Rwanda Gorilla Safari • 7 Days

Rwanda Gorilla Safari

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From

$ 4,909.00

per person

All our guided group tours can be offered on a private basis, and all our packages can be customized. Our experienced destination experts will design itineraries tailored to your needs and budget.

Experience the best of Rwanda on this 7-day Rwanda Gorilla Safari journey through the heart of the country. Start in Kigali, where you’ll explore the city’s culture and rich history, including the Kigali Genocide Memorial. From there, travel to the stunning Volcanoes National Park, where you’ll trek through lush forests to see the endangered mountain gorillas up close, followed by a golden monkey tracking adventure. Afterward, unwind at Lake Kivu in Gisenyi, taking in the peaceful surroundings and scenic boat rides. The adventure continues with a visit to Nyungwe Forest, where you’ll track chimpanzees and enjoy a canopy walk above the forest. This tour offers the perfect mix of wildlife, adventure, and culture.

Highlights of the Rwanda Gorilla Safari Tour

Kigali

Rwanda’s capital and biggest city is built across an undulating series of lush hills surrounded by higher mountains, the largest of which is Mount Kigali, rising 1,850 metres above sea level. Kigali is the country’s financial, commercial and cultural hub, served by an international airport and featuring a wide range of accommodation options, restaurants and points of interest, including the Kigali Genocide Centre, an atmospheric market and numerous craft shops.

Volcanoes National Park

Set high on the jungle-covered slopes of the volcanic Virunga Mountains, Parc National des Volcans is best known as a sanctuary for the region’s rare mountain gorillas. Highly regulated treks through the reserve allow visitors to spend an hour at a time with these incredible primates in their natural habitat.

Gisenyi

Situated at Lake Kivu’s northeast corner and neighbouring the Congolese city of Goma, Gisenyi is a scenic Rwandan town at the foot of fertile hills. The town offers an excellent variety of activities, including an array of watersports. Gorgeous beaches provide the perfect setting for leisurely days – the Gisenyi Public Beach offers a charming location for swimming and picnicking – along with numerous lovely restaurants. Visitors can kayak, boat, take hikes to see gorillas, or go on historical and cultural tours. Don’t miss the opportunity to meander through the atmospheric Main Market, go beer tasting at the brewery, or visit the local youth cultural center to see kids practice dance, music, and gymnastics.

Nyungwe Forest National Park

Situated in southwestern Rwanda, the Nyungwe Forest National Park is known for its exceptional biodiversity and its wide range of endemic species. The park is composed of lush tracts of rainforest set high up on fertile mountain slopes. It is one of Africa’s most ancient forests and the home of Rwanda’s sole remaining chimpanzee population, as well as 85 additional mammal species, 43 reptile species, nearly 300 bird species and over 1000 plant species. Visitors can enjoy spotting colobus monkeys and chimpanzees hiding in the trees, hiking on a well-maintained network of trails passing through lush equatorial rainforest and catching a glimpse of a beautiful array of colourful birdlife. Don’t miss the thrilling Canopy Walk; it is one of its kind in Africa and offers impressive views of the forest.

Accommodation

For this package, we offer a variety of accommodation options with different comfort levels. (classic, superior, premium)

Superior

Day 1

Hôtel des Mille Collines (or similar)
Kigali

Days 2-3

Ingagi Park View Lodge (or similar)
Volcanoes National Park

Day 4

Lake Kivu Serena Hotel (or similar)
Gisenyi

Days 5-6

Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel (or similar)
Nyungwe Forest National Park

From $ 4,909.00

Premium, JENMAN Select

Day 1

Kigali Serena Hotel (or similar)
Kigali

Days 2-3

Amakoro Songa Lodge (or similar)
Volcanoes National Park

Day 4

Ubucuti Lodge (or similar)
Gisenyi

Days 5-6

One & Only Nyungwe House (or similar)
Nyungwe Forest National Park

From $ 12,725.00

Included

  • Accommodation and meals as mentioned in the itinerary
  • 6x Breakfast, 5x Lunch, 5x Dinner
  • All transport and group transfers in applicable vehicle**
  • 1x Golden Monkey trek permit per person
  • 1x Chimpanzee trek permit per person
  • English speaking driver-guide
  • Experienced, registered local trekking guide
  • Entrance fees
  • Activities and excursions mentioned in the itinerary

Excluded

  • Pre and post tour accommodation
  • International Flights
  • Gratuities
  • 1x Gorilla  trek permit per person (quoted separately as park fees)
  • Drinks and meals not mentioned in the itinerary
  • Personal expenses such as curios, laundry, visa fees, travel insurance etc.

