8 Days Kahuzi Biega Gorillas and Rwanda Safari
This 8 Days Kahuzi Biega Gorillas and Rwanda Safari is the perfect combination of a Congo and Rwanda safari. During this tour, you will get to visit Kahuzi Biega national park where you be trekking eastern lowland gorillas and then cross to Rwanda for gorilla and golden monkey trekking in Volcanoes National Park and wildlife viewing in Akagera national park. This tour starts and ends in Kigali.
Highlights for 8 Days Kahuzi Biega Gorillas and Rwanda Safari
Day 1: Pick-up from Kigali Rwanda and cross to Bukavu
Day 2: Lowland gorilla trekking – Cyangungu and back to Kigali
Day 3: Drive to Volcanoes National Park
Day 4: Gorilla Trek
Day 5: Golden Monkey Trek and Ibyi’wacu Village Tour
Day 6: Transfer to Akagera National Park- Game Drive
Day 7: Full Day Game Drive
Day 8: Transfer Back to Kigali
Detailed Itinerary for 8 Days Kahuzi Biega and Golden Monkeys Trek in Rwanda
Day 1: Pick-up from Kigali Rwanda and cross to Bukavu (Approximately 7 hour’s drive)
Depending on your location in Kigali, our company representative-guide/driver will pick you up and drive for about 7 hours through Nyungwe national park with amazing rolling hill in Rusizi with stopovers for lunch and refreshing. Cross through Cyangugu border to Bukavu town in Democratic Republic of Congo. On arrival at Bukavu, nearest town to Kahuzi Biega, advance to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at your selected hotel.
Day 2: Lowland gorilla trekking – Cyangungu and back to Kigali
After enjoying your breakfast at the lodge, drive to the park headquarters for about 45 minutes for briefing about the Eastern lowland gorillas. You will then set off to your fascinating experience of the lowland gorillas in the valleys of Kahuzi as you encounter different mammals, birds and primates. It’s usually a 1-6 hours’ experience of the jungle, depending on their movement while watching them interact/play with each other as you take photos and videos
You will then descend back and meet up with your driver to drive back to Rwanda. You will have lunch, cross the border and connect to your hotel in Kigali for Dinner and overnight at your hotel as night before.
Day 3: Drive to Volcanoes National Park (Approximately 7-8 hours’ drive)
Have breakfast early morning at your hotel and meet up with your guide. You will then embark on about 7-8 hours’ drive to Musanze town near Volcanoes national park. Enjoy scenic views and enroute lunch as you drive to the park. Arrive at your hotel/lodge in the evening and check for dinner and overnight stay at your lodge.
Day 4: Gorilla Trek
Breakfast will be served early and lunch will be packed. The briefing is at 7 am. Your guide will give you highlights of specific details about the way of life of the gorillas you will be tracking. The hike can take anything from one to seven hours.
Trekking through the steep, bamboo slopes and then finally coming across the gorillas camouflaged in the vegetation is an inspiring and privileged moment. Once you reach the gorillas, you are allowed to spend one hour with them as you stand 6 meters away.
Upon completion of your encounter with the gorillas, you will have your packed lunch and head back to base where you will find your driver guide waiting for you. Drive back to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 5: Golden Monkey Trek and Ibyi’wacu Village Tour
After an early morning breakfast, transfer to the park headquarters for briefing and later enter the forest and hike while in search of the golden monkeys. Tracking the golden monkeys rewards views of other primates such as the black and white Colobus monkeys, Olive baboons among others. In the afternoon, you will visit the Iby’iwacu cultural village which is also known as the ‘Gorilla Guardians Village.’ Watch amazing dance and singing performances from the local intore dance troupe and take a tour of the King’s palace as you get to learn more about the interesting Rwandan culture.
Dinner and overnight stay at your lodge.
Day 6: Transfer to Akagera National Park- Evening Game Drive
Breakfast will be served early in the morning at your lodge. You will then checkout and meet up with your driver guide. Proceed with your drive to Akagera National Park with a brief stopover in Kigali for lunch. Upon your arrival in Akagera national park, you will drive to your lodge and check in before heading out for an evening game drive in the park. You will get a chance to see wildlife as they return to their dens in the evening.
Dinner and overnight stay at your lodge.
Day 7: Full Day Game Drive
Today you will get to enjoy a full day of game viewing in the park. After having your breakfast, you can head out for a game drive in the northern sector of the park which is rich in wildlife. Search for wildlife such as lions, rhinos, elephants, giraffes, leopards, duikers, zebras and so many more. Lunch and dinner will be served at your lodge.
Day 8: Optional Hot Air Balloon Tour and Transfer back to Kigali (Approximately 3 hours’ drive)
Have early morning breakfast and head back to Kigali city. Alternatively, you can head out for a hot air balloon tour before exiting the park. Get a chance to explore the park in a hot air balloon with a chance to have 360 degree views of the park from the sky. Please note that this tour starts at 5am in the morning depending on the weather in the park, and requires booking at least a day or two in advance. Once you have arrived in Kigali, you can opt for a short tour of Kigali city and later your driver guide will drop you off at a hotel of your choice or at Kigali international Airport for your onward flight back home.
