This 6 days safari will start and ends in Kigali. The tour takes visits to Nyungwe, a huge afro-montane forest where you will carry out Chimpanzee Tracking. With over 10,000sq km in size, Nyungwe is the undisputed giant in Central Africa. The natural forest is renowned for its large troops of colobus monkeys, chimpanzees, butterflies and a rich variety of orchids. Over 300 bird species have been recorded.

Other places to see are cultural sites in Kigali City, the museum in Butare.

You will visit Volcanoes National Park in the north of Rwanda where about 300 mountain gorillas live to track gorillas.

  • Kigali City Tour
  • Genocide Memorial site
  • Chimpanzee Tracking
  • Gorilla Tracking

Day 1: Arrival in Rwanda

Day 2: Kigali City Exploration

Day 3: Transfer to Nyungwe En-Route Tour Butare

Day 4:  Chimpanzee Tracking in Nyungwe

Day 5: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park

Day 6: Gorilla Tracking & return to Kigali

 

Day 1: Arrival in Rwanda

Arrive in Rwanda at Kigali International Airport where you will be welcomed by the tour guide who will then transfer you to your hotel for a night.

Accommodation: Great Season hotel.

Day 2: Kigali City Exploration

Start historical-minded exploration of Kigali city with visits to landmarks from colonial, post-independence, genocide and post-genocide times i.e. Kigali Solaire, Stade regionale, Kigali Genocide memorial site where over 259,000 genocide victims were put to rest in mass graves, Dr. Richard Kandt Museum who was the first Germany explorer to settle in Kigali, Belgian camp where they killed the 10 Belgian UN soldiers who were protecting the moderate prime minister before the start of genocide etc. Transfer to Bugesera in the afternoon to visit the reconciliation village where the survivors of genocide live together in harmony with the perpetrators that killed their own families, Nyamata and Ntarama genocide churches where thousands of innocent people were butchered in the house of God.

Accommodation: Great Season hotel

Day 3: Transfer to Nyungwe En-Route Tour Butare

En-route visit the Basilica of Kabgayi, the first catholic cathedral in Rwanda; Murambi genocide memorial, historical-minded exploration of Nyanza – visit the King’s palace and traditional Rwanda home; the National Museum, introduction to Rwanda’s kingdoms, discovery of colonial architecture, enjoy traditional dancers from the museum or the national university. Proceed to Nyungwe Forest.

Accommodation: Nyungwe Top View Hotel.

Day 4:  Chimpanzee Tracking in Nyungwe

Early breakfast at 4:30 am then drive to the edge of the forest where chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe starts. In the afternoon, visit the waterfalls inside the rain forest which also gives you the opportunity to see rare plants, birds and smell the unique forest flowers etc.

Accommodation: Nyungwe Top View Hotel.

Day 5: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park

Transfer from Nyungwe National Park to Volcanoes National Park via Ngororero route. The journey takes around 9 hours but on good roads or follow the dirt bumpy road that meanders around Lake Kivu with beautiful scenery of “1000 hills and a million smiles”. The drive will take more than 10 hours but it’s a great drive through the remotest villages of Rwanda as you enjoy local lifestyles along the Congo-Nile trail. You will have packed lunch and enough water plus juice on the drive.

Accommodation: Le Bambou Lodge.

Day 6: Gorilla Tracking

Brief of the day: Early breakfast at 6am then transfer to the park at 6am for briefings and grouping. Option to visit Buhanga forest in the afternoon where all the Rwanda kings were initiated or Kinigi Cultural Village for traditional dances and music, bio-mimicry and traditional healing lessons.

Volcanoes National Park:

After breakfast we transfer to the park. After completing our park formalities, we are embark on a once in a life time experience of tracking mountain gorillas.

Once you spot them you are allowed to spend an hour watching your closest long lost cousin. This is perhaps one of the most breathtaking wildlife experiences on earth!!! You get so close to these awesome giant primates. You stare at each other blankly not knowing who to break the long silence first. Tracking the gorillas through the light mountain forest on the slopes of the Virunga is a magical experience.

Be back at the base in time for lunch! Some gorilla families however are more elusive and tracking can take a full day, especially when it is wet and muddy. Return to Kigali.

OPTIONAL: Day 7: Golden Monkeys & Airport Transfer

Return to the entrance of the Park early in the morning to see the Golden Monkeys. It is now believed that they are the only feasible population of Golden Monkeys residing in Volcanoes National Park. They are beautiful and endangered primates which have become quite habituated to humans, making it possible to observe them closely. After lunch at the Lodge, transfer to Kigali then Kigali International airport or an overnight.

No. of Person Price per person
2 USD 4,714
4 USD 4,166
6 USD 4,029
8 USD 3,984

Tour Package Includes:

  • Airport transfers
  • Full board Accommodation ( all meals inclusive)
  • Kigali city tour & reconciliation village educational tours,
  • Park entry fees
  • Thrilling Gorilla & Chimpanzee Trekking Permits
  • Waterfall hike & Canopy walk
  • Historical – cultural site tours
  • Experiential community based tours
  • Ground transport
  • Professional driver guides & trekking guides
  • Taxes and Administrative costs.

Tour Package Excludes:

  • Visa fees
  • Health & travel insurance
  • Flights
  • Personal expenses on alcoholic drinks, laundry, tips and phone expenses.

Courtesy reminder

  • The above rates are based on contract rates of the current period. A final quote will be provided upon confirmation
  • The rates quoted are non commissionable
  • The above is a tentative quote, confirmation of rooms are subject to availability at the time of booking
  • Reservation request on hold will be considered as confirmed booking
  • Quotes may change without prior notice, whether there is any fluctuation in prices
  • Transfers and tours will be according to the itinerary provided at the time of booking.