11 Day Ultimate Gorilla Safari

11 Day ultimate gorilla safari tour itinerary

Day 1: Kigali

Meet and greet at Rwanda’s Kanombe International and Hotel transfer in Kigali, Rwandan Capital City

Arrival and transfer to your hotel. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Des Mille Collines or similar

Day 2: Kigali City tour

Kigali City tour and the Genocide Museum

After breakfast, depart to explore Kigali starting with the Genocide Museum. Here you will discover the real history behind the “Genocide against the Tutsi” You will need a couple of hours to grasp this heart-breaking civil war of 100 days where millions of people are slaughtered to death. There were so many acts of heroism among those Hutu villagers who had no heart for the genocide. Some hid Tutsi neighbors in their homes and others looked at Tutsi orphaned children. Then you are taken on a drive through the city where you will be introduced to the real modern culture of Rwanda’s today’s people. The views from atop a hill of the City is pretty. Maybe you can enjoy lunch in Kigali City. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Des Mille Collines or similar

Day 3 Nyungwe Forest National Park

From Kigali to Nyungwe Forest National Park

The road takes us, just after breakfast, to Nyungwe which is the largest remaining tract of montane rain-forest in eastern Africa, bordering Burundi. It is a true rain-forest and one of the oldest forests in Africa which is one reason why it boasts such a high level of biodiversity. This is the most important catchment area in Rwanda supplying water to 70% of the country. Nyungwe is simply magnificent and the forest takes on a liberatingly primal presence, even before you enter. For most visitors, primates are the main attraction. Buffalo and elephant are now extinct. 13 Primate species are represented including a chimpanzee population estimated at between 500-1000, which can usually be tracked at short notice. It has a network of 130 km of walking trails. We will stop on the way for lunch before we proceed to our accommodation for the night. Relax late afternoon in your room and enjoy dinner afterwards. Tomorrow is an active day and you need a good sleep. Dinner and overnight at Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel or similar

Day 4: Nyungwe Forest National Park

Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park

After breakfast, proceed to the chimpanzee tracking trail in either the Cyamudongo or Uwinka sections. The forest is abundant with flora and fauna including 13 primate species from Colobus monkeys, Mangabeys, blue monkeys and, of course, chimpanzees. “You will hear them before you see them: from somewhere deep in the forest, an exciting hooting, just one voice at first, then several, rising in volume and tempo and pitch to a frenzied unified crescendo, before stopping abruptly or fading away”. Jane Goodall who also run a reserve in Nelspruit in South Africa, call it the “plant-hoot “call. Chimpanzees and bonobos (pygmy chimpanzees) and humans share more than 95% of their genetic code. These three species are far more related to each other than they are to any other living creature, even gorillas. Nyungwe is also a bird-lovers-paradise. Dinner and overnight at Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel or similar

Day 5 Lake Kivu

Nyungwe to Lake Kivu

After breakfast, drive to Kibuye on the eastern shores of Lake Kivu where we may visit the Ndaba Falls or take a walk around Kibuye town. In the late afternoon, you can go for 1 to 2 hours hike or cycling for a couple of hours, which we recommend strongly. There are other optional activities like swimming, visiting the communities and sport fishing just to mention but a few. These activities do not have to be booked in advance and you can decide on the spot what you would like to do. Late afternoon we take a boat and visit a few islands drinking in the beautiful scenery while sipping on a glass of wine. Dinner and overnight at Cormoran Lodge or similar

