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Overview of 6 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking and Lake Kivu Adventure
The 6 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking and Lake Kivu Adventure offers the perfect blend of wildlife, adventure, culture, and relaxation — showcasing the very best of Rwanda, the Land of a Thousand Hills. From the breathtaking encounter with endangered mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park, to the serene shores of Lake Kivu, to the lush rainforests of Nyungwe National Park, this safari is designed for travelers who want to experience Rwanda’s diverse landscapes and wildlife in one seamless journey.
This 6 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking and Lake Kivu adventure begins in Kigali, Rwanda’s vibrant capital, with a brief city tour before heading north to Volcanoes National Park for gorilla trekking. From there, you’ll continue to Gisenyi for a lakeside escape and coffee experience, then venture south to Nyungwe National Park for chimpanzee and colobus monkey trekking, tea experiences, and the famous canopy walkway. With a perfect mix of primate safaris, nature, and cultural discovery, this 6 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking and Lake Kivu Adventure safari offers unforgettable memories and insight into Rwanda’s natural and cultural beauty.
Day 1: Half-Day Kigali City Tour & Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
After breakfast, embark on a Kigali City Tour, visiting the Kigali Genocide Memorial, Kimironko Market, and Inema Arts Center to explore Rwanda’s history and creative culture. Enjoy lunch in Kigali before beginning your scenic 2.5-hour drive to Volcanoes National Park, passing rolling hills and lush countryside. Upon arrival, check in at your lodge in Musanze, enjoy dinner, and rest for your gorilla trekking adventure the next morning.
Accommodation: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel / Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge / Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Meal Plan: Lunch & Dinner
Day 2: Mountain Gorilla Trekking & Transfer to Gisenyi (Lake Kivu)
After an early breakfast, transfer to Kinigi Park Headquarters for a briefing before starting your gorilla trekking adventure in Volcanoes National Park. Trekking may take between 2 to 6 hours depending on the gorilla family’s location. Once found, spend up to one unforgettable hour observing these gentle giants in their natural habitat.
After your trek, enjoy lunch and later transfer to Gisenyi (Rubavu) on the shores of Lake Kivu. Check in at your lakeside lodge and unwind with stunning sunset views over the lake.
Accommodation: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel / Paradise Malahide / Inzu Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 3: Lake Kivu Adventure & Coffee Tour
Begin your day with a delicious breakfast and embark on a boat ride on Lake Kivu, exploring Napoleon Island and visiting local fishing villages. You’ll also visit a nearby coffee plantation to learn about Rwanda’s world-famous coffee production — from bean to cup — followed by a tasting session.
Spend your afternoon relaxing at the lakeside, swimming, or enjoying optional water activities such as kayaking. Dinner and overnight stay at your lodge.
Accommodation: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel / Paradise Malahide / Inzu Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 4: The Canopy Walkway Adventure & Tea Experience
After breakfast, drive south toward Nyungwe National Park, known for its rich biodiversity and breathtaking scenery. Upon arrival, check in at your lodge and have lunch. In the afternoon, enjoy the famous Canopy Walkway Adventure, a suspended bridge that offers stunning aerial views of the rainforest and wildlife.
Later, visit a nearby tea plantation for a guided tour of the tea-making process and enjoy a cup of freshly brewed Rwandan tea while overlooking the misty hills.
Accommodation: Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel / One & Only Nyungwe House / Gisakura Guest House
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 5: Chimpanzee Trekking & Colobus Monkey Tracking
Rise early for breakfast, then head to the park headquarters for your chimpanzee trekking experience. Follow your ranger guide deep into the forest to track one of Nyungwe’s habituated chimp families — an exhilarating experience as you listen to their calls and observe them play in the treetops.
After lunch, continue with an afternoon Colobus Monkey Trek, where you’ll spot large troops of these striking black-and-white primates. Return to your lodge for a relaxed evening surrounded by nature.
Accommodation: Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel / One & Only Nyungwe House / Gisakura Guest House
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 6: Drive Back to Kigali – King’s Palace Museum & Gift Shopping
After breakfast, start your scenic drive back to Kigali, stopping en route at the King’s Palace Museum in Nyanza to learn about Rwanda’s royal traditions. Continue to Kigali, where you can enjoy gift shopping at local craft markets before being transferred to Kigali International Airport for your flight home.
Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch
End of 6 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking and Lake Kivu Adventure itinerary.
Included in 6 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking and Lake Kivu Adventure
- 1 Gorilla trekking permit per person ($1,500)
- Chimpanzee trekking permit
- Colobus monkey trekking
- All ground transportation in a 4×4 safari vehicle
- Professional English-speaking guide/driver
- Accommodation and meals as per itinerary
- Lake Kivu boat ride and coffee tour
- Canopy walkway and tea experience
- Museum and cultural visits
- Bottled drinking water throughout the tour
Excluded 6 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking and Lake Kivu Adventure
- International flights and visa fees
- Travel and medical insurance
- Personal expenses (tips, laundry, drinks, souvenirs)
- Optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary
- Porter or guide gratuities
End of Tour
Your 6 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking and Lake Kivu Adventure concludes with lasting memories of Rwanda’s wildlife, landscapes, and cultural warmth. From the misty rainforests of Volcanoes and Nyungwe to the peaceful shores of Lake Kivu, this safari perfectly captures Rwanda’s harmony of adventure, nature, and community.
