upon arrival, enjoy a short game drive en route to the lodge which is located inside the park. Afternoon boat safari on Lake Ihema. Overnight Akagera Game Lodge or similar.
Day 8: Full-Day Game Drive safari – Akagera National Park
Enjoy a full-day game drive across Akagera’s varied landscapes, home to the Big Five, giraffes, antelopes, hippos, crocodiles, and over 500 bird species. Stop for a picnic lunch in the park before continuing your exploration. Overnight Akagera Game Lodge or similar.
Day 9: Akagera National Park – Kigali – Departure
After a leisurely breakfast and optional morning game drive, transfer back to Kigali for your international departure or onward travel arrangements. End of tour.
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Communication via WhatsApp to make arrangements went very smooth with Aron being quick and clear in his responses.
Aron drove us most of the time, but we also had a ride with driver Barnice. Every time they were in time, most of the times even early to make sure we could leave whenever we wanted. The service was more than just a private taxi service: Aron told us many interesting things about Uganda and let us taste some local food. That really made our trip more colourful and interesting.They know a lot of good places all over the country, like restaurants and accomodation. Although we organized our trip by ourselves, that was still an advantage. Above that, Aron uses his business in Uganda to help other Ugandans as well.
We would definitely recommend to travel with Safari 2 Gorilla Tours.

Jon Peters
USA


In my iniitial email to him I had explained that I'm Kenyan and would be travelling to Rwanda from Nairobi, Kenya. As an east African citizen I thought this information was useful in terms of national park fees and so on; little did I know that it would affect my whole Gorilla trek experience.
I'd settled the balance of my invoice in November 2019 and Aron emailed to confirm full payment. I never heard from Aron again except when I emailed him to find out the arrangements for when I arrived in Rwanda. At the time I didn't think much of it as I'd read so many glowing reviews of Aron and his tour company; his attentive nature, professionalism and general good nature. A fortnight or so before my arrival I'd still not heard from him so I emailed to find out the itinerary for when I arrived in Rwanda - nothing. Just a curt response confirming that he had the number for my hotel and presumably (Aron did not confirm) that he would call me at my hotel to arrange a time to pick me up from my hotel.
I arrived at the hotel, following a 10 hour flight from London on Friday, 24 January to find there was no message was left by Aron advising when I'd be picked up the following day. On Saturday, 25 January at about 9 am the receptionist knocked on my door to inform me that a driver had arrived to pick me up and drive me to Uganda. As I'd not had any advance information of this arrangement I was not ready; i hadn't showered or eaten breakfast. And so we did not set off until gone 10 am. This was the first poor service i'd received.
I'd paid for a 3-day Gorilla trek etc which included on the first day a visit to the Rwanda Genocide memorial. When the driver set off we'd been driving and passed a sign to the memorial site, after almost an hour I asked if we were still going to the memoial site, and only then did the driver inform me that due to the late departure he had decided to postpone the visit to the memorial until the return leg of my three day trip. The second poor service i'd received.
Bwindi national park is in Uganda and so I was driven through Rwanda to Uganda via a land border, an eight hour journey that ordinarily shouldn't have taken that long. The third poor service.
During the drive Aron maintained constant communication with the driver - whose name escapes me - and not once did he ask the driver to pass the phone to me so that he could speak to me. By that I mean even welcoming me, asking me how my trip was, finding out if there was anything I needed, any issues or problems with the trip I'd paid for. The fourth poor service I received
When we arrived at Rushaga camp each visitor at dinner was assigned a table with the name of their guide on it; stupidly I immediately thought Ohhh so Aron had sent a driver to pick me up from Rwanda and that now I was going to meet him! How wrong i was. When i sat down expecting to meet Aron who should turn up? but the driver! Cheekily I asked if he was Aron and offended he curtly replied no!. When i asked what happend to Aron he informed me that Aron had been in constant communication throughout the day! When I asked why Aron hadn't even said hello or welcomed me he just said that Aron was on another tour. At that moment I realised what was happening and why. In Aron's eyes I was a black African tourist that yes, had paid for the same service and support that my white counterparts had received but due to his low perception of me and fellow black Africans I did not warrant the same service, attention, or even respect. I did not speak to the driver again for the rest of the evening. I was surrounded by fellow travellers that were accompanied by guides who made them feel welcome, valued and respected; they sat together sharing stories from their travels whilst I and the driver sat silently. Even as I tried to get the driver to understand how insulted and disrespected I felt he just didn't get it. A part of me feels if i was white he wouldn't have found it so hard understanding how poorly I'd been treated. But as a black African what reason did I have to complain? The fifth poor service I'd received
On the second day i was due to visit Mgahinga national park almost a two hour drive away. As debrief started at 8 am we arranged to leave Rushaga Gorilla camp by 6 am; arranging to meet for breakfast at 05:30 am. 06:00 am the driver was nowhere to be found. Finally at 06:30 he appears in the dinning room feigning an alarm malfunction. I had to demand an apology from him. The sixth poor service i'd received.
We arrived at the national park at 08:25. I was the only black tourist and when I asked the guide to summarise the debrief he audibly commented that as I'd arrived late he'd not be able to repeat it for me. Cynically I felt that If I was white he'd problably have ignored the fact that the driver had got me to the debrief late and still gone through the key points. The seventh poor sevice I'd received.
I could go on and on but I won't. I think you get the gist. I never once spoke to Aron, met him or communicated with him during my time in Rwanda and Uganda. I left Rwanda on Tuesday, 28 January 2020 and have delayed posting this review until now to see whether or not I'd hear from Aron. I haven't and I know I never will.
I would never recommend this company to anyone regardless of who you are. I pity and despise racists and would never support a business that openly discriminates against black Africans.

Would absolutely recommend Safari 2 Gorilla Tours! Thanks Aaron and Martin for an unforgetable trip!

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Plot 1 A, Cohen A Road
Makanga Hill,
P.O.BOX 568 Kabale