Day 1: Transfer from Kigali to Nyungwe Forest National Park
You will be met at your hotel by our professional guide and depart for Butare which is the second largest city of Rwanda. We shall make a visit at Nyanza the former Mwami’s (King’s) palace and the seat of the federal monarchy. We shall also visit National Museum at Butare, which is one the finest ethnographic museum of East Africa. If time allows we shall enjoy a performance of the Urugangazi group of Intore-dancers, then have our lunch. After lunch, we shall continue south to Nyungwe Forest National Park. At Nyungwe, we shall have activities ranging from tracking the Angola Colobus Monkeys, Chimpanzee tracking, nature walks in the forest as well as the canopy walk.
Accommodation on Fullboard basis at:
Nyungwe Forest Lodge/Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel/Gisakura Guest House
Day 2: Chimpanzee Tracking in Nyungwe Forest National Park
After an early morning breakfast we shall set off into the forest to track chimpanzees, this is an activity that requires a very early morning start and you are usually advised to wake up at around 4:00am.
Accommodation on Fullboard basis at:
Nyungwe Forest Lodge/Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel/Gisakura Guest House
Day 3: Depart from Nyungwe Forest National P to Gisenyi on Lake Kivu
After breakfast we shall go in Gisenyi and we shall pass through the green fields of tea plantations before exploring the shores of Lake Kivu. Gisenyi is a city in Rubavu district in the Western Province of Rwanda. Gisenyi is contiguous with Goma, the city across the border in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In the afternoon we shall relaxon the shores of Lake Kivu.
Accommodation on Fullboard basis at:
Lake Kivu Serena Hotel/Paradise Malahide Hotel
Day 4: Gisenyi to Parc National des Volcans
After breakfast we have two options, either you choose from having a speed boat to stroll the shores of Lake Kivu or relax and enjoy the sunrise while at the lake shores before having lunch at the hotel. We shall depart for Ruhengeri the gorilla tracking capital of Rwanda after lunch.
Accommodation on Fullboard basis at:
Virunga Lodge/Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge/Mountain Gorilla View Lodge/Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge/Kinigi Guest Gouse.
Day 5: Gorilla Tracking in Parc National des Volcans
After breakfast you will report to the park headquarters in Kinigi where your guide will finalise the necessary regulations for a gorilla family to track. You will meet your ranger guide(s) for a briefing about the gorilla and how everything will be conducted from the start up to endpoint; also you will be briefed on how you are to conduct yourself in the forest before and after encountering the gorillas. Return for lunch afterwards at your hotel or at Ruhengeri. If time allows, we shall have an excursion to explore the beautiful twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo in the region or just conduct a village walk in Ruhengeri or visit the Iby’Iwacu traditional village, where the local community displays the traditional ways of living.
Accommodation on Fullboard basis at:
Virunga Lodge/Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge/Mountain Gorilla View Lodge/Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge/Kinigi Guest Gouse
Day 6: Optional activities and transfer to Kigali
In case you wish to take another day tracking the gorillas in Parc National des Voclans, today is the day and we recommend you visit one of the groups with a longer hiking time; the Susa group which is located on the slopes of the Karisimbi volcano and has more than 35 members will give you a great sense of achievement.
You may opt for other hikes alternatively in the park which may include: A walk to visit the Golden Monkeys. Listed as “endangered”, the habituated groups of about 40 individuals are the only ones to be found in Africa, an excursion to Dian Fossey’s grave and the former Karisoke Research Center or a hike to the top of the Bisoke volcano (3.711 m) and its beautiful crater lake. Afterwards, drive back to Kigali, enjoying the beautiful scenery along the way.