12-days Discover Rwanda Chimpanzee and gorilla trekking safaris: Rwanda has one of the fastest-growing capital cities in Africa to discover, so doing a 12-day Rwanda primate trekking safari will be something to look forward to. You will start with a visit to one of the genocide memorials, and later on, in the safari, you will go to Akagera National Park and then head to Nyungwe National Park. Thereafter, you will transfer to Lake Kivu and finalize your gorilla tracking experience. That should be the end of your Discover Rwanda safari, as you will later on be transferred to the airport for your flight out.
Itinerary for 12-days discover Rwanda with chimpanzee and gorilla trekking safari.
Day 1: Airport transfer to Kigali
You will be picked up at the airport by your guide or driver. Thereafter, transfer to any of the booked hotels for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation options
- Upmarket: Kigali Serena Hotel
- Mid-range: A Classic Hotel
- Budget: Flame Tree Village, Kigali
- Meal plan: Dinner
Day 2: Visit the Genocide Memorial and Museum and later transfer to Akagera National Park
Breakfast will be at the lodge of residence, then transfer to Ntarama with a visit to the genocide memorial and see the remains of the thousands of Rwandans who lost their lives. You will have a break to have your lunch and thereafter transfer to Akagera National Park for an evening boat ride along Lake Ihema to spot a variety of birds and animals. Dinner and overnight
Accommodation options
- Upmarket: Akagera Game Lodge
- Mid-range/Budget: Golf Hills Residence
- Meal plan: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 3: Morning and evening game drive in Akagera National Park
You will wake up to breakfast and then head out to take a stunning scenic game drive to spot a variety of wildlife and bird species. Return, have your lunch, and relax as you wait for your evening activity. Later in the evening, you will return to the lodge as you wait for your dinner and overnight.
Accommodation options
- Up Market: Akagera Game Lodge
- Mid-Range/Budget: Golf Hills Residence
- Meal plan: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 4: Transfer from Akagera to Nyungwe Forest National Park
After breakfast, we embark on our safari vehicle and set off on a long scenic drive to Nyungwe National Park. Stopover in Nyanza Museum and Butare Museum for photography and experience the historical literature of the sites. Lunch en-route! Later, continue to Nyungwe Forest, home to the chimpanzee, where chimpanzee trekking adventures are awesome with dinner and overnight.
Accommodation options
- Up Market: Nyungwe Forest Lodge
- Mid-range: Nyungwe top-view hotel
- Budget: Gisakura Guest House
- Meal plan: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 5: Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park
You will wake up to your breakfast and immediately transfer to the starting point for a briefing by the park officials. Set off into the forest for an amazing chimpanzee trekking experience. You will later return to the lodge for your lunch, and in the afternoon, go for columbus monkey trekking. Here you should expect to encounter other primates like baboons, vervet monkeys, some birds, and more flora. Return to the lodge for your dinner, coupled with an overnight stay.
Accommodation options
- Upmarket: Nyungwe Forest Lodge
- Mid-range: Nyungwe Top View Hotel
- Budget: Gisakura Guest House
- Meal plan: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 6: Nature walk trail and canopy walk.
Today we shall have our cup of coffee and then head out to the forest in search of more primates, as the forest has a lot more to offer. Return to the lodge for lunch, and after our African cuisine, go for the breathtaking forest canopy walk. Here you will see waterfalls, birds, and more primates, as well as the amazing forest canopies. Head back to the lodge and relax as you wait for your dinner and overnight.
Accommodation options
- Upmarket: Nyungwe Forest Lodge
- Mid-range: Nyungwe top-view hotel
- Budget: Gisakura Guest House
- Meal plan: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 7: Kibuye transfer to Lake Kivu
Immediately after your breakfast, you will transfer to Kibuye, which is blessed with panoramic scenic views; hence, take en-route photographs and visit the Bisesero genocide memorial. Lunch, Kibuye Church and Nyange School Genocide Memorial, boat ride to Amahoro Island, the Island of peace Your dinner and overnight stay will be at a recommended hotel in Kibuye.
Accommodation options
- Upmarket: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel
- Mid-range: Paradise Malahide
- Budget: La Petite Colline Guest House
- Meal plan: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 8: Visit Gisenyi and Lake Kivu
Have breakfast and thereafter depart to Gisenyi with a visit to the fishing village and hot springs, visit the DRC-Rwanda border (Gisenyi town), and relax at the lakeside in the evening. Dinner and overnight at a recommended hotel on the shores of Lake Kivu Later, return to the accommodation for your dinner and overnight as booked ahead.
Accommodation options
- Upmarket: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel
- Mid-Range: Paradise Malahide
- Budget: La Petite Colline Guest House
- Meal plan: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 9: Visit the twin lakes.
You will first take breakfast, and after a visit to a fishing village at Lake Ruhondo, where you will learn about local fishing methods, you will visit the Street Children Project in Ruhengeri. Lunch, and after learning about sorghum or banana beer production by women’s cooperatives, visit a women’s cooperative producing handicrafts made of banana leaves. Dinner and overnight at Kinigi Guest House
Accommodation options
- Upmarket: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
- Mid-range: Le’bambou gorilla lodge
- Budget: Kinigi guest house
- Meal plan: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 10: Discover hot springs in Kinigi
Have breakfast and thereafter depart to Kinigi to experience traditional dancers and learn about Rwandan drumming, singing, and dancing, as well as Rwandan cooking and local cuisines. Later, drive to your booked accommodation for both dinner and overnight.
Accommodation options
- Upmarket: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
- Mid-range: Le’bambou gorilla lodge
- Budget: Kinigi guest house
- Meal plan: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 11: Mountain gorilla trekking in Volcano National Park
Have an early breakfast, then head to the park offices for a briefing from park officials. Thereafter, enter the forest to search for the shy mountain gorillas. The trekking may take a full day or a half day, depending on the movement of the gentle giants. Allowed one hour is given for photography, observations, and enjoying them feeding or playing around. Return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation Options
- Upmarket: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
- Mid-range: Le’bambou gorilla lodge
- Budget: Kinigi guest house
- Meal plan: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 12: Kigali city tour with airport drop off.
Have breakfast and take another city tour to buy souvenirs from craft markets and visit other interesting sites. Later, you will be dropped off at the airport for your return flight, marking the end of your 12-days to discover Rwanda. Meal plan: breakfast and lunch.
12-days discover Rwanda chimpanzee and gorilla trekking safari includes:
- Airport transfers
- Accommodation and meals as per the itinerary
- Game drive
- Boat ride
- Park entry fees
- One gorilla trekking permit
- One chimpanzee tracking permit
- Visit Lake Kivu and take a boat ride.
12-days discover Rwanda chimpanzee and gorilla trekking safari excludes:
- Airfare
- Rwanda Visa
- Luxury drinks
- Laundry
- Tips to local guides
- Telephone and porter fee while trekking
- Personal Insurance
- Personal shopping bills, cigarettes and any other item not mentioned above.
