Ultimate rwanda safari – 10 days

Day 1: Arrival and City Tour

Upon your arrival at the Kigali International Airport, you will be welcome by our guide. He will brief you about the trip and take you around Kigali for a city tour, you will visit the Genocide memorial also you can visit the markets if you wish to. This will mark the start of your Ultimate Rwanda Safari.

Accomodation: Haven Boutique

Day 2: Visit Murambi genocide and Nyanza Palace.

Departure will be at leisure, you will be taken to visit the genocide memorial and later you will transfer to Nyanza Palace to explore the great history of Rwandan Kingship and the remains of the palace that still exists.

Day 3: Drive to Nyungwe National Park.

You will be transferred to Nyungwe Forest the home of the Chimpanzees.  Nyungwe is a biodiversity hotspot bursting with life. It is the largest high- altitude montane forest in East and Central Africa. One of the one of the oldest rainforests in Africa, harboring exceptional numbers and diversity of flora and fauna. In the afternoon you will do a canopy walk which enables you have amazing views of this beautiful untouched forest. The suspended canopy walk provides and exhilarating perspective with a 360 degree view of the Forest.

Accommodation: Gisakuru guest house

Nyungwe top view Hotel

Day 4: Chimpanzee Trekking.

You will be driven by your guide to the starting point after an early breakfast; at the starting point the park rangers will brief you more about the activity and all necessary measures before embarking on a thrilling hike in search of chimpanzee communities. The Rwanda chimpanzee population is thought to consist of approximately 400-500 individuals, confined to the Nyungwe National Park, including a small community in the Cyamudongo Forest. Prepare to hear these excitable primates before you see them, as their pant-hoots travel through the deep forest. During your hike you may also spot different Primates Like Le’hoest Monkey,  Blue Monkey, Red tailed Monkey among others.

Day 5: Transfer to Lake Kivu Kibuye side with an optional tea picking activity

On this day you will enjoy an early breakfast at your lodge before embarking on the journey to Lake Kivu, an optional tea plantation experience will be done if you request for that activity. The activity is done around the park, you will be shown how the locals pick tea in the land of a thousand hills and also it will make you engage with the locals.Later you will start on a scenic drive to the shore of Lake Kivu (Kibuye side)

Accommodation: Rwiza cultural Village

Day 6: Coffee experience and Boat trip on Lake Kivu

The coffee tour will offer a “crop to cup” experience taking you from the coffee plantains which are close to the lake. Rwanda’s fertile soils and temperate Climate allows growth of high quality Arabica Coffee which you will taste at the end of the experience. You will also gain a deeper understanding of the local culture and the resilience of the people involved in coffee production while here. Later in the day, you will do a boat trip and visit different islands on the lake.

Accommodation: Rwiza Culture Village

Day 7: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park

You will be driven by your guide to the Northwest direction to the Volcanoes National Park, the park protects the steep slopes of the mountain range which are a home to the Endangered Mountain Gorillas. Upon your arrival at the lodge, you will have lunch and later in the afternoon visit the Gorilla Guardians formally known as Iby’lwacu which is a village made up of ex poachers who at the moment are involved in protecting the mountain Gorillas. The experience is highly recommended because it helps your gain a deeper understanding of Rwandan Culture and how they used to and still do the day to day activities locally.

Accomodation: Muhabura Mountain View Lodge *3

Day 8: Gorilla Trekking

After having your early breakfast, you will proceed to the home of mountain Gorillas, the Volcanoes National Park headquarters in Kinigi to meet the ranger guides who will hike with you to the Gentle Giants; they will give you a pre-trek briefing where you will receive important information about the trek, safety precautions, and park regulations. After completing park formalities, you will start on a once in a life time experience of trekking the gentle giants the Mountain gorillas. Once you spot them you are allowed to spend an hour watching and observing them do their daily playful activities in their natural habitat. After the activity, you will return to your lodge and visit Ellen de Generous Museum.

Day 9: Golden Monkey Trekking

After an early breakfast you will go again to the park headquarters to meet your guides for Golden Monkeys trekking activity and attend a pre-trek briefing where you will receive important information about the trek, safety precautions, and park regulations. Then you embark on the trek which takes you through the lush bamboo forests and picturesque landscapes as you search for these playful primates known for their striking fur and lively antics. Upon finding them which is usually easy, you spend approximately an enchanting one hour observing them closely in their natural habitat, then after completing your experience you will be returned to the lodge

Day 10: Transfer to Kigali You depart at leisure back to Kigali international airport for your departure or  to you booked accommodation. This day marks the end of our trip to the beautiful Rwanda.