









5 Days Nyungwe Safari and Lake Kivu Adventure
Tour Overview of 5 Days Nyungwe Safari and Lake Kivu Adventure
The 5 Days Nyungwe Safari and Lake Kivu Adventure is a perfect combination of Rwanda’s stunning landscapes, wildlife encounters, and cultural experiences. This journey takes you from the lush rainforests of Nyungwe National Park, famous for chimpanzee trekking and the canopy walkway, to the tranquil shores of Lake Kivu, and onward to the volcanic highlands of Musanze for a cultural immersion.
You’ll explore one of Africa’s oldest rainforests, home to primates, birds, and breathtaking waterfalls, then relax on Lake Kivu’s scenic beaches before heading to the foothills of the Volcanoes National Park for an authentic Rwandan cultural experience. Designed for travelers who love nature, adventure, and culture, this 5-day safari captures the best of Rwanda’s natural and human heritage — all while surrounded by the beauty of the Land of a Thousand Hills.
Book this 5 Days Nyungwe Safari & Lake Kivu Adventure
Day 1: Transfer to Nyungwe National Park
Your adventure begins in Kigali, Rwanda’s vibrant capital. After breakfast, meet your professional driver-guide from Rwanda Safaris Gorilla Trekking for a briefing on the safari. Begin your scenic drive to Nyungwe National Park, located in the southwestern part of the country. Along the way, visit the King’s Palace Museum in Nyanza and the Ethnographic Museum in Huye (Butare) to learn about Rwanda’s royal history and rich traditions. Enjoy lunch en route before continuing your journey through rolling hills and tea plantations. Arrive at your lodge in the evening, check in, and relax as you prepare for the next day’s adventure.
Accommodation: Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel / One & Only Nyungwe House / Gisakura Guest House
Meal Plan: Lunch & Dinner
Day 2: Chimpanzee Trekking & Canopy Walkway Experience
Rise early for breakfast and head to the park headquarters for a briefing before beginning your chimpanzee trekking adventure. With your ranger guide, enter the misty rainforest in search of one of Nyungwe’s habituated chimp families. Listen to their loud calls echoing through the canopy and enjoy the thrill of watching them play, groom, and feed in their natural environment.
After lunch, experience the famous Nyungwe Canopy Walkway, a 160-meter bridge suspended high above the forest floor. This walk offers breathtaking views of the treetops, waterfalls, and diverse bird species. Return to your lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight rest.
Accommodation: Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel / One & Only Nyungwe House / Gisakura Guest House
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 3: Transfer to Lake Kivu – Scenic Drive & Relaxation
After breakfast, check out and drive north toward Lake Kivu, one of Africa’s most scenic freshwater lakes. The journey winds through tea-covered hills and charming Rwandan villages, offering numerous photo opportunities. Arrive in Kibuye or Gisenyi (depending on your lodge choice) in time for lunch and check-in at your lakeside accommodation.
Spend your afternoon enjoying a peaceful boat ride on Lake Kivu, visiting nearby islands like Napoleon Island or relaxing along the sandy shores. Watch the sunset over the calm waters, or enjoy an optional evening swim before dinner.
Accommodation: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel / Paradise Malahide / Cormoran Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 4: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park – Cultural Experience
After breakfast, depart Lake Kivu and take a scenic drive toward Volcanoes National Park in Musanze District. Upon arrival, check in at your lodge and enjoy lunch. In the afternoon, participate in a Rwandan cultural experience at the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village, where you’ll meet local communities, enjoy traditional dances, learn about ancient hunting techniques, and take part in drumming sessions. This experience provides insight into Rwanda’s pre-colonial lifestyle and its living heritage.
Return to your lodge for dinner and a relaxing evening surrounded by the volcanic landscape.
Accommodation: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel / Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge / Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 5: Drive Back to Kigali – Gift Shopping & Drop-Off
Enjoy breakfast at your lodge, then depart for Kigali with scenic views of Rwanda’s countryside along the way. On arrival, enjoy gift shopping at local craft markets for souvenirs such as handmade baskets, jewelry, and coffee. Depending on your schedule, you may also take a short Kigali City Walk before being transferred to Kigali International Airport for your flight home.
Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch
Included in 5 Days Nyungwe Safari and Lake Kivu Adventure
- All ground transportation in a 4×4 safari vehicle
- Professional English-speaking guide/driver
- Accommodation and meals as per itinerary
- Chimpanzee trekking permit
- Canopy walkway fees
- Boat ride on Lake Kivu
- Cultural village experience
- Museum and historical site visits en route
- Bottled drinking water throughout the tour
Excluded in 5 Days Nyungwe Safari and Lake Kivu Adventure
- International flights and visa fees
- Travel and medical insurance
- Optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary
- Personal expenses (drinks, laundry, tips, souvenirs)
- Porter or guide gratuities
End of Tour
Your 5 Days Nyungwe Safari and Lake Kivu Adventure ends with unforgettable memories of Rwanda’s rainforests, wildlife, and cultural hospitality. From chimpanzees swinging through the canopy to sunsets over Lake Kivu and local cultural rhythms in Musanze, this journey perfectly captures Rwanda’s harmony between nature, people, and tradition.
