11-Day Rwanda Safari | Primates, Lake Kivu & Landscapes
Discover Rwanda’s stunning wildlife, wild places and fascinating people with us.
An 11-day Rwanda safari offers an in-depth exploration of the “Land of a Thousand Hills,” combining premier gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest, and wildlife viewing in Akagera National Park. It often includes cultural tours in Kigali, golden monkey tracking, and relaxation at Lake Kivu.
With our 11-Day Rwanda Safari; Gorillas, Primates & Landscapes tour, you can expect a life-changing vacation filled with unforgettable moments, breathtaking landscapes, an abundance of wildlife, and friendly, helpful locals. Get up close and personal with mountain gorillas while learning about their preservation efforts, see a Genocide Memorial Site, participate in lion monitoring, stroll the beautiful Ivi River Trail, and immerse yourself in a variety of fascinating, real-life cultural activities.
A Detailed 11-Day Rwanda Safari | Primates, Lake Kivu & Landscapes
Day 1: Departure
Reach the capital of Rwanda, Kigali, by air. Upon your arrival, you will be greeted and taken to the Heaven Restaurant & Boutique Hotel, a suburban establishment, where you will spend the night.
Staying at Heaven Boutique Hotel
Day 2: Kigali – Nyungwe Forest National Park
You will be picked up and taken to Nyungwe Forest National Park this morning. On the way, you will stop in Butare to see the National Museum.
You will spend the next two nights enjoying a full breakfast at the picturesque Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel, which is perched on a hill in the Nyungwe Forest.
Day 3: Chimp tracking, canopy walk & forest walks!
You will be driven about 30 minutes to Cyamudongo Forest today; this is the site of most of the chimpanzee tracking trips. Chimpanzee tracking is a fun morning activity that you will enjoy. Keep in mind that the area where the chimpanzees live has some rather steep inclines. You should bring rain gear in case of bad weather. In order to find these elusive creatures, guides will bring you into the forest.
In the afternoon, you’ll go on a fascinating canopy walk where you can see monkeys, birds, and butterflies from a vantage point high above.
Day 4: Nyungwe Forest National Park – Kibuye, Lake Kivu
You have a long and beautiful trip (about five hours) on unpaved roads to Kibuye, on the beaches of Lake Kivu, this morning.
You will spend the night at the rustically elegant Cormoran Lodge, which is located on a steep hill that leads down to the coast of the lake, and where you will be served a full breakfast.
Staying at Cormoran Lodge
Day 5: Kibuye – Gisenyi, Lake Kivu
You will drive north to Gisenyi (around 2 hours) after a leisurely morning. Gisenyi offers an opportunity to discover a picturesque post-colonial boulevard frontage, a little sandy beach, and palm trees. Enjoy the remainder of the day at your leisure. Activities such as swimming, fishing, boating, walking, and trekking are available to you at the lake.
Your two-night, full-board stay will begin with check-in at the charming Serena Lake Kivu Hotel, which is situated right on the lake’s edge.
Staying at Serena Lake Kivu Hotel
Day 6: Explore Gisenyi!
Lake Kivu, located at a beautiful elevation, is the perfect place to unwind and have some downtime today. A stroll through the adjacent residential area and a stop at the market are also within your reach.
Day 7: Gisenyi, Lake Kivu – Parc National des Volcans
You will be transferred to Parc National des Volcans after spending a tranquil morning by the lake.
After a long day of touring, you’ll reach the park’s edge and spend the next three nights at the Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, where you’ll have a full breakfast each day.
Staying at Five Volcanoes Hotel
Day 8: Gorilla tracking!
You will be escorted to the park headquarters after breakfast at 07:00 for a briefing on proper behaviour while monitoring gorillas. The next step is to be paired with a group of knowledgeable rangers who will accompany you into Parc National des Volcans in search of a habituated gorilla family.
It can take anything from half an hour to many hours to get to the gorillas in a dense forest. Once you’ve found the gorillas, you’ll have no more than an hour to spend with them.
Day 9: Golden monkey tracking!
After getting the rundown at park headquarters, it’s time to go in search of these rare monkeys who live only in the Albertine Rift, in the thick bamboo forests that surround it. You have the entire afternoon to unwind at your own pace.
Day 10: Parc National des Volcans – Kigali
In the morning, you’ll go to the Musanze Cave to see the interesting rock formations and huge bat colonies.
In the afternoon, you will be taken back to Kigali and taken to the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre, an exhibition about the Rwandan genocide that is both historically accurate and deeply disturbing.
Stay the night at the Heaven Restaurant & Boutique Hotel, which is situated in a city suburb.
Staying at Heaven Boutique Hotel
Day 11: Kigali – Kigali Airport
After a leisurely breakfast, you will get the chance to tour Kigali and see the Niyo Art Gallery, Kimironko Market, and the Inema Art Center.
Lastly, you will be taken back to Kigali Airport so that you can check in for your next flight.
End of the 11-Day Rwanda Safari | Primates, Lake Kivu & Landscapes
Inclusions
- Accommodation and meals as listed
- All transfers and transportation
- Services of private professional experienced English-speaking driver/guide, including bottle mineral water in vehicle.
- Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project presentation
- All excursions and activities
- National park permits/fees
Exclusions
- International flights to/from Rwanda
- Single room supplements
- Tip, gratuities, and expenses of a personal nature