How to spend 7 days in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda.
Welcome to the land of a thousand hills , enjoy this 7 days Volcanoes national park safari in Rwanda. This trip enables you to have full exploration of the park, “ walk in nature”. Volcanoes National Park serves as a refuge for the endangered mountain gorillas and is so fundamental to African biodiversity. Founded in 1925, it is Africa’s oldest national park, covering over 160 square kilometers. It hosts five of the eight Virunga mountains, providing stunning scenery and varied ecosystems that include bamboo forests and expansive grasslands in a tropical rain forest. Volcanoes national park offers an array of tourism activities, with gorilla tracking at a front row seat.
This 7 days volcanoes national park safari, provides close encounters with different wildlife species including the mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, water species, birds and feel the beauty of the natural wilderness. Engage in volcano hiking, visit the Dian Fossey grave site, birding, guided nature walks and cultural encounters with the local community.
Trip highlights of How to spend 7 days in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
- Day 1: Arrival – city tour – transfer to Volcanoes National Park
- Day 2: Gorilla trekking – Ib’yiwachu cultural visit
- Day 3:Golden monkey tracking – Visit the twin lakes.
- Day 4: Bisoke hike
- Day 5: Birding in Buhanga eco park.
- Day 6 :Dian Fossey tomb hike
- Day 7:Transfer to Kigali
Detailed itinerary of How to spend 7 days in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
Day 1: Arrival – city tour – transfer to Volcanoes National Park
On arrival, our driver/guide meets you at the Kigali International Airport and welcomes you to Rwanda.
If your flight lands early enough, after breakfast, embark on a guided Kigali city tour. a modern city that is among the cleanest in Africa. expect to visit the Belgian and Gisozi genocide memorial museums and some craft centers. After lunch, travel north to Ruhengeri, Volcanoes National Park, the most popular base for gorilla trekking safaris. Check in to the accommodation and get ready for the amazing mountain gorilla trek the next day.
Dinner and overnight at One and Only Gorillas Nest Lodge(Luxury), Sambora Kinigi Lodge (midrange), Classic Resort Hotel (budget)
Day 2 : Gorilla trekking – Ib’yiwachu cultural visit
After early morning breakfast, you will be driven to the park offices by 7:00 am to attend a briefing about the dos and don’ts of the gorilla tracking excursion. After the briefing, you will be assigned to one of the 12 habituated gorilla families. Follow the park rangers, hike through the misty forest in search of mountain gorillas. The time spent in search for the gentle giant apes is uncertain, ranging from 2 to 6 hours depending on the gorillas’ movements. upon encounter of the mountain gorillas, you’re given one hour to observe them in the wild, taking photos and short videos. Later, trek back to the trail head to meet your driver guide.
Iin the afternoon, visit the reformed poachers in the Gorilla guardian village, commonly known as the Ib’yiwachu cultural center. This place is a true exhibit of Rwandan Culture and tradition. You will be entertained to cultural dances, folk stories and tradition songs. At the end of the visit you can buy some of their hand made crafts to support their daily lives Return to the accommodation.
Dinner and overnight at One and Only Gorillas Nest Lodge (Luxury), Sambora Kinigi Lodge (midrange), Classic Resort Hotel (budget)
Day 3: Golden monkey tracking – twin lakes boat cruise.
After an early breakfast on the third day of your 7-day Rwanda Volcanoes National Park safari, your driver guide will pick you up from the lodge and drive to the park headquarters for briefing around the golden monkeys. After the briefing, you will trek through the jungle, following paths of remaining bamboo shoots and leaves. Because golden monkeys prefer to wander from one site to another in search of food, trekking takes between 30 minutes and 4 hours, depending on where they are. You will luckily spot other wildlife creatures like other primates, insects and birds. Once you find the golden monkeys, you’ll have the opportunity to spend an hour with them in their natural habitat. This is a wonderful chance to observe them jumping in the trees, feeding, and playing, among other activities. after watching these playful primates, you will head back to the starting point to meet your guide who will transfer you to your lodge for lunch.
After lunch, drive to the twin lakes, Bulera and Ruhondo. On your boat cruise enjoy the beautiful scenery, terraced countryside, hills, fishermen, and several water birds. Take photos and later drive back to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
One and Only Gorillas Nest Lodge (Luxury), Sambora Kinigi Lodge (midrange), Classic Resort Hotel (budget)
Day 4: Mount Bisoke hike
Following breakfast at your accommodation, you will leave at 7:30 a.m. for the briefing at the park headquarters. Hiking Mount Bisoke takes between 4 and 6 hours. The actual hike begins at 8:00 am after being driven for some minutes from the park center to the starting point. With a hiking stick, a porter and good camera, you will hike to the summit and enjoy a magnificent view of a crater lake on top of the volcano. You will also enjoy the beautiful views of the surrounding volcanoes, Mgahinga national park and Virunga national park.
After enjoying the incredible scenery at the mountaintop, you will descend to the starting location, to meet your driver/ guide who will transport you back to your hotel for a late lunch. Relax at the hotel for the evening.
Dinner and over night at One and Only Gorillas Nest Lodge (Luxury), Sambora Kinigi Lodge (midrange), Classic Resort Hotel (budget)
Day 5: Birding in Buhanga Eco park
This is day to embark on a special nature walk into one of Rwanda’s hidden cultural gems. After your breakfast, report to the visitor Information center for registration and a guided hike in Buhanga Eco park. This place is where the inauguration of the Kings of Yore was carried out. They would undergo rituals of initiation and enthronement for their kingship role in this forest. With it s rich natural eco systems, you will see different plant species, butterflies and ais also home to over 150 birds species. Take your time , move at your pace with your binoculars and cameras as you explore the explore the different major spots in the park like the three in one tree, the small dark spring, the conference podium, the dark cave, and the ditch .Some of the bird species in this Eco park include the red-eyed dove, red crested cuckoo, hadada ibis, African Harrier -Hawk, Malachite king fisher, Cardinal wood pecker, Tropical boubou, Pied crow, White tailed fly catcher, Gray-capped warbler, African , red-rumped swallow and the Green -headed sun bird among others.
The walk through this park costs $40.After the day’s exploration, return to your accommodation.
Dinner and over night at One and Only Gorillas Nest Lodge (Luxury), Sambora Kinigi Lodge (midrange), Classic Resort Hotel (budget)
Day 6: Dian Fossey tomb hike.
After breakfast, with your packed lunch, head to the park head quarters for a briefing about the Dian Fossey tomb hike. You will hike to her Karisoke Research Center which lies between the mountain Karisimbi and Bisoke. During hiking, you will pass through different vegetation zones where you will have a high chance to spot the park’s wild creatures including elephants, forest hogs, duikers, various monkeys as well as different bird species. on a lucky day, you will meet mountain gorillas. You may be allowed to watch them for few minutes but no taking photos.
Upon arrival at the Karisoke research center, you will be able to see the grave of Dian Fossey where she was buried with other gorillas and close to her favourite gorilla ‘Digit’. After the visit, enjoy your picnic lunch, and then descend to the starting point to meet your driver guide ready to transport you back to your lodge and relax.
Dinner and over night at One and Only Gorillas Nest Lodge (Luxury), Sambora Kinigi Lodge (midrange), Classic Resort Hotel (budget)
Day 7: Transfer to Kigali
This will be a more leisurely drive back to Kigali with stop overs at simple markets and stalls at the roadside. Enjoy your drive back through the scenic countryside covered by rolling hills and valleys. You will have lunch in Kigali and later prepare for a drop off at the airport for your flight back home.
End of 7 days Volcanoes national park safari in Rwanda.