Best of Rwanda

Kigali * Nyunywe Forest * Lake Kivu * Volcanoes National Park (Gorillas) 

This Best of Rwanda safari visits three stunning regions in Rwanda as well as a trekking safari to see the mountain gorillas. There are many highlights including tracking chimpanzees in Nyungwe, gorilla trekking in the highlands, golden monkeys, a canopy forest tour and Lake Kivu. 

Best of Rwanda Safari at a Glance 

• 1 night in Kigali, Kigali Serena Hotel, Bed & Breakfast 
• 2 nights in Nyungwe Forest National Park, One&Only Nyungwe House, Full Board 
• 1 nights in Lake Kivu, Lake Kivu Serena Hotel, Full Board 
• 2 nights in Volcanoes National Park, Wilderness Sabyinyo, Fully Inclusive 

Safari Description 

Your trip begins in Kigali. Here you can absorb the culture and history of Rwanda and prepare for the gorilla trekking tour. On the second day you spend the morning on a city tour which includes the Genocide Museum. 

From Kigali, you travel south to the Nyungwe National Park where you spend 2 nights at One&Only Nyungwe House. Here you enjoy chimpanzee trekking in one of Africa’s oldest rainforests and a canopy walk through the forest. On Day 4, you head north to scenic Lake Kivu to overnight in Gisenyi on the eastern lakeshore. Pause and relax here before the final adventure of your safari. 

You then head to the base for gorilla trekking at the Parc National des Volcans (Volcanoes National Park). This is a scenic journey through the lush, terraced landscape of rural Rwanda. On the following day you start early for your gorilla trek. You are given a full briefing, assessed and put into small groups for the gorilla trek. This can take between two and six hours depending on the movements of the gorillas and the number of rests and photo stops that you may need. After the trek you return to the lodge where you spend another night.  There is time on the following day to do a second gorilla trek, the very popular Golden Monkeys trek or an alternative excursion. You return to Kigali in the afternoon for your onward flight in the evening. 

How the price changes for different group sizes: 

These are approx. prices per person. The main itinerary shows per person prices based on 2 people. However, prices decrease by approx. 8% if you are 4 people (as it is a privately guided tour) and a little more if you are a party of 6 pax. (Single supplements for 3rd or 5th person in a group are also available.) 

Contact us for a tailored quote. 

Gorilla permit included 

We have now INCLUDED the gorilla permit which is $1500 per person for one day in peak season and the chimpanzee trekking permits which are $150 per person. These are added on at time of quoting for your specific trip. This is because some people like to purchase two gorilla permits so that they can visit twice. And some people don’t do the Gorilla trekking. 

Plus, outside of the peak season (June to October), if you do the Chimp trekking in Nyungwe National Park AND the Gorilla trekking then the Gorilla permit price decreases to $1050 per person. 

Other optional tours or permits: 

• Nyungwe Colobus Monkey permit – $40 per person
• Nyungwe guided bird walk – $40
• Volcanoes Golden Monkey permit – $100 

 Tailor-make this Best of Rwanda safari 

We can use a variety of accommodation on this safari. You can swap accommodation in Volcanoes National Park. For example, you can change to either One&Only Gorilla’s Nest or Bisate Lodge for the ultimate Rwanda safari. You may also need to add on an extra night in Kigali at the end, depending on your flight connections. 

 Good to Know 

• Gorilla trekking requires a reasonable level of fitness 
• Permits are limited and should be booked well in advance 
• This is a fully private, guided tour, that is inclusive of one gorilla trekking permit 
• Gorilla and chimpanzee trekking in one itinerary 
• Opportunity to upgrade to some of Rwanda’s most exclusive lodges