8 Days Explore Rwanda Gorillas, Chimps & Culture Tour
This 8 Days Explore Rwanda Gorillas, Chimps and Culture Tour takes you to the top three national parks in Rwanda including Akagera National Park, Volcanoes National Park and Nyungwe Forest National Park where you will get to do a range of activities from viewing savanna wildlife, tracking mountain gorillas, golden monkeys and chimpanzees to visiting unique cultural sites such as Ibyi’wacu and Nkosi Villages where you will learn more about Rwanda’s unique and exciting cultures.
Highlights for 8 Days Explore Rwanda Gorillas, Chimps & Culture Tour
Day 1: Arrive in Kigali.
Day 2: Transfer to Akagera national park and Ihema Boat Cruise.
Day 3: Early morning game drive and transfer to volcanoes national park
Day 4: Gorilla Trek and Afternoon Cultural Tour to Nkosi Village
Day 5: Bisoke (Visoke) Hike & Visit Ibyi’wacu Village
Day 6: Golden monkey trek & Transfer to Nyungwe.
Day 7: Chimpanzee tracking and Canopy Walk
Day 8: Guided Nature walk & Transfer Back to Kigali
Detailed Itinerary For 8 Days Explore Rwanda Gorillas, Chimps & Culture
Day 1: Arrive in Kigali.
Following your arrival, you will be welcomes by our company representative/ guide. You will then set off for Kigali with en route visits to Nyanza Kings palace for cultural visit, Butare national museum and Murambi genocide museum among others and transfer to the hotel for dinner and overnight at hotel in Kigali.
Day 2: Transfer to Akagera national park and Ihema Boat Cruise.
Have breakfast and transfer to Akagera national park where you will arrive in time for lunch at the lodge and later embark on the afternoon boat cruise on Lake Ihema where you will see game like hippopotamuses, Crocodiles and many bird species that live around the lake and the surrounding swamps. Dinner and overnight at your preferred lodge.
Day 3: Early morning game drive and transfer to volcanoes national park.
Rise up early and go for a game drive with great anticipation of seeing the different animals which rise early to graze and predators looking for their early morning kill. After the game drive, return to the lodge to freshen up and embark on your journey to Volcanoes national park with lunch en-route, arriving Ruhengeri in the evening. Dinner and overnight stay at your chosen lodge.
Day 4: Gorilla Trek and Afternoon Cultural Tour to Nkosi Village
Have a light breakfast and grab your packed lunches and set out to the park headquarters at 7am to get the morning brief before your trek on what to expect, the do’s and don’ts and also get a chance to book your porter and all the hiking gear you may need. Set out into the forest in search of the gorillas. Trek with the rangers for about 2 to 7 hours according to the location of the gorillas.
Once you meet these endangered animals, you will be allowed 1 hour to enjoy their presence and it is in this magical hour that you get to take photos and study the lifestyles of the mountain gorillas in their families as they go about their daily routines. Connect back to your lodge for lunch and relax for a while.
After lunch, you will head out for a cultural tour to Nkosi village near the park. Get a chance to mingle with the local people as you get to learn more about the Rwandan culture through dance and singing performances. You can also opt to learn how local beer is made using bananas or go through the traditional bridal ceremony and learn how Rwandans in the past married off their daughters. Later return back to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay same as above.
Day 5: Bisoke (Visoke) Hike & Visit Ibyi’wacu Village
You will enjoy breakfast and set out for Mt. Bisoke hike which is part of volcanoes national park; home to Rwanda gorillas. On reaching the summit, you will discover a beautiful crater lake and the whole experience is overwhelming! Along the trail, you will discover a lot of birdlife and captivating scenery – the reason Rwanda is referred to as the “land of a thousand hills”.
Meet your driver / guide and transfer back to the lodge for lunch. If you feel strong, you will head out for a cultural tour to Ibyi’wacu village which is located outside volcanoes national park. Watch dance and singing performances from the local intore dance troupe, learn how traditional craft items are made and learn more about the Rwandan cultures. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge.
Day 6: Golden monkey trek & Transfer to Nyungwe.
Breakfast will be served early and you will go for Golden monkey trekking, then enjoy Ibyi’wachu cultural tour and transfer to Nyungwe forest national park with lunch en-route. Dinner and overnight stay at your chosen lodge.
Day 7: Chimpanzee tracking and Canopy Walk
Enjoy breakfast and go for briefing before entering the forest, searching for the active and playful fellows in Nyungwe forest. The Chimpanzees are the easy to spot, as they jump from one tree to another, chattering and laughing. Chimp tracking usually takes about 3 hours. You will then return to your accommodation for lunch. After lunch, you will go on a walking trail that will take you to the Canopy Walk, a swing bridge 50 meters in length that is suspended from large trees. You will be able to see the amazing rainforest with a bird’s eye view, spotting wildlife moving about below you. Before night fall, you will return to the hotel for dinner and overnight at lodge same as previous night.
Day 8: Guided Nature walk & Transfer Back to Kigali
Have breakfast at leisure then drive to the park for a guided nature walk to Kamiranzovu waterfalls. The hike begins at 9am along a 5.9-kilometer trail, taking approximately 3½ hours to complete a round trip. After your hike, have lunch and later transfer to back to Kigali city with a drop off at any preferred location of your choice either at your hotel or Kigali international airport.
End of tour.
Quotation Includes;
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Chimpanzee permit
- Park entrance fees
- Golden monkey permit
- all accommodation as per itinerary
- 4X4 dust-proof safari vehicle (with popup roof) & Fuel
- Full time English speaking driver/ guide
- Park entrance fees
- Boat cruise
- Vehicle entrance fees
- Bottled mineral water while on safari
- All activities as indicated
Excludes;
- All optional activities as indicated
- Tips
- Visa fees
- Air tickets
- All items of personal nature like laundry, phone calls, beer, e.t.c
- Anything else not included in the itinerary
