Rwanda gorilla holiday gives you opportunity to track gorillas. This 7 day Rwanda gorilla holiday in Africa goes to Volcanoes National Park to trek Rwanda gorillas and chimps.

Seven days of primate trekking and beach holiday is what this 7 days Rwanda gorilla holiday safari offers you. Enjoy the best of African safari tour holiday in Rwanda with this great trip.

About the 7 Day Rwanda Gorilla Holiday

The 7 day Rwanda gorilla holiday gives you opportunity to track gorillas. This 7 day Rwanda gorilla holiday in Africa goes to Volcanoes National Park.

Here you have an opportunity to trek one of the 10 Rwanda gorilla families available for trekking. The activity includes a cultural experience after your Rwanda gorilla trekking.

This 7 day Rwanda gorilla holiday also takes you to Nyungwe. The is a tropical rain forest that is home to chimpanzees. You will track the Chimpanzees in Nyungwe. This is also a habitat of 12 other primates.  Nyungwe has some rare monkeys.

This Rwanda gorilla safari holiday visits the scenic Lake Kivu. What a way to relax when on Rwanda gorilla holiday!

7 Day Rwanda Gorilla Holiday Highlights

The highlights of this 7 day African gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda includes:

• Kigali city tour
• Kigali Genocide Memorial Center tour
• Gorilla trekking in Rwanda’s Volcanoes national park
• Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest
• Visit Iby’Iwacu cultural village
• Relaxation on the shores ‘beaches’ of lake Kivu
• Photography
• Great Scenery
• Beautiful Landscape

Your 7 day Rwanda gorilla holiday itinerary can be seen below:

Detailed 7 Day Rwanda Gorilla Tour

Day 1: Kigali

This is day one of your Rwanda gorilla holiday. You will be met upon arrival at the Kigali Airport. With the introductions done, enjoy a short transfer to Kigali city. It is here that you will be briefed on the Rwanda gorilla holiday.

Spend the rest of the day at leisure in Kigali city. This is one of the cleanest of Africa’s cities. You can enjoy your day with a walk within the city. Spend your night at Gorillas Hotel in Kigali. This is booked on bed and breakfast basis.

Day 2: Kigali-Nyungwe Forest

Your day on Rwanda gorilla holiday starts as early as 0600hrs. This will be with an early hot breakfast at your hotel in Kigali. You will leave to Nyungwe National Park in Southern Province. The drive goes through Nyanza. Here you will have a stop to visit the historical Nyanza Kingdom.

You will get to understand the history of Rwanda from here. Proceed to Butare where you will stop for lunch. A visit to Marambi Genocide Center will help you understand what happened in Rwanda. Your Rwanda gorilla holiday continues to Nyungwe.

You will arrive in the evening to check in at Nyungwe Forest Lodge. This is where you will have your dinner and overnight.

About Nyungwe Forest National Park

Nyungwe forest National Park located in the south west of Rwanda. It is famous for chimpanzees, congo nile trail walk and the great canopy walk.

A 5hrs drive will take you to Nyungwe forest National Park from Rwanda’s Capital city Kigali. The park is located in the south western part of Rwanda. It covers an area of over 1000Sq Km about 600square miles.

The area was gazzetted as a reserve forest in 1934. It was first called the Rujeje forest by the first forest duellers. It was declared a National Park in 2005 by the Rwandan Government.

Wildlife in Nyungwe Forest

The Nyungwe forest is a home of 280 species of birds and 32 species of amphibians. There are 38 species of reptiles, 200species of plants and 160 species of orchids. It is also home to many flower species.

Nyungwe forest is home to about 400 Chimpanzees. It represents one of the last intact populations in the area. There are currently two habituated chimpanzee groups. One in chamdungo and Uwinka (around Mayebe). A third group is still under habituation in the northern section of the park at Gisovu.

The tracking is an exciting challenge as you trek through a dense forest. You will enjoy great sightings of other various species of monkeys. They include the Red tailed, vervets, Olive baboons, Grey cheeeked mangabeys, L’hoest’d Monkeys.

Canopy Walk

The Nyungwe forest Canopy walk gives great opportunity to experience the rain forest. The walk way was built in 2010 by a canadian NGO – Green heart with help from USAID.  It is in a specialised guided tour as you slope down from the Uwinka visitor’s center. This is through the Igishigishi trail. The trail will take you approximately 30minutes to get to the starting point of the canopy.

The Canopy walk way is 160 Meters long and 70meters from ground. It has 3 sections with the first Canopy at 45Meters, second at 90Meters and third being at 25Meters. From the top you are able to have great view of the Nyungwe canopy. There are monkeys playing, close encounter with birds and on a clear day, Lake Kivu can be spotted.

Day 3: Rwanda Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe

The day on Rwanda gorilla holiday will start much earlier. This will be with a breakfast before 0430 hrs. You will head to the park office. This is where you will be briefed on chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda.

