7 Days Nyungwe, Lake Kivu and Volcanoes Safari
This 7 Days Nyungwe, Lake Kivu and Volcanoes Safari is the perfect tour if you are looking to see primates and gorillas during your visit to Rwanda. During this 7 days Rwanda safari, you will visit Nyungwe forest national park for chimpanzee and primates trekking, then drive to Lake Kivu for a coffee tour at Kinunu Washing station. You will then visit Volcanoes National Park for gorilla and golden monkey trekking as well as a cultural visit to Iby’iwacu Village, and a tour of the Dian Fossey Center at Karisoke. This tour begins and ends in Kigali city.
Highlights for 7 Days Nyungwe, Lake Kivu and Volcanoes Safari
Day 1: Pickup from Kigali & Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park- Visit Gisakura Tea Estate
Day 2: Chimpanzee tracking and Canopy Walk
Day 3: Primate Trek and Afternoon Half-Day Guided Hike to Isumo Waterfalls
Day 4: Transfer Lake Kivu Gisenyi- Afternoon Coffee Tour at Kinunu Washing Station
Day 5: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park- Gorilla Trek and Visit Iby’iwacu Village Tour
Day 6: Golden Monkey Trek and Visit Dian Fossey Museum at Karisoke
Day 7: Transfer to Kigali (Approximately 3 hours’ drive)
Detailed Itinerary for 7 Days Nyungwe, Lake Kivu and Volcanoes Safari
Day 1: Pickup from Kigali & Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park- Visit Gisakura Tea Estate
In the morning, you will be picked up by the driver from your hotel in Kigali and embark on a 6-hour drive to Nyungwe national park. You will have a stopover visit to the King’s Palace in Nyanza and lunch en route to the park. You will then proceed with your drive to the park, where you will arrive in time to take a tour of Gisakura Tea Estate, where you will be taken on a tea-making process. You will take a tour of the grand tea estate and learn how tea is harvested, stored, processed, and packaged for domestic sale and exportation. You will wind up your tour with a taste of Rwanda-made tea.
Later, drive to your lodge/ hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Chimpanzee tracking and Canopy Walk
Enjoy breakfast and go for a briefing about the endangered chimpanzees before entering the forest in search of the active and playful fellows in Nyungwe forest. The Chimpanzees are much easier to spot as they jump from one tree to another, chattering and laughing. Chimpanzee tracking usually takes about 3 hours. On finding them, spend an hour taking pictures and videos. You will then return to your accommodation for lunch.
After lunch, you will embark hike to the Canopy walkway bridge- 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.
After you’re your hike from the canopy walkway bridge, return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 3: Primate Trek and Afternoon Half-Day Guided Hike to Isumo Waterfalls
Have breakfast and head out to the park’s headquarters in Uwinka for a briefing. After your briefing, you will begin your hike in the forest in search of Black &White colobus monkeys. This hike can take anywhere between 4-6 hours or more, depending on its location. Once you have located a primate troupe, you will be given an hour to spend in their midst and monitor their behaviors. Have your packed lunch and then head back to base, where you will find your driver guide waiting for you.
Later in the afternoon, you will embark on an afternoon guided hike in Nyungwe forest, where you will be visiting Isumo waterfalls. This is a 4-hour hike to and from, and you will get to see a lot of wildlife and bird species during your hike.
After your hike, return back to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 4: Transfer Lake Kivu Gisenyi- Afternoon Coffee Tour at Kinunu Washing Station
After breakfast at your lodge, check out and embark on a 4-5 hour drive to Lake Kivu in Gisenyi. Arrive in time to check in at your lodge and have lunch. Later in the afternoon, you will head out to Kinunu Washing Station for a coffee tour, where you will be taken through Rwanda’s coffee-making process and wind up your tour with a tasty cup of coffee. Feel free to purchase some coffee bags as a souvenir and also support the local community.
Retire to your hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park- Gorilla Trek and Visit Iby’iwacu Village Tour
Wake up early in the morning and check out of your hotel. Embark on an hour’s drive to Volcanoes National Park, where you will arrive at the headquarters in Kinigi, where you will be briefed before heading into the forest in search of mountain gorillas. Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park can take between 3-6 hours or more, depending on their location. You will be given an hour to spend with the gorillas once you have located your gorilla family.
After lunch, you will head out for a cultural tour at the Ibyi’wacu Cultural Tour. Get to learn more about the locals and how they have been transformed from being poachers and have been integrated into the park’s conservation programs. You will also visit the former King’s Palace, dress in traditional Rwandan attire, and watch dance performances from the local dance troupe.
Dinner will be served at your lodge.
Day 6: Golden Monkey Trek and Visit Dian Fossey Museum at Karisoke
Wake up to an early morning breakfast and report to the park headquarters for briefing and allocation of Golden Monkey trekking groups. Later, you will head into the cold and misty forested slopes of Virunga National Park for your primate trek.
The trek can be anywhere between 2 to 6 hours, depending on the movement of the primates, 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. After lunch, you will head out for a visit to the renowned Dian Fossey museum at Karisoke center. This center was formerly used as a research base by the late Dian Fossey and her team. Get a chance to learn more about her research work and contribution towards the conservation and habituation of mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park.
Return back to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 7: Transfer to Kigali (Approximately 3 hours’ drive)
Have breakfast early in the morning, and your driver guide will drop you off at Kigali International Airport or the hotel of your choice, as you will advise.
