This is a customised 8 days Rwanda safari which includes gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, canopy walk and golden monkey experience. The trip starts with chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest National Park and ends with Kigali city tour.
- Day 1: Transfer to Nyungwe National Park
- Day 2: Chimpanzee and colobus tracking in Nyungwe
- Day 3: Canopy walk and guided nature walk
- Day 4: Drive to Lake Kivu
- Day 5: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park, Gorilla Trekking and Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village
- Day 6: Golden monkey tracking and twin Lakes Visit
- Day 7: Transfer to Kigali and City Tour
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Day 8: Departure
Day 1: Transfer from Kigali to Nyungwe Forest National Park
Your guide will meet you after breakfast in Kigali for the drive to Nyungwe National Park in southwestern Rwanda. The journey takes about 5 to 6 hours and passes through Rwanda’s rolling hills, tea plantations and rural villages. Along the way, you will have several opportunities to stop for photographs and short breaks.
One worthwhile stop is the King’s Palace Museum in Nyanza, where you can learn about Rwanda’s traditional monarchy. Another interesting stop is the Ethnographic Museum in Huye which displays Rwanda’s cultural history, traditional crafts and archaeology. If you enjoy nature, you can also visit one of the tea estates near Nyungwe to see how tea is grown and processed.
You will arrive at Nyungwe National Park in the afternoon. This ancient rainforest is one of Africa’s oldest montane forests and supports a remarkable variety of wildlife. Besides chimpanzees, the park protects many monkey species, birds, orchids and butterflies. Options for dinner and overnight stay include; One&Only Nyungwe House (Luxury), Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel (Mid-range) and Gisakura Guest House (Budget)
Day 2: Chimpanzee tracking and colobus monkey tracking
Wake up early and head to the park headquarters for a briefing before chimpanzee tracking begins. Rangers will explain the guidelines before leading you into the forest. Chimpanzees move quickly through the trees, making every trek different. You may hear their loud calls before you see them. During the one-hour viewing period, watch them feed, groom, communicate and move through the forest canopy.
After lunch, continue with colobus monkey tracking. Nyungwe has one of Africa’s largest groups of Angolan colobus monkeys. Some troops contain several hundred individuals, creating an impressive sight as they move through the treetops together. If time allows, your guide can include a visit to a nearby tea plantation. Here you can learn about tea harvesting and enjoy beautiful views across the hills.
Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight. Accommodation options include One&Only Nyungwe House, Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel and Gisakura Guest House.
Day 3: Canopy walk and guided nature walk
After breakfast, enjoy the famous Nyungwe Canopy Walk. The suspended bridge stretches above the forest and offers a different view of the rainforest. From here, you may spot monkeys, birds, butterflies and giant trees. Later, continue with a guided nature walk along one of Nyungwe’s forest trails. Your guide will explain medicinal plants, forest trees, and the role of the rainforest in protecting water sources.
One less-visited trail is the Kamiranzovu Marsh Trail. This wetland lies inside the forest and supports orchids, frogs, and many bird species. It also provides a quieter experience away from the more popular routes. Another hidden gem is the Waterfall Trail, where visitors pass through dense forest before reaching a scenic waterfall.
Return to the lodge in the evening. Accommodation options include One&Only Nyungwe House, Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel and Gisakura Guest House
Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Have breakfast, you will leave Nyungwe Forest National Park and transfer to northern Rwanda to the foothills of the Virunga Volcanoes where Parc National Des Volcanoes is found. The drive from Nyungwe to Volcanoes will take you almost 5-6 hours. Upon reaching PNV you will relax as you prepare for your Gorilla trek the next day. Dinner and overnight stay at Kinigi Guest House (Budget)/Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge (Mid range)/ Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (Luxury)
Day 4: Drive to Lake Kivu
The 4th day on your 8 days Rwanda safari, leave Nyungwe and drive north to Lake Kivu. The journey takes about 4 to 5 hours along scenic roads overlooking hills and villages. Lake Kivu is one of Africa’s Great Lakes and sits along Rwanda’s western border. Its fresh waters support fishing communities and offer peaceful lakeside scenery.