Day 6: Virunga Volcanoes

Lake Kivu to the Virunga Volcanoes

After breakfast you shall drive northeast to the town of Musanze close to the Virunga Volcanoes range. If you are interested and permitting time, we can stop to see the Rwanda’s Musanze caves which date back 65 million years and lay within the volcanic region where lava flow layers long ago to create the Albertine Rift Valley. The caves offer easy hiking 2 kilometers in distance. You will have lunch in town at your own cost and then be on your way to the Volcanoes not far from Ruhengeri. On your way you find the magnificent twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo and are real gems you must not miss. The twin lakes area is very scenic, with steep and intensively farmed hills surrounding the pristine dark blue waters. They offer magnificent views over the whole of the Virunga Volcanoes. Arrive at your lodge which is located near the entrance of the National park with views of the 5 Virunga Volcanoes. Before dinner, cool off in a sparkling pool or to your room for a relaxing hour or two. Dinner and overnight at Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel or similar

Day 7: Volcanoes National Park

Golden Monkey trekking in Volcanoes National Park

After breakfast, drive to the park headquarters in Kinigi for a briefing. You will then head for Golden monkeys trekking in Volcanoes National Park with the rest of the trackers. Just like Gorilla trekking, this activity may take some hours in this jungle forest and it depends on the movement of these primates on the previous and that particular day. There are about 15 of these delightful creatures with their orange-gold body with contrasting black limbs and crown in the Park. They can be viewed for 1 hour in a group of 6-8 persons. Lunch for your own account. For those who are more daring and fit the Bisoke Crater Lake hike also delivers Gorilla sightings, although it is not widely advertised as the cost for this climb of 3 711 m, is only US$70 per person. The owner of this Company has personally witness 3 different sightings of Gorillas on this hike. This is for experience hikers.
Dinner and overnight at Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel or similar

Day 8: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Rwanda to Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After early breakfast, drive to Bwindi impenetrable forest. After the cross-border procedures normally are relaxed and not so strenuous as in other Africa countries and we hope it is the same today. The road from Rwanda to Uganda is normally good and the views of the Virunga’s and the Volcanoes in a distance are amazing. The roads in Uganda and especially the gravel portion of about 35 km to the Lodge is not good, but to drive through numerous interesting small villages, is something different to the first world client. The drive takes us on the outskirts of Bwindi Forest. Bird-life and primate life in this forest is quite superb and there is an incredible variety of flora. Bwindi is the Bird-watchers haven! It holds 348 species of birds and supports 24 of 26 Albertine Rift Endemics that occur in Uganda, of which you might have a chance to encounter some, as well as other primate species.
We stop for lunch for your own account and enjoy dinner at our Lodge. Dinner and overnight at Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge or similar

Day 9: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Park

After breakfast, proceed to the Park offices for registration and briefing before you start the Gorilla trekking. The Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a bio-diverse, mountainous area in southwest Uganda. It’s home to many of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas, who feed on roots, leaves and fruits from the Park’s many tree- and fern species. Restricted numbers of viewing permits help to protect the endangered gorillas. In the park, rough paths weave amid dense forests. Gorilla trekking can be challenging in that sometimes you climb steep hills and it’s unpredictable how long this will take because it always depends on the movement of these great Apes. Dinner and overnight at Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge or similar

Day 10: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Explore Bwindi Forest

Today is a day of relaxing or if you still have the energy, there is much to see and do.
Humbled and inspired by your once-in-a-lifetime encounter with the mountain gorillas, you are free to spend the day exploring the staggeringly diverse landscape that is a sanctuary to chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, birds of paradise, butterflies, colorful bugs and exquisite flowering plants. Embark on a guided walk into the forest, take a scenic cycle around the lodge, or visit the local people at a nearby village. Batwa “Pygmy” faces prison in the name of conservation. Now the Batwa are accused of “poaching” when they hunt to feed their families”. The Batwa have been illegally evicted from their ancestral homelands inside Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. They live around Bwindi and you can make time to see how they live nowadays. Those wanting to do a second day of gorilla trekking must obtain additional permits, which are subject to availability. Dinner and overnight at Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge or similar

Day 11: Kanombe Airport in Kigali

From Uganda to Rwanda’s Kanombe Airport in Kigali

After breakfast, we drive to Rwanda, across the Ugandan border. Transfer to the Airport in Kigali.