9 Days Primate Safari and Genocide Trail

This 9 days primate safari and genocide trail starts and ends in Kigali International Airport. You will meet eye to eye with the amazing primates of Uganda and Rwanda in their natural habitat. This close encounter with these mountain gorillas is simply breathtaking. On this primate safari and genocide trail, you will get close encounter a diversity of African wildlife, beautiful landscapes, and amazing culture and if you are a keen Birder, this is the package to book. You will get a share of the dark past of Rwanda as you get a guide through their Museums!

9 Days Primate Safari and Genocide Trail Rwanda Highlight

Day1: Meet and greet at Kigali International Airport – Transfer to the Hotel

Day 2: Kigali City tour – Visit Genocide Memorial and Craft Markets

Day 3: Nyamata and Ntarara Genocide Trail, Visit the Murambi museum in Huye.

Day 4: Morning Boat Cruise and afternoon Nature walk

Day 5: Transfer to Kisoro – Afternoon Village Visit

Day 6: Gorilla Trekking

Day 7: Transfer to Ruhengeri – Afternoon Cycling to Rwanda’s Twin Lakes

Day 8: Golden Monkey Trekking and Hike to Dian Fossey Grave

Day 9: Transfer to the Airport for Outbound Flight Back Home. 

Day 1: Meet and greet at Kigali International Airport – Transfer to the Hotel

Meet and greet at Kigali International Airport where your primate safari and genocide trail tour package starts by our representative who will warmly welcome you and facilitate seamless arrival formalities.  Your will then be transferred to your hotel where you will be briefed about your adventure safari.

Depending on the time of arrival, you will leisurely drive to the Hotel where you will enjoy dinner.

Overnight: Lemingo Hotel
Meal Plan: Bed and Breakfast

Day 2: Kigali City tour – Visit Genocide Memorial and Craft Markets.

Have morning breakfast and visit the Genocide memorial center in Kigali – The center was officially opened in 2004 to Mark the 10^th commemoration of 1994 genocide that was against the Tutsi in Rwanda. The center serves as the final place where masses can flock to grieve for their lost ones, and as for today; it acts as a museum where both locals and international visitors can learn about the history, implementation and consequences of genocide.

Proceed to visit the oldest Nyamirambo town in Kigali which has a stretched neighborhood found in southwestern corner of Kigali that envelopes diverse behavior with dominancy of Arab – like Culture. It is a huge stretched corner which is sometimes referred to as a gangsters’ Paradise! Characterized with Many Muslim residents, Mosques and unlike other places that close by 8pm with everyone inside their homes, Nyamirambo hustles and rocks late into the nights.

Overnight: Lemingo Hotel
Meal Plan: Bed and Breakfast

Day 3: Nyamata and Ntarara Genocide Trail, Visit the Murambi museum in Huye

Enjoy your early breakfast at the Hotel and proceed to visit Ntarama church where some of the mass Killings occurred during the 1994 genocide where over 5000 people were killed while in church. This Church is located 30km south of Kigali City in Bugasera region – while on the Tour, you will realize a reminder of a horrifying violence despite the presence of the reconciliation commission.

Later proceed to Nyamata Memorial Site where about 2,500 people were killed. This church became an emblematic of barbaric treatment of women. You will be able to watch graphic and listen to audio – visual displays that focus on rape, brutalism of women and use of HIV as deliberate weapon during Genocide.

You will proceed to Huye Butare for Lunch and later you will visit the Murambi Museum, also known as the Murambi Technical School which represents the largest of six establishments in Rwanda to remember the country’s genocide. Learn how the Tutsi were overrun in 1994 and about 45,000 were murdered by the Hutu Interahamwe militia. The massacre occurred after the Tutsi spent several days hiding in a school and defending themselves with stones. The following year, a memorial was established. You can now see a site containing mass graves as well as a genocide museum.

Later Proceed Leisurely to Rubavu/Kivu/Gisenyi where you will have your Dinner and Overnight at

Overnight: Waterfront Resort
Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 4: Morning Boat Cruise and afternoon Nature walk

Enjoy an enchanting Boat Cruise exploring Lake Kivu, one of the Africa’s Great Lakes in Rwanda. The boats Cruise will give lead you into an insight of rural Life while you will to visit the town of Gisenyi or Kibuye as well as some Islands.
Enjoy a Short Nature walk and Hike to The Napoleon Island where you will encounter birds, Large Colonies of Bats as well as water snakes, African Millipedes and so much more.

Overnight: Waterfront Resort
Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 5: Transfer to Kisoro – Afternoon Village Visit

Have Breakfast and transfer to Kisoro at the Lodge where you will have Lunch at the lodge and an afternoon marvel through wooded trees over the mystical lake and wave to the local fishermen and children going to school. We join Mikozi Village where we unequivocally get acquainted with the authentic Ugandan Country side. We visit a traditional Ugandan ‘healer’, the market and sample a local drink in the bar.

