5-Day Lowland Gorilla Habituation Tour

Kahuzi Biega National Park

Nyungwe forest, one of the oldest rain forests in East and central Africa

5-Day Lowland Gorilla Habituation Tour

Kahuzi Biega National Park

Duration

5 days

Min Age

15+ Years

Tour Type

Rwanda Primates

Trip Overview

On this 5-day Lowland Gorilla Habituation Tour, you will visit Kahuzi Biega National Park for the gorilla habituation experience. The park is located in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in the southern Kivu area and it is among the less traveled destinations.

Eastern lowland gorillas are endemic to Kahuzi Biega national park meaning it is the only place where you can see them. This makes lowland gorilla trekking experiences in Kahuzi Biega very exclusive and enjoyable. The lowland gorilla habituation tour is more rewarding as you will get to follow the routine of the lowland gorillas. It will start with a briefing at the park headquarters after which you will be guided by the park rangers. This hike will take 2 to 3 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas.

Once you get to them you will be allowed to stay up to 4 hours in their presence observing, taking photos, and learning more. Overall gorilla trekking offers a once-in-a-lifetime experience and meeting eastern lowland gorillas in the wild is truly iconic.

After the amazing encounter with the gorillas, you will have a brief visit to the Lwiro sanctuary and end your 5 days Lowland Gorilla Habituation Tour in Nyungwe forest for Chimpanzees trekking and other wildlife adventures. Nyungwe National Park has 13 primates with chimpanzees as the main attraction. While on a hike in the forest, you will get to see the other primate species here including l’hoest monkeys, and colobus monkeys among others.

Nyungwe Forest is Rwanda’s most important Bird area with various bird species including Albertine Rift Valley endemics. You will spot a number of these while on the guided nature walk.

Tour Highlights

Day 1: Transfer to Bukavu
Day 2: Lowland Gorilla Habituation & Visit Lwiro
Day 3: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest and Nature walk
Day 4: Chimpanzee Trekking & Canopy Walk
Day 5: Departure

Full Tour Package

Day 1: Transfer to Bukavu

You will meet with your driver guide for a briefing about your primate safari and then set off via the Murambi genocide memorial where you will discover more about what happened in 1994 Rwandan genocide. You will also have a stopover at the Butare Museum, Nyanza Palace and for a lunch break and then proceed to Bukavu Via the Cyangugu border. You will arrive in the evening for a rest at your Hotel that overlooks Lake Kivu. Dinner & Overnight at Panorama Hotel

Day 2: Lowland Gorilla Habituation & Visit Lwiro Sanctuary

Start this day with an early morning breakfast and head to the park for a briefing before being guided to the park for the lowland gorilla habituation experience. This habituation experience follows the daily routine and life of the Eastern lowland gorillas. Here you will get to observe, follow and learn more about these rare and endemic primates. You will be allowed to stay in the presence of the gorillas for 4 hours keeping a distance of about 7 meters away from them. After this incredible adventure and encounter, you will head to the Lwiro Sanctuary for the orphaned chimpanzees and many other primates that were rescued from poachers who sell them on black markets. The sanctuary has a variety of wildlife with over 107 chimpanzees. Later return to your Hotel.

Day 3: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest and Nature walk

After breakfast, you will be driven to the border where you will cross to Rwanda and be transferred to Nyungwe forest National Park. The forested park has one of Africa’s oldest forests and is home to chimpanzees and other primates including colobus monkeys, Lhoest monkeys and a variety of bird species. Arrive at your lodge for a rest and in the afternoon go for a nature walk in the forest hiking up to the waterfalls. Dinner and overnight at Mantis Marina Bay

Day 4: Chimpanzee Trekking & Canopy Walk

You will have breakfast and go chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe forest where you will meet these primates in the wild. Chimpanzees are a bit mobile but you will follow them steadily as you see other wildlife species in the park. Later return for lunch and in the afternoon go for a canopy walk along East Africa’s major canopy walkway. Here you will see wildlife species that prefer to stay in the top canopy layers of the forest. You will also enjoy the great scenic views of the great Albertine Rift Valley. inner and overnight at Mantis Marina Bay

Day 5: Departure

After breakfast, you will have a relaxed drive to Kigali arriving in the afternoon for a drop-off at the Hotel or airport for departure depending on the schedule.

End of Tour.