7 days Rwanda: Gorilla Tracking in Volcanoes National Park, Chimp Tracking in Nyungwe Forest, and a Tranquil stay at Lake Kivu

Welcome to Rwanda! Upon arrival, our tour representative will welcome you and transfer you to your hotel in Kigali. The drive from the airport is short, at 20 minutes, and offers a glimpse of the bustling city. Check into your hotel, enjoy a delicious dinner, and stay overnight.

Early this morning, after breakfast, drive to Nyanza for an experience in Rwandan culture, traditions, and history. On arrival in Nyanza, visit the King’s Palace Museum, a replica of the one from Rwanda’s ancient Kingdom. About 40 minutes away, in Butare, is the Ethnographic Museum, a place where some of Africa’s finest collections of archaeological, artistic, historical, and ethnographic artefacts are displayed.

A combination of these visits is perfect for all history and culture lovers. Take a break for lunch at a nearby restaurant, and then proceed to your next destination, Nyungwe Forest.

Today, you get to see chimpanzees in one of Africa’s largest and oldest montane forests, Nyungwe Forest. The activity starts at 5:00 AM with a short briefing before the hike. Chimpanzees are agile, social apes; they tend to move quickly. Therefore, we recommend that guests keep fit before their trips. When you find the chimps, you will spend 1 hour observing one of the habituated chimp families/troops.

After your time with the chimpanzees, hike a little more to the famous canopy bridge, a one-of-a-kind bridge in all of Africa. From up here, you will have a 360-degree view of this ancient forest and even see the rest of its inhabitants, such as colobus monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, owl-faced monkeys, and other smaller primate species. Return to your hotel after a fun- filled day for dinner and an overnight stay.

Lake Kivu is one of East Africa’s great lakes and is shared by Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Formed by volcanic activity millions of years ago, this lake is pristine and surrounded by beautiful mountains. On arrival, check into your accommodation, and enjoy the hotel amenities and a view of Rwanda’s largest lake.

Later in the evening, unwind on a relaxing sunset boat cruise on the stunning Lake Kivu. Enjoy the backdrop of the hills, the beauty of the sunset, and the distant chatter of the local fishermen. Return to your hotel and spend the rest of the evening at leisure.

Transfer to Volcanoes National Park and check into your accommodation. After a brief rest/ lunch, head out to the Dian Fossey-Ellen DeGeneres campus. This research center is dedicated to the world-famous work of Dian Fossey and showcases innovative conservation efforts in the Volcanoes and its wild residents.

Today is gorilla tracking day! Your driver/guide will take you to the Volcanoes National Park headquarters for a short briefing before you embark on your journey to see the famous mountain gorillas. You get to spend 1 hour with them in their lush bamboo forest before heading back to your lodge for the night. This excursion can last anywhere from 30 minutes to 6 hours or more and requires a good level of physical fitness.

After gorilla tracking, return to your lodge for lunch, and then visit the Gorilla Guardians’ Village, locally known as the Iby’iwacu Cultural Village. Here, you will learn about Rwandan culture, participate in a traditional dance, and meet some rehabilitated poachers who are now dedicated to protecting the Volcanoes National Park.

After a delicious breakfast this morning, check out of your lodge and then return to the forest to see the golden monkeys before you return to Kigali. Golden monkeys are arguably one of the most photogenic primates in the wild. Their cute faces and fur with a golden hue make for a stunning sight against the forest green. As with the gorillas, you will spend 1 hour with them before driving back to Kigali for your departing flight.

END OF TRIP