From the detailed planning through to the wonderful service from our driver Fred this was one of the best trips we have ever taken… Edison was very responsive to our many questions ahead of booking and Fred was an excellent driver. Very happy to recommend them.
7-Day Rwanda Gorillas, Wildlife & Chimp Trekking Safari
Visit Volcanoes National Park
Track Mountain Gorillas
Canopy Walk and Chimps in Nyungwe
A wildlife lover’s dream trip spanning two countries: the Rwanda wildlife tour. Explore the wonders of volcanic landscapes, track the endangered mountain gorillas to see them in their natural habitat, spot leopards, lions, buffalo, hippos, and elephants on game drives and boat trips through Akagera National Park. And join a canopy walk and chimp trekking in Nyungwe National Park.
Tour Highlights
Track golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park
Trek through Volcanoes National Park to see mountain gorillas
Enjoy the views of the Lake Kivu landscape in western Rwanda
Spot a variety of wildlife on a game drive through Akagera National Park
Visit the Ellen DeGeneres Conservation Centre
Track chimps and do the canopy walk in Nyungwe National Park
Click the Tabs to Find out More
Trip Details
Trip Details
Price
Adult (15-80): $4,395
Please inquire for the budget accommodation price, this is our midrange accommodation tour
2 persons or more: $4,395 per person
3 persons or more: $4,150 per person
4 persons or more: $3,920 per person
Departure Time
Anytime between 7:00 am to 11:00 am Kigali time
Meeting Point
We offer pick-up from the following places for this experience:
- Kigali city
- Kigali International Airport (only on day 1, this is not available if you arrive before day 1)
Availability
Monday to Sunday, year-round
Duration
7 days
Difficulty Level
Moderate – uphill trekking
Group size
2 to 4 persons
Included
- Meals (as per itinerary)
- All permits (gorillas $1,500, golden monkeys, and chimps)
- Drinking water when in the safari vehicle
- Park entrance fees
Not Included
- Visas, tips, and costs of a personal nature
- Lodging in Kigali before and after the trip
- Pickup at Kigali airport if arrival is before the start of the trip
- Medical and travel insurance
What to Bring
- Hiking boots
- Garden gloves
- Rain jacket or poncho
- Long-sleeved shirt/blouse
- Cameras and extra batteries
- Hat/cap and sunglasses
- Pair of binoculars
- Flashlight (torch)
- Mosquito repellent
- Other items to include: zoom lens for wildlife shots and energy bars/bites
Participation Requirements
- Age restriction: 15-80 years old
- A valid passport is required on the day of travel
- This tour is not wheelchair accessible
- We advise against people with heart problems or other serious medical conditions participating on this tour
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
Good to Know
There are community activities available
What You’ll Do
We will pick you up in Kigali and drive you to Volcanoes National Park. Depending on the departure time from Kigali, you may be able to enjoy a complimentary Kigali city tour before traveling to northern Rwanda, visiting the Kimihurura market and the Kigali Genocide Museum. After a 2-hour drive from Kigali to Ruhengeri/Musanze, we will visit the Iby’iwacu Cultural Experience (also known as Gorilla Guardians Village) in Kinigi.
Day 2 is the day for trekking into the wilderness to spot the rare local animals. You will head to the Volcanoes National Park gate immediately after breakfast to get a briefing about the gorilla trek. The national park guide will conduct the presentation that covers the basics of what to expect during the gorilla trek and instruct you on how to behave in order to ensure the safety of guests and the animals. You will then embark on your tracking adventure, making your way through the rainforest until you find a family of mountain gorillas. The gorilla trek can take from 3 to 6 hours on average, depending on how far the gorillas are inside the forest. It could last longer, so be prepared just in case! In the afternoon, you may visit the Ellen DeGeneres Centre to learn about the conservation efforts of Dian Fossey.
We will start the day with a golden monkey trekking adventure in Volcanoes National Park. This primate is native to the high-altitude forests of the park. Once we have seen their playful interactions, we will head out of the park and transfer to Lake Kivu (Kibuye area). The transfer to Lake Kivu will take about 3hrs.
Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park. The drive from Lake Kivu (Kibuye area) to Nyungwe Forest National Park is estimated to take about 3-4hrs. Join the Nyungwe Canopy walk in the afternoon in the Nyungwe forest. Dinner and overnight at Nyungwe Forest.
After breakfast, we will drive to Nyungwe Forest to experience tracking the chimpanzees in their forest home. Nyungwe Forest is a haven for chimp trekking in Rwanda and visitors have more than a 50% chance of encountering the animals. If you are lucky, on the Nyungwe trek you might encounter different species of primates that call the area home. These include the Rwenzori colobus, blue monkey, L’Hoest’s monkey, and red-tailed monkey. After the chimp trek, drive back to Kigali for dinner and overnight.
Transfer to Akagera National Park for Game drives and boat trips on Lake Ihema. Visit Rwanda’s only savannah safari park! This spectacular Akagera National Park is the best wildlife safari destination in Rwanda, proving why wildlife safaris in Rwanda are a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Learn about and see various wildlife, including giraffes, buffalos, hippos, and many more. The plan for the day is to do an afternoon or evening boat trip. And if time permits, join a night game drive. Dinner and overnight at Akagera National Park.
Spend the day exploring Rwanda’s only savannah safari park! This spectacular Akagera National Park is the best wildlife safari destination in Rwanda, proving why wildlife safaris in Rwanda are a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Learn about and see various wildlife, including giraffes, buffalos, hippos, and many more. This trip is the perfect addition to a gorilla trekking experience in Rwanda. While the game drive will take the full day exploring the southern and northern sections of the park, we will make sure to exit the park before the standard closing time of 6pm and also make sure to arrive in Kigali before it gets dark. We will then drop you off at Kigali International Airport or the hotel. This will be the end of the 7-day Rwanda adventure with Bamboo Ecotours.
Accommodation & Meals
- Day 1-2: Tiloreza Eco Lodge(opens in a new tab) or similar midrange lodge – All meals included
- Day 3: Cormoran Lodge–(opens in a new tab) All meals included
- Day 4: Mantis Kivu Marina Bay Hotel(opens in a new tab)– All meals included
- Days 5: Heaven Boutique Hotel(opens in a new tab) in Kigali– All meals included
- Days 6: Akagera Game Lodge(opens in a new tab)– All meals included
- Day 7: Breakfast & lunch
Optional Activities on Days 1, 2 & 3
- Visit the Iby’iwacu Cultural Village (Gorilla Guardians Village) – $20 USD
- Visit the Ellen DeGeneres Dian Fossey Conservation Centre – $20 USD
- Banana Beer Making Experience at Red Rocks Rwanda – $30 USD
- Canoeing at the Twin Lakes of Bulera and Ruhondo – $30 USD
See our Local Experiences(opens in a new tab) page for more information on each activity.
See What Our Previous Guests Have Said...
We were greeted in Kigali, by our outstanding guide and driver, Fred. We couldn’t speak more highly about his professionalism, love for sharing his country with his clients in his friendly and caring way. The whole trip was an absolute blast and especially loved gaining an insight into the cultures that makes up the colourful Ugandan community.
Brilliant trip! Edison made this trip very easy to plan and tailored it exactly to our budget! We had Joseph as our guide for our 6-day tour and Herbert as our driver and they were both great and really helpful. We did the gorilla trekking in Bwindi, golden monkeys in Mgahinga, chimp trekking and visited Queen Elizabeth national park for a night. Defiantly recommend!
