6-Day Best of Rwanda Budget Safari

This 6-Day Best of Rwanda Budget Safari is a great way to experience the wildlife and culture of Rwanda without breaking the bank. It includes a visit to the chimps in Nyungwe, enjoying the scenery and culture around Lake Kivu, and come face-to-face with gorillas and golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park. This trip covers all the top attractions and experiences that Rwanda has to offer. Below is a detailed itinerary of this 6-Day Best of Rwanda Budget Safari. Remember, all our trips are fully customizable to meet your unique preferences.

6-Day Best of Rwanda Budget Safari Highlights

• Day 1: Drive to Nyungwe Forest
• Day 2: Hiking in Nyungwe National Park
• Day 3: Drive to Gisenyi Lake Kivu
• Day 4: Drive from Lake Kivu to Volcanoes National Park
• Day 5: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
• Day 6: Drive to Kigali

Detailed 6-Day Best of Rwanda Budget Safari

Day 1: Drive to Nyungwe Forest

Our 6-Day Best of Rwanda Budget Safari guide will pick you up from your hotel or residence in Kigali and drive you to Nyungwe Forest National Park. The drive will take about five hours giving you plenty of time to enjoy the scenic views of the Rwandan countryside.

Along the way, you will stop at the Royal Palace Museum in Nyanza and the Ethnographic Museum in Huye. These stops will give you a great insight into Rwanda’s history and culture.

You will arrive in Nyungwe in the evening and rest at your lodge.

• Accommodation: Emeraulde Kivu
• Meal plan: Lunch & Dinner

Day 2: Hiking in Nyungwe National Park

After an early breakfast, you will head to the park offices for a briefing before starting your chimpanzee tracking adventure. Accompanied by a guide, you will hike through the dense forest in search of chimps and other primates. During your hike, you might spot some species of monkeys, sometimes in large groups, and many different bird species. Once you find the chimps, you will spend an hour with them before heading back.

After the hike, you will return to the lodge for lunch and then go for a canopy walk in the park. This is a suspended bridge 70 meters above the ground that gives you a unique view of the forest and a chance to see primates high up in the trees. You will then return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

• Accommodation: Emeraulde Kivu
• Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 3: Drive to Gisenyi Lake Kivu

After breakfast, you will be taken on a scenic drive from Nyungwe to Gisenyi, located on the shores of Lake Kivu. The drive takes around four hours, but the beautiful countryside and changing views of the lake make it feel shorter.

You will arrive at your lodge with enough time to relax and enjoy the cool breeze by the lake. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure.

• Accommodation: Paradise Kivu.
• Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner.

Day 4: Drive from Lake Kivu to Volcanoes National Park

You will wake up to a delicious breakfast and thereafter explore Lake Kivu by boat. You may also visit islands on the lake where you will spot many bird species.

After the boat ride, you will return to your lodge for lunch before driving to Volcanoes National Park. The drive takes about three hours, and you’ll arrive early enough to enjoy a relaxing evening.

• Accommodation: Le Bamboo Gorilla Lodge
• Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 5: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park

This day promises to be one of the most memorable of your 6-Day Best of Rwanda Budget Safari. After an early breakfast, head to the park headquarters for a briefing on gorilla trekking. In small groups, you will set off into the dense forest with experienced guides to track a gorilla family. The trek can be challenging, with steep and muddy paths, but the reward is well worth the effort. Upon finding the gorillas, you will have the opportunity to spend an hour observing these gentle giants in their natural habitat. Watch as they play, feed, and interact as you gain insight into their daily lives. After this unforgettable encounter, return to the lodge for lunch and then go on an excursion to explore the beautiful twin lakes in the region (Lake Bulera & Ruhondo).

• Accommodation: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge
• Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 6: Drive to Kigali

After an early breakfast at the lodge, you will head out to Volcanoes National Park headquarters for a golden monkey trekking experience. The trek will take you through lush forests and scenic landscapes as your experienced 6-Day Best of Rwanda Budget Safari guides share their knowledge about the golden monkeys and the park’s diverse ecosystem. Upon finding the golden monkeys, you will have the opportunity to spend an hour observing them. Unlike the gorillas, golden monkeys are playful and quick, often engaging in hide-and-seek games so you might have to follow them around.

Once your trek is complete, you will return to the lodge for a well-deserved rest and lunch. In the early afternoon, you will begin your journey back to Kigali and then to Kigali International Airport for your departure flight.

• Accommodation: None
• Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch

End of 6-Day Best of Rwanda Budget Safari

6-Day Best of Rwanda Budget Safari Inclusions and Exclusions

Inclusions

• Transport in a 4WD vehicle with a pop-up roof.
• All fuel for the 6-Day Best of Rwanda Budget Safari
• English-speaking driver/guide.
• Accommodation and Meals on Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner)
• Park-entrance fees for all National parks
• All activities described in the itinerary
• 1 Gorilla tracking permit per person.
• 1 Chimpanzee tracking permit per person
• 1 Golden monkey tracking permit per person.
• Drinking water throughout the safari.

Exclusions

• International airfares
• Entry visa for Rwanda
• Meals that are not part of your accommodation.
• A porter. Helps to carry your backpack & push/pull you on the slippery slopes.
• Personal (medical/travel) insurance
• Tips and gratuities to rangers, driver/guide, porter, hotel staff, etc.
• Expenses of personal nature (e.g. drinks, laundry, optional activities.)