7 Days Nyungwe Forest and Lake Kivu Experience

7-Days Nyungwe Forest and Lake Kivu experience offers you an opportunity to visit and stay with the Chimpanzees, enjoying a 2 hours hike exploring the 70m long canopy walk. This is yet another wonderful trip that combines cultural and historical heritage together with nature in one of the most ancient tropical rain forests on the African continent as well as the beautiful lake Kivu in Kibuye with vibrant community activities including night fishing. Enquire Now

Detailed Itinerary.

DAY 1: ARRIVAL AT KIGALI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be welcomed by our meet-and-greet lounge host who will help you through fast-track assistance with VISA and luggage collection. After immigration and luggage collection, you will then be handed over to our driver guide who will transfer you to your hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Dinner and overnight at Kigali Serena Hotel (Luxury), Hotel Des Milles Collines (Midrange), Urban Park suites hotel (Budget)

DAY 2:CULTURAL HERITAGE TOUR- TRANSFER TO NYUNGWE – 7 Days Nyungwe Forest

After breakfast on this exciting day amalgamating a series of cultural and historical heritage, your driver guide will pick you up and take you through a 2-hour scenic drive to Nyanza King’s palace museum which offers a detailed look into the Rwandan monarchical system and its abolition in early 1960s. Among the most amazing and impressive icons here are the enormous, doomed structures that are handcrafted entirely with traditional materials. This tour will be 2 hours long followed by lunch in Butare. Later in the afternoon, you will visit Huye Ethnographic Museum for an extensive look at ancient Rwanda’s history for 2 hours. Thereafter, you will proceed and drive for about 2 hours to Nyungwe Forest National Park. Upon arrival at the park, you will proceed to check in at your lodge followed by dinner and overnight.

Dinner and overnight stay at One and Only Nyungwe house (Luxury), Mantis Marina Bay(Midrange) Emeraude Kivu resort (Budget).

DAY 3: CANOPY WALK EXPERIENCE – COLOBUS MONKEY TRUCKING

After breakfast at 06h00, you will drive to the park office for a briefing before you undertaking the canopy walk experience at Uwinka Park Reception.  You will hike to the suspending 60m-long bridge giving you a panoramic view of the forest and a glimpse of birds. The Canopy walk experience features unmatched marvelous scenery. Suspended above a ravine in the lush montane rainforest of Nyungwe National Park, the canopy walkway provides an exhilarating perspective on the ancient treetops and wildlife. Nyungwe forest is a hotbed of biodiversity. Along the hour’s walk to the canopy walkway from the Uwinka Reception Centre, visitors will see countless butterflies, orchids and colorful birds, including many endemics to the region. After this exhilarating activity, you will return to the lodge for lunch. After lunch, you will head back to the park reception for Colobus monkey trekking some of which are endemic tothis region including the Rwenzori Colubus Monkey. This hike will usher you into the world of the Grey-Cheeked Mangabeys, L’Hoest Monkeys, Owl Faced Monkeys, Blue-Monkeys and Mona Monkeys. Further into the forest and off the beaten track of the trails and accompanied by a guide you will run into a group of up to 200 Rwenzori Colubus Monkeys.

Dinner and overnight stay at One and Only Nyungwe house (Luxury), Mantis Marina Bay (Midrange) Emeraude kivu resort (Budget)

DAY 4: CHIMPANZEE TREKKING – GIHAYA ISLAND AND COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE – 7 Days Nyungwe Forest

After breakfast at 05h00, your guide will drive to Cyamudongo visitor reception to experience the misty rain forest of Nyungwe. you will drive for one hour to the park office for a briefing before you undertake on the chimpanzee trekking activity After an interesting and memorable search for the chimpanzees in the forest, you are privileged to spend 1 hour with them taking photographs and videos and return to the hotel for a lunch. Later in the afternoon at 15h00,you will engage in 2 hours community experience at Gihaya Island. This visit will incorporate a 1-hour boat ride through lake Kivu to and from the island offering unique folk songs, music and cultural dances.

Dinner and overnight stay at One and Only Nyungwe house (Luxury), Mantis Marina Bay (Midrange) Emeraude kivu resort (Budget).

DAY 5:  CROP TO CUP TEA TOUR – TRANSFER TO KIBUYE – BOAT RIDE

Following a luscious breakfast, you will be taken through the tea plantation tour experience at Gisakura tea experience from crop to cup. The Gisakura tea plantation stretches into hundreds of hectares and farmers can be seen planting, tending or harvesting tea depending on the period of visitation which an enthusiastic traveler may also wish to divulge into.  After this breath-taking activity, you will depart for a 2 hours’ scenic drive to lake kivu – Kibuye. Upon arrival, you’ll check-in at your lodge and have lunch followed by a 2hrs boat cruise on Lake Kivu. Later that evening at 17h00, you will join the Kibuye fishermen for a night fishing experience using the local methods. Thereafter, you willreturn to lodge for dinner and overnight.

Dinner and overnight stay at Cleo Kivu hotel (Luxury), Inn on the lake (Midrange) Moriah hill resort (Budget).

DAY 6: KAYAKING – RETURN TO KIGALI – 7 Days Nyungwe Forest

Following a relaxed breakfast at 09h00, you will be picked up by your guide who will lead you to experience kayaking adventures on Lake Kivu. This is a breath-taking ride with exploration of the impressive lakeshore scenery, discovery of birds, wildlife and interacting with local communities. Thereafter, you will return to the lodge for lunch, freshen up and check-out to hit on the road returning to Kigali. Upon arrival in Kigali, you will be transferred to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Dinner and overnight at Kigali Serena hotel (Luxury), Hotel Des Milles Collines (Midrange), Urban Park suites hotel (Budget).

DAY 7: KIGALI CITY TOUR – DEPARTURE – 7 Days Nyungwe Forest

Wake up and have a relaxed breakfast.  At 10h00, you will be driven for 20Minutes to Kigali Genocide Memorial to commemorate the 1994 Tutsi Genocide where the remains of over 250,000 people are interred. After lunch at 14h00, you will then indulge yourself in a sightseeing tour around Kigali city including visits to kimironko local market for Souvenir shopping. After your sightseeing tour, you will be transferred to the airport for your outbound flight.

Included

1. All Chimpanzee trekking permits.
2. All ground transportation in a 4WD Vehicle.
3. All other activities indicated in the itinerary.
4. All Accommodation as indicated in the itinerary.
5. English-speaking Experienced Safari-guide.
6. Meals as indicated in the itinerary.
7. Refreshments and snacks in the vehicle.

Excluded

1. All Tips to Hotels/Lodges/Camps staff and Safari Guide
2. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks that are not accompanying meals.
3. International flight/s and departure taxes and other taxes.
4. Visa fees. Visas are available online or at arrival at all Entry points.

All Chimpanzee trekking permits, All ground transportation in a 4WD Vehicle, All other activities indicated in the itinerary, All Accommodation as indicated in the itinerary, English-speaking Experienced Safari-guide, Meals as indicated in the itinerary ,Refreshments and snacks in the vehicle.