Starting from US $ 3,000 per person
Discounted prices per person as the number of people rises. Prices for children are fixed as $ 150 per child.
| No of People | Up To | Price per person |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | – | $ 3700 |
| 2 | – | $ 3200 |
| 3 | – | $ 2800 |
| 4 | – | $ 2500 |
| 5 | – | $ 2300 |
| 6 | – | $ 2100 |
| 7 | 15 | $ 2000 |
Posted on Karsten Sidelmann VajhøjVerified Akagera National Park It was a very interesting day in Akagera National Park. We saw many different animals, and the nature was beautiful. Kim was great at spotting the game and was also a very nice and pleasant person to talk to throughout the whole tour.Posted on Kaushik BVerified Memorable trip to see the gorillas! Really enjoyed this trip to Volcanoes national park. Uviversal Ventures arranged it perfectly well. The driver was very punctual and friendly. He did an excellent job not only as a driver but also as a guide by providing useful information about visiting the park, etc.Posted on Caroline LVerified A wonderful experience! We had a really great 1 day trekking tour with Universal Ventures Rwanda. Everything was beautifully organized, with great attention to small details. Our driver, Christian, truly went above and beyond to make sure that we had an amazing experience thanks to his professionalism and kindness. He carefully answered every question, and was sure to point out spots of interest. We are so thankful!Posted on rosaVerified Amazing experiences, the company you need to book with! Cannot recommend this company enough! 20/10 would recommend both for solo and couple/friend travels. We actually did three different activities with them: Gorilla trekking 1 day, Kigali tour and 2night/3d in Lake Kivu. It was super professional, safe, beyond reliable and so well organized. First of all, our guide Christian (ask for him!) was incredible. Super professional, knowledgeable and great ressources provided. He really made sure we had the best experience. Suggested experiences along the way and made sure we got to them even though they were not included in the initial itinerary and did not even blink at the idea of prolonging his long day just for our benefit. He was also the nicest human being. One of us got sick and he simply brought us back to the hotel for her to rest and continued the itinerary with the rest of the group. He also helped us run errands even though he absolutely did not have to. He is also super punctual and really just cares about the guests. Super nice guy and really goes above and beyond. Also takes the best pictures and knows the best spots for your feed 😄 Second, Emmanuel (company owner) was the most responsive and helpful person we have ever interacted with. Super thorough and present. Third, the vehicles were in excellent conditions and water was always available. Lastly, the vendors/companies they work with are amazing. The boat tours in Kibuye (ask to go with Fabrice!), the hotel on Lake Kivu, all amazing! They truly are a gem of a company :) would definitely rebook with them without hesitations!Posted on Andrei RVerified Awesome Outstanding experience ! My guide Shadady went above and beyond paying attention to all my needs.Highly recommended !Posted on EdMotionVerified Nzirorera was just chill The Rwanda admissions fee of US$1500 is excessive for the experience. But the tour guide company’s service was easy and just fine. My guide and driver was Nzirorera Shadady who was extremely chill and helpful and conversational guy who gave me insights into many things about his country. My sneakers was fully submerged in deep mud during the walk and he got someone from the town nearby to clean my shoe completely while we had lunch after the experience. The gorillas? Akin to meeting them in a zoo. Except that here we had to trek 4-5 km. Something to be done once in our lives, I guess although I met Americans who were paying the $1500 per person for five days in a row. Even the locals were impressed by such extravagance.Posted on Amy CVerified Smooth and great experience for gorilla trekking I booked my trip from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park with Universal Travel at the very last minute, and the entire experience was incredibly smooth and well-organized. I already purchased my permit but neglected transportation until the day before. Really appreciate them for accommodating us!Seeing the gorillas was absolutely unforgettable. Christian, our driver and guide, picked us up directly from our hotel in Kigali and made sure we were comfortable, informed, and perfectly on time for every key moment of the trek. The drive itself can be intense, so we were especially grateful for his skill, calmness, and guidance throughout the journey.Overall, a fantastic experience. Highly recommend Universal Travel and Christian for anyone planning a gorilla trek in Rwanda.Posted on Gilberto JVerified Experience BEYOND AMAZING! A must do in Rwanda I booked a one-day tour from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park for gorilla trekking, and it was absolutely exceptional from start to finish. The company handled everything with professionalism — including arranging all the official trekking logistics directly with the national park — which made the whole experience completely stress-free.My guide, Christian, was outstanding. He picked me up exactly on time in a new, clean, and very comfortable car, which immediately set the tone for a great day. Throughout the entire journey, he made sure I was comfortable, informed, and fully prepared for the trek ahead.Christian stayed with me through every step of the process, from check-in to the briefing area to the trailhead, always making sure I was ok. It felt like exploring with someone truly invested in making sure I had the best possible day.The gorilla trekking itself was unforgettable, but the quality of service is what made the day seamless and memorable.Highly, highly recommended for anyone considering a day trip from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park. I would absolutely book with this company again.Posted on sb12015Verified Extraordinary experience I had the pleasure of exploring Rwanda with Christian as my guide, and he was exceptional from start to finish. He’s the kind of guide who instantly makes you feel at ease — professional, attentive, and genuinely passionate about sharing his country’s culture, wildlife, and history.Posted on NarraGirl01Verified Once in a Life Time We had the good fortune to have Fidel as our guide for this once in a lifetime opportunity. Fidel and his team of porters and trackers were fantastic. We were assigned to a large family of gorillas (24) took about 2hrs to trek to them. It was such a memorable and wonderful experience. The guides/porters really knew how to respect and communicate with the gorillas. I cannot recommend this highly enough. The park and the activities are well managed and organised (in addition to gorillas).
