13 Days Gorilla, Lake Kivu & Cultural Tour

Day 1: Arrival in Kigali – Welcome to Rwanda

Arrive at Kigali International Airport, where your safari guide will warmly welcome you to Rwanda. After a short briefing, transfer to your hotel in Kigali. Depending on your arrival time, enjoy a Kigali city tour, visiting the Kigali Genocide Memorial, Kimironko Market, and Inema Arts Centre.

In the evening, enjoy a welcome dinner with panoramic city views.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: The Retreat by Heaven / Kigali Serena Hotel

• Mid-range: Heaven Boutique Hotel / Hotel des Mille Collines

Day 2: Kigali – Drive to Akagera National Park

After breakfast, begin your journey eastward to Akagera National Park, Rwanda’s only savannah park and home to the Big Five. The scenic drive takes about 2.5 hours through rolling hills and rural landscapes.

Upon arrival, check into your lodge and enjoy an afternoon game drive through the park’s acacia woodlands and grasslands, where elephants, giraffes, zebras, and antelopes roam freely.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: Magashi Camp / Ruzizi Tented Lodge

• Mid-range: Akagera Game Lodge

Day 3: Full-Day Game Drive in Akagera National Park

Rise early for a sunrise game drive, the best time to spot predators such as lions, leopards, and hyenas. Later, take a boat cruise on Lake Ihema, where hippos, crocodiles, and countless waterbirds can be observed up close.

Spend your afternoon on another game drive through the park’s northern plains, capturing Akagera’s blend of savannah, lakes, and wetlands.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: Magashi Camp / Ruzizi Tented Lodge

Day 4: Akagera – Drive Back to Kigali

After breakfast, enjoy a relaxed morning drive out of Akagera. Stop for lunch en route and continue to Kigali, arriving in the afternoon. Spend the evening at leisure or explore local coffee shops and craft centers for souvenirs.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: The Retreat by Heaven / Kigali Serena Hotel

• Mid-range: Heaven Boutique Hotel

Day 5: Kigali – Drive to Volcanoes National Park

After breakfast, travel north to Volcanoes National Park, home to Rwanda’s famous mountain gorillas. The journey takes about 2.5 hours through winding hills and picturesque countryside.

Arrive in Musanze, the gateway to the park, in time for lunch. In the afternoon, visit the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village (now known as the Gorilla Guardians Village) for an interactive experience of traditional Rwandan music, dance, and daily life.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: Bisate Lodge / Singita Kwitonda Lodge

• Mid-range: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel / Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge

Day 6: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park

Today marks the highlight of your journey—mountain gorilla trekking. After an early breakfast, head to the park headquarters for a briefing before venturing into the forest with experienced rangers.

The trek can take between 2 to 6 hours depending on the gorillas’ location. Once found, spend a magical one hour observing them—watching mothers care for their young, juveniles play, and silverbacks maintain their watchful presence.

Return to your lodge for lunch and a relaxing evening surrounded by volcano views.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge / Bisate Lodge

• Mid-range: Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge / Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel

Day 7: Golden Monkey Tracking & Cultural Exploration

After breakfast, return to the forest for golden monkey tracking—a joyful and lively experience as you follow these playful primates in their bamboo habitat.

In the afternoon, visit a local Musanze market or the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund’s Ellen DeGeneres Campus to learn about gorilla conservation and research.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: Singita Kwitonda Lodge / Virunga Lodge

• Mid-range: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge

Day 8: Volcanoes – Drive to Lake Kivu (Gisenyi)

After breakfast, drive west to Lake Kivu, one of Africa’s great freshwater lakes. The journey is scenic, with views of terraced hills and distant volcanoes.

Upon arrival in Gisenyi (Rubavu), enjoy a leisurely boat cruise on Lake Kivu, visiting nearby islands such as Napoleon Island, where you can spot fruit bats and stunning birdlife.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel

• Mid-range: Paradise Malahide

Day 9: Lake Kivu – Explore Local Communities

Spend the day immersing yourself in local culture. Visit fishing villages to see traditional methods of night fishing, or tour a coffee plantation to learn how Rwanda’s world-famous coffee is grown, harvested, and roasted.

In the afternoon, relax on the sandy beaches or enjoy optional activities like kayaking, paddleboarding, or visiting Hot Springs of Nyamyumba.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel

• Mid-range: Waterfront Resort Gisenyi

Day 10: Gisenyi – Drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park (via Kibuye)

After breakfast, follow the scenic Lake Kivu Belt Road southward toward Nyungwe Forest National Park. Stop in Kibuye, a peaceful lakeside town, for lunch and a short boat ride before continuing to Nyungwe.

Arrive in the evening, check into your lodge, and relax amidst the sounds of the rainforest.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: One&Only Nyungwe House

• Mid-range: Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel

Day 11: Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe Forest

Rise early for an exhilarating chimpanzee tracking experience. Nyungwe is home to over 500 chimpanzees and 13 other primate species. Watch as chimps swing through the trees, vocalizing energetically as they feed and interact.

In the afternoon, take the famous Nyungwe Canopy Walk, a thrilling suspension bridge offering panoramic views of the forest canopy and distant mountains.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: One&Only Nyungwe House

• Mid-range: Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel

Day 12: Waterfall Hike and Tea Experience

After breakfast, enjoy a guided nature hike to Isumo Waterfall, one of Rwanda’s most beautiful cascades. Along the way, look out for orchids, butterflies, and birds.

In the afternoon, visit a nearby tea plantation, where you’ll learn the art of tea growing and tasting—a perfect cultural experience to close your Nyungwe stay.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: One&Only Nyungwe House

• Mid-range: Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel

Day 13: Nyungwe – Drive Back to Kigali & Departure

After breakfast, begin your return drive to Kigali, passing through scenic highlands and vibrant markets. Stop en route for souvenirs and photographs. Upon arrival, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before being transferred to Kigali International Airport for your onward flight.

Your 13 Days Gorilla, Lake Kivu & Cultural Tour concludes with unforgettable memories of Rwanda’s wild landscapes, warm hospitality, and cultural richness.