Tour overview

Nyungwe National Park is truly a gem with its vast montane rainforest and diverse wildlife. The opportunity to see such a variety of bird species and primates, including the famous chimpanzees and golden monkeys, must be thrilling. The scenic views from the ridges to the lakes and volcanoes add to the park’s allure.

Continuing to the western province and exploring the shores of Lake Kivu at the foot of the Virunga mountains sounds equally captivating. And of course, visiting Parc Nationale des Volcans to see the majestic mountain gorillas and experience the authentic native culture of Rwanda would be an unforgettable experience.

Highlights

• Chimp viewing
• Nature walk
• Canopy walks
• Lake Kivu boat ride
• Community experience
• Golden Monkey tracking
• Genocide visit

Safari itinerary in details.

Day 01: Upon arrival, you will be met by Eco-Host safaris guide who will transfer you the hotel for an overnight stay in Kigali city.

Day 02: Drive to Nyungwe Conservation Area

After early breakfast transfer to the park, the drive takes about 5 hours from the capital Kigali, you will have various stops to see the local markets as you stretch legs and traditional Nyanza for the cultural Heritage and as you drive through green fields of tea across the hillside with eye catching scenery, on arrival check into your lodge.

Day 03: Chimpanzee trekking.

After Early morning breakfast transfer to the park headquarters for briefing, with team of rangers and guide enter the forest as you start interaction with nature as you look for chimpanzee, enjoy the primates as they swing from tree to tree with infants being so playful, follow them from nest to nest as they don’t rest in one place, enjoy the canopy walk or water fall trail walk before exiting the forest, all these experience leaves you with a thrilling magical adventure.

Day 04:  Nature Walk

With early morning breakfast, enjoy the nature walk, you will go with a team of park rangers, start the search of black-and-white Colobus, red tailed, blue monkeys and some bird species remember the area is home to 310 bird species and with the biggest number (27 species) Albertine Rift endemics. After a walk you will have your packed lunch in middle of the forest as you listen to melodic bird sounds. Then retire to you lodge for an overnight

Day 05: Nyungwe forest to Kibuye

After morning breakfast continue with a tour via kibuye where you will enjoy a spectacular view from lake Kivu to Gisenyi, enjoy the countryside with valleys full of plantations, kibuye is the most beautiful and quite of all the three resort town on Lake Kivu for people who need relaxation on the shores of lake Kivu. Take a boat out and visit islands, swim in refreshing waters or visit nearby villages.

Day 06: Kibuye-Gisenyi

After a breakfast either drive to Kibuye or use speed boat to Gisenyi, you will interact with local fishermen, fishing villages and also residents of idjwi island (Congo) who are paddling long distances in their dugout canoe to attend markets in Rwanda, you will be picked up for lunch before plan to go back to the lodge.

If time permits you will be able to make arrangements to Goma which is a close town which was affected by eruption of Nyiragongo

Day 07: Gisenyi-Musanze

After breakfast visit Rose Carr orphanage, the ‘’Imbabazi of Mudenda’’, which takes care of and shelters displaced children and Genocide orphans. The orphanage is called Imbabazi which in Kinyarwanda means ‘’a place where you will receive all the love and care a mother would give’’. It is a beautiful place with rich history, educational opportunities and caving activities, Mugongo caves is 8 km on the left, one of the Cenozoic volcanic rocks formed several million years ago

After lunch drive to Musanze towns and continue to Kinigi for overnight.

 Day 08: Cultural Experience

After a breakfast, you will drive to Gorilla Guardians where you will encounter the Rwanda culture to the fullest, this was initiated to find a lasting solution native community who stopped poaching, you will encounter the local interaction with cultural performances, local food, visit the community and there after visit the craft village for souvenirs before going back to your lodge for an overnight

Day 09: Golden monkey tracking-Transfer to Kigali City

After early morning breakfast, you will transfer to Volcanoes National Park headquarters for Golden monkey tracking live in bamboo vegetation toward the base of the volcano, this activity happens just the same time 7:00 am like Gorilla trekking, this rare species is also listed as endangered and the park has only 2 habituated golden monkeys’ troops that are available for tourism, a person is only allowed 1hour with these primates.

Day 10: Departure

Depending on your departure time, have a city tour or visit Genocide memorial and later transfer to Kigali International Airport for a flight back home.