7-Day Rwanda Gorillas, Chimps, and Wildlife Safari

7-Day Rwanda Gorillas, Chimps, and Wildlife Safari will include most of Rwanda’s safari destinations such as Akagera National Park for a game drive and viewing and Nyungwe Forest National Park for chimpanzee tracking and a canopy walk. Continue to Volcanoes National Park for a once-in-a-lifetime experience of gorilla trekking, and a moment of relaxation in the cool breeze of Lake Kivu. This tour will start and end in Kigali city.

 

Day 1: Arrival at Kigali Airport and transfer to Akagera National Park

Upon arrival at Kigali Airport, you will meet with your safari guide who will give you a general brief about the 7-day safari. Afterward, you transfer to Akagera National Park, about 3 hours from the city center. Akagera National Park is Rwanda’s only savannah park protecting the Big Five mammals including the re-introduced black rhinos and lions. You reach the lodge early in the evening for relaxation, dinner, and an overnight stay at the lodge.

 

Main Destination: Akagera National Park

Accommodation: Akagera Rhino Lodge

Meal Plan: Dinner with Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

 

Day 2: Game drive and viewing, afternoon boat cruise

Wake up very early to a cup of refreshing coffee and head out for a 6:00 am game drive where you are likely to spot predators like lions and leopards hunting their prey. You will also see giraffe, antelope, eland, topi, and bushbuck. Return to the lodge for a late breakfast and lunch. Later in the afternoon, go for a boat cruise on Lake Ihema to get up close to the crocodiles, hippos, and waterbird species including pelicans, African fish eagles, and malachite kingfishers among others. Return to the lodge for dinner and your overnight stay.

 

Main Destination: Akagera National Park

Accommodation: Akagera Rhino Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner with Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

 

Day 3: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park

After breakfast, you transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park in the southwestern part of Rwanda (about a 6-hour drive). En route, you will make a stopover in Butare to visit the museum and another in Nyanza to visit the traditional King’s Palace. Settle for lunch, and afterward, continue to your destination.

Nyungwe Forest National Park is a block montane forest that offers great scenic views of Lake Kivu and Lake Tanganyika. It is also known for its numerous primate species, 75 different mammal species, and a variety of birdlife. You will arrive at the lodge in the evening for dinner and your overnight stay.

 

Main Destination: Nyungwe National Park (Chimps)

Accommodation: Gisakura Guest House

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner with Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

 

Day 4: Chimpanzee tracking and canopy walk

After breakfast, you will head to the Uwinka Visitor Center for a briefing before the chimpanzee tracking which starts at 07:30 am. You will enter the forest in the company of the ranger guides to search for the chimpanzees where they were last seen, and when they are located, you can enjoy an hour with them. You will then return for lunch at the lodge.

In the afternoon, you will go for a canopy walk between 50 – 60 meters above the ground, the highest forest bridge in East Africa. It’s an amazing experience to photograph the Nyungwe landscape and spot birds and primates. Return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

 

Main Destination: Nyungwe National Park (Chimps)

Accommodation: Gisakura Guest House

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner with Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

 

Day 5: Transfer to Lake Kivu

Today you will proceed on the drive to Lake Kivu. When you arrive in the early afternoon, you can enjoy relaxing at the beach and participate in water sports like swimming, canoeing, and jet boats. You can also choose to take a boat cruise exploring the many islands and enjoy scenic views. Later, return for dinner and overnight at the lodge.

 

Main Destination: Lake Kivu

Accommodation: Paradise Malahide

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner with Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

 

Day 6: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park

After breakfast, you travel north driving through the rolling green hills of Rwanda. Volcanoes National Park is a popular destination for a gorilla-tracking experience with over 10 habituated gorilla families that forage on the slopes of the Volcano ranges within the park. The park is also known for the endangered golden monkeys, and with luck, you may spot one while trekking to see the gorillas. You will have a stopover en route for refreshments and then proceed to the park. Check in at the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

 

Main Destination: Volcanoes National Park (Gorillas)

Accommodation: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner with Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

 

Day 7: Gorilla tracking and transfer to Kigali

Today, you will wake up for an early breakfast at 7:00 am and drive to Kinigi Park headquarters for the do’s and don’t’s about the mountain gorillas. Gorilla tracking is a memorable experience that may involve trekking for long hours depending on how far the gorillas have moved, but it is worth it when you finally find the gorillas. You will spend a full hour with the gorillas while taking photographs, and observing them while feeding, playing, and mating. Later, we return to the starting point and transfer back to Kigali for drop-off at the hotel or airport for departure.

 

Main Destination: Kigali

Accommodation: No accommodation (End of tour)

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch with Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

End of your 7-Day Rwanda Gorillas, Chimps, and Wildlife Safari