8 Days Rwanda Gorilla & Cultural Safari

8 Days Rwanda Gorilla & Cultural Safari

Overview

Explore Rwanda beyond mountain gorillas, enjoy a memorable gorilla trekking experience combined with educative cultural tour while on our uniquely designed 8 days Rwanda Gorilla & Cultural Safari. Destinations of interest on your 8 days Rwanda Gorilla & Cultural Safari; Volcanoes National Park for mountain gorilla encounter, Nyungwe Forest National Park for up close with chimpanzees and canopy walk experience. This long 8-day, 7 nights Rwanda safari tour begins and ends in Kigali.

8 Days Rwanda Gorilla & Cultural Safari -Rwanda Safari Booking

Brief Itinerary – 8 Days Rwanda Gorilla & Cultural Safari 

Day 1: Welcome to Rwanda

Day 2: Nyungwe Forest National Park with visit to Butare

Day 3: Chimpanzee tracking & canopy walk

Day 4: Kibuye with an afternoon relaxation at Lake Kivu

Day 5: Lake Kivu to the Twin Lakes -Burera & Ruhondo

Day 6: Gorilla Trekking

Day 7: Golden monkey tracking/Dian Fossey trek

Day 8: Volcanoes N.P to Kigali, city tour & departure

Detailed Itinerary -8 Days Rwanda Gorilla & Culture Safari

Day 1: Welcome to Rwanda

A warm welcome to Rwanda by your Rwanda Safari Booking driver guide. Transfer to a hotel to check in for relaxation and for early arrivals, enjoy a short city tour in Kigali capital and visit key tourist sites like Kigali genocide memorial site, local markets especially Kirimonko, and more.

Accommodation

  • Luxury: Kigali Marriott Hotel/Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Centre
  • Midrange: Kigali Serena Hotel/Heaven Restaurant & Hotel/Retreat
  • Budget: Puma Guesthouse Kigali

Day 2: Nyungwe Forest National Park with visit to Butare

Transfer to Rwanda’s premier primate safari destination, Nyungwe Forest National Park located in the Southwestern side of the country. A journey of about 6-7 hours from Kigali includes en-route stopover at Butare to visit the National Museum, King’s Palace Museum etc. Lunch will also be enjoyed at Butare, then continue with drive to Nyungwe N/Park to check in at the lodge.

Accommodation

  • Luxury: One & Only Nyungwe House
  • Midrange: Nyungwe Top View Hotel
  • Budget: Gisakura Guesthouse

Day 3: Chimpanzee tracking & canopy walk

Over 13 primate species live in Nyungwe Forest, and today, you will be part of the most memorable chimpanzee trekking experience. This amazing primate adventure lasts for 2-4 hours, and you will be led by an experienced guide. Maximum of 1 hour is guaranteed for a close encounter, learning more about the daily behaviors of chimpanzees, and photography. More primates including l’hoest monkeys, vervet, baboons, blue monkeys, plus birds should be expected.

Have adequate time to chill at the comfort of your lodge when you return from chimpanzee trek, enjoy lunch and proceed for canopy walk 2 hours experience. Expect to encounter more primates, forest birds and beautiful Nyungwe Forest canopy.

Accommodation

  • Luxury: One & Only Nyungwe House
  • Midrange: Nyungwe Top View Hotel
  • Budget: Gisakura Guesthouse

Day 4: Kibuye with an afternoon relaxation at Lake Kivu

After a hefty breakfast, head off to Lake Kivu, Rwanda’s largest fresh water lake also an ideal place for swimmer on safari in Rwanda. This lake is shared by both Rwanda and D.R. Congo, East-Central African states.

Accommodation

  • Luxury: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel/Cleo Lake Kivu Hotel
  • Midrange: Kivu Lodge
  • Budget: The Palm Beach Resort Lake Kivu

Day 5: Lake Kivu to the Twin Lakes -Burera & Ruhondo

Transfer from Lake Kivu to the Twin Lakes, Lake Ruhondo & Burera located near Volcanoes National Park home to 30% of the world’s endangered mountain gorillas that also share the same habitat with golden monkeys. Expect to enjoy an exciting boat ride on the Twin Lakes, and after proceed to Volcanoes National Park for your next Rwanda safari tour.

Accommodation

  • Luxury: Five Volcanoes Hotel/Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
  • Midrange: Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge/La Palme Hotel/Le Bambou
  • Budget: Kinigi Guesthouse

Day 6: Gorilla Trekking – 

Rise up for breakfast, after transfer to Kinigi headquarters of Volcanoes National Park to get briefed about gorilla trekking rules. It will be a long gorilla trek, expected to last for 2-6 hours which also includes one hour of magical encounter, photography with endangered mountain gorillas in the wild.

Retreat from the gorilla trek and have a relaxed afternoon, then the next visit will be at Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village. Explore Rwanda’s distinct cultures, norms, traditions and also experience the amazing dances, music performance and more.

Accommodation

  • Luxury: Five Volcanoes Hotel/Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
  • Midrange: Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge/La Palme Hotel/Le Bambou
  • Budget: Kinigi Guesthouse

Day 7: Golden monkey tracking/Dian Fossey trek

Enjoy a hefty breakfast in the morning, and after, proceed to Kinigi headquarters once again for briefing on golden monkey tracking rules. This is expected to go for 2-4 hours, inclusive of 1 hour of magical encounter and photo taking. In the afternoon, there is an option to walk to Dian Fossey or relax at the lodge.

Accommodation

  • Luxury: Five Volcanoes Hotel/Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
  • Midrange: Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge/La Palme Hotel/Le Bambou
  • Budget: Kinigi Guesthouse

Day 8: Volcanoes National Park to Kigali, city tour & departure

Return from Ruhengeri region to Kigali, go tour historical sites before drop off to the airport or hotel for relaxation. This marks the end of 8 days Rwanda gorilla & cultural safari.

End of the 8 Days Rwanda Gorilla & Cultural Safari

Inclusions

  • Gorilla, chimpanzee & golden monkey permits
  • Canopy walk
  • All trip activities or experiences as per the itinerary
  • Accommodation 7 nights, plus meals
  • Travel in a 4×4 tourist vehicle + guide services

Exclusions

  • Tips
  • Laundry
  • Telephone