5 days Lake Kivu and Volcanoes national park safari

Trip Summary

5 days Lake Kivu and Volcanoes national park safari : Take on a 5 day Rwanda safari in the north western part of Rwanda visiting the Lake Kivu and the Volcanoes national park that is famous for the mountain gorillas.

This Rwanda safari is an ideal safari for the guests looking to trek the mountain gorillas and also get to explore Rwanda on the cultural and historical part as you get to visit the Kigali genocide memorial grounds that are established to remember the fallen victims of the 1994 genocide and also visit the Iby’iwachu cultural center that gives guests an insight in the Rwandan culture.

Spare some time to also visit the Dian Fossey Fund museum while on this safari.

Trip Highlights

Day 1: Day in Kigali
Day 2: Transfer to Kivu
Day 3: Drive to Volcanoes for cultural tour
Day 4: Mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park
Day 5: Drive back to Kigali Rwanda

Trip Description

Day 1: Day in Kigali

Meet up with your driver guide at your communicated place of pick up and exchange pleasantries. You will get ready for your Kigali city tour where you will visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial grounds for a brief history in the events of the 1994 Kigali genocide.

Connect to a restaurant in Kigali for lunch and get to have a Rwandan dish and after lunch head out to the Kimironko market where you will get to interact with the Rwandan people and also buy some art crafts for souvenir. Drive back to your hotel for dinner and night stay in Kigali.

Hotel options in Kigali

Step Town Motel for budget option
Des Milles Colline hotel for midrange option
Serena Kigali for luxury option

Day 2: Transfer to Kivu

Have breakfast and after leave Kigali headed northwest of Rwanda to the Lake Kivu-Gisenyi. You will drive about 4 to 5 hours and be welcomed by the cool lake breeze and connect to your hotel in Gisenyi for lunch. After lunch, you may take on a boat trip on the Lake Kivu or spend the day relaxing at the lake enjoying the view of the Virunga Mountains in the back as a beautiful backdrop.

Return to your hotel for dinner and spend the night in Gisenyi

Hotels in Gisenyi

Paradise Malahide for budget
The Palm Beach hotel for midrange
Lake Kivu Serena lodge for luxury

Day 3: Drive to Volcanoes for cultural tour

Enjoy the beautiful morning in Gisenyi and have breakfast at the leisurely note, check out of your hotel and set out on your transfer to Volcanoes national park. You will drive about an hour until you reach your hotel in time for check in and lunch.

In the evening, you may take on a cultural visit to the Iby’iwachu Cultural center where you will get a taste of the Rwandan culture and also get to take part in some of the traditions like dancing and cooking. Return to your hotel for dinner and spend the night in Volcanoes national park.

5 days Lake Kivu and Volcanoes national park safari — Rwanda Cultural tour

Hotels in Volcanoes national park

Bisate lodge for luxury
Le Bambou Gorilla lodge for midrange
Fatima hotel for budget

Day 4: Mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park

As soon as you are done with breakfast, you will head out to the park headquarters where you will receive the activity briefing and head into the forest in search of the mountain gorillas. You will search for about 2 hours or less before you meet your gorilla family of the day.

Spend an hour with the mountain gorillas and exit the park to have lunch and spend the rest of the day at leisure at your hotel. Dinner will be served and you will spend your second night in Volcanoes national park.

Day 5: Drive back to Kigali Rwanda

Have breakfast at your hotel in Volcanoes national park at leisure. You will leave Volcanoes national park headed for Kigali. This is a 4 to 5 hour road transfer with a brief stopover at the Dian Fossey Fund Museum where you get to learn more about Dian Fossey and her work and also enjoy the 5D representation of the Virunga M ountains. Have an enroute lunch and after connect further back to Kigali and be dropped off at your preferred location in Kigali. You may take on the Kigali city tour on this day too.

End of safari