In smaller groups you will enter the Nyungwe Rain forest in search of man’s close relative. It is important to note that we share about 98% genetic makeup. You should be on the lookout for other primate species. They include Colobus monkeys, l’hoest among other primates.  There are also forest birds to watch out for.

The afternoon will be spent at leisure in Nyungwe Forest. There is the option for doing the canopy walk. You may also opt for bird watching. All these are at an extra cost. Your dinner and overnight will be at Nyungwe Lodge.

Day 4: Nyungwe- Parc Nationale Des Volcanoes

Your 7 day Rwanda gorilla holiday starts with an early breakfast. This will be followed by a drive to Parc Nationale des Volcans. The drive is quite eventful as there is beautiful scenery to see.

There will be several stops along the way to enjoy the environment. This will also include a stop for lunch. You will arrive in the evening at the Volcanoes National Park. Your dinner and overnight will be at La Palme Hotel.

About Volcanoes National Park

The Parc National des Volcans is located in north-west Rwanda. It is on the joint border with Uganda and DR Congo. Here it is contiguous with Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda. There is also Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

It was first gazetted in 1925, as a small area bounded by Karisimbi, Visoke and Mikeno. The intention then was to protect the gorillas from poachers. It was the first National Park to be created in Africa.

The park contains eight Pleistocene volcanic peaks. They form part of the watershed between the Nile and Congo Rivers systems. This includes Karisimbi at 4,507 m.

Vegetaion in Volvanoes National Park

The vegetation varies considerably with altitude. At lower elevations of 2,400–2,500 m there is a montane forest with Neoboutonia. Above which there is a zone of bamboo Arundinaria alpina. This is between 2,500 and 3,200 m, replaced on more humid slopes in the west and south by Hagenia–Hypericum forest. Montane bogs occupy some open areas.

Subalpine vegetation with lobelias, evergreen bushland and thicket are up. They occurs between 3,500–4,000 m. Above 4,000 m there is Afro-alpine vegetation of health and thicket grassland. Average annual rainfall at Karisoke (3,100 m) is c.2,000–2,400 mm.

Gorillas in Volcanes

Volcanoes National park is best known for Mountain Gorilla, Gorilla gorilla beringei. It ia also famous for being the base for the American naturalist Dian Fossey to carry out her research into the Mountain Gorillas. She arrived in 1967 and set up the Karisoke Research Centre between Karisimbi and Visoke.

From then on she spent most of her time in the park . She gets credit with saving the Mountain Gorillas from extinction. This she did by bringing their plight to the attention of the international community.

Unknown assailants murdered her at her home in 1985. This was a crime often attributed to the poachers she had spent her life fighting against.

Fossey’s life later was portrayed on the big screen. This was in the famous film “Gorillas in the Mist”, named after her autobiography. She is buried in the park in a grave close to the research centre, and amongst the gorillas which became her life.

Day 5:  Rwanda Gorilla Trekking

You will wake up to an early breakfast on Rwanda gorilla holiday. This will be followed by a transfer to the park head office. You will be in time for briefing at 0800 hrs. You will be assigned a guide and an armed ranger.

You can opt to pick a porter to help you carry your hand luggage. They are also important to carry you if you can’t manage the trek. It is time to embark on gorilla trekking. This may take approximately between 2-8 hours. You will have lunch after your trek.

Later you will be transferred back to your lodge. The afternoon will be spent at leisure. Your dinner and overnight will be at La Palme Hotel.

Day 6: Volcanoes National Park – Lake Kivu (Gisenyi)

Start your Rwanda gorilla holiday with an early breakfast. You will then leave for Lake Kivu. This will include lunch en route. On arrival enjoy your time at leisure.

Be prepared for a sunset boat ride on the lake. In the evening you relax on the shores of the lake. Dinner and overnight will be at Gorillas Kivu Hotel.

Day 7: Lake Kivu – Kigali – Departure

Start your Rwanda gorilla holiday with an early breakfast. This will be followed by departure to Kigali. On arrival you will proceed on a Kigali City tour. This goes to Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre.

You will also be able to visit the colorful markets and craft center. You will conclude your Rwanda gorilla holiday with a transfer. This is to the airport in time for your departure flight.

———- End of 7 Day Rwanda Gorilla Holiday ———-

7 Days Rwanda Gorilla Holiday Tour Costs

The 7 Day Rwanda Gorilla Safari cost includes

• Accommodation with meals as per program
• Bottled water
• Customized safari-vehicle
• An English speaking guide
• All park entry fees
• 1 X Rwanda gorilla permit
• Government taxes
• Lots of fun and African sunshine

The 7 Day Rwanda Gorilla Holiday Safari cost does not include

• Items of personal use
• All drinks, beverages and alcohol other than what is served at breakfast
• Deviation from the Itinerary
• Visa
• Tips and porterage
• Insurance

What you carry for your 7 Day Rwanda Gorilla Safari Tour:

• Sun glasses
• Camera gear
• Heavy and light clothes
• Sturdy hiking boots