5 Days Rwanda Tour – Gorillas, Golden Monkey Tracking, Dian Fossey Hike, Lake Kivu, Kigali City Tour
5 Days Rwanda Tour – Overview
Your 5 Days Rwanda Tour is a 5 days tour in Rwanda that starts and ends in Kigali, taking you on lifetime adventures of Gorilla trekking, Golden monkey tracking, and Dian Fossey hike in Volcanoes National Park, as well as Musanze Caves and Twin Lakes, walking tours.
After your remarkable adventures, you will retreat to the sandy shores of Lake Kivu and relax at one of the most beautiful lakes in East and Central Africa.
This amazing 5 days Rwanda tour will end with a tour of Kigali City, where you will explore the colorful markets, learn about the tragic 1994 Rwandan genocide at the Kigali Genocide Memorial Center and discover life in one of Africa’s safest and cleanest capital cities in the world.
If you’d like to book or customize this amazing Rwanda tour to your safari interests and desires – please let us know!
5 Days Rwanda Tour – Prime Safari Activities
- Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
- Track the beautiful playful Golden monkeys
- Trek to Dian Fossey’s Gravesite & Gorilla cemetery
- Explore the historic Musanze Cave
- Tour the beautiful Twin Lakes
- Relax on the beautiful sandy shores of Lake Kivu
- Tour Kigali city & the Genocide Memorial
- Drive through Rwanda’s scenic landscapes
5 Days Rwanda Tour – Featured Safari Destinations
Day 1 &3: Volcanoes National Park, Musanze Caves, Twin Lakes Walk
Day 4: Lake Kivu
Day 5: Kigali – Departure
5 Days Rwanda Tour – Highlights
Day 1: Arrive at Kigali International Airport & transfer to Volcanoes National Park.
Day 2: Do gorilla trekking & visit the volcanic Twin Lakes
Day 3: Do Golden Monkey tracking & Musanze Caves Exploration
Day 4: Do the Dian Fossey Hike. Travel to Lake Kivu – Gisenyi Beach.
Day 5: Return to Kigali. Visit Kigali Genocide Memorial & tour Kigali City.
5 Days Rwanda Tour – Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive at Kigali International Airport & Transfer to Volcanoes National Park.
Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, your tour driver guide will be there to welcome you to the “Land of a Thousand Hills”. You will be briefed about Rwanda and this 5 days Rwanda tour in particular.
After that, you will take a drive northwest through the beautiful, terraced hillsides of Rwanda to Musanze Town on the foothills of the volcanic Virunga Mountain. Your accommodation will be near the headquarters of Volcanoes National Park.
This stunning park of 160km2 protects about 300 of the earth’s 1063 Mountain Gorillas remaining in the wild. It also hosts the rare Golden monkeys and is the location where Great American Primatologist, Dian Fossey spent 20 years of her life studying and protecting these great mountain creatures – a lifetime of work that would inspire the well-known Hollywood film, “Gorillas in the Mist”.
Tonight you relax and prepare for our unforgettable mountain gorilla trek tomorrow.
The highlight of the Day: – Driving through Rwanda’s beautiful, terraced hillsides
Accommodation:-
Luxury: – Mountain Gorilla View Lodge/Bisate Lodge/Virunga Lodge
Midrange: – Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
Budget: – Muhabura Hotel
Meal Plan: – Lunch & Dinner
Drive Distance & Time: – 116km/2-3 hours
Activities & Services:-
- Pick up from your hotel in Kigali
- Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Day 2: Do Gorilla Trekking & Visit the Volcanic Twin Lakes.
On day two of your 5 days Rwanda tour, have an early breakfast and transfer to the park offices to get briefed. After the briefing at 8 am, embark on a trek into the jungle alongside an expert ranger/guide in search of a gorilla family.
The Rwanda Gorilla trekking encounter in Volcanoes National Park can take anything from 30 minutes to 7 hours of hiking on steep, narrow footpaths. You need to be at least a walking fit. The guides ensure you take plenty of breaks. Once you find the gorillas (we share 98% of our DNA with them) it will all be worth it.
You’ll have a full hour of watching these human-like creatures feed, groom, and interact with each other in their natural habitat – an incredible experience!
You then return to your lodge for a late delicious lunch and relaxation. In the evening, take a walk to the beautiful twin lakes of Ruhondo and Bulera where you have an encounter with the local fishermen and also enjoy the spectacular views of the lake. Retire for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.
The highlight of the Day: – Trekking rare Mountain Gorillas
Accommodation:-
Luxury: – Mountain Gorilla View Lodge/Bisate Lodge/Virunga Lodge
Midrange: – Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
Budget: – Muhabura Hotel
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Drive distance & time: – Approx. 116km/2-3 hours
Activities & Services: –
- Gorilla tracking
- Drive back to Kigali
Optional Activity: –
- Visit Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village
Day 3: Do Golden Monkey Tracking & Musanze Caves Exploration
Enjoy an early breakfast today and transfer to the park headquarters for yet another amazing adventure – tracking rare golden monkeys.
