Main Info
Experience Rwanda the land of a thousand hills. Track the mountain gorillas, golden monkeys and chimpanzees on this 7 Days Rwanda Safari. Relax at the beautiful Lake Kivu, one of the best places for relaxation in Rwanda.
Trip Itinerary
Day 1: Pick up and Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park
After an early breakfast, you will transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park. En route, you will pass through wonderful and magnificent hills and cultivated countryside. Have a stop over at the royal King’s Palace in Nyanza for a cultural description about the history of Rwanda. Continue and visit the cultural museum at Rwesero. Proceed and reach Butare town where you will have lunch after lunch you will visit the Rwanda National Museum for a tour a round the site. Proceed and reach the Park late afternoon. Upon arrival you will visit the new Visitor’s Interpretive Centre to give you more information about the park such as number of primate species found in the park, types of bird species and other tourist activities carried out with in the Park. Dinner and overnight at Gisakura guest House for Budget/Nyungwe forest Lodge for Luxury
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking
After breakfast, report to the park headquarters in Nyungwe forest for briefing before going for chimpanzee tracking. However, it is advisable to organize packed lunch and plenty of water prior to this expedition since it can sometimes last over 6 hours. In the forest, you will not only see chimpanzees to but also variety of animals and birds like the Rwenzori Turacco, black and white casqued horn bill, colobus monkeys – sometimes as many as 400 in a group. Return late in the afternoon. Return for dinner and Overnight at Gisakura guest House for Budget/Nyungwe forest Lodge for Luxury
Day 3: Forest Nature Walk
After breakfast, you will embark on the forest Nature walk with in the park which will enable you to explore the Park’s unique tourist features including waterfalls and orchids in the high altitude swamps. Return to the lodge for lunch and spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing or Participate in the tea harvesting in the neighboring local communities or Visit a tea factory and learn about the production processes. Dinner and overnight at Peace Guest House on the shores of Lake Kivu for Mid range/Gisakura guest House for Budget/Nyungwe forest Lodge for Luxury
Day 4: Transfer to Kibuye along the shores of Lake Kivu
After breakfast at your lodge/Guest house, you will transfer to Lake Kivu. The lake is one of the great lakes in Africa and is the largest of the fresh water lakes that gleam in the Albertine (Western) rift of the Great Rift Valley. On the shores there is the Kibuye town which is one of the country’s most attractive of lake ports, nestled in a series of interwoven and undulating hills and will offer you spectacular views of the lake and its islands plus the surrounding countryside. En route to the Lake, you will Visit the L’Esperance Orphanage in Kigarama village. You will see how the orphaned children have been helped by donations from different organisations and also from tourists like you. Arrive at your lodge for evening relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Lake Kivu Serena Hotel
Day 5: Transfer to Gisenyi by speed boat and later to Ruhengeri
After breakfast, you will continue with your safari to Gisenyi town with speed boat. This offers beautiful and excellent views of Lake Kivu and it’s a great place to relax while feeling its waterfront and sandy beaches. Upon arrival, you will have lunch and then spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing or visit the host springs which will help you learn more about the formation of the Virunga Volcanic Mountains. Alternatively you can also visit the local projects in the area and interact with project members or visit the local artisans and a local women’s weaving association. In the afternoon you will transfer to Ruhengeri. En route you will visit the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village where you may have a wonderful and interactive experience about the Rwandan traditions, culture and way of life. After this you will continue to the Park reaching in the late evening. Dinner and overnight at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge for Luxury/ Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge for Mid range/Kinigi Guest house or Muhabura lodge for Budget.
Day 6: Gorilla trekking in Parc National Des Volcans
Early in the morning after breakfast and a briefing from the ORTPN officials, set off for the gorilla tracking. This experience of gorilla tracking is a once in a life time adventure. The rangers will lead you deep into the forest in search for the Gorillas. You will move up and down the rugged terrain until you finally meet these harmonious creatures that will entertain you with performances for about 1 hour. The activity in Rwanda can take 3-5 hours since the gorillas move up and down. This is an awe some and exciting moment. Enroute there are a lot of chimpanzees and other types of the primates such as the monkeys, birds and so more. Return for lunch at the Lodge and in the afternoon, visit the Karisoke research center and the graves of Diane Fossey a woman who was murdered because she was protecting these endangered mountain Gorillas. Return for dinner and overnight stay at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge for Luxury/Gorilla nest lodge or Virunga Lodge for Mid range/Kinigi Guest house or Muhabura lodge for Budget.
Day 7: Golden Monkey Trekking and transfer back to Kigali
After breakfast, you will go for golden monkey tracking. This activity also takes like 2-3 hours in the Virunga forest. Later return back to your lodge for early lunch and transfer back to Kigali city reaching in the afternoon. Depending on your time of departure, you will either be transferred to the Airport for your flight back home or be dropped off at your Hotel in Kigali for dinner and overnight stay at your own expenses.