End of 6 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking and Lake Kivu Adventure
Book for this 6 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking and Lake Kivu Adventure
Starting from US $ 5,000 per person
Discounted prices per person as the number of people rises. Note: The minimum age allowed for 6 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking and Lake Kivu Adventure is 16 years old.
| No of People | Up To | Price per person |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | – | $ 5250 |
| 2 | – | $ 3870 |
| 3 | – | $ 3520 |
| 4 | – | $ 3150 |
| 5 | – | $ 2980 |
| 6 | – | $ 2900 |
| 7 | – | $ 2880 |
Posted on Tripadvisor patty eVerified 100% recommended I was originally in Tanzania for a safari but decided to add the gorilla trek at the end of my trip because the flight was too long to fly to Africa from California again at my age. I booked through Viator. From the beginning, communication with Universal Adventures was positive. They were prompt to answer any questions. And a few days before the excursion, they sent me my driver's name and WhatsApp number. His name is Christian.We communicated through WhatsApp, and he was very prompt to reply back. He was early to pick me up at 4:30am. I had another person in the car. The car was clean. Its a long drive to the meeting place. We stopped for breakfast pastries at a local shop( they take credit cards and had a clean breakfast. We then drove to the meeting place where we met up with our group. There they had hot drinks like coffees, lattes, teas, etc. We then had to drive to the beginning of the mountain. It was a long drive as the roads are not paved. My group was assigned the Isimbi gorilla family and our guide was Jolie. My porter was Adolf. I was the least active one in the group but the crew never made me feel bad. After what I thought was a 4 hr hike (it was really 1 hr and 26 minutes) we found our gorilla family. We had plenty of time to take pictures with them. After we were done, Christian took us to a rooftop restaurant. The food was delicious! I recommend this excursion 100%. The company is awesome and very professional.Posted on Tripadvisor Juliet KVerified Gorilla Experience in Rwanda! Easy ride, the trip was one in a life time experience. The driver (Christian) was very nice and kind and made the trip smooth! Everything was great.Posted on Tripadvisor zoe457Verified Amazing experience seeing the gorillas of Rwanda! Amazing experience seeing the gorillas. Dodos picked me up in Kigali and was very helpful through the whole process. He even had cold drinks when I finished the gorilla trekking. Highly recommend!Posted on Tripadvisor Trevor BVerified Great way to see Kigali! Our guide Christian was knowledgeable and kind. He showed us all the highlights including the moving Genocide Memorial. His personal stories and insights into Rwandan society were invaluable. It was truly a pleasure to spend the day with him in Kigali.Posted on Tripadvisor Destination709424Verified Gorilla Trekking Me and my partner have always dreamed of doing gorilla trekking so when Christian helped this come to life it was surreal! As tourists we felt incredibly safe and welcomed with Christian he was super knowledgable and happy to share lots of description and reasoning with all our questions to help us learn and understand the culture. We also did a cultural village visit, Golden Monkey Trek, Diane Fossey Museum and women’s centre. All suggested and planned with Christian from Universal Ventures Rawanda. Any requests we had were never too much for Christian he was always happy to help. I would 110% recommend Christian to all my friends and family who I know want to come to Rawanda. Thankyou for making our dreams come true!Posted on Tripadvisor Geti LVerified 100% would recommend Amazing team and guide. I didn’t have to think about anything since they planned everything from airport pick up till drop off. Best value for buck but also great attitude and support. Got permission to visit the Pablo family thanks to our guide!Posted on Tripadvisor Yanis RVerified Thanks Kim for that wonderful day Kim was my guide for my experience with the gorillas. He made the day so comfortable. Everything was perfect! We also had many conversations about everything. I definitely recommend traveling with him!!Posted on Tripadvisor Aglaia OVerified Amazing Rwanda gorilla trek! Playful babies, calm silverback, great guides. Book permits well in advance. My gorilla trekking experience in Rwanda was absolutely incredible. We found the gorillas within about an hour of hiking, and seeing them up close was unforgettable. The baby gorillas were especially playful and entertaining to watch, constantly moving around and interacting with each other. In contrast, the silverback was calm, quiet, and completely self-focused — somehow both powerful and peaceful at the same time. The gorillas were not scary at all, and we never felt threatened during the experience. The guides were fantastic: experienced, knowledgeable, and very entertaining throughout the trek. One of our guides even shared stories about crossing paths with Dian Fossey, which made the experience feel even more special and connected to Rwanda’s conservation history. One important tip: make sure to secure your trekking permit well in advance, as spots are limited and can sell out quickly. A truly once-in-a-lifetime experience that I would highly recommend.Posted on Tripadvisor MARCELLE EVerified Gorilles Kigali Nous avons choisis la parcours long mais ca valait le coup. Nous en avons pris pleins les yeux les guides étaient top le trajet depuis Kigali pas trop long avec le chauffeur de l'agence , NEZA qui a vraiment été super du début à la fin . Il nous été d’une grande aide.le responsable de l’agence et était super et disponible il nous a aidé pour toutes les démarches.Posted on Tripadvisor Teresa BVerified The trek was perfect! We saw a beautiful family of gorillas including two Silverbacks! The best experience of my life! Seeing gorillas in their natural habitat was incredible! A truly serene experience. The tour was well planned and could not have been more perfect. The entire team guided with professionalism and love. My porter, Jacqueline, was wonderful and took great care of me. My personal guide/driver, Kim, was a delight! I learned much about Rwanda from him on the drive. I was surprised he greeted me with champagne toast! The day could not have been better.
