ABOUT 10-Day Rwanda Gorilla, Chimp, Wildlife & Cultural Safari - Rwanda
This 10-day Primate and Wildlife safari is an incredible adventure to ideal destinations to unplug and enjoy the beauty of nature. The safari will uncover Rwanda’s spectacular natural wonders that will offer you exciting and memorable experiences especially the enchanting gorilla trekking and golden monkey tracking in Volcanoes National Park as well as the charming chimpanzee tracking and canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest NP as well as the Big Five encounter in Akagera National Park.
- Duration: 10 Days
- Route: Gorilla Trek
- Starts at: USD 5687
Highlights for 10-Day Rwanda Gorilla, Chimp, Wildlife & Cultural Safari - Rwanda
Day 1: Pick Up and Transfer to Akagera National Park
Day 2: Akagera National Park Exploration
Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Day 4: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Day 5: Golden Monkey Tracking and Cultural Experience
Day 6: Dian Fossey Gravesite Hike
Day 7: Transfer to Lake Kivu
Day 8: Drive to Nyungwe National Park
Day 9: Chimpanzee Tracking and Canopy Walk Adventure
Day 10: Transfer Back to Kigali
Day 1: Pick Up and Transfer to Akagera National Park
>> Upon arrival at the airport, you will be welcomed by our driver-guide who will brief you about the safari. You'll go for a Kigali city tour, exploring the Kigali genocide site, and local markets.
Afterward, you will have your lunch and then drive to Akagera in Eastern Rwanda and check in at the lodge, relax, and prepare for the next day’s activities.
- Time: 8-10 hours
- Meals: All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Day 2: Akagera National Park Exploration
>> You will wake up early morning, have breakfast, and then go for a sunrise game drive. This will give you a glimpse of the herbivores actively grazing against the sunrise. The game drive in Akagera is an incredible activity that offers breathtaking views of the African Big Five —elephants, lions, rhinos, buffaloes, and leopards as well as other animals such as giraffes, and antelopes, birds which create a memorable experience of a lifetime.
In the afternoon, you'll have a launch or boat cruise along Lake Ihema that gives a spectacular view of crocodiles, a school of hippos, water birds, and other species of wildlife which will fill you with the essence of nature. Then, you will get back to the lodge, relax, and have dinner and later an overnight stay.
- Time: 8-10 hours
- Meals: All meals included Non-alcoholic drinks
Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
>> After breakfast, you will check out of your lodge and meet your guide. Then, you'll embark on a 5-hour journey through green rolling hills and spectacular landscapes to Volcanoes National Park; aparadise to the Majestic mountain gorillas. You will check in at the lodge, relax, and prepare for tomorrow’s activity.
- Time: 8-10 hours
- Meals: All meals included Non-alcoholic drinks
Day 4: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
>> After an early morning breakfast, you will transfer to the park headquarters at Kinigi for a briefing about mountain gorilla trekking from the park warden and rangers.
Along with your trekking gear, drinking water, and a packed lunch, you will embark on the captivating gorilla trekking in the jungle forests of the Volcanoes National Park which may take 1- 7 hours to search for awesome primates depending on their movement.
On encountering the giant primates, you will have a rewarding and exciting magical hour to learn and watch the charming gorillas as they interact, play, mate, feed, build nests, and groom each other.
Meeting the closest relatives of human beings is an adrenaline-pumping activity that offers a once-in-lifetime experience while on your African wild safari.
- Time: 8-10 hours
- Meals: All meals included Non-alcoholic drinks
Day 5: Golden Monkey Tracking and Cultural Experience
>> After an early morning breakfast, you will transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing from the park warden about the endangered golden monkey tracking. Afterward, you will connect tracking trails leading into the bamboo forest searching for the rare golden monkeys which will take you 1-4 hours. Looking left and right, east and west, you will have ecstatic views of other primates like the red-tailed monkey, vervet monkeys, black and white monkeys as well as colorful birds among others. On meeting the endangered golden monkeys, you will have one charming hour to watch and study these monkeys as they interact, play, feed, and groom each other.
In the evening, you will immerse yourself in the customs, traditions, and cultures of the surrounding community at Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village. You'll interact with local people with their authentic cultures, and behavioral patterns such as traditional cattle milking, arts and crafts, local beer brewing, and honey harvesting.
- Time: 8-10 hours
- Meals: All meals included Non-alcoholic drinks
Day 6: Dian Fossey Gravesite Hike
>> After breakfast, you will go for an adrenaline-pumping hike to Dian Fossey's gravesite for about 2-4 hours. Dain Fossey was an American primatologist known for extensive study of the mountain gorillas. This trek gives insight into Dian Fossey and her legacy on gorilla conservation. Afterward, you will return for relaxation and an overnight stay in the lodge.
- Time: 8-10 hours
- Meals: All meals included Non-alcoholic drinks
Day 7: Transfer to Lake Kivu
>> You will enjoy a delicious breakfast, check out of the lodge, and leave Volcanoes National Park for Lake Kivu. You will arrive at Lake Kivu early and have lunch at the lodge. Then, you will relax at the lake with a fresh breeze and vistas and white sand bathing.
- Time: 8-10 hours
- Meals: All meals included Non-alcoholic drinks
Day 8: Drive to Nyungwe National Park
>> Lake Kivu to Nyungwe Forest in the Southern Province
After enjoying a delicious breakfast, you will go for a boat ride along Lake Kivu which will give scenic views of the hippos, crocodiles, birds as well as other wild animals at the banks of the lake. Later, you will embark on the 4-hour journey to Nyungwe National Park which shelters 13 primate species. You will check-in for one hour at the lodge.
- Time: 8-10 hours
- Meals: All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Day 9: Chimpanzee Tracking and Canopy Walk Adventure
>> You'll enjoy breakfast in the morning and then gather at Uwinka Reception for a briefing about chimpanzee tracking rules. After the briefing, you will meet the park ranger and guides who will take you on a trek for 1- 4 hours in the forest to meet chimpanzees which are normally spotted as they jump from one tree to another, chattering and laughing. On finding the awe-inspiring primates, you'll spend one hour taking pictures and videos of the life-changing experience.
In the afternoon, you will go on a walking trail that will take you to the Canopy Walk— a swinging bridge 50m in length that is suspended from bird trees. You will be able to see the captivating rainforest with a bird’s eye view, spotting wildlife moving about below you.
Then, you'll return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
- Time: 8-10 hours
- Meals: All meals included Non-alcoholic drinks
Day 10: Transfer Back to Kigali
>> After having your breakfast, you will take 6 hour’s drive through beautiful landscapes, farmlands, local markets and communities, and towns. Then, you'll go to Kigali and connect to the airport for departure.
- Time: 8-10 hours
- Meals: All meals included Non-alcoholic drinks
- Accommodation:No accommodation (End of tour)
Inclusions
- Park fees (For non-residents)
- Gorilla permits (One per person, non-resident)
- Chimp permits (One per person, non-resident)
- All activities (Unless labeled as optional)
- All accommodation (Unless listed as upgrade)
- A professional driver/guide
- All transportation (Unless labeled as optional)
- All Taxes/VAT
- Roundtrip airport transfer
- Meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)
- Drinks (As specified in the day-by-day section)
Exclusions
- International flights (From/to home)
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
- Tips (Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
- Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
- Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees