Experience the best of Rwanda with gorilla trips ltd, the highlights of the trip include; a gorilla trekking trip to volcanoes national park, Chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe forest national, a hiking trip, and a boat cruise all courtesy of gorilla trips ltd
Day 1: Kigali City Tour
Breakfast and thereafter, have a Kigali city tour; visit the Gisozi genocide memorial site, the new handicraft village, the Batwa pottery and dance center, and the Kimironko fruits. Then transfer to the hotel for your dinner and overnight at Kigali Serena hotel, Manor Hotel, or Chez Lando Hotel.
Day 2: Transfer to Butare, cultural tour – Nyungwe Forest
Morning breakfast and head to Butare; an intellectual city of Rwanda and the second largest after Kigali. Visit the Butare National Museum (supreme museum in East Africa) which is one of the best sources of information about the cultural history of the country and the region.
En route to Butare, visit Nyanza palace; presently Nyabisindu, the former Mwami’s palace (King’s palace) and the base of the feudal kingdom. Later you will have a thrilling concert of the national ballet with the Intore-dancers. The performance is considered by many as one of the highlights of your safari. Have lunch in Butare, proceed to Murambi genocide memorial museums, after which we connect to Nyungwe Forest National park, dinner and overnight at Gisakura Guest House / Nyungwe Hill Top View Hotel / Nyungwe Forest Lodge.
Day 3: A Hike to Nyungwe Forest
After an African breakfast, assemble at Uwinka tourist information center for briefing before you start your hike in the Nyungwe Forest. The hike will expose you to the commonest species such as large communal troops of Angolan Colobus, which may be over 300 in number, and many bird species. It may be a strenuous walk but guides always make it more enjoyable and informative by giving you information about the flora and fauna that you encounter while on the walk.
Have picnic lunch, the exploration continues along different beautiful trails available then encounter the superb waterfall trail of Gisakura is probably the most thrilling along. The afternoon trek may take 2 – 3 hours, and it will also expose you to more birds and primate species such as the Angola Colobus Monkeys and the endangered Golden Monkeys. Return to your Lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Chimpanzee Tracking Nyungwe Forest
Breakfast and report for briefing about how to behave while with chimpanzees. Enter the forest in a company of ranger guides to search for these amazing creatures. Enjoy their view for a maximum of one hour and take memorable photos. A trek into Nyungwe forest gives an opportunity to encounter with Chimpanzees, L’Hoest’s monkeys and blue monkeys around Uwinka after a less strenuous hike. You will connect to the Bigugu Mountain trail which takes you to the highest peak in Nyungwe Forest at 3000m above sea level. Along the trek, bird lovers are certainly in for a treat as Nyungwe hosts so many Albertine rift endemics that you will encounter along the trek to Bigugu Mountain. Return to your Lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Transfer to Kibuye
In the morning immediately after breakfast, drive to Kibuye, through the green fields of tea plantations before exploring the shorelines of Lake Kivu. Kibuye is the most beautiful resort of the three towns on Lake Kivu. To refresh from trekking in Nyungwe, you may spend the rest of the day at leisure, you can enjoy sunbathing, swimming while interacting with the residents around. You can also connect to Kibuye by boat on Lake Kivu from Cyangugu.
Day 6: Boat cruise to Gisenyi – Kinigi
After breakfast, we shall enjoy the speed-boat cruise to Gisenyi. You will encounter fishing villages of Lake Kivu and also have an opportunity to interact with people of Idjwi Island; it is thought to be the largest inland island in Africa – the eighth largest in the world. Idjwi is roughly halfway between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. You can also cross the border to Goma in Congo (Optional). Goma was devastated by the eruption of the Nyiragongo volcano. The Nyiragongo Volcano which is 3470 meters above sea level erupted on the 17th of January 2002 and shattered part of Goma town. The eruption ruined the homes of over 120,000 people and caused over 100 victims. Your visit to this site will exhibit fantastic capabilities of the local population to surmount this natural upheaval! We drive to Kinigi for dinner and overnight at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Le Bambou Gorilla lodge or Muhabura Hotel.
Day 7: Gorilla Trekking Volcanoes – Rwanda
After breakfast, go for a briefing point with your packed lunch meet your ranger guide for a briefing about the greatest giants experience ever to see man’s cousins the Mountain gorillas in the mist. Search for the gentle giants, meet and stay with them for the maximum of one hour and take photographs. If tracking ends early enough, you will take a short excursion to discover the beautiful lakes of Lake Bulera and Ruhondo. Here you will have a magnificent view of the Virunga chain of Volcanoes. Return for dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Day 8: Transfer to Kigali – Departure.
After breakfast, you will drive to Kigali for lunch and maybe for shopping if you still have time, transfer to the airport and catch your flight back home.
