7 Day Highlights of Rwanda Tour
Tour Overview
On this 7-Day Rwanda trip you will experience the most beautiful regions that Rwanda has to offer. In addition to mountain gorillas and chimpanzees, the focus is also on the country’s landscape, people, and culture. The itinerary can, of course, be tailored to individual needs and extended.
- City tour of Kigali and lunch at the legendary Hotel Mille Collines
- Cultural and museum visits in the historic cities of Nyanza and Butare
- Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest
- Observation of rare colobus monkeys and canopy walk above the treetops
- Panoramic lunch on the shores of Lake Kivu
- Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
- Golden monkey trekking in the bamboo forest
- Authentic cultural encounter in the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village
- Interactive species conservation on the Ellen DeGeneres Campus
Your Itinerary In Details
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali
Arrival at Kigali International Airport (KGL). In the arrivals hall, you will be greeted by your personal guide and warmly welcomed. Afterwards, you will be driven through the vibrant streets of Kigali to your hotel. Use this first evening to settle in on the African continent, recover from your flight, and prepare yourself for the lush wonders of Rwanda.
Accommodation: Park Inn by Radisson Kigali
Meals: Bed & Breakfast
Day 2: Kigali
After a delicious breakfast, you will immerse yourself in the history and present of the capital city of Rwanda. A drive through city will take you to the Kigali Genocide Memorial – a deeply moving experience that respectfully addresses the country’s tragic past – as well as the impressive Museum of the Fight Against Genocide and the vibrant local markets.
Later, a very special lunch awaits you at the legendary Hotel Mille Collines, made famous worldwide by the film “Hotel Rwanda”. In the afternoon, you will have even more to discover in Kigali with your guide: explore more markets, historical and modern Kigali, charming suburbs, modern shopping centers, and inspiring art centers. The rest of the afternoon and evening are yours to relax or continue exploring the city at your leisure.
Accommodation: Park Inn by Radisson Kigali
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Day 3: Kigali – Nyungwe Forest NP (travel time approx. 5 hours)
After an early morning breakfast, you will check out of the hotel and depart the urban landscape of Kigali behind. Your drive takes you to the far south of the country, with the biodiverse Nyungwe Forest as your destination. Along the way, you will stop in the culturally and historically significant cities of Nyanza and Butare to visit their fascinating museums and delve deeper into Rwandan culture. Lunch will be enjoyed at one of the areas popular restaurants. In the afternoon, you will continue your journey to the Nyungwe region, arriving at your accommodation in the early evening. As the cozy atmosphere of the lodge envelops you, you will end the day with a delicious dinner.
Accommodation: Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 4: Nyungwe Forest National Park (Chimpanzee Trekking)
As the rainforest jungle awakens and the morning dew settles over the dense canopy, your great wildlife adventure begins: chimpanzee trekking inside Nyungwe Forest National Park. Together with experienced ranger guide, you will set out in search of these fascinating, lively primates. Once you have located the chimpanzee family, you will spend an unforgettable hour in their presence, observing them up close in their natural habitat. Deeply moved by this encounter, you return to the lodge, where you can freshen up and enjoy a well-deserved lunch. The rest of the afternoon and evening are dedicated to relaxation. Take advantage of the peace and quiet and the amenities of your accommodation to unwind amidst nature.
Accommodation: Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 5: Nyungwe – Lake Kivu – Volcanoes National Park (Total travel time approx. 5 hours)
After a good breakfast and check-out, the rainforest beckons one last time! You will head to the park reception to register for the trek to see the rare black-and-white colobus monkeys. For an hour, you will observe these beautiful, serene primates up close. After that, a true highlight awaits: the spectacular Nyungwe forest canopy walk. On a 160-meter-long suspension bridge suspended 90 meters above a deep gorge, you’ll walk directly through the treetops and enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the dense forest.
