13 Days Expedition across Rwanda Burundi Safari

This 13 Days Expedition across Rwanda Burundi Safari gives you an intimate understanding of the Great Lakes region of Africa. It begins and ends in Kigali. In Rwanda, you will visit the genocide memorial, see golden monkeys, and go canoeing. In the DRC, you will go on a gorilla trek and visit the Lwiro Chimps Sanctuary and Tchegera Island. In Burundi, you will visit the Gishora Drum Sanctuary, the Karera waterfalls, and the source of the Nile River.

13 Days Expedition across Rwanda Burundi Safari Highlights

Detailed 13 Days Expedition across Rwanda Burundi Safari

Day 1: Kigali

Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will meet our hospitable 13 Days Rwanda Burundi Safari driver-guide, who will brief you on your upcoming activities before he transfers you to your hotel. If you arrive in the morning, there will be an option to visit the Kimironko market.

  • Main Destination: Kigali (Rwanda)
  • Accommodation: Lebanon Hotel – Mid-range hotel located in or near Kigali

Day 2: Nyungwe National Park

After an early breakfast, you will drive about five hours towards Nyungwe National Park. After arriving and eating lunch, you will go on a canopy walk around 2:00pm. Later you will be transferred to the Emeraude Kivu Resort, which is situated along the shores of Lake Kivu.

  • Main Destination: Nyungwe National Park (Chimps)
  • Accommodation: Emeraude Kivu Resort – Mid-range resort located in or near Rusizi

Day 3: Kahuzi Biega National Park

After your breakfast, you will go on a gorilla trek in Kahuzi Biega National Park. The trek usually requires 1-2.5 hours of hiking each way, depending on the location of the gorilla group being trekked and the terrain’s difficulty. After spending your allotted hour with the gorilla family group, you will make your way back to your hotel. After lunch, you will go on a 13 Days Rwanda Burundi Safari of Bukavu City.

  • Main Destination: Kahuzi Biega National Park (Gorillas)
  • Accommodation: Orchids Safari Club – Mid-range hotel located outside Kahuzi Biega NP

Day 4 of 13 Days Rwanda Burundi Safari: Bukavu


After breakfast, we will visit Lwiro Primates Rehabilitation Center. The sanctuary takes care of 83 chimpanzees, 105 monkeys, and 12 other species. It gives orphaned chimps a second chance at life while also helping to protect them in the wild as well. You will not only visit but participate in some conservation activities as well. This activity will take the whole day. Later you will be transferred back to your hotel.

  • Main Destination: Bukavu (Town, Congo (DRC))
  • Accommodation: Orchids Safari Club – Mid-range hotel located in or near Bukavu

Day 5 of 13 Days Rwanda Burundi Safari: Tchegera Island

After breakfast, you will take a rapid boat to Goma at 7:30am (typically a two-hour journey). After eating lunch in Goma, you will meet with members of the local community and try to ride the made-in-Goma wooden bike famously known as “Tchukudu.” After this activity you will get transferred to Tchegera Island.

  • Main Destination: Tchegera Island (Lake Kivu, Congo (DRC))
  • Accommodation: Tchegera Tented Camp – Mid-range tented camp located inside Virunga NP

Day 6 of 13 Days Rwanda Burundi Safari: Musanze

After your breakfast at Tchegera and some photos, you will be transferred to Goma to cross the DRC-Rwanda border. You’ll then drive towards the Northern Province, which is home to the gorillas, so you can experience canoeing along the Mukungwa River.

Later after in the evening, you will visit the Iby’iwacu Cultural Center to learn about the local community surrounding the volcanoes. You’ll be introduced to their history and their involvement in with the conservation of Volcanoes National Park. You will also buy some souvenirs from the community as a sign of support.