After checking into your lodge, take a boat ride to one of the small islands. Napoleon Island is known for its fruit bats while Amahoro Island offers quiet walking trails and beautiful lake views. Visitors interested in local life can explore nearby fishing villages where wooden boats return with the day’s catch. Accommodation options include Cleo Lake Kivu Hotel (Luxury), Kivu Serena Hotel (Mid-range) and Paradise Malahide (Budget).
Day 5: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park, Gorilla Trekking and Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village
Leave Lake Kivu early for the short drive to Volcanoes National Park. The journey takes about 2 to 3 hours. After arriving at the park headquarters, attend the gorilla trekking briefing. Rangers will assign each group to a habituated gorilla family before entering the forest.
After this, you will be accompanied by your ranger guide and start your trek into the forest to search for the habituated Mountain Gorilla family allocated to your group. You are reminded to bring with you packed lunch and bottled Mineral water. In terms of clothes, trekking boots, long sleeved shirts and blouses, rain coats, and Cameras are highly recommended for the trek. The time you will spend in the forest searching for the Gorillas is not predictable as it depends on where they spend the last night. Once you come across the Gorillas, all the troubles you have gone through to reach them will be easily forgotten and instead utilize the1 hour you have with them to get a great experience. You can observe them in terms of behaviors as well as taking photographs.
In the afternoon, visit the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village also known as the Gorilla Guardians Village. Local guides demonstrate traditional dances, farming methods, herbal medicine and former hunting practices that have now changed into conservation activities. Accommodation options include Bisate Lodge (Luxury), Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel (Mid-range) and Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge (Budget)
Day 6: Golden monkey tracking and twin Lakes Visit
Begin the day with golden monkey tracking in Volcanoes National Park. These endangered monkeys live mainly in bamboo forests and are known for their fast movements and colourful golden-orange fur.
After the trek, visit the twin Lakes of Burera and Ruhondo. The lakes lie at the foot of the Virunga Volcanoes and offer peaceful scenery away from busy tourist areas. You may take a boat ride with local fishermen or visit nearby farming communities. The area also provides excellent opportunities for photography because of the surrounding volcanoes and terraced hills.
If time allows, stop at one of the local coffee farms to learn how coffee is grown and processed. Return to your lodge in the evening. Accommodation options include Bisate Lodge, Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel and Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge.
Day 7: Transfer to Kigali and City Tour
After breakfast, drive back to Kigali. The journey takes about 2½ to 3 hours. Begin your city tour with the Kigali Genocide Memorial which explains Rwanda’s history and the events of 1994.
Continue to Kimironko Market, where local traders sell fresh produce, fabrics, baskets and handmade crafts. It is one of the best places to experience everyday life in Kigali. You can also visit the Inema Arts Center which displays paintings, sculptures and other works by local artists.
For a quieter experience, visit Nyandungu Eco-Park. This restored wetland has walking trails, indigenous plants and many bird species. It remains less visited than many city attractions. Spend your final night in Kigali. Accommodation options include Kigali Serena Hotel (Luxury), Hotel des Mille Collines (Mid-range) and Onomo Hotel Kigali (Budget)
Day 8: Departure
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before checking out. Depending on your flight time, you may have time for some last-minute shopping or a short visit to a local coffee shop. Your guide will transfer you to Kigali International Airport for your departure flight, marking the end of your 8 days Rwanda safari.
End of Safari
This Safari Package Covers:
Gorilla Permit
Chimps Tracking Permit
Entrance Fees to Genocide Memorial Museum
Lake Kivu Boatride fees
Park Ranger Fees
Relevant Government Taxes.
Full Board Accommodation (4 nights) and en-route meals as indicated in the itinerary.
Full time English speaking Driver/Guide
Ground Transportation by a 4×4 safari vehicle
Airport transfer, as long as your flight is on the same day on which the safari ends.
Safari Exclusions:
Airfares
Visa Fees
Personal Insurance
Expenses of personal nature such as; drinks, tips, laundry, telephone, cigarettes, accommodation & meals not indicated in the itinerary and optional activities.
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