Overview
This incredible 7-day Rwanda adventure provides once-in-a-lifetime wildlife encounters. In
Nyungwe National Park, you’ll track chimps and see monkeys, baboons, and other wildlife.
With expert local rangers, you’ll trek deep into the forests of Parc National des Volcans in
search of endangered mountain gorillas. You’ll also have the chance to visit Kigali and its
vibrant markets, cross Nyungwe’s Canopy Walkway, and kayak on Lake Kivu.
HigLights
- Travel from Nairobi to the Masai Mara National Reserve
- Full-day Masai Mara safari
- Masai Mara Full Day
- Masai Mara to Lake Nakuru National Park
Itinerary
Board your international flight to Kigali, Rwanda's capital. When you arrive, you will be
quickly escorted by our representative, who will transport you to your preferred
accommodation. As this is your first day, you will have plenty of time to explore Rwanda's
vibrant capital.
You'll have the opportunity to visit the bustling local markets and the Caplaki craft cooperative, where you'll find local craftsmen selling handicrafts such as jewelry, paintings, batik,
fabrics, wood carvings, traditional masks, baskets, bags, scarves, and beading in wooden huts.
After breakfast, you'll be driven to Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda's mountainous
southwest. The park's rain forest is home to chimps and monkeys, as well as an abundance of
bird life and butterflies
Today, you'll go on a guided hike through Nyungwe National Park's dense forest in search of
chimps. This is an incredible wildlife experience on par with gorilla tracking. While the trek is
undoubtedly exciting, it can also be difficult because the chimps are very mobile and are
constantly running around in the canopies, moving from one location to another.
During your visit to Nyungwe National Park, you will also have the opportunity to cross the
Canopy Walkway, a 200-meter bridge suspended 50 meters above the forest between giant
trees. The walkway provides incredible views of the upper canopy and is excellent for spotting
wildlife (many of the primates live in trees, so you'll have a better chance of spotting them from
the walkway), as well as a fantastic way to see the forest's birds and butterflies.
Today you will leave Nyungwe and travel to your next destination, which will be on the white
sandy shores of Lake Kivu. Relax on the stunning palm-fringed beaches, kayak on the lake's
calm waters, take a boat tour to nearby islands or coffee and banana plantations, hike in the
surrounding hills, or visit Imbabazi Orphanage.
Following a hearty breakfast at Lake Kivu Serena Hotel, you will be driven from Lake Kivu to
Parc National des Volcans (Volcanoes National Park), a four-hour drive through breathtaking
scenery. When you arrive at your lodging, you will be briefed on the upcoming gorilla trek.
After an early breakfast, you'll travel to Kinigi, in the Parc National des Volcans, at the foothills
of the Virungas, to begin your trek. Your tracker and guide will take you deep into the forest
in search of your designated gorilla family. Depending on the exact location of the gorilla
family you're tracking, your trek could last anywhere from 30 minutes to eight hours.
When you meet the gorillas, you will have the opportunity to spend up to an hour quietly
observing them. The gorillas will most likely be just a few meters away from you, going about
their daily lives - feeding and interacting with one another - under the watchful gaze of the
silverback. You will be transferred back to your accommodation in the late afternoon, where
you can spend the evening reflecting on your incredible encounter with Rwanda's wild
mountain gorillas.
This morning, you will be driven back to Kigali, where you will have the opportunity to visit
the Genocide Memorial and Education Centre, a permanent memorial to those killed during
the 1994 genocide. You will then be driven to the airport to catch your flight home.
All Included
- Airport pick-up and drop-off in Kigali
- All ground transportation in a comfortable 4x4 safari vehicle
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide
- Accommodation as per itinerary (mid-range or luxury, depending on package)
- Meals as specified in the itinerary (full board during safari days)
- Gorilla trekking permit (1 trek per person)
- Golden monkey trekking permit
- Chimpanzee trekking permit (Nyungwe Forest)
- Park entrance fees for all national parks visited
- Guided city tour of Kigali
- Cultural experiences and community visits
- Bottled drinking water during safari days
- All government taxes and VAT
All Excluded
- International and domestic flights
- Rwanda visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses (laundry, phone calls, souvenirs)
- Alcoholic and soft drinks not included in meals
- Tips and gratuities for guides, drivers, and lodge staff
- Optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary
- Extra accommodation before or after the tour
- Medical expenses and vaccinations