12 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trail Safari

12 Days Rwanda gorilla trail safari tour itinerary

Day 1 Kigali

Arrival and transfer to the hotel. Dinner and overnight at 2000 Hotel or similar

Day 2 Nyungwe Forest National Park

After early breakfast, drive into the Nyungwe Forest national park with a visit to Nyanza King’s Palace, the National Museum of Butare, and the genocide memorial of Murambi. Nyanza was the headquarters of the ancient Rwanda Kingdom before the arrival of the Europeans. The compound features the tastefully decorated modern palace built by King Mutura in 1934. Dinner and overnight at Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel or similar

Day 3: Nyungwe Forest National Park

After breakfast, enter the Nyungwe forest to track the Nyungwe colobus monkey. A walk into the forest with our knowledgeable guides well versed in botany, ornithology, and interspecies relationships will be a whole new learning experience for you. You will return to the guest house for lunch and have your overnight at the hotel. Dinner and overnight at Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel or similar

Day 4: Nyungwe Forest National Park

Today, you have the full day in the Nyungwe forest. In the morning you can either opt for the Nyungwe canopy walk or a nature walk to the waterfalls. After lunch you will visit the colobus monkeys darting through the trees. Your overnight will be at the hotel.

Day 5: Kibuye

Early in the morning you will head to Kibuye via Gisakura, a five hour journey. Along the way you will enjoy the thousands of beautiful green hills that make up our country as well as views of Kivu Lake. Dinner and overnight at the Betania Guest House or similar.

Day 6: Gisenyi Town

After breakfast, depart for Gisenyi town by either speed boat or vehicle. Along the way you will explore the wonderful views of the different islands along Lake Kivu and some of the Congolese hills. Dinner and overnight at the Hotel Ubumwe or Paradise Malahide or similar

Day 7: Gisenyi Town

You will spend part of the day relaxing and swimming at Kivu Serena Beach. After breakfast and your time at the beach you will drive to Musanze, the base town for visiting mountain gorillas. Enjoy a visit of the Ibyiwacu cultural village. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Muhabura or similar

Day 8: Volcanoes National Park

Early breakfast, drive to Volcanoes National Park for your first gorilla trek. You will arrive at the main office at 7:00am for a short briefing and coffee break before going on your trek. Your overnight will be at the hotel. Dinner and overnight at Muhabura Hotel or similar

Day 9: Musanze City (Volcanoes National Park)

Today you will visit the golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park. You will again have to be at the main office at 7:00am for a short briefing before your trek. Return at lunchtime and then go visit the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo. Dinner and overnight at Muhabura Hotel or similar

Day 10: Akagera National Park

After breakfast, drive to Akagera National Park via Kigali with lunch enroute. You will cruise to Lake Ihema in the afternoon and then go on a bird watch in Akagera. Dinner and overnight at Akagera Game Lodge or similar

Day 11: Kigali

After breakfast, game drive in the park which is located in Eastern Rwanda on the border with Tanzania. It is the only Savannah park in Rwanda and is home to several mammal species including Lions, Elephants, Giraffes, Hippos, Kobs, Zebras, Bushbucks, Waterbucks, Black Rhinos. It is also home to numerous bird species in the several habitats which include woodland, swamps, lakes and Savannah. Dinner and overnight at 2000 Hotel or similar

Day 12: Kigali

After breakfast, drive to visit the Ntarama Church. This was the site where more than 5,000 were killed during the 1994 Rwandan Genocide. This genocide memorial is located 30km south of Kigali in the Bugasera region. This church and its contents are a reminder of the horrifying violence that took place. Transfer to the airport