This complete one-week primate and wildlife expedition includes visit to the leading Rwanda destinations. The 7 days Rwanda safari is all about exploring great destinations such as Nyungwe Forest National Park, Volcanoes National Park, Lake Kivu, Twin Lakes (Ruhondo & Burera), and more. On a city tour, get to Kigali genocide memorial and Kimironko market.
Detailed Itinerary
Day Hotel pick up & drive to Nyungwe (6-7hours)
After a hefty breakfast, check out and you will set off to Nyungwe Forest NP. The long day drive includes en-route visit to Nyanza palace and Ethnographic museum plus lunch. After, you will proceed up to the park where you will check in at the lodge.
Accommodation
- One&Only Nyungwe House –Luxury option
- Nyungwe Top View Hotel –Moderate option
- Gisakura Guesthouse –Basic option
Day 2: Nyungwe chimpanzee encounter and a guided canopy walk
Leave your lodge for briefing at Uwinka/Cyamudongo reception in Nyungwe Forest NP. Get to know the set guidelines for chimpanzee trekking and early enough begin a search for chimpanzees with assigned park guide. The entire chimp trekking involves observing how chimpanzees behave and taking pictures then you return to the lodge.
Nyungwe being an exceptional primate destination, plenty of other primates will be spotted including black and white colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, red-tailed monkeys and others.
In the afternoon, you will have the best of a canopy walk and this includes sighting some primates and flora. The walkway is 60m from the forest floor and stretches up to 200m.
Accommodation
- One&Only Nyungwe House –Luxury option
- Nyungwe Top View Hotel –Moderate option
- Gisakura Guesthouse –Basic option
Day 3: To Lake Kivu
A scenic drive from Nyungwe to Lake Kivu, Rwanda’s biggest freshwater lake. This lake is shared with D.R. Congo and today, you will have the best of afternoon boat ride.
Accommodation
- Lake Kivu Serena Hotel –Luxury option
- Paradise Marahide –Moderate option
- Palm Resort Gardens –Basic option
Day 4: Lake Kivu –Volcanoes N/P
After breakfast, depart from Lake Kivu for Volcanoes National Park. First, you may visit the nearby fishing villages or embark on birding excursion at Lake Kivu. From Lake Kivu, drive off to Volcanoes National Park to check in at the lodge.
Accommodation
- Bisate Lodge/Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel –Luxury option
- Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge/Mountain Gorilla View Lodge –Midrange option
- The Garden Place Hotel/Kinigi Guesthouse –Budget option
Day 5: Gorilla trekking
A delicious cup of tea/coffee be enjoyed early morning and after, connect to Kinigi to get briefed about the guidelines for gorilla trekking and this will be done by the park official. The gorilla groups will be allocated and actual trekking begins at 8:00am lasting for 2-6 hours. Within Volcanoes NP, there are 12 groups of gorillas and each day, only one can be explored by a group of 8 guests.
Once you have come across a family of these apes, you will be allowed to stay face-to-face with them for a maximum of one hour. Later, get back to have a relaxed stay at the lodge till late afternoon when you will be visiting Iby’Iwacu village.
Accommodation
- Bisate Lodge/Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel –Luxury option
- Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge/Mountain Gorilla View Lodge –Midrange option
- The Garden Place Hotel/Kinigi Guesthouse –Budget option
Day 6: Golden monkeys & Twin Lake excursion
Return to Kinigi for briefing and today, it will be about golden monkey guidelines. At 8:00am, leave Kinigi for actual search for golden monkeys with the park guide. Once you have located a troop of these charming primates, you have a guaranteed 1 hour to observe how they behave and taking pictures. After, get back and lunch will be provided at the lodge, relax and you will leave for an afternoon visit to the Twin Lakes.
Accommodation
- Bisate Lodge/Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel –Luxury option
- Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge/Mountain Gorilla View Lodge –Midrange option
- The Garden Place Hotel/Kinigi Guesthouse –Budget option
Day 7: Depart
At leisure, you will have breakfast and after, get ready for your return road trip to Kigali. At Kigali, proceed to Kigali genocide memorial, Kimironko market and also visit the former presidential palace. Later, settle for lunch and continue to the airport for the late afternoon/evening flight back home.
End of safari
Inclusions
- Safari activities except optional
- Transport and accommodation + meals
- Golden monkey & gorilla permits
- Chimpanzee trekking
- Cultural visit and Twin Lake tour
- Bottled drinking water
- Services of a guide/driver on the tour
Exclusions
- Visas
- Tipping
- Airfares
- Insurance
- Telephone
- Cigarettes
- Beverages