8 DAYS Visit Burundi Nature – Culture and Track GORILLAS in Rwanda

DAY 1, Arrive Bujumbura

Arrive. Meet, greet and transfer to your hotel to check-in.

Half day tours in Bujumbura, to visit the Snake & Culture Museum; the Islam Culture Centre; City Hall; President’s Office and the main attraction of the City, Lake Tanganyika. Dinner and overnight at Club du Lac Tanganyika Hotel on a Bed & Breakfast basis. 

DAY 2, Cultural Tour of Bujumbura – Encounter wildlife – Bird watching in Ruzizi river

This morning, we visit the Explorers Memorial, a huge rock in the Suburbs of Bujumbura commemorating the meeting between explorers John Speke and Hanington. A visit to a local general goods market, the craft centre and downtown Bujumbura.

Dinner and overnight at Club du Lac Tanganyika Hotel on a Bed & Breakfast basis.

DAY 3, Kibira National Park Burundi

Visit Kibira Forest National Park, for a guided nature walk in this park of animals species. Lunch. In the afternoon, another exploration of the park before returning to Bujumbura for overnight. Dinner and overnight at Club du Lac Tanganyika Hotel on a Bed & Breakfast basis.

DAY 4, Burundi to Kigali, Rwanda

Drive eastwards to Kigali in Rwanda. Drive through hills and turns, continuing to the border with Rwanda and on to Butare. Lunch while there and visit the Botanical Gardens and a cultural museum. Arrive late afternoon. [Approximate driving time: 8 hours] Overnight at Hotel des Mille Collines, which was very significant in fighting genocide. (HB)

DAY 5, Kigali to Parc National De Volcans

Morning in Kigali city tour, there after go for Lunch. In the afternoon, drive the three hours North of Kigali to Kinigi through Ruhengeri. Enjoy the rolling hills for which Rwanda is well known. [Approximate driving time: 3 hours] O/N: Hotel La Palme/Virunga Hotel/Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (FB)

DAY 6: Parc National des Volcans

Transfer to Kinigi Park Headquarters to track gorillas in Parc National des Volcans. Gorilla tracking through the forest, hills and swamps can be tough, arduous and tiring, sometimes taking up to 8 hours in the forest. But coming face to face with the great primates is well worth the effort. O/N: Hotel La Palme/Virunga Hotel/Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (FB) 

DAY 7: Parc National des Volcans to Kigali

In Parc National des Volcans: Either go gorilla tracking (on payment of US$500 gorilla permit supplement at time of booking), or do any of the following options, at extra cost: Track the golden monkeys or climb the awesome Visoke volcano, or trek to Karisoke Research Centre which was set up by the famous primatologist Dian Fossey, or visit local communities. Alternatively for those who are not up to it, simply relax at Camp.

After the trekking, lunch at Ruhengeri and transfer to Kigali. On your way to Kigali, several stops will be made to admire the scenery. Rwanda is the country with over thousand hills! O/N: Hotel Chez Lando or Hotel des Mille Collines (B-L-D).

Day 8: Kigali visit and Departure

Pick up at your hotel, you will have your Kigali city trip including the Genocide Memorial centre at Gisozi. Transfer to the Airport for your departure. (BB)