Pre-Tour Information

Meals

Breakfast and dinner will be prepared by the lodges, where you’ll be staying. They will also provide lunch or a packed lunch, depending on the day’s itinerary. Please inform us of any special dietary requirements in advance.

Visas

The onus is on the client to organize all visas required to visit Rwanda, prior to departure.

Travel Insurance

Please note that travel and cancellation insurance is mandatory for every guest travelling with Jenman African Safaris. All insurance is solely the responsibility of our guests. Please ensure you arrange your own insurance with protection for the full duration of your journey to cover personal injury, damage and loss of personal items including but not limited to camera equipment and other electronic items, medical expenses, repatriation expenses and loss of luggage, etc. Please speak to your travel agent if you require assistance.

Making your travels meaningful

The Grow Africa Foundation (163-738 NPO) is the responsible tourism initiative started by Jenman African Safaris. The focus of Grow Africa is to make a positive impact on the environment, society, and economy in the places we travel to. We do this by instigating and supporting local social and environmental projects.

Your booking makes a difference:  With every booking to the value of R10,000 / US$1,000 / EUR1,000 or more a donation of R50 / US$5 / EUR5 will go to the Grow Africa Foundation.

Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be welcomed and transferred to your hotel in the city for an overnight stay.
After breakfast, you will set off on a guided tour of the city. Established in 1907 by Dr. Richard Kandt, Rwanda’s first colonial governor, Kigali is nestled among lush, green hills, earning its nickname as the “land of a thousand hills.” You will be introduced you to some of Kigali’s highlights, which may include visits to the vibrant craft market, the poignant Gisozi Genocide Memorial, and the Kigali Museum. Later, drive approximately two hours to Ruhengeri, Rwanda’s second-largest town, surrounded by the beautiful Virunga Mountains. Here, you’ll visit the Karisoke Research Center, now known as the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, where Dr. Fossey began her pioneering work on gorilla behaviour in 1967. Today, this site is the longest-standing gorilla research centre in the world, renowned for its innovative conservation efforts. Conclude your day with dinner and a restful overnight stay at your hotel.
After an early breakfast, you will proceed to the National Park headquarters – Kinigi to meet your guides for the day. After completing the park formalities, you shall embark on a once in a lifetime experience of tracking mountain gorillas. Tracking the gorillas through the light mountain forest on the slopes of the Virunga is a magical experience. These massive primates are extremely rare, with less than 700 living today. You will get within meters of the family and be privileged to spend an hour amongst them. The trekking may be fairly strenuous; and depending on the movement of the gorillas, the trek could take up to six hours or longer at a relatively high altitude. If you would prefer a shorter trek, simply request your guide to organize a more suitable group for you. You will then head back to the lodge for lunch, followed by dinner later in the evening.
In the morning, after an early breakfast set out for Golden Monkey tracking in the Volcanoes National Park. Entering dense stands of bamboo interspersed with open glades; you will make your way deep into golden monkey territory where your guides will lead you to groups of ‘habituated’ golden monkeys. Get an up-close look at the golden monkey in its natural habitat and spend an hour viewing them. After lunch, make your way to the hotel in Gisenyi arriving late in the afternoon, followed by dinner later in the evening.
Start your day with the magnificent sounds of the beach. Enjoy a walk to Lake Kivu, where you can indulge in a picnic breakfast with a scenic view. The day is spent in Gisenyi the largest port on the Rwandan shore of Lake Kivu and enjoy a boat ride to one of the islands with spectacular views of water birds. Explore the town soaking in the lively atmosphere of the local market or strolling through the leafy streets, admiring the historic colonial architecture. Thereafter begin the long journey south to the Nyungwe Forest and en route have lunch in Kibuye Town.
After an early morning breakfast, with your packed lunch drive to Nyungwe National Park, the largest block of montane forest in East and Central Africa with its incredibly rich biodiversity. Africa is home to two species of chimpanzees: the Bonobo and the Common Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes, also known as the Robust Chimpanzee), with their remaining populations concentrated in central Africa. In Rwanda, the chimpanzee population is endangered, and sightings can be unpredictable, as these primates often travel long distances in a single day. For a unique perspective, embark on the Canopy Walk, which rises 50 meters above the ground. Spanning 150 meters, it’s the first canopy walk of its kind in East Africa and the third on the continent, offering a breathtaking view of the forest from above the treetops. Return to the lodge for lunch.
Depart after breakfast on the transfer to Kigali International Airport. Drive via Butare and visit the famous National Museum and the King’s Palace in Nyanza. Have lunch in Butare, thereafter continue to Kigali International Airport for your departure flight.
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