After this exhilarating experience, you will leave Nyungwe Forest National Park and travel north along the lakeshore to Karongi in the central Lake Kivu region. You will arrive at a lakeside hotel just in time for lunch, where you can capture one last photographic glimpse of the fantastic lake panorama, its shimmering waters and verdant terraced hills.
Afterwards, you will leave the shores of Lake Kivu and continue your journey to the majestic Virunga Volcanoes region, home to the mountain gorillas. You will travel through the volcanic town of Musanze directly to your lodge near the edge of the forest. As the crisp, cool mountain air fills the air, you’ll settle in and enjoy a relaxing dinner to end the day.
Accommodation: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 6: Volcanoes National Park – Gorilla Trekking
As the morning dew still clings to the dense canopy of Volcanoes National Park, the greatest adventure of your trip begins: gorilla trekking. After a short drive to the park offices at Kinigi and a professional briefing, you will immerse yourself in the lush greenery of the montane rainforest. Your local ranger guide will follow the tracks of the scouts who set out at first light to find the gentle giants. Then the moment arrives: the canopy opens up, and you will find yourself face to face with a wild gorilla family. For an hour, you will have the opportunity to observe the majestic silverback and his family up close as they go about their daily lives undisturbed.
Deeply moved by this encounter, you return to the lodge where you can freshen up and enjoy a well-deserved lunch. In the afternoon, you will visit the fascinating Gorilla Guardians Village. Here you will gain authentic insights into the lives of the local people and learn how former poachers became passionate protectors of the mountain gorillas. Full of new impressions, you will return to your lodge in the evening. Reflect on the day’s experiences with a glass of wine in front of the crackling fireplace.
Accommodation: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 7: Volcanoes– Golden Monkey Trekking – Kigali (travel time approx. 3 hours)
The mountain rainforest of Volcanoes National Park calls one last time! Today you will embark on another trek – this time in search of the nimble, endemic golden monkeys that inhabit the bamboo forests high above the volcanoes. The same strict and respectful rules apply as with the gorillas when you observe these rare primates playing and climbing. After the trek, you will visit the impressive Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund. Here, you will immerse yourself in the history and success of gorilla conservation in a state-of-the-art 3D theater. Afterward, you will return to the lodge to freshen up, enjoy a final lunch, and check out. Finally, you bid farewell to the rugged beauty of the volcanic region and return to Kigali, where your guide will take you to the airport in time for your evening flight home. With memories of gentle giants, deep forests, and the primates of Rwanda, you say goodbye to Africa.
Accommodation:
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Inclusions
- All park entrance fees
- Transport in a safari-equipped off-road vehicle
- Experienced English-speaking driver/guide
- All meals as indicated in the itinerary
- 2 nights at the Park Inn by Radisson Hotel
- 2 nights at the Top View Hill Hotel
- 2 nights at the Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
- Kigali city tour including lunch on day 2 and audio guides for the Genocide Memorial
- Visit to the culturally and historically significant cities of Nyanza and Butare (including museum visits) and including lunch.
- Stopover including lunch at Lake Kivu on day 5.
- Visit to the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Fund
- Visit to the Gorilla Guardians Village
- 1x Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe Forest (Permit included)
- 1x Black & White Colobus Monkeys Trek & Canopy Hike in Nyungwe Forest (permit included)
- 1x Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park (Permit not included)
- 1x Golden Monkey Trekking in Volcanoes National Park (permit not included)
- All airport transfers and support in Kigali
- Drinking water is provided in the vehicle throughout the entire safari and during the treks.
exclusions
- International flights to Tanzania
- Visa
- Drinks
- Tips
- Personal expenses
- Excursions not mentioned in the program
- Travel and cancellation insurance
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We are a fully licensed tour company accredited by the Uganda Tourism Board. We design and operate safaris in Uganda and East Africa. Our operations are based in Kampala, Uganda, the heart of our safari planning and coordination. Though our company was officially established in 2025, our team brings deep, hands-on knowledge of East Africa.
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