Safari overview: This 7 Days Best of Rwanda Gorillas Kivu and Chimps safari offers an unforgettable experience to discover Rwanda’s remarkable wildlife and landscapes.
This tour will take you to the most remote and wilderness areas of Rwanda and east Africa at large. The tour gives you an opportunity to trek the endangered chimpanzees as well as mountain gorillas in one go! You will enjoy a journey which truly encapsulates the essence of 7 days exploring the best of Rwanda—Kivu, gorillas, and chimps.
Discover Our Rates & Accommodations for This Tour
Mid-Range Class
All of our tours can be personalised. For most safari itineraries, we can offer luxury, mid-range or budget versions upon request. To find out more, contact us directly
| 2 people sharing | 4 people sharing | 6 people sharing | Single supplement ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|
| From $2,182 p/p | From $1,786 p/p | From $1,704 p/p | From $319 |
Prices indicated are per person (p/p).
Day 1: Pick up from Kigali airport and transfer to the hotel
Upon reaching Kigali airport, you will be welcomed to the land of a thousand hills by our driver guide who will transfer you to a hotel in Kigali city. In case you reach early, you will visit some of the crash shops and sculptures in the city. You will check in for your over night stay and dinner. For those joining the 7 Days Best of Rwanda Gorillas Kivu and Chimps tour, your adventure begins here.
Accommodation options: Kigali Serena hotel/Flame Tree Village/Greenpage suites
Day 2: Transfer to Nyungwe forest national park and afternoon canopy walk.
You will set off to Nyungwe forest national Park after your breakfast. The park is covered with montane forest which is the biggest in east and central Africa. You need to know that the park is a home of 13 primates including our close cousins, the chimpanzees, other primates are olive baboons, vavet monkeys, red tailed monkeys, colobus monkeys, mangabeys among others. It’s also a home of over 300 bird species of which 24 are Albertine rift endemics. Among the highlights, Nyungwe is a key stop in your 7 Days Best of Rwanda Gorillas, Kivu and Chimps safari.
In the afternoon you will go canopy walking which is the only east Africa’s canopy walk. It is above the forest ad lasts for about 1and half hours. It’s takes you through the beautiful wildlife and you will be able to view monkeys and beautiful birds. Later in the evening you Wil return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation options: Nyungwe forest lodge/Nyungwe top view Hill lodge/Gisakura Guesthouse
Day 3: Chimpanzee trekking and community walks.
You will be briefed about chimp trekking rules and regulations after your breakfast and later head for the activity. You may encounter other animals such as monkeys and also birds. Trekking hours depends on the movements these animals but it may take 2-3hours. In fact, this day is pivotal for experiencing Rwanda’s chimps, a major focus of the 7 Days Best tour that also features Gorillas and Lake Kivu.
In the afternoon after your lunch you will head for community walks to mix and mingle with the natives of this region. Enjoy their traditional performances, craft work, etc.
Accommodation options: Nyungwe forest lodge/Nyungwe top view Hill lodge/Gisakura Guesthouse
Day 4: Transfer to Lake Kivu.
After a leisurely breakfast, you will head to the shore of Lake kivu on eastern side in Kibuye town, where you will take canoes and visit some Island. In the afternoon you will visit Ndaba Falls and later evening check in to the lodge for your accommodation. Lake Kivu adds scenic beauty to the 7 Days Best of Rwanda itinerary including gorillas and chimps.
Accommodation options: Serena Lake Kivu Hotel/Water Front Resort/Hotel Paradise Malahide
Day 5: Visit Ross Carr orphanage on the shores of Lake Kivu.
After breakfast, leave Lake Kivu to Musanze in North-East with enroute visit to an orphanage. Rosamond Halsey was a young American fashion illustrator when she married an adventurous hunter-explorer, Kenneth Carr. Together, they traveled to the former republic of the Belgian Congo in 1949 but they later divorced. Kenneth left, but Rosamond stayed in the Democratic Republic of Congo up to 1955. From D.R. Congo, she transferred to northwest Rwanda where she lived for up to 50 years. Rosamond witnessed a larger part of Rwanda’s historical events including the 1994 civil war that led to genocide.
She went to become the author of “Land of a Thousand Hills: My Life in Rwanda.” At this place, the site guide narrates authentic history about the life and times of this lady, her relationship with the natives and Dian Fossey the famous gorilla conservationist. Return to the lodge and immediately transfer to Volcanoes national park for dinner and overnight stay. In preparation for the gorilla and chimp trekking, this section is a highlight within the context of the 7 Days Best of Rwanda Gorillas, Kivu, and Chimps.
Accommodation options: Amakoro Songa Lodge/Ingangi Park View Lodge/Gorilla Village
Day 6: Gorilla trekking
This day will be the most exciting day in our trip. After having had your breakfast, you will be briefed about the gorillas and straight away head for an amazing activity. You will be led by the park ranger and start searching for the gorillas. This activity takes 2 to 8 hours depending on the movements of these apes. Remember your trekking one of the remaining mountain gorillas in Africa. When you meet the gorillas, you will be allowed to be with them for 1 good hours which will seem to be a minute due to its amazing life. Later you will trek back to your lodge for lunch and relax. Gorilla trekking forms the core of this 7 Days Best of Rwanda tour, which includes Kivu and chimps as key attractions.
Accommodation options: Amakoro Songa Lodge/Ingangi Park View Lodge/Gorilla Villages
Day 7: Transfer to Kigali international airport
Our driver guide will transfer you to Kigali depending on your flight, you will visit the Rwanda genocide memorial center which was opened in 2004. And later the driver will drop you at the airport making the end of your 7 days tour. This marks the conclusion of your 7 Days Best of Rwanda tour featuring Gorillas, Lake Kivu and Chimps.
Before Booking, Please Read the Following Carefully
- Prices are valid for 2025, 2026 and 2027.
- The itinerary mentioned for this tour is an example which can be tailored to your wishes. The 7 Days Best of Rwanda Gorillas, Kivu and Chimps adventure is particularly suited to those wanting flexibility and unique experiences.
- The Gorilla Tracking included in this safari depends on the availability of gorilla trekking permits at the time of booking. These permits are strictly limited and sold out in advance, especially during peak seasons of Christmas and school holidays. We therefore strongly recommend booking early.
- The safari indicated here is essentially an offer. Changes in the course of the journey, the duration of your tour, the number of travellers, as well as the choice of accommodation are subject to availability, although we always endeavour to stick as closely as possible to this programme. For most itineraries, we can offer luxury, mid-range or budget versions of this safari upon request. You may opt for our signature experience: 7 Days Best of Rwanda Gorillas, Kivu and Chimps.
- Sometimes it is not possible to adhere to the travel plan as described in this itinerary, due to weather and road conditions, authority regulations, organisational requirements, etc. Occasionally, the planned route of the tour has to change according to the situation on the ground. We must therefore explicitly refuse liability for adherence to the journey plan.
- By booking this safari, the client accepts Epic Uganda Vacations Terms and Conditions of business.
