7-Day Rwanda Gorilla & Chimpanzee Tracking Safari

Day 1: Drive To Akagera National Park

After Break Fast At 10 Am our driver will pick you at your hotel in Kigali and transfer you to Akagera. The journey to Akagera National Park will reward you with planned en-route stopovers along the route. Feel free to ask your driver-guide questions about the wonderful scenery and even request photographic stopovers along the way. As you arrive at the park, you will check in to your booked safari accommodation at the lodge. You will then proceed for a sunset boat ride on Lake Ihema with a chance to see the aquatic mammals such as hippos and crocodiles in the lake or on the shores.

Day 2: Akagera Game Drive, Back To Kigali

Your second and last day of the tour will start very early in the morning. After a filling breakfast, you leave for a full-day safari game drive in the park. We can expect to see the Big Five mammals (lion, rhino, elephant, buffalo and leopard) as well as antelope, kob, and baboon, among others. Akagera National Park is a varied habitat for wildlife species in Rwanda and a birder’s haven with more than 500 bird species in the park. Later, you will transfer back to Kigali.

Day 3: Drive to Musanze, Ibyiwacu Cultural Cente

Depart for Musanze. En route and upon arrival, visit the Iby’iwacu Center for traditional dance (one of Rwanda’s artistic treasures). Overnight in Musanze / near Volcanos National Park.

Day 4: Gorilla Trekking & Transfer to Gisenyi (Lake Kivu)

Our safari guide will pick you at 6.00am in the morning after taking your breakfast and drive to the National Park station for registration and briefing about Gorilla trekking adventure. Later you will drive to the trekking start point at base of the Virunga Mountains accompanied by armed game rangers. You will move into the jungle in search of the amazing mountain gorillas. The trek might take between 2 and 6 hours depending on your trekking ability and the gorilla family you will visit. Our safari guide will wait for you at the base of the virunga volcanic mountain ranges until you finish trekking. Drive to Gisenyi.

Day 5: Hot Springs, Lake Kivu & Napoleon Island Boat Trip

After Break fast, at 9.00AM visit the hot springs, then take a Boat and proceed to Napoleon Island in Kibuye, The Island is one of the tallest in the Lake Kivu. The elevation from the water’s edge to the summit is just over 100 meters giving you a spectacular view of the surrounding lake, islands and shoreline. The real name is Nyamunini island, but as you approach Napoleon Island from the distance you immediately see from where it gets its name. The profile of the island closely resembles the historical hats which were popular in European army uniforms at the end of the 18th century and Napoleon is commonly seen depicted in this kind of hat. Hence the name Napoleon Island. Some interesting bird species are often found on Napoleon Island and the taller trees give refuge to palm nut vultures and fish eagles which can often be seen. Other bird species such as hammerkop and kingfishers are common. The most well-known mammals on Napoleon Island are fruit bats. There is a colony of as many as 40,000 straw colored fruit bats living on Napoleon Island. transfer at your Hotel, dinner and overnight.

Day 6: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest + Canopy Walk

Take Your Break fast and at 9am. Leave your Hotel and drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park, after Lunch Go for canopy Walk. The Canopy walk involves some slight hiking because you access the suspended bridge from the 2.1 Km long Igishigishi trail, a hiking trail in Nyungwe National Park; it’s after that trail that you join the 160 meters suspended bridge that’s over the forest. This hiking should not stop you from taking the walk, it’s very easy to hike even for first-time hikers; it just has a few steep points because of the mountainous terrains but it’s totally doable. For your walk, you need to wear hiking shoes or boots, a rain jacket, a snack if you must especially for children, a bottle of water and of course your camera to capture the memorable moments. back at 12.00 PM. take take Dinner and overnight. 

Day 7: Chimpanzees Trekking, Drive to Kigali

Early Morning at 5 AM, leave your lodge with packed lunchbox, and make your way to the park's offices for a briefing on the primates and the forest. You will then enter the tropical rain forest in search of the shy chimpanzees hiding in the tree branches. While on this walk, you may also see mangabeys, colobus, vervet, and red-tailed monkeys. You will return to the Lodge for lunch and  then Drive to Kigali.