7 Days Bisoke And Nyungwe Hike

Arrive at the Kigali International Airport; you will meet Pure Africa Tours drive guide at the Airport Who will pick up with private transfer to the hotel.

Accommodation option:

Budget: T2000 Hotel, M Hotel, Onomo Hotel, Saint Famille Hotel,The Court Boutique Hotel

Middle-range: Ubumwe Grand Hotel, Hotel de Mille Colline, Park Inn by Radisson

Luxury: Radisson Blu, Mariott Hotel, Serena Hotel, Four Point by Sheraton,

High-end: The Retreat

The Kigali city tour offers you an authentic outlook of Kigali. On this tour, we shall visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial, Campaign Against Genocide Museum and Kimironko Market.

Meet your guide at 8am and drive to The Kigali Genocide Memorial that is the final resting for more than 250,000 victims of Genocide against Tusti. The Kigali Genocide Memorial includes three permanent exhibitions, the largest of which documents the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. There is also a children’s memorial and an exhibition on the history of genocidal violence around the world. The Education Centre, Gardens, and Genocide Archive of Rwanda form part of a meaningful tribute to those who perished, and provide a powerful educational tool for visitors.  The Campain against Genocide Museum documents the heroics of the RPA (Rwanda Patriotic Army) that fought to stop the genocide and has built Rwanda from the ashes into one of the most progressive countries in Africa. Proceed with Kimironko Market; the biggest and busiest market in Kigali where almost everything is sold from foodstuffs, fabrics to clothing.

From here, you will go for lunch before driving approximately 3.5 hours through beautiful majestic hills to arrive in Musanze.

Volcanoes national park is part of the great Virunga volcano conservation region spanning to cover Virunga National Park Congo and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda. It was named after the chain of dormant volcanoes making up the Virunga Massif: Karisimbi – the highest at 4,507m, Bisoke, Sabyinyo, Gahinga and Muhabura. The park is home to the endangered mountain gorillas where Dian Fossey spent 20 years studying and protecting these gentle creatures

Mount Bisoke

Standing at 3711 meters above sea level, Mount Bisoke is a dormant volcano in Rwanda. It is one of the 8 volcanoes that make up the beautiful Virunga Mountains that are spread along the borders of Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. And Mt. Bisoke is one of the 5 Virunga volcanoes that straddle into Rwanda.

After breakfast, you will drive to Volcanoes National Park and report at 7:00 to the park reception for registration. You will be assigned a park guide and drive half-hour to the start point for your trek, at an elevation of 2,700m.The hike takes about 6 hours in total ascending and descending but it can vary according to your level of fitness. You will be hiking through the different vegetation zones along the volcano to reach the summit. The beautiful Crater Lake on top of Bisoke is the ultimate prize of the hike. The biggest opportunity however is the chance of sighting the gorillas along the trails where you are allowed only a glance of a couple of minutes and no taking pictures. After descending to the foothill, you will return to the lodge for refreshing and evening at relaxation.

Accommodation option:

Budget: Garden Palace Hotel, Classic Lodge, le Bamboo Gorilla Lodge,

Middle-range: Amarembo Gorilla Lodge, Tiloreza Eco-lodge, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Ingagi Park View

Luxury: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, Virunga inn,

High-end: One & Only Gorilla Nest, Bisate Lodge, Amakoro Songa Lodge, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, Singita Kwitonda, Virunga Lodge, Bishop House

After breakfast, check out the lodge and drive to Nyungwe National Park via Culture Corridor to visit King’s Palace Museum and Ethnographic museum. The King’s Palace is a beautifully-crafted thatched dwelling shaped like a beehive, a reconstruction of the traditional royal residence. You will also see the long-horned Inyambo cattle, descended from the king’s herd and modern palace where King Mutara Rudagigwa resided until he passed away in 1959. It now serves to display Rwanda history from the 15th Century. After lunch, you will proceed to the forest for Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Accommodation option:

Budget: Emeraud Kivu Lodge

Middle-range: Chimpanzee Lodge, Nyungwe Nziza Ecolodge

Luxury: Kivu Marina Bay

High-end: One & Only Nyungwe House

One of the oldest rainforests in Africa, Nyungwe National Park is rich in biodiversity and spectacularly beautiful. The mountainous region is teaming with wildlife, including a small population of chimpanzees as well as 12 other species of primates, including the L’Hoest’s monkey endemic to the Albertine Rift. Nyungwe has 1,068 plant species and 140 orchids, 322 birds’ species

This morning will go for an unforgettable experience with the chimpanzee.  After an early breakfast, meet the park guides and rangers and head in the jungle in search of the chimpanzee adventure in Nyungwe National Park. It is challenging to keep up with the chimpanzee as they keep moving, making noise, grooming, eating or napping but with the guidance of the park guide you will enjoy interacting with them closely. You will proceed to Uwinka Park reception for lunch and later embark on a canopy walk away. Suspended 70 meters above the canopy forest, the canopy walkway provides amazing views across the forest and sighting of some wildlife in the canopy like monkeys and birds. Return to the lodge for overnight at the lodge

Accommodation option:

Budget: Emeraud Kivu Lodge

Middle-range: Chimpanzee Lodge, Nyungwe Nziza Ecolodge

Luxury: Kivu Marina Bay

High-end: One & Only Nyungwe House

Mount Bigugu trail is the most challenging and difficult hiking trail in Nyungwe forest national park. Mount Bigugu trail also offers an exciting walk through a collection of flora in the Nyungwe forest and the most outstanding 360 degrees overview of the entire park from above. On a clear day, you can get a chance to see the hills and islands of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lake Kivu and the extension of Nyungwe forest in Kabira National Park in Burundi. You will later journey to Karongi for an overnight.

Accommodation option:

Budget: Rwiza Village

Middle-range: Cormorant Lodge, Moriah Hill Resort

Luxury: Cleo Kivu Lodge

After a relaxed breakfast, you will go for a scenic boat cruise and hikes to Napoleons Island for an astonishing view of Lake Kivu and its islands. Later after lunch, drive back to Kigali and proceed to the airport for departure.