We introduce you to a captivating 7-Day safari through the heart of Rwanda, a land of unparalleled beauty and diverse ecosystems.
Upon your arrival in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, you will be warmly welcomed to the “land of a thousand hills.” Your driver/guide will be standing at the Arrivals Hall holding a placard with your name so you cannot miss him. After the meet and greet, you will transfer to the hotel you have chosen for an overnight stay. If your flight lands in the morning or early afternoon, you’ll have the opportunity to embark on a short city tour of Kigali, including a visit to the Kigali genocide memorial.
After breakfast this morning, visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial and visit a few crafts markets. Marvel at local craftsmanship in the marketplace and you can buy some crafts and souvenirs. You will then commence the scenic drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park, a haven for 13 different species of monkeys and the famous canopy walk. You will make a lunch stop in Huye town formerly known as Butare. Huye hosts the ethnographic museum of Rwanda. On a visit to the museum, you will learn about the culture and history of the Rwandan people. From Huye, you continue and later will arrive at Nyungwe, where you can rest and prepare for the exciting days ahead.
Part of the Albertine Rift eco-region, Nyungwe is expansive and awe-inspiring. This beautiful oasis, adjacent to Lake Kivu and close to the borders of Burundi and the DR Congo, sprawls over 970 km² of lush green montane forest. Chimpanzee treks in Nyungwe start at 5.30am so you are up early today to make it to the Uwinka centre. Your guide will take you to the briefing area, where you meet your community guide and receive instructions before commencing the trek. Nyungwe Forest boasts a rich ecosystem known for its botanical diversity and as a habitat for 13 primate species, including chimpanzees, L’Hoest monkeys, and Colobus monkeys, along with over 300 bird species. In the afternoon, you will be transferred to the Uwinka centre to start your canopy walk as you explore the park from a super vantage point – high in the tree canopies.
After breakfast, you set off for Musanze district via Kibuye, with views of Lake Kivu. You will enjoy lunch en-route. After lunch, continue along Rwanda’s winding roads in the land of a thousand hills until you reach Ruhengeri in the evening. Check-in at the lodge you have chosen and rest as tomorrow holds more exciting adventures.
Today, you’ll have the unique opportunity to meet the mountain gorillas that live in the forested highlands of the Virunga ranges. The gorilla trek begins with a briefing at the park headquarters in Kinigi, where you’ll be assigned a ranger and a gorilla family to trek. Following the briefing, your ranger guide will lead you to the starting point of the trek, which may require a short drive depending on the location of the gorilla group. The trek through their habitat is a truly unforgettable experience, with the duration varying from minutes to hours, depending on the gorillas’ nesting location. Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. When you finally locate the family that you are tracking, take in everything as you watch the gorillas go about their day – feeding on the green leaves, bamboo shoots, wild celery, stinging nettle and wild fruit. If there are juvenile gorillas, enjoy them play about and take it all in. Take lots of pictures (and a selfie if you happen to have a gorilla in your selfie frame) and video as the one-hour will be over before you know it. You return to your lodge for a hot lunch and relaxation. In the late afternoon, you visit the Gorilla Guardians Village or the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village, where you can immerse yourself in Rwandan culture. Participate in activities like becoming a “King” or “Queen” for a day, trying your hand at knitting, learning to use a bow and arrow, and enjoying songs and folklore from Rwandan society. The word Iby’Iwacu is a Kinyarwanda word that means “Treasures of our home and heritage”. The village combines all of Rwanda’s known cultural traditions, people and history into one place for display and a personal experience. Visitors get to see what life was in a typical African village setting – the lifestyle, houses, traditional dance and song, dressing code, the food, herbs and how ancient kingdoms were generally organized. Visitors are given an opportunity to learn ancient hunting skills, try their hands at basket weaving/mats, carpentry. After this cultural experience, you’ll transfer to Lake Kivu for relaxation and downtime before continuing to Nyungwe Forest National Park for a chimpanzee trek.
Today’s adventure begins with golden monkey tracking at the base of Volcanoes National Park. Following this, embark on a hike to visit the Dian Fossey Research Center, dedicated to the conservation of gorillas in Rwanda. Return to the lodge for a relaxing lunch and in the late afternoon, take a nature walk to the Twin Lakes for breathtaking views and photography opportunities.
On your final day, after breakfast, you’ll depart from Nyungwe and head back to Kigali. At Kigali, you will visit Nyandungu Eco Park. Here, you can enjoy lunch and can make the 10km walk if you like. Later, you will be taken to the airport in time for you to check-in for your onward flight home.
Optionally: Extend to Lake Kivu for relaxation
We introduce you to a captivating 7-Day safari through the heart of Rwanda, a land of unparalleled beauty and diverse ecosystems. This Great Primates Safari Tour promises a deep dive into the country’s rich natural and cultural heritage. From the enchanting Nyungwe Forest National Park, teeming with a plethora of monkey species, to the majestic mountain gorillas in the Volcanoes National Park and the serene shores of Lake Kivu, every day brings a new adventure. This meticulously crafted itinerary offers the quintessential Rwandan experience, ensuring memories that will last a lifetime.