10 Days Rwanda Tour – Gorillas and Chimpanzees

This 10 days safari take you to the top tourism destinations of Rwanda for the gorilla trekking adventure, chimpanzee trekking adventure and wildlife experiences. You will visit Akagera national which is the only savannah national park and is home to the African Big Five in Rwanda. You will then head to Nyungwe forest national park is one of the oldest rain forest in Africa and the forest is home to the chimpanzees in Rwanda. Nyungwe forest is one of the oldest rain forest in Africa and is rich in diversity as it consists of swamps, grassland, rain forest, bamboo and bogs. You then proceed to Lake Kivu a beautiful lake in Kibuye. You will end the safari with Volcanoes national park the prime destination for gorilla trekking in Rwanda.

Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival to Rwanda, Airport Pick up

You will arrive in Rwanda on this day and your driver guide will be waiting to pick you up at Kigali International Airport. The driver guide will take you to the hotel in Kigali where you check in.  

Journey time: 15 minutes

Accommodation Options

Luxury – Kigali Marriot

Mid – range – Onomo Hotel

Budget – The Nest Guest House

Meal Plan: Dinner

Day 2: Kigali City Tour

Kigali city is the capital city of Rwanda and is one of the cleanest cities in Africa. On this day you will go with your guide to explore this beautiful city. You will visist Kigali genocide memorial, Kandt museum which was named after Richard Kandt the first colonial governor of Rwanda, you will also visit a craft market and buy some souvenirs if interested and also visit the Belgian memorial site.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 3: Travel to Akagera national park and game drive

You will have an early breakfast at the hotel and then start the journey to Akagera national park. The drive to the park is a scenic drive that takes you through the landscape of Rwanda and the beautiful scenery of the country side.

On arrival at the park you will go on a game drive in the park where you look out for wildlife including giraffes, olive baboons, reedbuck, impala and rhinos among other animals. After the introductory game drive to Akagera national park you will head to your lodge check in and then have much.

Journey time: 2½ Hours

Accommodation Options

Luxury – Ruzizi Tented Camp

Mid – range – Akagera Game Lodge

Budget – Akagera Rhino Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 4: Game drive and Boat ride on Lake Ihema

After an early breakfast at the lodge you will set out for a game drive in Akagera national park. This game drive takes 6-7 hours as you explore Akagera national park looking out for wildlife sightings. Animals to look out for on the game drive include elephants, lions, buffaloes,  zebras, topi, eland, roan antelope, sitatunga, warthogs, giraffes, impala, klipspringer, oribi, bohor reed buck, defassa waterbuck, olive baboons and vervet monkeys among others. In the midst of the game drive your driver guide will take you to the hippo pool in the park where hippos usually like to hang out. After the game drive you go back to the lodge and have your lunch.

In the afternoon you go on a boat ride on Lake Ihema which is the largest water body in the park. The boat ride offers an opportunity to look out for hippos, crocodiles, elephants and water birds. In addition the boat ride offers a relaxing experience as you take in the breeze of Lake Ihema and are treated to scenic views of Akagera national park. Lake Ihema is the main water source for animals in the park. After the boat ride you return to the lodge for dinner.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Travel to Nyungwe Forest National Park

After an early breakfast at the lodge, you check out and leave Akagera for Nyungwe forest national park. The drive takes offers amazing views of the scenery in the Rwanda country side. Lunch will be along the way.

Journey time: 7 hours

Accommodation Options

Luxury – One & Only Nyungwe House

Mid – range – Nyungwe Top View Lodge

Budget – EAR Guest House

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe National Park and Canopy Walk

After breakfast at your lodge this morning your driver guide will transfer you to the briefing area at the park offices in Nyungwe. Here you will meet with your ranger guide who will tell you about the guidelines for the chimp trek and what to expect from the trek. After the briefing you then transfer to the starting point. The chimp trek in Rwanda is a rewarding experience that brings you closer to these primates that are known as man’s closest relatives. Once you locate the chimpanzees you get to watch them as they hop around in the forest and take some amazing photos of them. After this you return back to the starting point.

In the afternoon you will go on a guided canopy walk in Nyugwe forest along the Igishigishigi Trail. The walk takes you through the forest as you see bird life, colorful butterflies, orchids and small predators like squirrels. You might also sight some monkeys along the trail. The canopy walk is an interesting experience as you walk along a 70m high suspension bridge as you are treated to scenic views of Nyungwe forest giving you a true jungle experience.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 7: Travel to Lake Kivu  

Today morning you have breakfast at the lodge, check out and then proceed to the beautiful Lake Kivu. On arrival you will check in to your lodge and spend the rest of the day relaxing your lodge.

Journey time: 2 hours

Accommodation Options

Luxury – Lake Kivu Serena

Mid – range – Paradise Mlahide

Budget – Inzozi Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Boat ride on Lake Kivu and Travel to Volcanoes National Park

After a great breakfast at the lodge today you will go on a boat ride on Lake Kivu. Lake Kivu is one of Africa’s biggest lakes and the boat ride will give you stunning views of the lake and magnificent mountains surrounding the lake. Lake Kivu also offers great birding opportunities.

After the boat ride you travel to Volcanoes national park, the only place to track mountain gorillas in Rwanda.

Journey time: 3 hours

Accommodation Options

Up market – Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel

Mid – range – Gorilla Solutions Lodge

Budget – Garden Place Hotel

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9: Gorilla Trekking and Iby’Iwacu Cultural Tour

After an early breakfast at the lodge your driver guide will drive you to the park headquarters of Volcanoes national park. You will be received by your ranger guides, have a cup of Rwandan coffee and then receive a briefing from the guide. You are then told the guide lines for your gorilla trek and how to behave around the mountain gorillas. After the briefing depending on the gorilla group that you have been assigned to trek you will walk to the starting point or your guide will drive you to the starting point. Once you locate the gorillas you are allowed to spend one hour with them, take photos and watch them in their natural habitat.

You will also visit the Iby’Iwacu cultural village which is a great way to experience the way of the life of the Rwandans as you get a look in to their culture, traditions and norms. The cultural visit can be done after your gorilla trek depending on what time you return. While at the cultural village you will visit the traditional medicine man, be entertained by the traditional dances which you are free to join in and you visit the king’s palace where you can be dressed as a Queen or King for the day.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 10: Travel back to Kigali

Today is the last day of your safari as you leave Volcanoes national park and head back to Kigali

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch

Journey time: 2½ hours

What to carry for your Gorilla trek and Chimpanzee trek

• Long pants and Long sleeved shirt
• Sunscreen
• Camera with batteries
• Insect repellant
• Hiking shoes and Rain Jacket

Tour Package Includes:

• Gorilla Trekking Permit
• Chimpanzee Trekking Permit
• Canopy walk
• Private Safari car
• Boat ride and game drives
• Kigali city tour
• Park entrance fees
• Full board accommodation as per the itinerary
• Drinking water in the car

Tour Package does not include:

• Optional Activities
• Tips
• International flights and entry visa charge
• Insurance
• Other personal expenses while on the trip