Overview
This 6 Days Rwanda Primate Safari offers a unique opportunity to explore some of the country’s most treasured destinations. Starting and ending in Kigali, this journey takes you to Volcanoes National Park for an unforgettable gorilla trekking experience, Lake Kivu for serene relaxation and a canoe ride, and Nyungwe Forest National Park for either chimpanzee trekking or a thrilling canopy walk. Along the way, you’ll enjoy breathtaking scenery, cultural encounters, and exceptional wildlife adventures.
Things To Consider
- You’ll visit Rwanda
- This tour starts and ends in Kigali (Rwanda)
- You’ll visit Volcanoes National Park, Lake Kivu, and Nyungwe Forest National Park
- Activities: Gorilla trekking, Chimpanzee trekking or Canopy Walk, Lake relaxation & Canoe Ride
- Getting around: Open-sided 4×4 vehicle and pop-up roof 4×4 vehicle easy for wildlife viewing
- A transfer from and back to the airport (or hotel) is included
Things To Note
- Accommodation is Inclusive
- Tour Can Depart any day
- Tour can be customized
- Solo travelers can join this tour
- Age Limit: 15 years and above for Gorilla trekking
Detailed Itinerary
Arrival
- You’ll be picked up from the airport (or hotel)
- Accommodation before the tour departs can be arranged for extra cost
DAY 1: Pick up and Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Morning: Arrival and do Kigali City Tour
Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, your professional guide will welcome you and take you for a brief city excursion around Kigali, including a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre and local markets.
Afternoon: Transfer to Ruhengeri
After the city tour, you’ll proceed northwards through scenic terraced hills to Volcanoes National Park in Ruhengeri.
Evening
Check in at your lodge and enjoy a relaxing evening before your gorilla trekking adventure.
Main Destination: Volcanoes National Park
Accommodation:
- Budget: Home Inn
- Mid Range: Le Bamboo Gorilla Lodge / Da Vinci Lodge
- Luxury: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel / Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Meals: Lunch & Dinner (Breakfast Not Included)
Drinks: Drinking Water
DAY 2: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Morning: Briefing and Trek
After an early breakfast, drive to the park headquarters for a briefing. You’ll be assigned a gorilla group and guides who will accompany you through the forest. The trek takes between 1 to 6 hours depending on the gorillas’ location.
Afternoon: Return to lodge and Relaxation
Return to the lodge for lunch and spend the rest of the day relaxing after your thrilling experience.
Evening:
Enjoy dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Main Destination: Volcanoes National Park
Accommodation:
- Budget: Home Inn
- Mid Range: Le Bamboo Gorilla Lodge / Da Vinci Lodge
- Luxury: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel / Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Meals: All Meals Included
Drinks: Drinking Water
DAY 3: Drive to Lake Kivu for Relaxation & Canoe Ride
Morning: Transfer to Gisenyi Lake Kivu
After breakfast, drive to Gisenyi, a town on the shores of Lake Kivu. The scenic journey allows you to enjoy Rwanda’s lush hills and beautiful lake views.
Afternoon: Canoe Ride and Leisure
Enjoy a canoe ride to the hot springs and experience traditional fishing practices. Spend the rest of the day relaxing at the lake with beautiful sunset views.
Evening:
Check in and relax at your lakeside resort.
Main Destination: Lake Kivu
Accommodation:
- Budget: View Palm Resort
- Mid Range: Paradise Malahide / Palm Garden Resort
- Luxury: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel
Meals: All Meals Included
Drinks: Drinking Water
DAY 4: Drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park
Morning: Transfer
After breakfast, embark on a scenic drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park. The route offers excellent views of Lake Kivu and lush tea plantations.
Afternoon: Arrival and Relaxation
Arrive in time for lunch and spend the afternoon relaxing at the lodge preparing for the next day’s adventure.
Evening:
Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge near Nyungwe Forest.
Main Destination: Nyungwe Forest National Park
Accommodation:
- Budget: Gisakura Guest House
- Mid Range: Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel
- Luxury: One&Only Nyungwe House
Meals: All Meals Included
Drinks: Drinking Water
DAY 5: Chimpanzee Trekking or Canopy Walk in Nyungwe Forest
Morning: Activity
After an early breakfast, head to the park headquarters for a briefing. You can choose between chimpanzee trekking—an adventurous hike in search of these lively primates—or the adrenaline-pumping canopy walk that offers views of the forest from above.
Afternoon/Relaxation
Return to the guest house for lunch and spend the afternoon at leisure.
Evening/Accommodation
Dinner and overnight stay at the guest house.
Main Destination: Nyungwe Forest National Park
Accommodation:
- Budget: Gisakura Guest House
- Mid Range: Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel
- Luxury: One&Only Nyungwe House
Meals: All Meals Included
Drinks: Drinking Water
DAY 6: Return to Kigali via Butare National Museum
Morning: Transfer
After breakfast, drive back to Kigali via Butare with en route, stop to visit the Ethnographic Museum in Huye (Butare) a rich display of Rwanda’s cultural history.