These little creatures are endemic to the Virunga Mountains and their vibrant colors, energetic demeanor, and sizeable groups of up to 100 individuals are indeed a sight to behold. The Golden monkey tracking activity starts with a briefing at 7 am.
It is a relatively easy trek and can take up to 3 hours. But, you’ll be allowed only one hour to observe their charming antics, as they leap from branch to branch. After seeing the unique monkeys, return to the lodge for relaxation and lunch.
In the afternoon, go on an exciting Musanze Caves exploration. Explore these historic caves that were formed 65 million years ago by the lava flow from Sabyinyo and Bisoke volcanoes. The caves feature 31 entrances and stretch to 2km inside. The cave exploration lasts 2 hours walking underground.
The highlight of The Day: – Tracking the beautiful, endemic Golden Monkeys
Accommodation:-
Luxury: – Mountain Gorilla View Lodge/Virunga Lodge/Bisate Lodge
Midrange: – Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
Budget: – Muhabura Hotel
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Drive distance & time: – Approx. 116km/2-3 hours
Activities & Services: –
- Golden monkey tracking
- Drive back to Kigali
Optional Activities: –
- Mount Bisoke hike
- Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village tour
Day 4: Do The Dian Fossey Hike. Travel to Lake Kivu – Gisenyi Beach for Relaxation
Day four of your 5 days Rwanda safari is dedicated to the Dian Fossey hike. After breakfast at 6 am, transfer to the park headquarters to meet your experienced local guides for a briefing at 7 am. Next, take a scenic hike to Dian Fossey’s grave site.
The hike is steep in places and takes 3-4 hours, but offers the opportunity to spot Forest hogs, buffalo, elephants, duiker, birds, golden monkeys, and even gorillas, in addition to enjoying the breathtaking natural beauty of this Rwanda National Park.
Your guide will give plenty of information about Dian Fossey and her work in saving the critically endangered Mountain Gorilla from extinction. On reaching the site, see the ruins of her house and of course pay a visit to her grave. Lying next to her is the grave of her favorite gorilla, Digit, along with 20 other gorillas killed by poachers.
After this moving experience, connect to Gisenyi on the northern edge of Lake Kivu. Spend the day unwinding on the sandy shores of this African Great Lake. Enjoy the tropical setting and lovely views while relaxing on the palm-fringed beach.
The highlight of the Day: – Getting an insight into Dian Fossey’s work
Accommodation:-
Luxury: – Mountain Gorilla View Lodge/Bisate Lodge/Virunga Lodge
Midrange: – Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
Budget: – Muhabura Hotel
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Travel Distance & Time: – 110km/2 hours
Activities & Services: – Dian Fossey hike
Optional Activities:-
- Volcano hiking
- Visit the Gorilla Guardian Cultural Village
Day 5: Return To Kigali. Visit Kigali Genocide Memorial & Tour Kigali City
On this final day of your 5 days Rwanda safari, have a relaxed breakfast, before embarking on a 2-3 hour drive back to Kigali.
On arrival, visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial Center, an incredible site, constructed on the burial site of 250,000 victims of the 1994 Rwanda genocide against the Tutsi tribe. Learn about events that led to the tragic 100 days during which nearly a million Rwandans were butchered by their neighbors.
The center is extremely moving, challenging, educational, and ultimately inspiring as well as a great place to understand the cause, tragedy and the tremendous progress and reconciliation the nation has achieved to date.
After the memorial tour, take a city drive and visit local markets, art galleries, and craft centers plus other fascinating sites. Thereafter, you’ll be driven to the airport for your return flight home at the end of the remarkable 5 days in Rwanda tour.
The highlight of the Day: – Kigali Genocide Memorial tour
Meal Plan: – Breakfast
Drive Distance & Time: – 135km/2 ½ hour
Activities & Services: –
- Drive back to Kigali
- Kigali Genocide Memorial tour
- Drop-off at the airport
Optional Activities at Lake Kivu:-
- Kayaking
- Boat cruise
End of the 5 Days Rwanda tour
Safari Inclusions
- Gorilla permit (for gorilla trekking safaris)
- Full Board Accommodation on Safari
- Transportation in either 4X4 Safari Van or 4X4 Safari Land Cruiser all with Pop up roof & AC
- Fuel
- Professional English Speaking driver guide. Any other foreign language speaking guide can be arranged on request.
- Entrance fees to the tourist sites including Protected areas mentioned
- Activity fees of the tourist activities mentioned
- Bottled water while on safari
- Border crossing fees (for cross-border safaris)
Safari Exclusions
- General tips for the driver guide, site guides, and service staff at the lodges
- Laundry Services
- Other Beverages/drinks of personal nature like Alcohol
- International Flights
- Domestic Flights (Arranged on request)
- Visas
- Optional Activity fees
- Other extras not mentioned in the Itinerary
- Airport Transfer (Arranged on request)
- Accommodation in Kigali (Arranged on request)
