10-Day Rwanda Gorilla, Chimp, Wildlife & Cultural Safari

You will wake up early morning, have breakfast, and then go for a sunrise game drive. This will give you a glimpse of the herbivores actively grazing against the sunrise. The game drive in Akagera is an incredible activity that offers breathtaking views of the African Big Five —elephants, lions, rhinos, buffaloes, and leopards as well as other animals such as giraffes, and antelopes, birds which create a memorable experience of a lifetime.

In the afternoon, you'll have a launch or boat cruise along Lake Ihema that gives a spectacular view of crocodiles, a school of hippos, water birds, and other species of wildlife which will fill you with the essence of nature. Then, you will get back to the lodge, relax, and have dinner and later an overnight stay.

After breakfast, you will check out of your lodge and meet your guide. Then, you'll embark on a 5-hour journey through green rolling hills and spectacular landscapes to Volcanoes National Park, a paradise to the Majestic Mountain Gorillas. You will check in at the Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel.

After an early morning breakfast, you will transfer to the park headquarters at Kinigi for a briefing about mountain gorilla trekking from the park warden and rangers.
Along with your trekking gear, drinking water, and a packed lunch, you will embark on the captivating gorilla trekking in the jungle forests of the Volcanoes National Park, which may take 1–7 hours to search for awesome primates depending on their movement.

On encountering the giant primates, you will have a rewarding and exciting magical hour to learn and watch the charming gorillas as they interact, play, mate, feed, build nests, and groom each other.

Meeting the closest relatives of human beings is an adrenaline-pumping activity that offers a once-in-a-lifetime experience. After that, you'll be back at the hotel.

After an early morning breakfast, you will transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing from the park warden about the endangered golden monkey tracking. Afterward, you will connect tracking trails leading into the bamboo forest searching for the rare golden monkeys, which will take you 1-4 hours. Looking left and right, east and west, you will have ecstatic views of other primates like the red-tailed monkey, vervet monkeys, black and white monkeys, as well as colorful birds, among others. On meeting the endangered golden monkeys, you will have one charming hour to watch and study these monkeys as they interact, play, feed, and groom each other.

In the evening, you will immerse yourself in the customs, traditions, and cultures of the surrounding community at Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village. You'll interact with local people with their authentic cultures and behavioral patterns, such as traditional cattle milking, arts and crafts, local beer brewing, and honey harvesting. After that, you'll be back at the hotel.

After breakfast, you will go for an adrenaline-pumping hike to Dian Fossey's gravesite for about 2-4 hours. Dain Fossey was an American primatologist known for extensive study of the mountain gorillas. This trek gives insight into Dian Fossey and her legacy on gorilla conservation. Afterward, you will return for relaxation and an overnight stay in the Hotel.

You will enjoy a delicious breakfast, check out of the lodge, and leave Volcanoes National Park for Lake Kivu. You will arrive at Lake Kivu early and have lunch at the lodge. Then, you will relax at the lake with a fresh breeze, vistas, and white sand bathing. Overnight Stay at Kivu Serena Hotel.

Lake Kivu to Nyungwe Forest in the Southern Province

After enjoying a delicious breakfast, you will go for a boat ride along Lake Kivu, which will give scenic views of the hippos, crocodiles, birds, as well as other wild animals at the banks of the lake. Later, you will embark on the 4-hour journey to Nyungwe National Park, which shelters 13 primate species. You will check in at Nyungwe Hilltop View Hotel for one hour at the hotel.

You'll enjoy breakfast in the morning and then gather at Uwinka Reception for a briefing about chimpanzee tracking rules. After the briefing, you will meet the park ranger and guides who will take you on a trek for 1–4 hours in the forest to meet chimpanzees, which are normally spotted as they jump from one tree to another, chattering and laughing. On finding the awe-inspiring primates, you'll spend an hour taking pictures and videos of the life-changing experience.

In the afternoon, you will go on a walking trail that will take you to the Canopy Walk— a swinging bridge 50m in length that is suspended from bird trees. You will be able to see the captivating rainforest with a bird’s eye view, spotting wildlife moving about below you.
Then, you'll return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

After having your breakfast, you will take a 6-hours drive through beautiful landscapes, farmlands, local markets communities, and towns. Then, you'll go to Kigali and connect to the airport for departure.