7 days Highlights of Rwanda

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Overview

During a 7-day long safari in this country of a thousand hills – Rwanda, experience history, tradition, culture, wildlife and leisure. Encounter magnificent adventures on water, canoeing, kayaking, primate treks, canopy walk adventure and experience over ¼ of gorilla population in Volcanoes national park – one of the few homes of endangered mountain gorillas in Africa.

Detailed tour

Day 1: Arrive in Kigali and city tour

Upon checking in at Kigali airport, meet the hospitable and helpful staff of the airport who will help you to check your documents, visas and air ticket. Next session is meet and greet with our company representative / guide who will conduct a simple briefing about the whole 7 days’ safari in Rwanda.

The guide will later lead you to your hotel in the middle of Kigali for check in and lunch / dinner (depending on arrival time). Thereafter continue for a slow city excursion where different sites will be visited including genocide museum in Gisozi, presidential palace museum, Nyamirambo women’s group and Kigali craft market. Return to your hotel for a first night stay.

Day 2: Drive to Volcanoes NP

Wake up from your slumber in Kigali, take breakfast and then hit the road for a smooth drive north-west wards to the famous Volcanoes national park – the most visited national park in Rwanda because of its massive population of mountain gorillas.

Enjoy spectacular views of Rwanda’s undulating hills north-west wards which are characterized with scenic valleys, extended plateaus and huge plantations of coffee, tea and banana.

Arrive in Kinigi area, dine and rest at your lodge for a night stay.  Time allowing, you will take a cultural tour at Ibyiwachu community village in the evening.

Day 3: Gorilla trekking. Travel to L. Kivu

This is an important day of gorilla trekking – basically it’s the highlight of this entire 7 days’ tour. Have breakfast upon waking up and proceed to assemble at the park headquarters for briefing. This session is meant to teach visitors on “how to behave’ while with a family of mountain gorillas. A professional ranger guide will be assigned to you during the trek, from the starting point to the jungle where a group of gorillas are located.

The one – on – one experience with a family of gorillas lasts for only 1 hour where you will learn how they live in their territory led by a massive silverback, their feeding habits, grooming and caring by gorilla mothers and watch the excited juveniles.

The entire length of gorilla tracking experience is between 2 – 7 hours depending on the location of mountain gorillas and speed of trekkers.

After trekking, hike down to the ranger park Bandas, have your parked lunch and transfer immediately to the western region of Gisenyi and have an overnight stay on the shores of L. Kivu.

Day 4: Lake Kivu

Have an early breakfast overlooking the shimmering L. Kivu and go on a boat tour to fishermen. Watch them casting their nets and using other traditional technics of fishing. Visit Karongi village and taste their daily fish sauce, the Sambaza.

Spend the entire afternoon relaxing at the shores of L. Kivu admiring the serenity, ambiance and sounds of resident birds.

Day 5: Transfer to Nyungwe forest

Our company guide will pick you from Lake Kivu after a tasty breakfast, and begin a 3 hour transfer to the south western based Nyungwe forest – a huge tropical forest that stretches from Congo – Rwanda boarder to Ruzizi near Burundi’s boarder.

Visit various tea plantations near the park, or visit neighboring communities to learn about the remote cultures of Rwanda.

Wine and dine at a lodge on the outskirts of Nyungwe forest.

Day 6: Nyungwe: Primates and canopy walk

Upon waking up; have breakfast and assemble at the park Banda for a briefing session by park rangers. Get ready with your trekking equipment; boots, waterproof jacket, backpack, hiking stick, etc.

Penetrate into the jungle and begin the search for chimpanzees. This park is believed to accommodate more than 13 primate species including chimpanzees, Vervet monkeys, Red-tailed Monkey, Dent’s Mona Monkey, L’Hoest’s monkeys, Hamlyn’s Monkeys and Grey-cheeked Mangabeys.

Meet a dedicated troop of chimpanzees which you will track for about one hour and later hike out of the forest; have lunch and rest for a bit.

In the afternoon engage in a unique canopy walk where you get a 360-degree view of the entire Nyungwe forest and its elusive residents including primates, butterflies and different bird species as they jump swiftly across the thick trees.

Day 7: Drive back to Kigali city via Butare city

Travel to Butare after tasty breakfast. It’s approximately a 3 - hour journey and visit Butare museum upon arrival. Have lunch after the museum tour and enjoy Rwanda cultural dances dubbed “Intore” before you transfer to Nyanza.

Nyanza is a historical residence for most fallen Rwandan kings; visit king’s palace and watch elders narrate ancient stories and traditions of ancient Rwandans.

After this experience, proceed to Kigali international airport for departure.