5-Day Rwanda Tour highlighting gorillas & Lake Kivu Leisure – Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is done only in Volcanoes National Park, located in the northern region of the country. Lake Kivu, on the other hand, is in the western part of Rwanda.
Volcanoes National Park is about a 2-hour drive from Kigali City, making it one of the closest national parks in Rwanda. Established in 1925, the park was created to protect endangered mountain gorillas and other wildlife.
5-Day Rwanda Tour Highlights
- Day 1: Arrival and Transfer to Your Hotel
- Day 2: City Tour and Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
- Day 3: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
- Day 4: Transfer to Lake Kivu and Boat Cruise
- Day 5: Transfer Back to Kigali and Departure
Detailed 5-Day Rwanda Gorillas & Leisure Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and Transfer to Your Hotel
Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport in Kanombe, you will be welcomed by our driver/guide or representative. They will brief you about your 5-day tour in Rwanda and then transfer you to your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 2: City Tour and Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
After breakfast at around 8:00 am, start your day with a city tour in Kigali. Enjoy beautiful views of the rolling hills, visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial site, and then head north to Volcanoes National Park.
You will arrive in the afternoon, check in at your hotel, and relax.
Day 3: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
After breakfast, wear your jungle boots, pack a lunch, and head for a briefing about gorilla trekking. During the briefing, you will learn how to behave around the gorillas to ensure a good experience.
A ranger will guide you into the jungle, where you will hike through rugged terrain. The trek usually takes 2-8 hours, depending on the gorillas’ movements. On a good day, you may find them within 2 hours, but on other days, it could take longer. Once you find the gorillas, you will spend an hour watching them. The playful young ones often climb trees, play on their mothers’ shoulders, and entertain visitors.
While trekking, you may also see some of the park’s 200 bird species, singing and swinging in the trees. After the trek, return to your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 4: Transfer to Lake Kivu and Boat Cruise
After breakfast, transfer to Lake Kivu in the western part of Rwanda. Arrive in the afternoon, check in at your hotel, and have lunch.
Later, go for a boat trip on Lake Kivu and visit Idjwi Island, the largest island in Rwanda, located in the South Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo. After the cruise, return to the hotel to relax at the beach. You can also swim in the bilharzia-free waters. Spend the night at a hotel on the shores of Lake Kivu.
Day 5: Transfer Back to Kigali and Departure
After breakfast at around 8:00 am, check out of your hotel and transfer back to Kigali. Depending on your flight time, you may visit the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village in Musanze District.
Iby’Iwacu means “Treasures of Our Home” in the local language. This visit includes traditional dances, songs, and storytelling, giving you a taste of Rwandan culture. You can also buy souvenirs before continuing your journey back to Kigali for your flight home.
End of 5-Day Rwanda Tour.
