6-Day Rwanda Adventure – Great Apes & Lake Kivu

Rwanda packs a remarkable amount into a small footprint, and this six-day adventure is built to prove it. In less than a week you’ll trek both of the country’s great ape species — mountain gorillas in the misty bamboo forests of Volcanoes National Park and chimpanzees in the ancient rainforest of Nyungwe — while spending unhurried days on the shores of Lake Kivu, one of Africa’s Great Lakes, in between.

The trip opens with the experience most travelers come to Rwanda for above all else: a morning spent trekking through the Virunga foothills to spend a precious hour with a wild mountain gorilla family. From there, the pace shifts entirely, with a transfer to Lake Kivu for a boat excursion to a lakeside coffee cooperative, a walk on the storied Napoleon Island, and a morning of kayaking across some of the calmest, most scenic water in East Africa. The final stretch heads south to Nyungwe Forest National Park for chimpanzee trekking and a walk to one of the park’s waterfalls, before the drive back to Kigali.

It’s a trip built for travelers who want Rwanda’s two headline primate experiences without a punishing pace — Lake Kivu’s role here isn’t just scenery, it’s genuine downtime between two physically demanding treks. If you’d like to extend this itinerary into Uganda as well, our 4-Day Rwanda-Uganda Golden Monkey and Gorilla Trekking and 10-Days Fantastic Tour in Rwanda & Uganda both build on a similar core; if Nyungwe alone is your focus, our 3-Day Nyungwe Forest National Park Tour covers that park in more depth. Or get in touch and we’ll tailor the pace, dates, or accommodation level to suit you.

Trip Highlights

Mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
A boat excursion on Lake Kivu to a lakeside coffee cooperative at Cyimbili
A guided walk on the storied Napoleon Island
A morning of kayaking on the calm, scenic waters of Lake Kivu
Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park
A guided waterfall walk through Nyungwe’s rainforest trails
Two very different landscapes — volcanic highlands and lakeside — in a single short trip

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Kigali & Transfer to Volcanoes National Park

Your Kenlink Tours guide will meet you on arrival in Kigali and transfer you to Musanze, the base town for Volcanoes National Park, in the shadow of the Virunga volcanoes. Settle into your lodge and rest ahead of tomorrow’s trek. Overnight: Musanze/Volcanoes NP

Day 2: Gorilla Trekking & Transfer to Lake Kivu

After a briefing at park headquarters, set off with experienced trackers into the forest in search of a habituated mountain gorilla family. Once located, you’ll spend a full hour observing them in their natural habitat — creatures with whom we share around 98% of our DNA, and widely considered one of the most moving wildlife encounters anywhere in the world. Celebrate with a well-earned lunch before transferring to Gisenyi, on the shores of Lake Kivu, for a complete change of pace. Overnight: Gisenyi, Lake Kivu

Day 3: Lake Kivu Boat Ride & Napoleon Island

Board a boat for an excursion across Lake Kivu to Cyimbili, home to a lakeside coffee cooperative, for a guided coffee tour covering everything from bean to cup. Continue on to Napoleon Island for a walk around this small, distinctively shaped island, before settling in at your lakeside lodge for the evening. Overnight: Lake Kivu

Day 4: Kayaking on Lake Kivu & Transfer to Nyungwe

Spend the morning kayaking across Lake Kivu’s calm, glassy waters — one of the most relaxed and scenic activities on this itinerary, and a welcome contrast to the previous days’ trekking. In the afternoon, transfer south to Nyungwe Forest National Park, one of Africa’s oldest and most biodiverse rainforests. Overnight: Nyungwe Forest

Day 5: Chimpanzee Trekking & Waterfall Walk

An early start for chimpanzee trekking, one of Nyungwe’s signature experiences and among the last strongholds of this endangered ape in East Africa. After the trek, take a guided walk to one of Nyungwe’s waterfalls, passing through dense forest trails alive with birdlife and other primates along the way. Overnight: Nyungwe Forest

Day 6: Transfer Back to Kigali & Departure

Depart Nyungwe in the morning for the drive back to Kigali, arriving in time for your onward travel or flight home — the end of a six-day journey spanning both of Rwanda’s great apes and the calm shores of Lake Kivu in between.

What’s Included

Gorilla trekking permit (one per person, non-resident rate)
Chimpanzee trekking permit
All park entrance fees
All listed activities (unless marked optional)
All accommodation
Professional English-speaking driver/guide
All ground transportation
All applicable taxes/VAT
Meals and drinks as specified in the day-by-day itinerary

Not Included

International flights
Tips (guideline: US$10 per person per day)
Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
Optional activities such as additional kayaking time
Meals not specified in the day-by-day itinerary

Good to Know

Gorilla permits: Rwanda’s gorilla trekking permits are issued by the Rwanda Development Board, the country’s official tourism authority, and are priced significantly higher than Uganda’s — currently USD 1,500 per person. Permits are limited daily and should be secured well ahead of your travel dates; we handle this as part of your booking.

Best time to go: This trip can be done year-round, but the dry seasons (June–September and December–February) are best for both gorilla and chimpanzee trekking, when forest trails are firmer and easier underfoot.

Fitness level: Gorilla and chimpanzee trekking both involve uneven, sometimes steep forest terrain, and a reasonable level of fitness is recommended. The Lake Kivu days are comparatively relaxed, with kayaking and boat excursions suitable for most fitness levels.

Rwanda entry requirements: Most visitors need a visa, obtainable in advance through the Rwanda Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration, and proof of yellow fever vaccination is required for entry.

Related Tours You May Also Like

Useful External Resources

Rwanda Development Board — official Rwanda tourism authority and issuer of gorilla and chimpanzee trekking permits
Rwanda Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration — for Rwanda visa applications

Ready to book, or want us to tailor the pace, dates, or accommodation level? Request a quote and our team — Africa safari experts since 2010 — will build your Rwanda great apes and Lake Kivu adventure around you.