Overnight: Lake Mutanda Resort
Meal Plan: Half Board

Day 6: Gorilla Trekking

This is the highlight of your primate safari and genocide trail. After an early breakfast depart to the starting point for briefing about your gorilla trekking adventure after which you will be led by experienced gorilla trackers on the slopes of the volcanoes. You will start from the site where the gorillas were encountered the day before and from here the gorilla tracking begins.

Although the hike can be physically demanding, the anticipation of the exciting experience ahead is amazing, and the beauty of the gorilla forest and its inhabitants are fascinating. One of Africa’s major highlights is when you encounter these gentle apes. It is a humbling experience to stand just meters from man’s distant cousins as they eat rest, play and bond with their young ones. Follow the mountain gorillas as they range freely in the impenetrable forest, and discover their gorgeous natural habitual and the many species they share it with. You are allowed an hour with the gorillas before finally sloping down back to your lodge. If your trek was relatively short, you may have a guided nature walk around the lodge and the surrounding communities in the evening. Return to the lodge where you will enjoy dinner with your fellow travelers before getting a good night’s rest for tomorrow’s safari adventure.

You may opt for Gorilla Habituation on supplement of $900 per person – here you will be sure of meeting and spending enough time with the Gorillas.

Don’t forget to carry your rain gear, packed lunch, plenty of water, gloves, hat, and water proof bag for protection of your camera in case of rain     

Overnight: Lake Mutanda Resort
Meal Plan: Half Board

Day 7: Transfer to Ruhengeri – Afternoon Cycling to Rwanda’s Twin Lakes

Early Morning Breakfast and Transfer to Ruhengeri, you will check in into your Hotel and later enjoy a Cycling Tour to the Twin Lakes which will start from Musanze with your cyclist guide. You will cycle towards the twin lakes close to the border of Rwanda – Uganda namely Lake Burera and Lake Ruhondo. The cycling tour will take you through different small towns and the villages where you will have extended time interacting with the locals is this is of interest to you.

Overnight: Fatima Hotel Ruhengeri
Meal Plan: Half Board

Day 8: Golden Monkey Tracking and Hike to Dian Fossey Grave

After Breakfast, head to Kinigi at The Headquarters where you will receive a Briefing about Golden Monkey Tracking, you will later Head to the Forest and open fields for a search of Golden Monkeys with Your Ranger Guide, these monkeys are quicker than Gorillas thus may need quick Pictures and movements as you follow them and as they swing on Branches and climb small and big Trees.

Have morning Breakfast at the lodge and transfer from park headquarters to the trail head to access the karisoke research Camp which is about 10 minutes from the park boundary. Trekking to the Dian Fossey’s grave takes about one and half to 2 hour hike which too rewards you with good views of forest hogs, forest elephants, a variety of primates and bird species.

This hike is an incredible experience physically, emotionally and intellectually. It is so inspiring to learn about someone who was so dedicated and left a legacy that exists even today. The hike involves moving through the forests and hiking up the slopes and therefore requires some relative degree of fitness and patience.

At the site you will find the house from where Dian Fossey was mysteriously murdered in 1985 but the more peaceful is the place where she was buried just next to her favorite gorilla friend, Digit and about 20 other mountain gorillas either killed by poachers or suffered death for other reasons unknown.

Later slope down to the lodge and enjoy a hot Dinner before a good night sleep preparing for Tomorrow’s Journey.

Overnight: Fatima Hotel Ruhengeri
Meal Plan: Half Board

Day 9: Transfer to the Airport for Outbound Flight Back Home.

After breakfast, check out to your lodge and transfer to Kigali international airport to end your primate safari and genocide trail.

Tour Inclusions

• All ground transportation in A 4×4 safari vehicle with all fuel
• Full time driver/guide with all his associated expenses on your primate safari
• All meals are on Full Board apart from in Cities/Towns/ enroute
• Accommodation and Meals as Per the Itinerary
• Cycling to The Twin Lakes
• 1 Gorilla Permit per person in Uganda
• 1 Golden Monkey Tracking Permit in Rwanda
• Genocide memorial Trail
• Trail to the Diana Fossey grave
• A sail to the Mikozi village
• Guided Nature walk Hike
• Guided Boat Cruise on Lake Kivu
• Well Bottled mineral water for drinking

Tour Exclusions

• Air Tickets
• Visas
• All meals enroute, in Cities/Towns
• Personal insurance
• Personal expenses (tips, souvenir shopping, laundry etc.)
• All optional/Alternative activities
• All items not included in the itinerary