8 Days Rwanda Adventure Safari: Gorillas, Chimps & Lake Kivu
8 Days Rwanda Adventure Safari: Gorillas, Chimps & Lake Kivu
This 8-day Rwanda safari is a complete primate and wildlife adventure, taking you through the country’s most iconic destinations. Starting in Kigali, the journey leads to Nyungwe National Park, one of Africa’s oldest rainforests and a biodiversity hotspot. Here, you will experience thrilling chimpanzee trekking and the famous canopy walk, offering breathtaking views over the forest. The safari continues with a cultural stop at the King’s Palace Museum and a relaxing escape to Lake Kivu, where you’ll enjoy scenic boat trips and lakeside tranquility.
The adventure then heads to Volcanoes National Park, home to the endangered mountain gorillas. Here, you will embark on a life-changing gorilla trekking experience, followed by golden monkey tracking and a visit to the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund to learn about conservation efforts. Cultural immersion continues at the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village, while your journey concludes with a Kigali city tour featuring the Kigali Genocide Memorial and Nyamirambo community experience. This Rwanda safari perfectly blends primates, culture, scenic beauty, and conservation into one unforgettable African adventure.
map Expedition Route
Daily Expedition Log
Airport Transfer to Hotel
Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will go through customs and immigration, and you will be met by our company guide who will warmly welcome you to the Land of a Thousand Hills that Rwanda is known for, a later drive to your booked hotel for the briefing about your 8 Days Rwanda Best Adventure Safari, then dinner and overnight stay at hotel.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging
Kigali Marriott Hotel
Transport
Private Tourist Vehicle
Transfer to Nyungwe National Park with enroute museum visit
After breakfast at the hotel, you will embark on the transfer back to Nyungwe. En route, you will stop at the King's Palace Museum, where you will gain meaningful insights into Rwanda's rich cultural heritage and traditional royal history. Following this visit, enjoy lunch along the way before continuing the journey toward Nyungwe National Park. You will arrive at your hotel in the afternoon, giving you ample time to relax and unwind as you await dinner and your overnight stay.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging
One&Only Nyungwe House
Transport
4x4 Safari Jeep
Chimpanzee Trekking & Canopy walk
Today, after your early morning cap of African coffee, you will leave your hotel to experience the natural forest of Nyungwe well known for having 13 species of primates, and transferred to the park for briefing and chimpanzee trekking. You will be entitled to one hour of finding the chimpanzees. After completing the chimpanzee trek, you will head to lunch before heading back into the forest for the exhilarating canopy walk experience, offering breathtaking views of Nyungwe's lush environment. After a truly rewarding day, return to your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging
One&Only Nyungwe House
Transport
By Foot
Tea tour and transfer to lake Kivu for Boat Trip and relaxation
After enjoying your morning breakfast, proceed to the Gisakura Tea Plantation for an engaging and informative experience, where you will learn about the tea-growing process, traditional harvesting methods, and local production techniques. Following this visit, you will continue your journey to Lake Kivu. Upon arrival, you will embark on a scenic boat trip, offering a unique opportunity to explore several islands and appreciate the lake's tranquil beauty. After lunch, you will be transferred to your hotel to relax and unwind as you await dinner and your overnight stay.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging
Cleo Lake Kivu Hotel
Transport
4x4 Safari Jeep
Transfer to Volcanoes NP with afternoon Ellen DeGeneres Campus visit
Today, after your relaxed morning breakfast, you will check out from the lodge and begin the scenic drive to Volcanoes National Park. Upon arrival, you will visit the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, where you will gain valuable insight into the conservation initiatives, scientific research, and ongoing efforts dedicated to protecting and habituating the mountain gorillas. After this enriching experience, you will proceed to your hotel. The rest of the afternoon will be at your leisure an ideal time to relax and prepare for the following day's thrilling gorilla trekking adventure.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging
One&Only Gorilla's Nest
Transport
4x4 Safari Jeep
Gorilla Trekking at Volcanoes National Park
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging
One&Only Gorilla's Nest
Transport
By Foot
Golden Monkey Trekking & Ellen DeGeneres Campus of Diana Fossey
Today, after your warm early morning breakfast, our safari driver-guide will pick you up and transfer you to the park headquarters for a comprehensive briefing. You will then begin your golden monkey trekking experience, venturing into the forest in search of these playful and shy primates. The activity follows a similar structure to gorilla trekking, though it is generally less strenuous, offering an enjoyable and engaging wildlife encounter. After the trek, head to Ellen DeGeneres Campus of Diana Fossey to learn more efforts done to habituate and conserve gorillas, you will later return to the lodge for lunch and a refreshing shower. Once ready, you will proceed with the transfer back to Kigali for the diner and overnight stay.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch
Lodging
Kigali Marriott Hotel
Transport
4x4 Safari Jeep
Kigali City Tour and Transfer to Kigali Airport
Today is the end of 8 Days Rwanda Best Adventure Safari. After your morning breakfast at your hotel, and later you head for a Kigali city tour, with a visit to Nyamirambo Women Centre, learn about the women's cooperatives and their great work, and later visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial centre, learn about the history of the Rwanda genocide of 1994, later return and have lunch before transferring to the airport to catch up with your night flight back home.
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch
Transport
Private Tourist Vehicle
Proposed Accommodations
7 Nights Accommodation
Kigali Marriott Hotel
2 Nights Accommodation
One&Only Nyungwe House
2 Night Accommodation
Cleo Lake Kivu Hotel
1 Night Accommodation
One&Only Gorilla's Nest
2 Nights Accommodation
Inclusions & Essentials
check_circle What's Included
- done Airport transfers upon arrival and departure.
- done Transportation in a private 4x4 safari Land Cruiser.
- done Professional English-speaking driver-guide.
- done Accommodation as specified in the itinerary.
- done Meals as indicated in the itinerary.
- done Chimpanzee trekking permit in Nyungwe National Park.
- done Nyungwe Canopy Walk experience.
- done Tea plantation tour at Gisakura Tea Estate.
- done Lake Kivu boat excursion.
- done Gorilla trekking permit in Volcanoes National Park.
- done Visit to the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.
- done Visit to the King's Palace Museum.
- done Kigali City Tour.
- done Visit to Nyamirambo Women's Centre.
- done Visit to Kigali Genocide Memorial.
- done Bottled drinking water during safari activities.
- done Government taxes and park entry fees for included activities.
cancel Not Included
- close International and domestic flights.
- close Rwanda tourist visa fees.
- close Travel and medical insurance.
- close Personal expenses
- close Tips and gratuities for guides, drivers, porters, and hotel staff.
- close Optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary.
- close Porter fees during gorilla, chimpanzee, or golden monkey trekking (optional but recommended).
- close Any item not specifically mentioned under inclusions.