7 Days Best of Rwanda Wildlife Safari
This 7 Days Best of Rwanda Wildlife Safari is operated by Explore Rwanda Tours and takes you on an adventurous journey through Rwanda’s countryside and top primate national parks- Volcanoes and Nyungwe Forest national parks. Main highlights of this 7 Days Best of Rwanda Wildlife Tour include; gorilla and golden monkey trekking, hiking Mount Bisoke, the singing fishermen of Lake Kivu, chimpanzee trekking and the canopy walkway in Nyungwe forest. This tour starts and ends in Kigali city but can also be customized to your liking.
Highlights for 7 Days Best of Rwanda Wildlife Safari.
Day 1: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park.
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking Volcanoes NP Rwanda.
Day 3: Bisoke Hike
Day 4: Golden Monkey Trekking and Transfer to Lake Kivu (Gisenyi)
Day 5: Morning boat cruise and Transfer to Nyungwe Forest national park
Day 6: Chimpanzee tracking and Canopy Walk.
Day 7: Transfer Back to Kigali
Detailed Itinerary for 7 Days Best of Rwanda Wildlife Safari.
Day 1: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park.
Following your arrival, you will be welcomed by our company representative/driver guide from Explore Rwanda Tours and embark on a short tour of Kigali city where you will visit the Genocide memorial center, Richard Kandt House Museum and Kimironko market. You will then have lunch and transfer to your hotel in Volcanoes national park arriving at Ruhengeri for dinner and an overnight stay at lodge/hotel.
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking Volcanoes National Park and Visit Iby’iwacu Village
Wake up to an early morning breakfast and report to the park headquarters for briefing and allocation of Gorilla trekking groups. Later, you will head into the cold and misty forested slopes of Virunga massif for your Gorilla trek.
The trek can be anywhere between 2 to 6 hours depending on the movement of the Gorillas and upon finding them, you will be allowed 1 hour to see and take photos after which you exit the forest.
Meet your driver/guide and transfer back to the lodge. Later in the afternoon for a cultural tour at Ibyi’wacu Cultural tour. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge/hotel.
Day 3: Bisoke Hike
After having your breakfast early in the morning, you will be driven to the park’s briefing point where you will be briefed before commencing your hike to the summit of Mount Bisoke.
Hiking Mount Bisoke usually takes 4-6 hours depending on your group’s hiking pace. You will get to see lots of birdlife during your hike and if you are lucky, you just might stumble upon a few gorillas.
Once you arrive at the summit, you will be graced with beautiful views of the caldera lake as well as panoramic views of the park and other mountains in the Virunga Massif such as Mt. Karisimbi, Mt. Muhabura, Mt. Sabyinyo and Mount Gahinga among others. Have your packed lunch which you carried from your lodge earlier.
Later head back to base where you will find your driver guide waiting for you and then drive back to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at same lodge as previous night.
Day 4: Golden Monkey Trekking and Transfer to Lake Kivu (Gisenyi)
Breakfast will be served early and drive back to the park headquarters for briefing and Golden Monkey trekking. The procedure is the same as gorilla trekking but lasts only 3 to 5 hours including an hour that you will spend with the golden monkeys once they have been located. You will then return to the lodge for lunch and to freshen up and later transfer to Lake Kivu for dinner and overnight at lodge/hotel.
Day 5: Morning boat cruise and Transfer to Nyungwe Forest national park
Wake up to a tasty breakfast and meet up with your driver guide. You will head out for a morning boat cruise on Lake Kivu where you will get a chance to explore the lake, interact with the local fishermen and also get to view bird species like the White-breasted Cormorants, African Fish Eagles and Pied Kingfishers among others. You will then transfer to Nyungwe forest national park arriving in time for lunch at the lodge. Spend the rest of your evening relaxing at the lodge/hotel. Dinner and overnight stay at hotel/lodge.
Day 6: Chimpanzee tracking and Canopy Walk.
Have breakfast and attend a briefing before entering the forest to look for lively and playful companions in Nyungwe forest. Chimpanzees are simple to detect because they hop from one tree to another while talking and laughing. Chimp tracking often takes 3-4 hours or more, depending on their location. Following your trip, you will go on a two-hour canopy walk on a 50-meter-long swing bridge strung from enormous trees. You’ll be able to observe the magnificent jungle from above, observing wildlife as it moves about below. Before nightfall, you will return to the hotel for supper, as previously said. Dinner and overnight stay at a lodge or motel.
Day 7: Transfer Back to Kigali
This will be a more leisurely trip back to Kigali, with stops at the King’s Palace and the Butare Museum before connecting with Kigali for drop-off. If you have some free time on this day, you can take an optional city tour of Kigali. Drop off will be at Kigali International Airport or as you choose.
End of Tour!