Afternoon: Arrival in Kigali
Arrive in Kigali in the afternoon for your flight home or drop-off at your hotel, marking the end of your tour.
Main Destination: Kigali
Accommodation: End of Tour – No Accommodation
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Drinks: Mineral Water
End of Tour
- Additional accommodation can be arranged for extra cost
- You’ll be dropped off at the airport (or hotel)
This safari is available on a private basis so you can contact us for a Quote. Provides us with details of how many people you will be in a group, when you intend to travel and one of our specialists will reply to you as soon as we receive your email
Cost Includes
- Airport transfers on first and last day,
- Transport in a 4×4 safari vehicle
- Services of an English speaking driver guide
- Fuel for the whole trip
- Accommodation and meal plan as per the itinerary
- All park entrance fees
- Drinking water while in the vehicle
Cost excludes
- Gorilla permit at USD1500.00 per person per trek(we book it for you)
- Pre and post tour accommodation in Entebbe or Kampala
- International airfares
- Rwanda Visa which should be requested online at least two week before safari
- Items of personal nature such as tips, drinks, and laundry
- Gorilla permits: We encourage you to book gorilla permits in advance so that we secure your trekking spot. Gorilla permits are served on first come first serve by Rwanda Development Board (RDB). Please contact us so that we book them for you.
- Cost of the gorilla permit: The gorilla permits in Rwanda cost USD1500 for Non-Foreign residents, USD500 for East African Foreign Residents, USD200 East African Citizens
- Physical Fitness: Gorilla trekking can be physically demanding, a certain level of fitness will be required, please ensure you are in good health and have a certain level of fitness before you leave your country.
- Packing List: Please ensure you have comfortable walking/ hiking shoes that can handle the terrain, a rain Jacket, gloves, Camera, Binoculars,
- Age Limit: The Minimum age for gorilla trekking in Uganda is 15 years and above, please ensure all travelers are aged 15years and above.
- Accommodation Options: Please choose the accommodation that suits your budget, Volcanoes National Park has all options of Budget, Midrange and Luxury.
- Means of Transport: The best means of transport is by road, it takes about 2-3 hours drive to from Kigali to Vocanoes National Park. For budget clients, we recommend use of safari vans, then others can opt for Safari Landcruisers. All vehicles are comfortable with enough leg room, AC and are driven by our professional driver guides.
- Best time to visit: Volcanoes National Park can be visited all year round for gorilla trekking, The most preffered time is June to September, December to February because they are the drier months of the year.
- Chances of Seeing the Gorillas: The chances of seeing gorillas are 98% because there are trackers who follow the movement of gorillas on a daily basis, they communicate to the Park guides and you walk in the direction they are.
- Choose a gorilla family: You can choose your preferred gorilla family of the day of the trek, if you prefer a close/ easy trek due to your fitness level, please request it and communicate to your guide.
- Other activities: There are several activities you can do in Volcanoes National Park; namely Birding, Ibya’ iwachu cutural experience, Nature walks, Community visits. All these can suppliment your gorilla trek in Volcanoes National Park
- Trip cost estimate: The cost of this gorilla tour is based on your travel style. The cost Includes gorilla permit, accommodation, Meals, transport, and all services. Kindly get in touch with our Safari expert
- About Volcanoes National Park: This Park is Situated in the far northwest of Rwanda, Volcanoes National Park protects the steep slopes of this magnificent mountain range – home of the endangered mountain gorilla and a rich mosaic of montane ecosystems, which embrace evergreen and bamboo forest, open grassland, swamp and heath.Volcanoes National Park is named after the chain of dormant volcanoes making up the Virunga Massif: Karisimbi – the highest at 4,507m, Bisoke with its verdant crater lake, Sabinyo, Gahinga and Muhabura.
STANDARD: 4X4 SAFARI VAN
Our standard mode of transport is by road and we use 4×4 Safari Vans customized for game viewing and photography. Each safari van comes with a professionally trained driver guide and fuel for the whole safari. Our Safari vans have viewing hatches and each client is entitled to a window seat. Our Vans can take up to eight people. We also have 4×4 Super Customs very comfortable and stable on the road. These carry up to 5 people with their luggage. We also have 4×4 RAV 4 for a group of two people
UPGRADE: 4X4 LUXURY SAFARI LANDCRUISER
We have luxury latest Land cruisers each driven by professionally trained driver guides and fuel. They have pop-up roofs for proper game viewing and photography. They come with a small fridge for cooling your drinking water while on safari (which is always included while IN THE VEHICLE). They have inverters for charging small gadgets such as your smartphones and cameras. They can seat five to a maximum of seven people and each client is guaranteed of a window seat.
