7-Day Highlights of Rwanda Safari: Gorilla Trekking & Chimpanzee Tracking All-Inclusive Guide

This incredible 7-Day Highlights of Rwanda Safari offers the opportunity for once in a lifetime wildlife encounter. You’ll track chimpanzees and spot monkeys, baboons and other wildlife in Nyungwe National Park. Trekking deep into the forests of Parc National des volcanos, you’ll search for endangered mountain gorillas with expert local rangers. You’ll also have an opportunity to explore Kigali and its colorful markets, cross Nyungwe’s Canopy Walkway and kayak on Lake Kivu.

7-Day Highlights of Rwanda Safari Highlights

• Day 1 – Arrive in Kigali
• Day 2 – Kigali to Nyungwe Forest National Park
• Day 3 – Chimpanzee Trekking
• Day 4 – Nyungwe Forest National Park to Lake Kivu
• Day 5 – Lake Kivu to Volcanoes National Park
• Day 6 – Gorilla Trekking
• Day 7- International Inbound Flight

7-Day Highlights of Rwanda Safari Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrive in Kigali

Board your international flight to Rwanda’s capital, Kigali. Once you arrive for the 7-Day Highlights of Rwanda Safari, you will be swiftly escorted by our representative who will transfer you to your chosen accommodation. As this is your first day, you will have time to leisurely explore Rwanda’s lively city.

You’ll have an opportunity to visit the bustling local markets and the Caplaki Craft Co-operative where you’ll find local craftsmen in wooden huts. They’ll be selling handicrafts, including jewellery, paintings, batik, fabrics, wood carvings, traditional masks, baskets, bags, scarves and beading.

• Accommodation: Heaven Boutique Hotel – Mid-range hotel located in or near Kigali
• Meals & Drinks: Meals at own expense, Drinks not included

Day 2 – Kigali to Nyungwe Forest National Park

After breakfast, you’ll be driven through spectacular scenery to Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda’s mountainous southwest. The rain forest within the park is home to chimpanzees and monkeys, plus an abundance of birdlife and butterflies.

• Accommodation: One & Only Nyungwe House – Luxury+ lodge bordering Nyungwe NP without fences
• Meals & Drinks: Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included), Drinks not included

Day 3 of 7-Day Highlights of Rwanda Safari – Chimpanzee Trekking

Today, you’ll join a guided hike through the dense forest of Nyungwe National Park to track chimpanzees. This is a phenomenal wildlife experience that is at par with gorilla tracking. Whilst the trek is undoubtedly exciting, it can be challenging as the chimps are very mobile and they’re always running around in the canopies, on the move from one place to another.

During your time in Nyungwe National Park, you’ll also have an opportunity to cross the Canopy Walkway, a 200-meter bridge suspended between giant trees, 50 meters above the forest. The walkway offers incredible views of the upper canopy and it is excellent for spotting wildlife. Many of the primates live in trees so you’ll have better chances of locating them from the walkway. It is also a fantastic way to see the birds and butterflies that are found in the forest.

• Accommodation: One & Only Nyungwe House – Luxury+ lodge bordering Nyungwe NP without fences
• Meals & Drinks: All meals included, Drinks not included

Day 4 of 7-Day Highlights of Rwanda Safari – Nyungwe Forest National Park to Lake Kivu

Today, you’ll depart Nyungwe and head to your next accommodation which is located on the white sandy shores of Lake Kivu. Here you can relax on the stunning palm-fringed beaches, kayak on the calm waters of the lake, take a boat tour to the nearby islands or coffee and banana plantations. You can also hike in the surrounding hills or visit Imbabazi Orphanage.

• Accommodation: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel – Luxury hotel located in or near Lake Kivu
• Meals & Drinks: Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included), Drinks not included

Day 5 of 7-Day Highlights of Rwanda Safari – Lake Kivu to Volcanoes National Park

After a hearty breakfast at Lake Kivu Serena Hotel, you’ll be driven from Lake Kivu to Parc National des volcanos (Volcanoes National Park), which is roughly a four-hour drive passing through breathtaking scenery. On arrival at your accommodation, you’ll have a briefing about tomorrow’s gorilla trek.

• Accommodation: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel – Mid-range lodge located just outside Volcanoes NP
• Meals & Drinks: All meals included, Drinks not included

Day 6 of 7-Day Highlights of Rwanda Safari – Gorilla Trekking

After an early breakfast, you’ll venture out to Kinigi, at the foothills of the Virungas, in Parc National des volcanos where you’ll begin your trek. Your guide and tracker will lead you deep into the forest in search of your allocated gorilla family. Your trek could last from 30 minutes to eight hours depending on the exact location of the specific gorilla family which you’re tracking.

When you meet the gorillas, you’ll have the chance to spend up to one magical hour quietly observing them. The gorillas are likely to be just a few meters away from you and they will continue to go about their daily lives, feeding and interacting with each other, under the watchful gaze of the silverback.

Late in the afternoon, you’ll be transferred back to your accommodation where you can spend the evening reflecting on your incredible encounter with the wild mountain gorillas of Rwanda.

• Accommodation: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel – Mid-range lodge located just outside Volcanoes NP
• Meals & Drinks: All meals included, Drinks not included

Day 7- International Inbound Flight

On this morning, you’ll be driven back to Kigali, where you’ll have an opportunity to visit the Genocide Memorial and Education Centre which is a permanent memorial to those who were killed during the 1994 genocide.

You will then be transferred to the airport for your flight home.

• Main Destination: Kigali (City)
• Accommodation: No accommodation (End of tour)
• Meals & Drinks: Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included), Drinks not included

End of 7-Day Highlights of Rwanda Safari

Important to Know

• Rates are per person and exclude the international flight from/to your home country.
• This 7-Day Highlights of Rwanda Safari accepts children who are 16 years and older.

7-Day Highlights of Rwanda Safari Inclusions and Exclusions

Package Include

• Park fees (For non-residents)
• Gorilla permits (One per person, non-resident)
• Chimp permits (One per person, non-resident)
• All activities (Unless labelled as optional)
• All accommodation (Unless listed as upgrade)
• A professional driver/guide
• All transportation (Unless labelled as optional)
• All flights during the tour
• All Taxes/VAT
• Roundtrip airport transfer
• Meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)

Package Exclude

• International flights (From/to home)
• Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
• Tips (Tips)
• Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
• Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
• Some meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)
• Drinks