On this 5 days Rwanda tour you shall enjoy wonderful adventures in Volcanoes National Park and relaxation at the Lake Kivu. You will do the famous gorilla trekking adventure and get up-close with the mountain gorillas in the jungles of the Virunga Mountains. To this memorable gorilla encounter, you will add the golden monkey tracking experience and see these incredibly attractive monkeys which are largely overshadowed by the popular gorillas. The golden monkeys live in the lower zones of the mountains and are found without a lot of trekking.

After the amazing adventures in the mountains there is no better place to retreat for relaxation than Lake Kivu one of the most beautiful lakes in Central Africa.

Trip Itinerary

Day 1 – pick up and transfer to volcanoes national park, afternoon Mukungwa river canoe trip

The tour driver shall pick you from Kigali at 8am and depart for Musanze in the north of Rwanda. The journey from Kigali to Musanze and Volcanoes National Park is only 2 hours of driving.

You will check into your hotel and wait to have lunch.

In the afternoon you shall go for the canoe ride on River Mukungwa in Musanze. The 3 – 4 hours trip along the river is a wonderful way of exploring the beautiful landscape and get up-close with the locals in the countryside and for the keen birder there are lots of birds.

Accommodation options to choose from:

Budget – La Locanda

Midrange – Le Bamboo Gorilla Lodge

Upmarket – Five Volcanoes Lodge/TheBishop’s House

Luxury – Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge/Virunga Lodge

Day 2 – golden monkey tracking and gorilla guardians village cultural tour

Today you shall transfer to the park office at 7am to meet the park guides for briefing and go for the golden monkey tracking adventure in Volcanoes National Park. The golden monkeys are endangered species and are unique to the Virunga mountains. They live in the bamboo forests in the lower zones of the mountains. You will track a habituated troop of about 100 individuals. The monkeys offer excellent photography due to their beauty and highly active character. Time taken to find them is about 1 hour and time allowed to watch them is only 1 hour.

In the afternoon you shall visit the Gorilla Guardians Village for a cultural tour. The locals will show you their various cultures and traditions.

Optional activity:

Instead of the golden monkey trek and cultural village tour you can do the following activities:

• Mount Bisoke hike: you can do the full day hike on Mount Bisoke (3711m) and enjoy the spectacular views of the Virunga mountains and encounter an array of wildlife, however the biggest reward is the beautiful crater lake on top of the mountain.

Accommodation options to choose from:

Budget – La Locanda

Midrange – Le Bamboo Gorilla Lodge

Upmarket – Five Volcanoes Lodge/TheBishop’s House

Luxury – Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge/Virunga Lodge

Day 3 – gorilla tracking and transfer to Lake Kivu, Gisenyi

Today you shall go for the gorilla tracking adventure in Volcanoes National Park. With packed lunch, you shall transfer to the park office to meet the park guides for allocation of the gorilla groups and briefing about the gorilla trekking etiquette and thereafter set off for the ultimate gorilla adventure in the Virungas.

After the amazing gorilla tour you shall transfer to Lake Kivu which is 1.5hours away from Musanze.

Optional activity:

Instead of Gorilla tracking you can do the dian fossey tomb trail trek and learn about the story of researcher Dian Fossey who dedicated her life to studying and protecting the gorillas in Rwanda. The Dian Fossey trail is located in the valley between Mount Bisoke and Mount Karisimbi. There is also plenty of wildlife to see on the way including gorillas, golden monkeys, duiker and rare plant life

Accommodation options to choose from:

Budget – Inzu Lodge

Midrange – Paradise Malahide

Upmarket – Lake Kivu Serena Hotel

Day 4 – Day at leisure with Lake Kivu boat tour

Wake up to the beautiful views of the Lake Kivu. You will do a boat ride and enjoy the scenery.

Accommodation options to choose from:

Budget – Inzu Lodge

Midrange – Paradise Malahide

Upmarket – Lake Kivu Serena Hotel

Day 5 – Travel back to Kigali

Today you shall travel back to Kigali

This tour includes:-

• Tour car and tour driver driver/guide
• All meals
• Accommodation
• Gorilla tracking permit ($1500)
• Drinking water

Tour does not include:

• Optional activities
• Visa fees
• Personal insurance
• Airfares
• Tips All personal expenses such as laundry, phone bills, curio purchases

 

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