Rwanda
4-Day Gorilla & Lake Kivu Safari
This 4-day luxury safari blends two gorilla treks in Volcanoes National Park with lakeside relaxation at Lake Kivu. Experience Rwanda's mountain gorillas up close, engage with local communities, and unwind on scenic boat rides—all while staying in premium lodges.
What to Expect
- 🦍 Two gorilla trekking experiences (different families each day)
- 🌊 Lake Kivu relaxation with beachfront luxury
- 🏙️ Kigali city tour (genocide memorials, markets)
- 🌋 Twin Lakes visit (Bulera & Ruhondo)
- 🛶 Boat cruise to fishing villages
- 📜 Gorilla trekking certificate
Key Notes
✔️ Best Time to Visit: June–September or December–February
✔️ Permit Included: Two gorilla permits ($1,500 each)
✔️ Fitness Level: Moderate (altitude: 2,500–4,000m)
✔️ Packing Tips: Waterproof gear, broken-in hiking boots, swimwear
Itinerary Summary
| Day | Activity |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Kigali → Volcanoes NP • City Tour • Twin Lakes |
| Day 2 | 1st Gorilla Trek • Cultural Village Visit |
| Day 3 | 2nd Gorilla Trek → Lake Kivu Transfer |
| Day 4 | Lake Kivu Boat Cruise → Kigali Departure |
Day 1: Kigali to Volcanoes National Park
- Morning: Airport welcome • Kigali city tour (markets, memorials)
- Afternoon: Scenic drive to Musanze • Twin Lakes photo stop
- Evening: Lodge check-in • Volcanoes briefing
Begin with a cultural deep dive in Kigali, visiting poignant memorials and vibrant markets. En route to Volcanoes NP, stop at the mirror-like Twin Lakes (Bulera & Ruhondo) nestled between volcanic peaks.
Accommodation Options:
- Luxury: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel / Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge
- Mid-Range: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge / Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
Meals: Dinner
Day 2: First Gorilla Trek & Cultural Immersion
- 06:00 AM: Breakfast • Park briefing (rules, group allocation)
- 07:30 AM: Gorilla trek (2–6 hours) • 1-hour encounter
- Afternoon: Certificate ceremony • Village visit (Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village)
- Evening: Lodge relaxation • Volcanic views
Trek through bamboo forests to meet your first gorilla family, observing their daily rituals. Post-trek, engage with local communities at a cultural village to learn traditional dances, crafts, and Rwanda’s heritage.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Second Gorilla Trek → Lake Kivu
- 06:00 AM: Breakfast • Second gorilla family allocation
- 07:30 AM: 2nd gorilla trek (compare behaviors/habitat)
- 12:00 PM: Lunch • Scenic drive to Lake Kivu
- Evening: Sunset at the beach • Lakeside dinner
Experience a different gorilla group—perhaps encountering a larger family or playful juveniles. Transfer to Lake Kivu, Africa’s safest freshwater lake, for well-deserved relaxation at your lakeside lodge.
Accommodation Options:
- Luxury: Serena Kivu Lodge
- Mid-Range: Palm Beach Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Lake Kivu Exploration → Departure
- 08:00 AM: Breakfast • Boat cruise (fishing villages, Napoleon Island)
- 12:00 PM: Lakeside lunch
- 02:00 PM: Return to Kigali • Airport drop-off
Glide across Lake Kivu’s glassy waters, visiting fishing communities and learning about local life. Savor a final lakeside meal before returning to Kigali, enriched by Rwanda’s wild and cultural wonders.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
End of Safari
A perfect balance of adventure and relaxation—double gorilla encounters, cultural connections, and lakeside serenity in one unforgettable Rwanda journey.
✅ Included
- All accommodation on Half Board (HB), Full Board (FB) or Bed and Breakfast (B&B) basis as quoted in the text
- Safari vehicle and fuel
- English speaking tourist guide
- Game drives and walks
- Entrance fees to the national parks. All boat tours
- Taxes
- Free mineral water in the vehicle during the tour
- AMREF emergency evacuation insurance
- Gorilla Permit
❌ Excluded
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Drinks / alcoholic drinks / additional meals
- Tips
- Activities not part of the described program
- International travel insurance
- Items of personal nature / souvenirs
PLEASE NOTE
The safari indicated here is essentially an offer. Changes in the course of the journey, the duration of your tour, the number of travelers, as well as the choice of accommodation are subject to availability, although we always endeavor to stick as closely as possible to this program. For the majority of itineraries, we can offer luxury, mid range or budget versions of this safari upon request.
Sometimes it is not possible to adhere to the travel plan as described in this itinerary, due to weather and road conditions, authority regulations, organizational requirements, etc. Occasionally, the planned route of the tour has to change according to the situation on the ground. We must therefore explicitly refuse liability for adherence to the journey plan.