9 Days Rwanda Gorillas, Chimps, Big 5 & Big Cats Safari

Rwanda has a lot to offer and this 9 Days Rwanda Gorillas, Chimps, Big 5 & Big Cats Safari shows you a lovely selection of the Rwandan countryside and national parks.

It comprises a visit to Nyungwe Forest National Park, Lake Kivu, and also Volcanoes National Park for the magical gorilla trekking. Nyungwe Forest National Park is home to many primate species, including the chimpanzee. It is also a haven for a large diversity of birds and butterflies.

Nyungwe Forest also has another interesting feature……a canopy walkway built above the treetops and from which you have an amazing view of the forest beneath. Lake Kivu’s small, friendly towns and white sandy beaches make it an excellent stop.

You will visit Akagera national park to enjoy unlimited game drives to spot the Big 5 and Big cats and also enjoy a boat cruise on the Lake Ihema. You will also visit the twin Lakes Burera and Ruhondo making it a once in a lifetime adventure trip. 

Today morning after your breakfast, your guide will meet you at the hotel and will transfer you to Nyungwe Forest, one of the largest forests in East and Central Africa on your  9 Days Rwanda Gorillas, Chimps, Big 5 & Big Cats Safari.

The forest is abundant with flora and fauna including 13 primate species from colobus monkeys, mangabeys, blue monkeys and, of course, our cousins the chimpanzees.

Nyungwe Forest is also a famous location for birders. With about 310 recorded bird species, 26 of which are endemic, this is one of the most important and still little known bird watching destinations in Africa. Dinner and overnight at your booked lodge.

Travel time: 4.5 hrs 

Hotel: Emeraude Kivu Resort

Meal plan: Lunch & Dinner

After a very early morning start, you will proceed to the chimpanzee tracking trail in either the Cyamudongo or Uwinka sections. The total population between the two groups is a healthy 80 individuals.

This exciting up-close encounter with human's closest relative you will not soon forget.

After the chimp tracking you can relax at the hotel or choose an optional activity like the canopy walk on your 9 Days Rwanda Gorillas, Chimps, Big 5 & Big Cats Safari.

In the afternoon you can go for East Africa’s only canopy walk. This walk takes place above a deep gorge cutting across the massive forest. 

Lasting about 1½ hours, the walk takes you through some beautiful foliage and animal habitats. En route you will have the chance to spot blue monkeys and unique birds that dwell in the upper levels of the forest canopy.

Main destination: Nyungwe Forest National Park

Hotel: Emeraude Kivu Resort

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After breakfast we will make our way to Kibuye via Kivu Lake, enjoying fantastic views of the country along the way. Have lunch in Kibuye and then drive north to Volcanoes National Park.

Situated in the Virunga area of dormant volcanoes that extend from east to the west, this park is home to the famous mountain gorillas, golden monkeys and other rare primate species.

Main destination: Musanze

Accommodation: Tiloreza Volcanoes Ecolodge

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After breakfast, report to the park headquarters for your first experience endangered species in the Volcanoes National Park. The golden monkey trek is normally an easy trek that takes 1-2 hours. Later, visit the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo.

Accommodation: Tiloreza Volcanoes Ecolodge

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Wake up early reaching the Kinigi Park Offices by 7:00 AM just in time for the morning briefing and registration before proceeding to the head trail – the Mt Bisoke hike starting point. With packed lunch and hiking gear,

With your guides and porters start hike to the top of this volcano, enjoy lunch uphill before retrieving the starting point; meet up with your guide for drop off at either a hotel.

Have dinner and overnight as you prepare for gorilla trekking o the next day.

Mount Bisoke volcano is a dormant volcano part of the 8 volcanoes of the Virunga conservation region of East and Central Africa. Mount Bisoke stands at 3,711 meters with a crater lake and beautiful vegetation at the summit.

Hiking mount Bisoke is a 1 day hike which requires good fitness and it's a tough steep hike and advisable to take a porter to help carry your water and day pack.

Accommodation: Tiloreza Volcanoes Ecolodge

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After an early morning breakfast, transfer to the park headquarters together with your packed lunch early enough to be briefed about the code of conduct while with the gorillas.

Then, enter the forest in search of the gorillas, which may take 2-6 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas in the jungle. Meet and stay with the gorillas for a maximum of 1 hour.

Accommodation: Tiloreza Volcanoes Ecolodge

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After breakfast, you will transfer from Volcanoes National Park to Akagera National Park through Kigali. On arrival at the park, we shall proceed to our accommodation. 

We order lunch and later take a boat trip on Lake Ihema to watch Hippos and crocodiles in the water or by the shores. 

Accommodation: Akagera Game Lodge

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Enjoy early morning breakfast and start your game drives in an open-roofed vehicle. A full day game drive here offers you an opportunity to spot a variety of game including elephants, buffalos, hippos, lions, Masai giraffe, gazelles, impala, baboons, oribi, Butchel’s zebra, topi, bush baby, leopard, and bushbuck, etc.

Proceed for an evening game drive after lunch. Return to your lodge for dinner. 

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Lodge: Akagera Game Lodge

After breakfast on your last day of 9 Days Rwanda Gorillas, Chimps, Big 5 & Big Cats Safari, you will go for the early morning game drive to see wildlife such as elephants, impala, black-tailed mongoose, hippos, oribi, bushbuck, antelope, zebra, cape eland, giraffe, buffalo, and also primates like the olive baboon, vervet monkey, bush baby etc.

You will return to Kigali  and transfer to the airport for your departure flight.

Meal plan: Breakfast