Is 8 days a good length for a Rwanda safari?

Yes. Eight days lets you visit Nyungwe, Lake Kivu and Volcanoes National Park without rushing, with time for both primates and hiking.

Can I hike Bisoke the day after gorilla trekking?

Yes. Many travellers do. Bisoke is more demanding than most gorilla treks, so a porter and a steady pace are recommended.

What is the coffee experience on Lake Kivu?

You visit a local cooperative's washing station to see coffee cherries sorted, washed and dried, learn about roasting and finish with a fresh tasting.

What is the best time for this 8-day Rwanda safari?

June to September and December to February offer drier trails for gorilla trekking and hiking, though the trip runs all year.

Does this 8 days Rwanda safari include Akagera?

No. This route focuses on primates, hiking and Lake Kivu. We can swap a day or add two days for an Akagera game drive.

How much is a gorilla permit in Rwanda?

A gorilla permit costs USD 1,500 per person and is included in this package, along with the chimpanzee, golden monkey and Bisoke permits.

What is the minimum age for this safari?

Gorilla trekking is for visitors aged 15 and over. The minimum age for chimpanzee trekking is usually 12, which we confirm when you book.

8 Days Rwanda Safari: Gorillas, Chimps & Epic Bisoke Hike

This 8 days Rwanda safari takes you through Nyungwe, Lake Kivu and Volcanoes National Park for chimps, gorillas, golden monkeys and the Mount Bisoke hike.

Overview

Day by Day

Includes/Excludes

Safari Map

FAQs

Overview

This 8 days Rwanda safari is built for active travellers. It combines chimpanzee trekking and the canopy walk in Nyungwe, two relaxing days on Lake Kivu, a mountain gorilla trek, the Mount Bisoke volcano hike and golden monkeys.

You travel in a private 4×4 with your own driver guide, following a natural loop from Kigali through the southwest, up the lakeshore and into the Virunga volcanoes.

Why choose this 8 days Rwanda safari?

Eight days lets you see Rwanda’s three great primates without rushing, and it adds the country’s most rewarding day hike. The Lake Kivu days in the middle give you a welcome break between treks.

Primates: chimpanzees, gorillas and golden monkeys.
Hiking: the Mount Bisoke crater lake at 3,711 metres.
Culture: tea picking, a coffee tour and the King’s Palace.

What to expect on your 8 days Rwanda safari

After arrival, you tour Kigali and drive southwest to Nyungwe, stopping at the King’s Palace Museum in Nyanza. Day three is a dawn chimpanzee trek and an afternoon on the canopy walkway.

On day four you try tea picking, then follow the scenic Congo-Nile road to Kibuye on Lake Kivu. Day five includes a boat trip to the islands, including Napoleon Island with its fruit bats, and a coffee washing station tour before heading to Musanze.

Day six is your gorilla trek and a visit to the Gorilla Guardians Village. Day seven is the Mount Bisoke hike, about four hours up to the crater lake. On day eight you trek golden monkeys and return to Kigali.

How fit do you need to be?

You should be comfortable hiking for several hours on steep, muddy ground. Bisoke is the most demanding day, so a porter and a steady pace are recommended.

Best time for an 8 days Rwanda safari

June to September and December to February give drier trails for the gorilla trek and the Bisoke climb, and better chimp sightings in Nyungwe. The trip runs all year with good rain gear.

Read our guide to gorilla trekking in Rwanda and golden monkey trekking in Rwanda. Prefer fewer hikes? See the Nyungwe and Lake Kivu tour. Forest facts are on Visit Rwanda’s Nyungwe National Park page.

How much does the 8 days Rwanda safari cost?

Price on request. The cost depends on your travel dates, group size, the season and the lodges you choose, so we prepare every quote personally rather than showing one fixed price.

WhatsApp us on +254 706 223888, email [email protected] or send the enquiry form on this page, and we will share a detailed quote for your dates.

Safari Highlights

Chimpanzee trek and canopy walk in Nyungwe
Lake Kivu boat trip, tea picking and a coffee tour
Mountain gorilla trek in Volcanoes National Park
Mount Bisoke hike to the summit crater lake
Golden monkey trek and King's Palace Museum visit

Day 01 :

Arrival in Kigali

Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be met by your Divulge Adventures representative for meet, greet and safari briefing. Transfer to your hotel to check in and relax. Dinner and overnight at Park Inn by Radisson Kigali | Hotel Chez Lando

Day 02 :

Kigali City Tour - Nyanza - Nyungwe

After breakfast, enjoy a Kigali city tour including the Kigali Genocide Memorial. Drive southwest through terraced hills, stopping at the King's Palace Museum in Nyanza to see the royal hut and long-horned Inyambo cattle, with lunch en route. Arrive at Nyungwe in the late afternoon. Dinner and overnight at Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel | Gisakura Guest House

Day 03 :

Chimpanzee Trekking and Canopy Walk

Rise early with a packed breakfast and follow your ranger guide into the forest to find a chimpanzee community, spending one hour watching them feed and call. Return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, walk the canopy walkway high above the forest floor, with excellent birdwatching along the way. Dinner and overnight at Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel | Gisakura Guest House

Day 04 :

Tea Plantation - Lake Kivu (Kibuye)

After breakfast, join local workers on a tea plantation for a hands-on picking experience. Then drive north along the scenic Congo-Nile road to Kibuye on the shores of Lake Kivu, approximately 3 hours. Relax by the lake and enjoy the sunset over its green islands. Dinner and overnight at Cormoran Lodge | Rwiza Village

Day 05 :

Lake Kivu Boat Cruise and Coffee Experience - Musanze

After breakfast, take a boat cruise to Lake Kivu's islands, including Napoleon Island with its colony of fruit bats. Back on shore, visit a coffee washing station run by a local cooperative to follow the journey from coffee cherry to cup, ending with a tasting. Continue north to Musanze, arriving in the evening. Dinner and overnight at Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge | Kinigi Guest House

Day 06 :

Mountain Gorilla Trekking and Gorilla Guardians Village

After an early breakfast, report to the Kinigi park headquarters for registration and your briefing. Trek through bamboo and montane forest and spend one magical hour with a mountain gorilla family. In the afternoon, visit the Gorilla Guardians Village for traditional dances and stories of community conservation. Dinner and overnight at Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge | Kinigi Guest House

Day 07 :

Mount Bisoke Hike and Ellen DeGeneres Campus

After breakfast, join the ranger briefing and set out on the Mount Bisoke hike, climbing about 4 hours through bamboo and Hagenia forest to the summit crater lake, then descending in 2 to 3 hours. In the afternoon, if energy allows, visit the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund to learn about gorilla research and conservation. Dinner and overnight at Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge | Kinigi Guest House

Day 08 :

Golden Monkey Trekking - Kigali (Departure)

After breakfast, spend one hour with the golden monkeys in the bamboo forest. Return to the lodge for an early lunch and check out, then drive back to Kigali, approximately 2.5 hours, with a souvenir stop before your transfer to Kigali International Airport.