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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 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).
