Safari overview
The 7 days Rwanda gorillas & chimpanzees safari is a complete one-week expedition taking you through remarkable gorilla trekking and chimpanzee tracking. The 6 nights, 7 days Rwanda gorillas and chimpanzees safari cover Volcanoes National Park in Northwestern Rwanda (gorilla trekking) and Nyungwe Forest National Park in the South (for chimpanzee tracking). In Nyungwe Forest National Park, home to 310 birds, 13 primate species, several plants and your tour also includes a canopy walk.
Brief itinerary for the 7 days Rwanda gorillas & chimpanzee safari
Day 1 of the 7 days Rwanda gorillas & chimpanzees safari, drive to Akagera
Day 2 of the 7 days: Game drive, afternoon boat/launch trip
Day 3 of the 7 days, game drive at Akagera & travel to Nyungwe N/Park
Day 4: Chimpanzee tracking Nyungwe-Rwanda, canopy walk
Day 5 of 7 days: Nyungwe Forest National Park to Volcanoes NP-Rwanda
Day 6: Gorilla trekking Ruhengeri
Day 7: Volcanoes National Park (VNP) to Kigali, departure-Rwanda
Detailed itinerary of the 7 days Rwanda gorillas & chimpanzees safari
Day 1 of the 7 days Rwanda gorillas & chimpanzees safari, drive to Akagera
After having a delicious cup of coffee or tea, meet with your Rwanda tour guide for a briefing about the 7 days Rwanda gorillas & chimpanzees safari. A city tour will be done in Kigali, visit the local markets, Gisozi genocide center and later, transfer to Akagera National Park only 2 and half hours’ drive journey. At Akagera N/Park, enjoy an afternoon game driving experience in savanna grassland.
Accommodation
Luxury options: Magashi Luxury Tented Camp
Midrange: Rusizi Tented Camp/Akagera Game Lodge
Basic: Dereva Hotel/camping option
Day 2 of the 7 days: Game drive, afternoon boat/launch trip
Day two of the 7 days begins with heavy breakfast, followed by a driver-guided game viewing experience. Stand a chance of keeping an eye on bush elephants, buffaloes, leopards, lions, gazelles, Masai giraffes, leopards, oribis, roan antelopes, rhinos, bird species. The game drive in Akagera will be enjoyed for 2-3 hours, then you retreat for lunch, relaxation and followed by an afternoon boat cruise on Lake Ihema. A boat cruise exposes you mainly on Lake Ihema’s hippos, water birds like shoebill storks, papyrus gonoleks; crocodiles.
Accommodation
Luxury options: Magashi Luxury Tented Camp
Midrange: Rusizi Tented Camp/Akagera Game Lodge
Basic: Dereva Hotel/camping option
Day 3 of the 7 days, game drive at Akagera & travel to Nyungwe N/Park
Wake up early for breakfast, have the last views of wildlife you missed the previous day. After, drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park where 13 primate species, 310 bird species, reptiles, plants live in different habitats of expansive 1000sq.kms rainforest. Arrive at Nyungwe early where you will have a short tea plantation walk.
Accommodation
Luxury choices: One & Only Nyungwe House or at Nyungwe Forest Lodge
Midrange: Nyungwe Top View Hotel
Basic: Gisakura Guesthouse or camping
Day 4: Chimpanzee tracking Nyungwe-Rwanda, canopy walk
Wake up early on day 4 of the 7 days Rwanda gorillas & chimpanzees safari, enjoy breakfast and after, undertake chimpanzee trekking briefing. Learn more about the rules to observe while on Nyungwe chimp trekking that is expected to last for 2-4 hours starting from Uwinka reception. Once you have met with chimpanzees, you have deep insight into the daily behaviors, take photos etc.
Walk back from Nyungwe Forest, have lunch, and in the afternoon, expect the best of Canopy walk experience 2 hours. Take pictures, get to see primates, birds on a canopy walk (set 50m above from the ground and 200m walkway) etc then relax in the evening at the lodge.
Accommodation
Luxury choices: One & Only Nyungwe House or at Nyungwe Forest Lodge
Midrange: Nyungwe Top View Hotel
Basic: Gisakura Guesthouse or camping
Day 5 of 7 days: Nyungwe Forest National Park to Volcanoes NP-Rwanda
Rise up early for a heavy breakfast back at the lodge, after drive to Volcanoes National Park-Rwanda. The long journey includes a quick visit at Lake Kivu one of the freshwater lakes Rwanda is most popular for. Check into the accommodation at Volcanoes National Park Ruhengeri-Rwanda.
Accommodation
Upmarket: Bisate Lodge/Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge/Mountain Gorilla View Lodge-Ruhengeri
Midrange: La Palme Hotel/Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge/Da Vinci Lodge-Ruhengeri
Basic: Kinigi Guesthouse or at Muhabura Hotel-Ruhengeri
Day 6: Gorilla trekking Ruhengeri
Day 6 of the 7 days Rwanda gorillas & chimpanzees safari: Breakfast early and then you gather at Kinigi for briefing about gorilla trekking regulations. Only one habituated gorilla family of the 13 in Volcanoes National Park will be assigned to you for trekking starting at 8:00 am and overall adventure takes 2-6 hours. This also includes 1 hour which is mandatory for every trekker to spend with mountain gorillas upon finding them and in the evening when you return, have a relaxed afternoon, you will visit Iby’Iwacu village for the cultural encounter.
Accommodation
Upmarket: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge/Mountain Gorilla View Lodge-Musanze
Midrange/moderate/standard: Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge/La Palme Hotel
Basic: Kinigi Guesthouse/Hotel Muhabura-Ruhengeri
Day 7: Volcanoes National Park (VNP) to Kigali, departure-Rwanda
Start your morning breakfast early, and set off for Kigali where you will be departing from. This marks the end of the 7 days Rwanda gorillas & chimpanzees.
End of the 7 days Rwanda gorillas & chimpanzees safari
Safari inclusions
Rwanda gorilla permits
Park entrance fees
Chimpanzee permits
Canopy walk
6 nights, meals in accommodation
Safari exclusions
Tips
Beverages
Cigars
Laundry
Shopping
Telephone
