The overview
This one-week Rwanda safari itinerary is fascinating and ideal for those who want to indulge in exhilarating yet adventurous activities in the land of a thousand hills. This 7-day Rwanda gorilla trekking, Karisimbi hike, and Nyungwe forest safari is one way to thoroughly appreciate Rwanda’s natural splendor.
You will trek the endangered mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park, go up Mount Karisimbi, which is 4,705 meters above sea level, and then depart to Lake Kivu for a boat tour and relaxation.
Then, proceed to Nyungwe Forest National Park for a thrilling chimp trekking safari and canopy walk, which is reputed to be the best canopy walk in the entire East African region, providing excellent views of many animal and flora species
The highlights of this safari
- Chimpanzee and gorilla trekking adventures
- Exploration of twin lakes
- Canopy walk
- Musanze caverns exploration
- Lake Kivu boat cruise and lake shore relaxation
- Gisenyi town tour
- Hiking of Karisimbi Mountain
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Transfer from Kigali to Volcanoes National park
You will embark on a drive after breakfast for 4- to 5-hour to Volcanoes National Park. After checking into the lodge, you go on a tour into the Musanze caverns. These caves are over 60 million years old; during the journey, you will learn more about the caves’ history, genocidal periods, and creation. The rest of the day is spent learning about the history of the caves before returning to the resort for relaxation, dinner, and an overnight stay.
Meal plan: All meals are included
Day 2: Gorilla trekking and exploration of twin lakes
After having breakfast, proceed to Kinigi’s park headquarters to be briefed and sorted into eight groups. On average, tracking gorillas takes 2-6 hours, with an hour of actual contact with the gorillas once found. The journey up to the gorillas’ favorite habitat, the bamboo forest, entails steep muddy slopes, dense vegetation, slick underfoot after rain, and a high altitude.
A general degree of fitness is advantageous. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is recognized as one of the world’s most extraordinary wildlife encounters. Return to your hotel for a filling meal and some well-deserved relaxation.
In the late afternoon, go to the twin lakes of Ruhondo and Bulera. Volcanic eruptions in Northern Rwanda, notably the eruption of Muhabura volcano (which is now assumed to be dormant), caused lava flows from volcanoes to block the Nyabarongo river’s route, resulting in the construction of these lakes. Previously, Rwanda’s main river, the Nyabarongo, flowed northward to Ndorw. You’ll be driven back to the lodge for an overnight stay.
Day 3: Hike Mount karisimbi
You will hike Mount Karisimbi Volcano after breakfast. You will begin your ascent accompanied by armed rangers. You’ll trek up 3700 meters above sea level in roughly 6-7 hours, then spend the remainder of the day at camp, preparing to summit the next day.
Meal plan: All meals are included
Day 3: Hike Mount karisimbi
You will hike Mount Karisimbi Volcano after breakfast. You will begin your ascent accompanied by armed rangers. You’ll trek up 3700 meters above sea level in roughly 6-7 hours, then spend the remainder of the day at camp, preparing to summit the next day.
Meal plan: All meals are included
Day 4: Hike to the summit and descend to the starting point and be transferred to Lake Kivu
You will wake up in the camp in the morning and climb until you reach the peak. While at the summit, you will be rewarded with several attractions, including other volcanoes. Because the Virunga massif has eight volcanoes, one may see the tops of some of them while at the summit of Karisimbi.
View the crater lakes, calderas, and other breathtaking sights. Then you’ll be transported to a local hotel for lunch before continuing on to Gisenyi, where you’ll spend the evening relaxing along the shores of Lake Kivu.
Meal plan: All meals are included
Day 5: Gisenyi town exploration, boat cruise on Lake Kivu and transfer to Nyungwe national park
After a leisurely breakfast, check out of the lodge and meet with the driver for a brief city tour of Gisenyi before proceeding to the Lake coast for a boat excursion to explore the lake’s numerous lovely islands and take in the breathtaking views of the surrounding area.
Throughout the boat ride, many bird species such as pelicans, crowned cranes, and malachite kingfishers can be viewed. Depending on how busy the day is, this boat journey might last for two hours. Following that, you will be transferred from Gisenyi to Nyungwe Forest National Park, Rwanda’s best primate park with 13 primate species. Check into the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Meal plan: All meals are included
Day 6: Gorilla trekking and canopy walk
After an early breakfast, the driver guide will drive you to the park headquarters for a training on chimp trekking rules and regulations. Following the instruction, you will be assigned a chimp group to trek with a park guide who is well-versed with forest pathways. Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park takes between 30 minutes and 4 hours, depending on where they are located, since they like to go deep into the forest in search of food, particularly during the dry season.
Once the chimp family is located, you will be able to spend one hour with the chimps in their natural environment, where you will learn about their lifestyle, habits, and behaviors, as well as witness chimps milk, feed, snap photos, and film the moments. Following your one-hour interaction with the chimps, you will return to the park headquarters and then to the lodge for some relaxation.
After lunch, you’ll embark on a canopy walk, which is one of the park’s most adventurous and exhilarating activities. Nyungwe National Park is East Africa’s only national park that offers this fantastic activity. The canopy walk began in 2010 at the Uwinka Visitor’s Center and travels through massive trees across steep and deep valleys densely forested. The canopy walk lasts about 2 hours and provides amazing views of the forest canopy, birds, and butterflies, primates such as blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, and tree species. Enjoy the evening at the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Meal plan: All meals are included
Day 7: Transfer back to Kigali city for departure
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before departing on a 6-7 hour drive back to Kigali city, passing through tea plantations, rolling hills, and genocide memorial sites, among other sights that will make the journey worthwhile. Depending on the schedule of your flight, you will be dropped off at a hotel in Kigali or at Kigali international airport for departure, bringing this safari to a close.
Meal plan: Breakfast and lunch
INCLUSION 7 DAYS RWANDA SAFARI ADVENTURE (GORILLA TREKKING)
- Gorilla and chimpanzee trekking permits
- Activities mentioned in the itinerary
- All accommodation provided
- An English or French speaking professional driver/guide
- Transportation
- Taxes/VAT
- Roundtrip airport transfer
Meals as specified in the day-by-day section and drinking wate
Exclusions
- International flights
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
- Tips to guides and porters
- Personal items like souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees,
- Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
- Medical insurance