Itinerary
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and drive to Volcanoes national park
On your arrival at Kigali International airport, you will be picked and welcomed by your driver/guide who will drive you around Kigali – Rwanda’s capital. The drive will take you to amazing places in the city like the genocide site where several Rwandese lost their lives in 1994. Also, you will visit different markets, art galleries and big supermarkets in the city for shopping.
Later after lunch in the city, you will embark on your journey to Volcanoes national park which is about 80 kilometers from Kigali. Expect to arrive at the lodge of your booking in the late evening hours. Check in, have dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Budget – Kinigi Guest House
Mid-range – La Palme Hotel
Luxury – Mountain Gorilla View lodge
Day 2: Gorilla trekking experience and cultural tour
Wake up for your breakfast at the lodge and then meet your driver for your transfer to the headquarters of the park by 8 am for pre trek briefing where you will be told about the dos and don’ts during gorilla trekking experience. After, you will embark on the amazing adventure which is gorilla tracking which involves hiking through the park rainforests in search of the endangered mountain gorillas. The experience takes about 30 to 6 hours depending on the location of the assigned gorilla group. After the allocation of these species, you will be able to enjoy their daily lifestyles like playing, breastfeeding and others. Also, during the experience, you will be able to spot other animals like the golden monkeys, elephants, buffaloes as well as beautiful bird species.
After gorilla trekking, you will be driven back to the lodge for lunch and refreshments and later go for a community walk where you will visit the locals for cultural entertainment through their performances like dances, songs and others. Later, you will walk back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Budget – Kinigi Guest House
Mid-range – La Palme Hotel
Luxury – Mountain Gorilla View lodge
Day 3: Transfer to Lake Kivu
Known as the largest lake in the Republic of Rwanda, Lake Kivu is located on the border of Rwanda and Congo. The lake is located in Kibuye which just two hours drive from Kigali. While at the destination, enjoy different experiences like swimming, water skiing and canoeing. Lake kivu is one of the best destinations in Rwanda after gorilla trekking national park. While on the waters, you will see various bird species and animals like crocodiles, hippos and others along the shores.
Accommodation – Kivu Serena hotel (luxury)
Paradise hotel-deluxe (mid-range)
Paradise hotel-standard (budget)
Day 4: Drive to Nyungwe forest national park
In the morning after breakfast, transfer to Nyungwe forest national park with an enroute lunch. The forest is known for protecting a number of primate species including the wild chimpanzees, red tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys and many others. Upon the arrival, you will check in at the lodge of your booking for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation options: Nyungwe forest lodge – Luxury
Nyungwe Top View Hotel – Midrange
Gisakura Guest House – Budget
Day 5: Chimpanzee trekking and a nature walk
Wake up for your early morning breakfast and then prepare for your transfer to the park headquarters for chimpanzee tracking experience. The activity starts with a pre trek briefing where you will be told all the dos and don’ts during the experience. After the brief, you will head to the park forests to search for the endangered apes and when found, you will be allowed to spend an hour in their presence as you take photos and also enjoy their daily lifestyles.
Later after the experience, you will return to the lodge for lunch and later go for a for a nature walk through the forests of the park. The walk will provide you with an excellent view of different species like birds, primates, insects and others. After, you will move back to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation options: Nyungwe forest lodge – Luxury
Nyungwe Top View Hotel – Midrange
Gisakura Guest House – Budget
Day 6: Transfer to Akagera national park
Have your early breakfast and leave Nyungwe forest national park to Akagera national park with an enroute lunch. During the transfer, you will visit Rwanda national museum and also cross to Nyanza cultural village where you will enjoy the cultural practices of Rwanda.
Accommodation at Akagera lodge (luxury)
Akagera game lodge (midrange)
Akagera game lodge (budget)
Day 7: Game viewing and boat ride on Lake Ihema
After the early breakfast, you will go for an early morning game drive where you will see several animals like lions, waterbucks, duikers, bushbucks, topis, oribis, klipspringer, roan antelopes, impala, elands and others.
After the game drive, you will go back to the lodge for lunch and later go for a boat cruise on the clam waters of Lake Ihema. The cruise will reward you views of different water species like birds, crocodiles, hippos and others.
Accommodation at Akagera lodge (luxury)
Akagera game lodge (midrange)
Akagera game lodge (budget)
Day 8: Transfer to Kigali, city excursion and departure
In the morning, have your breakfast at the lodge and then prepare for your drive to Kigali where you will have a city tour in places like markets, craft shops and others. Later, you will proceed to Kigali international airport for your departure flight.
