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Popup roof 4x4
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2-20
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To be provided
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Kigali
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Game drives, Hiking, Boat trip
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English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic
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To be provided
This Budget Safari, showcasing the best of Rwanda, offers an incredible opportunity to immerse yourself in the country’s wildlife and culture without overspending. The itinerary features a visit to the chimpanzees in Nyungwe, the chance to soak in the beautiful scenery and rich culture surrounding Lake Kivu, and an unforgettable encounter with gorillas and golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park. This journey encompasses all the must-see attractions and experiences that Rwanda presents. Below, you will find a comprehensive itinerary for this Safari.
Our assigned guide will pick you up from the airport or your hotel in Kigali and drive you to Nyungwe Forest National Park. The drive will take about five hours giving you plenty of time to enjoy the scenic views of the Rwandan countryside.
Along the way, you will stop at the Royal Palace Museum in Nyanza and the Ethnographic Museum in Huye. These stops will give you a great insight into Rwanda's history and culture. You will arrive in Nyungwe in the evening and rest at your lodge.
Main Destination: Nyungwe National Park
Accommodation: Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel - Mid-range hotel located just outside Nyungwe NP
Meals & Drinks:
Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
After an early breakfast, you will head to the park offices for a briefing before starting your chimpanzee tracking adventure. Accompanied by a guide, you will hike through the dense forest in search of chimps and other primates. During your hike, you might spot some species of monkeys, sometimes in large groups, and many different bird species. Once you find the chimps, you will spend an hour with them before heading back.
After the hike, you will return to the lodge for lunch and then go for a canopy walk in the park. This is a suspended bridge 70 meters above the ground that gives you a unique view of the forest and a chance to see primates high up in the trees. You will then return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Main Destination: Nyungwe National Park
Accommodation: Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel - Mid-range hotel located just outside Nyungwe NP
Meals & Drinks:
All meals included
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
After breakfast, you will be taken on a scenic drive from Nyungwe to Gisenyi, located on the shores of Lake Kivu. The drive takes around four hours, but the beautiful countryside and changing views of the lake make it feel shorter.
You will arrive at your lodge with enough time to relax and enjoy the cool breeze by the lake. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure.
Main Destination: Gisenyi (Lake Kivu)
Accommodation: Cormoran Lodge - Mid-range lodge located in Kibuye (Lake Kivu)
Meals & Drinks:
All meals included
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
You will wake up to a delicious breakfast and thereafter explore Lake Kivu by boat. You may also visit islands on the lake where you will spot many bird species.
After the boat ride, you will return to your lodge for lunch before driving to Volcanoes National Park. The drive takes about three hours, and you'll arrive early enough to enjoy a relaxing evening.
Main Destination: Volcanoes National Park
Accommodation: Tiloreza Volcanoes Ecolodge - Mid-range lodge located less than 1hr drive from Volcanoes NP
Meals & Drinks:
All meals included
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
This day promises to be one of the most memorable of your Best of Rwanda Budget Safari. After an early breakfast, head to the park headquarters for a briefing on gorilla trekking. In small groups, you will set off into the dense forest with experienced guides to track a gorilla family. The trek can be challenging, with steep and muddy paths, but the reward is well worth the effort. Upon finding the gorillas, you will have the opportunity to spend an hour observing these gentle giants in their natural habitat. Watch as they play, feed, and interact as you gain insight into their daily lives. After this unforgettable encounter, return to the lodge for lunch and then go on an excursion to explore the beautiful twin lakes in the region (Lake Bulera & Ruhondo).
Main Destination: Volcanoes National Park
Accommodation: Tiloreza Volcanoes Ecolodge - Mid-range lodge located less than 1hr drive from Volcanoes NP
Meals & Drinks:
All meals included
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
After an early breakfast at the lodge, you will head out to Volcanoes National Park headquarters for a golden monkey trekking experience. The trek will take you through lush forests and scenic landscapes as your experienced Best of Rwanda Budget Safari guides share their knowledge about the golden monkeys and the park's diverse ecosystem. Upon finding the golden monkeys, you will have the opportunity to spend an hour observing them. Unlike the gorillas, golden monkeys are playful and quick, often engaging in hide-and-seek games so you might have to follow them around.
Once your trek is complete, you will return to the lodge for a well-deserved rest and lunch. In the early afternoon, you will begin your journey back to Kigali and then to Kigali International Airport for your departure.
Main Destination: Kigali International Airport
Accommodation: No accommodation
Meals & Drinks:
Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
This itinerary is often called the “Primate Circuit.” The 6-Day Best of Rwanda Mid-Range Safari focuses on Rwanda’s two premier rainforests—Nyungwe and Volcanoes National Park—offering encounters with chimpanzees, mountain gorillas, and golden monkeys, with a relaxing cultural interlude at Lake Kivu.
A mid-range safari balances comfort and value. On the 6-Day Best of Rwanda Mid-Range Safari, you will stay in well-appointed lodges that offer private en-suite rooms, hot showers, and full-board meals, providing a high level of service without the $1,500+ per night price tag of ultra-luxury brands.
Included in the 6-Day Best of Rwanda Mid-Range Safari, the Canopy Walk is a 160-meter-long suspension bridge hanging 70 meters above the forest floor. It offers a spectacular bird’s-eye view of the ancient treetops, orchids, and various primate species moving below.
Lake Kivu is Rwanda’s “inland sea.” During the 6-Day Best of Rwanda Mid-Range Safari, you’ll have a day to unwind in Gisenyi or Kibuye. Activities include a scenic boat cruise to Napoleon Island (famous for its fruit bat colony), visiting local fishing villages, or exploring a “crop-to-cup” coffee plantation.
Golden monkeys are an endangered, orange-gold subspecies of the blue monkey endemic to the Virunga range. On the 6-Day Best of Rwanda Mid-Range Safari, you will track them in the bamboo forests at the base of the volcanoes. They are incredibly playful and offer fantastic photography opportunities.
Most international travelers can obtain a 30-day tourist visa ($50) upon arrival at Kigali International Airport. If you are combining this tour with a visit to Uganda or Kenya, the East Africa Tourist Visa ($100) is the most efficient option.
