8 Days Rwanda Safari – Overview

The 8 days Rwanda safari tour is a comprehensive safari in Rwanda offering Gorilla trekking and Golden Monkey tracking in Volcanoes National Park, Chimpanzee trekking, Colobus Monkey tracking, and Canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest National Park, a Boat Cruise on Lake Kivu – one of the prominent Lakes in East Africa, and eventually Kigali city experience.

8 Days Safari to Rwanda – Highlights

Day 1: Kigali city tour

Day 2: Drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park

Day 3: Track Chimpanzees and Colobus Monkey

Day 4: Undertake the famous Nyungwe canopy walk & an evening nature walk

Day 5: Transfer to Lake Kivu

Day 6: Drive to Volcanoes National Park & track golden monkeys

Day 7: Do gorilla tracking

Day 8: Drive back to Kigali

8 Days Rwanda Safari – Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Kigali City Tour

After your breakfast, embark on a Kigali city tour to mark the beginning of your 8-day safari in Rwanda.

On this city tour, you have a lot to enjoy ranging from the sorrowful Gisozi Genocide memorial site to the Presidential Palace which belonged to former president Juvenal Habyarimana where you will also be able to see the remains of the FALCON 50 presidential plane that was brought down on 6th April 1994.

You will also encounter the amazing Kigali suburbs including downtown Kigali and Hotel des Mille Collines – the site for the Movie Hotel Rwanda.

Accommodation: Kigali Serena Hotel (Luxury/upmarket), Hotel Chez Lando (Midrange/standard) or Murugo Rwanda Hostel (Budget/basic).

Day 2: Drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park

Depart from Kigali city in the morning to Nyungwe Forest National Park. The scenic drive en route is combined with a visit to the Nyanza Palace, the Butare Museum, and the Murambi memorial.

It is over 268 km approximately 6 hours drive to Nyungwe forest excluding stops en route.

Accommodation: Dinner and Overnight: Nyungwe Hill Top (Midrange/standard), Gisakura guest house (Budget/basic) or Nyungwe View Lodge (Luxury/upmarket).

Day 3: Track Chimpanzees And Colobus Monkey

Wake up for an early breakfast before embarking on the Chimpanzee tour at 08:00 am. It will be a half-day activity seeing Chimps feed, play, and hunt before returning to the lodge.

In the evening, you will do the canopy walk, the first of its kind in East Africa where you will be able to spot a range of species swinging in the tree’s top branches mostly primates and a variety of birds.

Accommodation: Spend an overnight at your previous lodge.

Day 4: Undertake The Famous Nyungwe Canopy Walk & an Evening Nature Walk

After breakfast, embark on the colobus monkey trek to encounter the largest grouping of colobus monkeys in Africa.

You will be mesmerized by their black and white skin color and their enormous numbers as they swing through the branches of this ancient forest of Nyungwe.

The experience is quite rewarding and will create memories on this Rwanda safari. Other monkey species like Vervet and Lhoest monkeys can be spotted.

Return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation and in the evening you will do a simple nature walk along the colored trails for an amazing eco encounter before retiring for overnight at the lodge.

Accommodation: Spend an overnight at your previous lodge.

Day 5: Transfer to Lake Kivu

After your morning warm breakfast amidst the cool breath from the forest, embark on your journey to Lake Kivu over 220 Km about 5 hour’s drive from Nyungwe.

Enjoy scenic views en route where you will also make a stop for Lunch. Arrive in the Lake Kivu area – Gisenyi in the afternoon and choose to do a boat cruise or just relax on the lake shores. Retire for overnight.

Accommodation: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel (Luxury/upmarket), Palm Beach (Budget/basic) or Hotel Gorilla Lake Kivu (Midrange/standard).

Day 6: Drive to Volcanoes National Park and Track Golden Monkeys

Depart at 05:00 am for a 110km journey about 2 hour’s drive to Volcanoes National Park to catch up with golden monkey tracking.

Undertake this interesting activity where you will be astonished by the monkey’s playful tactics and their great body color.

Return for check-in at the lodge and relax a bit till evening when you will pay a visit to the Iby’iwachu village to enjoy the Banyarwanda cultural Performances.

Accommodation: Lapalme Hotel (Midrange/standard), Muhabura Hotel (Budget/basic) or Mountain Gorilla View Hotel (Luxury/upmarket).

Day 7: Do Gorilla Trekking

After breakfast at your lodge, assemble at the park headquarters at Kinigi to catch up with the Rwanda gorilla trekking briefing session that commences at 08:00 am.

Gorilla families to trek will also be allocated during this session, in case of interest in a specific group an arrangement can be made with the park rangers.

After briefing, head to the jungle in quest of the most endangered apes – mountain gorillas of which this can take 2 – 8 hours’ thus packed lunch is necessary.

You will view gorillas for one full hour and you are allowed to take photos plus ask any relevant questions from the ranger guide about gorillas. Return to the lodge for relaxation and overnight.

Accommodation: Spend an overnight at your previous lodge.

Day 8: Drive Back to Kigali

Embark on your 116 km journey over 3 3-hour drive to Kigali city after an early breakfast. The amazing scenic views of the hillsides en route may not be so enough, therefore a further stop at Urwibutso Ecotourism project at Nyirangarama will generate a complete memory overload.

With its foundation in 1983 by Sina Gerald as a bakery and restaurant, the project has expanded to dominate organic fruit and vegetable production and processing in Rwanda.

The community members of the Rulindo district have benefited a lot from this project in terms of education, income, and jobs. You will then continue to Kigali city in the afternoon.

End of The 8 Days Safari in Rwanda Safari

Getting There