This tour proposal for an individual Rwanda round trip takes you to the country’s most important national parks with a focus on primates (gorillas and chimpanzees). In the Nyungwe Primeval Forest, we recommend going on an extensive hiking tour. You will also experience scenic Lake Kivu and the country’s culture with visits to the National Museum and Royal Palace in Butare.

Day 1 | Arrival in Kigali
When you arrive at Kigali Airport, a member of our cooperation partner’s staff will be waiting for you. After your luggage is stored in the vehicle, you will be driven to your hotel.

Day 2 | Drive to Nyungwe Forest via Nyanza and Butare
After breakfast, the journey continues to the south of the country – to the Nyungwe Forest National Park. Along the way, stop in Nyanza, once the country’s political center. Here is also the 500 year old royal palace of King Mutara III, which you will visit. For lunch you will stop in Butare with its university and national museum, which you can also visit if you wish. Then the drive continues to Nyungwe Forest National Park. Driving time approx. 7 hours (depending on traffic conditions).

Day 3 | Nyungwe Forest National Park
After an early breakfast, depart at 6:00 am to Nyungwe Forest for a tracking of chimpanzees and other resident primates. This activity can take place at two locations: the Uwinka Visitor Center and the Cyamudongo Forest, which is part of the National Park. Return to the lodge for lunch.
In the afternoon you can optionally take part in a treetop hike or a bird hike.

Day 4 | Nyungwe Forest National Park
You have today to relax. Optionally, you can also take part in a Colobus tracking. In this case, your day will start quite early as you hike through the national park on the tracks of the animals. Another optional activity is a hike to a waterfall. The duration of the hike is about 4 hours.

Day 5 | Kibuye
Today after breakfast, continue north along the shore of Lake Kivu to Kibuye, arriving around noon. You have the rest of the day to relax.
Optionally, a boat tour to the offshore islands can also be arranged.
Nestled in an attractive landscape, Lake Kivu is the largest lake in the country. It is an ideal destination for water sports and relaxation. At its deepest point it reaches down to 485 m. Today’s journey time is around 3 hours.

Day 6 | Kibuye
Today is your leisure day with optional activities on or around the lake.

Day 7 | Volcanoes National Park
Today after breakfast continue towards Musanze near the Volcanoes National Park. The drive passes through Gisenyi, a small town on Lake Kivu, where you stop for lunch.
Then continue to Musanze, at the gates of the Volcano National Park. This park covers an area of ​​125 km2 along the Virunga volcanic mountains. The only mountain gorillas in the country are found here. The mountain gorillas live in this mountainous region in 9 family groups with a total of just over 120 animals.

Day 8 | Volcanoes National Park
Your hike through the national park in search of the mountain gorillas begins early in the morning. Before your hike begins, however, visitors gather at the park administration headquarters. Here you will be familiarized with the rules of conduct and assigned to a gorilla group. The duration of the hike cannot be predicted. This depends on where the animals have moved into their night quarters. However, once you get to the gorillas, you have an hour to observe them. You will then return to the lodge.

Day 9 | Vocanoes National Park
Today you can choose between two optional activities. First, a hike to Dian Fossey’s grave. The passionate primate researcher who had her research base here and dedicated herself to the protection of the rare animals.
On the other hand, you can take part in a Golden Monkey Tracking and learn something about the life of these primates on a hike.
Of course, further gorilla tracking is also possible. These optional activities must be booked in advance. Or simply use this day to relax at the lodge and explore the surrounding area.

Day 10 | Kigali
After breakfast head back to Kigali. Lunch is taken on the way. On the way to the capital, you will pass the scenic twin lakes of Bulera and Ruhondo. The drive to Kigali takes about 4 hours.
In the afternoon you can optionally visit the Genocide Memorial in Kigali. A monument to the victims of the civil war was erected here in an exemplary manner.
Kigali is now one of Africa’s most progressive capitals and the country has also seen significant improvements in terms of infrastructure. When it comes to environmental friendliness, Rwanda is a pioneer on the African continent.

Day 11 | return journey
You will be taken to the airport in time for your return flight