Jane Goodall Institute - Chimpanzees of Nyungwe

On arrival, you will be met at Kigali International Airport and transferred to Muzanze. Alternatively, if you are joining the tour from Kisoro, Uganda then it is a mere 40 mins drive across the border to Muzanze. 

There will be some time to refresh before we get together and meet our fellow travellers.

We’ll get together for dinner to discuss what the next week will hold in store for us.

Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel

Volcanoes National Park is the home of the largest population of mountain gorillas in the world and today you have the option to trek* and experience these incredible great apes. If trekking is not for you, then we will take you to visit a local village to experience traditional Rwandan culture, and the Dian Fossey Information Centre. After lunch the group will reunite and transfer to Gisenyi. Tonight we spend our evening on the shores of stunning Lake Kivu.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Guest House in Gisenyi

After breakfast we will board a traditional boat from our guest house. We will follow the eastern shore of Lake Kivu for 1.5hrs before arriving at the Kinunu coffee plantation. Here we enjoy a coffee tour before continuing to Kibuye. The boat will weave between the picturesque islands of Lake Kivu while you sit back and take in the stunning surrounding scenery.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Kinunu Coffee Lodge

After breakfast we will travel 2.5hrs to one of the oldest rainforests in Africa. The mountainous region of Nyungwe is rich in biodiversity, spectacularly beautiful and teeming with wildlife. As well as chimpanzee there are 12 species of primate, including the endemic L’Hoest’s monkey. After lunch we step on to the 160m long and 70m high canopy walkway. Suspended above a ravine in the lush montane rainforest, the canopy walkway provides an exhilarating perspective from high above the ancient treetops. We will spend the evening with a JGI coordinator as we learn about the chimpanzee conservation project in Nyungwe Forest.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Guest House

As the sun rises this morning we will set off with local rangers and JGI staff. JGI works in partnership with Nyungwe Forest to identify the chimpanzee families and assist in planning to ensure long term viability of this unique habitat. We will head to the Cyamudongo sector of the Nyungwe Forest, where we will trek to see the chimpanzee families and participate in chimpanzee identification and habitat assessment. The Rwandan government encourages participation in local dance groups to preserve their culture. Tonight, we will stay in a local guest house and have the pleasure of enjoying the resident children’s dance group (Imbuto Y’umuco) perform for us. The dancing is a perfect way to finish off our Nyungwe experience by understanding more about the culture and community that live around the forest

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Guest House

Today we will travel from our base in Nyungwe Forest to Kigali. The drive is approximately 3.5 hours. It is very scenic as we pass by rolling hills and local villages. Enroute we will also stop in the village of Butare to visit the Ethnographic Museum. This evening in Kigali we will dine at a local restaurant and enjoy a relaxing night.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel

After breakfast you are free to explore the pristine city of Kigali. Perhaps you will visit the genocide memorial or one of the many art galleries. The tour finishes today when we transport you to the airport in time for your departure. No doubt you will leave with fond memories of the extraordinary work that JGIA is undertaking in Rwanda to protect the chimpanzees and their unique habitat. Perhaps you will wish to continue with your travels and support the JGIA Uganda or Tanzania program.

Meals : Breakfast