5 days volcanoes and Nyungwe national park
per person
This 5 days volcanoes and Nyungwe national park safari will start from Kigali, take you to the volcanoes national park, Lake Kivu, and then Nyungwe forest national park. there are so many activities that will be done in this safari such as chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe, gorilla trekking in volcanoes, boat cruise on Lake Kivu, and then the cultural visit to Iby’Iwacu village.
The 5 days volcanoes and Nyungwe forest national park safari are one of those you don’t have to miss out on as it gives you an opportunity to meet the endangered mountain gorillas as well as chimpanzees with even opportunities of meeting golden monkeys as well as other park animals like buffaloes, giant forest hogs, duikers and much more during the trekking.
5 days volcanoes and Nyungwe national park Safari Highlights
Day 1: Arrival, Kigali city tour, and transfer to volcanoes national park
Day 2: Encounter mountain gorillas, and Iby’Iwacu cultural tour
Day 3: Lake Kivu and Nyungwe forest national park
Day 4: Encounter chimpanzees and canopy walk
Day 5: Transfer to Kigali
Day 1: Arrival, Kigali city tour, and transfer to volcanoes national park
Upon arrival at Kigali international airport, our driver guide will welcome you and brief you about the whole 5 days volcanoes and Nyungwe national park. After you will drive and go for the Kigali city tour where you will visit different tourism places in the shortest time possible. You will visit some of the museums like Kigali genocide memorial, markets such as Kirimonko where you will interact with the local traders, buy some of their products and lastly you will go and visit Inema art Centre where you can buy some crafts for yourself or people back home. Later you will drive to any restaurants for lunch and after head to volcanoes national park where you will check in your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Meal plan
Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation
Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel – luxury, Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge – mid-range, Kinigi Guest House – budget
Day 2: Encounter mountain gorillas, and Iby’Iwacu cultural tour
After waking up, you will go for a morning breakfast, and thereafter your driver-guide will transfer you to the briefing point where you will meet fellow trekkers, rangers, and armed ranger guides. You will first have a briefing and then armed ranger guides will lead you into the jungle to search for the gentle apes. On meeting them, 1 hour will be given to you to be around them, learn about their habits, watch them do daily activities like hunt, breastfeed, nest and get to take photos.
During the whole trekking activity, you will be able to see different park animals like buffaloes, elephants, duikers, giant forest hogs, several monkey species, and different birds among others. After trekking, you will trek back to the starting point, meet your driver guide who will drive you back to the lodge for lunch.
In the afternoon, you will drive to the Iby’Iwacu cultural village where you will meet local people, get to know how they live their day to day living, and meet the former poachers who will tell you about stories of long ago in the jungles of volcanoes. In the cultural village, you will support some craft shops by buying some souvenirs, and when you come at a time there is a ceremony you will be part of it, get to taste local food and at the end, you will be entertained by traditional dancers who will entertain you through dances and drama. Later you will drive to the lodge, relax, have dinner, and have an overnight stay.
Meal plan
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Accommodation
Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel – luxury, Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge – mid-range, Kinigi Guest House – budget
Day 3: Lake Kivu and Nyungwe forest national park
After early morning breakfast, you will check out of the lodge, meet your driver guide and then drive to Rubavu where you will spend some time on Lake Kivu enjoying the cool fresh breathe. At Lake Kivu, you will have a boat cruise which will give you an opportunity to see different water animals and water birds for about 2hours. You can also have a nature walk around the shores of the lake and this will give you an opportunity to meet different bird species such as Cardinal Woodpecker, common kestrel, Tropical Boubou, Ashy Flycatcher, spotted Yellow-throated Greenbul, Common Waxbill, Speckled Pigeons, Chin-spot Batis, Bronzed Sunbirds, and African Pied Wagtail.
After the Lake Kivu visit, you will have lunch and then head to Nyungwe forest national park where you will check in your lodge upon arrival, have an evening relaxing as you prepare for chimpanzee trekking the next day. You will later be served dinner and you will have an overnight stay.
Meal plan
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Accommodation
One&Only Nyungwe House – luxury, Nyungwe Top View Hotel – mid-range, and Gisakura Guest House – budget
Day 4: Encounter chimpanzees and canopy walk
On the fourth day of your safari, you will wake up for a morning briefing and then head out for a briefing at the park headquarters after which meet an armed ranger guide who will lead you and your group to the jungle to look for the endangered apes. As you are searching for the chimpanzee family assigned to you, there are high chances of meeting different park animals looking for what to eat like the elephants, giant forest hogs, duikers, buffaloes, bush pigs, several monkeys, and bird species.
When you set eyes on the chimpanzees, you will be given 1 hour to be around the chimpanzees, and during this period, you will be able to see chimpanzees do daily activities, learn about their habits, and take them photos only if your camera has no flashlight. Later you will get back to the starting point, meet your driver guide who will take you to the lodge for lunch.
In the afternoon, you will go back to the briefing point where you will gather with other people for the rules and regulations of the canopy walk. Later you will walk for a canopy walk in a bridge raised 50m above the ground and 90m long. The canopy walk takes 2 hours of having aerial views of the park animals, trees, surrounding areas, and different bird species. Later you will drive back to the lodge for diner and an overnight stay.
Meal plan
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Accommodation
One&Only Nyungwe House – luxury, Nyungwe Top View Hotel – mid-range, and Gisakura Guest House – budget
Day 5: Transfer to Kigali
On the last day of 5 days volcanoes and Nyungwe national park safari, you will wake at any time of the day for a relaxed breakfast and then start on your 4 hours journey to Kigali city with an en-route lunch. Once you arrive in the city, you will be dropped off at the airport for your flight back home or at your hotel.
Meal plan
Breakfast, and Lunch
Tour includes
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Golden monkey trekking permit
- Cultural visit
- Kigali city tour
- Transport
- Service of the English-speaking guide
- Accommodation
- Drinking water and meals indicated in the itinerary
Tour excludes
- International tickets
- Visas
- Personal insurance
- Tips
- Personal expenses
- Porter fee