7 Days Primates and Lake Kivu Tour

Tour Highlights

• Chimpanzee Tracking in beautiful fauna Nyungwe Forest
• Gorilla Trekking in the thick Jungles Volcanoes National Park,
• Relaxation at Lake Kivu
• Sightseeing in the historical Kigali City

Let us take you on a 7-day Primates and Lake Kivu Tour

you’ll experience close encounters with the primates of Rwanda and the beautiful people from the Land of A Thousand Hills.

This incredible 7-day primate and Lake Kivu Tour offers the opportunity for once-in-a-lifetime wildlife encounters. You’ll track chimpanzees and spot monkeys, baboons, and other wildlife in Nyungwe National Park and embark on the Canopy Walkway,  Trek deep into the forests of Volcanoes National Park, you’ll search for endangered mountain gorillas with expert local rangers. Take in the sights of Kigali and its colorful markets, and kayak on Lake Kivu.

Tour Itinerary of 7-day Primates and Lake Kivu Tour

Day: Arrival in Kigali, Rwanda

The 7-day Primate and Lake Kivu Tour begins with your arrival at Kigali Airport in the morning where you will be welcomed by a company representative and transferred to your accommodation. You’ll have an opportunity to visit the bustling local markets and the Caplaki Craft Co-operative where you’ll find local craftsmen in wooden huts. Look out for handicrafts, including jewelry, paintings, batik, fabrics, wood carvings, traditional masks, baskets, bags, scarves, and beading.

Accommodation and Meals at Mille Collines Hotel

Day 2: Kigali – Nyungwe Forest National Park

On this day, you will head to the Nyungwe Forest National Park,  along your journey, you will visit Nyanza, the former Mwami’s (King’s) as well as the National Museum at Butare; one the finest ethnographic museums in East Africa. After lunch, you will continue driving south to the Nyungwe Forest National Park arriving in the evening for relaxation.

Accommodation and Meals at Nyungwe Top View Hotel.

Day 3: Nyungwe Forest Park – Chimpanzee Trekking

Spend this morning on an amazing primate walk in search of the chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest. You will have the best opportunity to encounter humankind’s closest living relative in the early morning hours. This time will also give you a higher chance to encounter other primates and bird species in this park. After lunch, you will head for the Canopy Walkway, a 200-meter bridge suspended between giant trees, 50 meters above the forest. The walkway offers incredible views of the upper canopy and is excellent for spotting wildlife. Many of the primates live in trees so you’ll have better chances of locating them from the walkway. Look out for bird species and butterflies that are found in the forest.

Accommodation and Meals at Nyungwe Top View Hotel.

Day 4: Nyungwe Forest National Park – Lake Kivu

After an early morning breakfast, we continue to Lake Kivu, Gisenyi, the largest lake in Rwanda and located amid mountains and green hills. At Lake Kivu, you can relax on the stunning palm-fringed beaches, kayak on the calm waters of the lake, or take a boat tour to the nearby islands or coffee and banana plantations. You can also hike in the surrounding hills or visit Imbabazi Orphanage.   Accommodation and Meals at Mantis Kivu Marina Bay Hotel.

Day 5: Lake Kivu – Gorilla Guardians Village

After a relaxed breakfast, you will have a picturesque drive to Volcanoes National Park in Musanze province. This is roughly a three-four hour drive passing through breathtaking scenery. You will head out to the Gorilla Guardians Village where you will get to experience Rwandan village life by grinding seeds, firing bows and arrows, taking part in a traditional intore dance, and even partaking in the marriage of a king to his queen, listening to interesting stories about traditional medicine from a local traditional healer and get to know how medicinal trees, shrubs, grass are used to cure local patients.

Accommodation and Meals at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge.

Day 6: Volcanoes National Park – Gorilla Trekking

After breakfast, prepare for an unforgettable encounter with the gentle giants of Volcanoes National Park, the Mountain Gorillas! At the national park offices, you will be allocated a gorilla family in group 8 as well as a gorilla tracking guide.

After a pre-tracking briefing by your guide and a gorilla group assigned to you,  as well as appropriate safety precautions, you head to the trailhead for the start of a thrilling adventure.  The time taken can be quite unpredictable taking anything from 2 to 5 hrs or longer. You will have a packed lunch from the lodge for this hike. Upon sighting the gorillas, you spend the allowed one hour with them as they go about their daily life; grooming, feeding, and moving about. Later head back to the trailhead.

Accommodation and Meals at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge.

Day 7: Volcanoes National Park – Kigali – Departure

After breakfast, you will explore the crater lakes that are situated just outside Volcanoes National Park. The twin lakes are Burera and Ruhondo, you will enjoy amazing views and scenery of the Volcanoes Mountains and the lakes. Thereafter transfer to Kigali and continue to the Airport for your international flight.

End of the 7-day Primate and Lake Kivu Tour

Ground transportation in a safari customized 4WD Toyota Landcruiser with gasoline/fuel, Mineral water in the vehicle, services of an English-speaking Driver/guide, Activities, Batwa Trail, Nature walks, Boat cruises,  Game drives, Accommodation, Meals, all Park Entrance Fees, Statutory Taxes where applicable.

Excluded in the 7-day Primate and Lake Kivu Tour

International Airfares; Excess baggage charges; Ugandan and Rwanda Entry Visa Fees USD 50 and 30 per person; fees for International travel Vaccinations and Inoculations; Items of personal nature such as Room service, Alcoholic drinks, and Beverages, Communications charges (telephone, fax, internet), Laundry, etc.; Postage fees, Porterage fees, Tips and Gratuities for your Driver/guide and Hotels staff, Shopping charges for Curios and Crafts, International Airport Departure Taxes, Optional activities unless specified as included, Any other services not expressly shown in the itinerary or indicated as included.