  • Main Destination: Musanze (City, Rwanda)
  • Accommodation: Best View Hotel – Mid-range hotel located in or near Musanze

Day 7: Volcanoes National Park

After breakfast, you will head to the Volcanoes National Park headquarters for a briefing on your upcoming monkey trek. You’ll then begin your 13 Days Rwanda Burundi Safari journey to find the friendliest creatures: the golden monkeys. You will spend an hour in their presence before returning to the hotel. Later in the evening, you will go on a tour of Musanze city and visit the local market for souvenir shopping.

  • Main Destination: Volcanoes National Park (Gorillas)
  • Accommodation: Best View Hotel – Mid-range hotel located just outside Volcanoes NP

Day 8 of 13 Days Rwanda Burundi Safari: Musanze


After breakfast, we will pay a visit to the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund to learn about this pioneer of mountain gorilla conservation. It has been many years since Dian Fossey first became involved with conservation after some encounters with poachers. You will learn about her efforts in Rwanda and the DRC, from the very beginning until her untimely death. After the visit, you’ll spend the remainder of the day at your leisure in Musanze.

  • Main Destination: Musanze (City, Rwanda)
  • Accommodation: Virunga Hotel – Mid-range hotel located just outside Volcanoes NP

Day 9 of 13 Days Rwanda Burundi Safari: Kigali

After breakfast, you will drive about two-hours towards Kigali, where you will go on a city tour upon arrival. Along with your city tour, you will visit the Kimironko market, which features local food and handcrafts. Be sure to buy some souvenirs here before heading back to your hotel.

  • Main Destination: Kigali (Rwanda)
  • Accommodation: Lebanon Hotel – Mid-range hotel located in or near Kigali

Day 10 of 13 Days Rwanda Burundi Safari: Bujumbura

After an early breakfast, you will drive about 1.5 hours through the hills to the Gasenyi-Nemba border. You will reach Bujumbura in the afternoon, eat lunch, and then go on a tour of the city. You will visit some mausoleums (including Prince Louis Rwagasore’s) and the Unity Monument to learn how Burundi unified after the colonial period.

Later you will also walk along Lake Tanganyika and visit Saga beach, which is a well-known beach in Bujumbura featuring beautiful white sand.

  • Main Destination: Bujumbura (City, Burundi)
  • Accommodation: Hotel Dolce Vita Resort – Mid-range hotel located in or near Bujumbura

Day 11: Karera Waterfalls

After breakfast, you will get into your 13 Days Rwanda Burundi Safari vehicle and start driving toward Rutana (a roughly three-hour drive). You will arrive around 9:00am and make your way to one of the sources of the Nile River. The water from the Karera waterfalls has healing powers that serve as medication. That is why you will find local and international visitors coming here to step into the water and seek healing. The site is surrounded by breathtaking scenery.

Later you will drive about one hour toward Gitega, the new capital of Burundi.

Day 12: Gishora Drum Sanctuary

After breakfast, you will get to experience Burundian culture at the Gishora Drum Sanctuary. You will be astonished by the drummers’ performance! You’ll also have the chance to learn how to dance and play the drums. After your lunch in Gitega, you will visit the Gitega National Museum to learn more about Burundian culture.

  • Main Destination: Gishora Drum Sanctuary (Cultural Village, Burundi)
  • Accommodation: Hotel Dolce Vita Resort – Mid-range hotel located in or near Bujumbura

Day 13 of 13 Days Rwanda Burundi Safari: Kigali

After breakfast, you will drive about four hours back to Kigali International Airport for your flight home.

End of 13 Days Rwanda Burundi Safari

13 Days Rwanda Burundi Safari Inclusions and Exclusions

Included

  • Park fees (For non-residents)
  • Gorilla permits (One per person, non-resident)
  • All activities (Unless labeled as optional)
  • All accommodation (Unless listed as upgrade)
  • A professional 13 Days Rwanda Burundi Safari driver/guide
  • All transportation (Unless labeled as optional)
  • All Taxes/VAT
  • Round trip airport transfer
  • Meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)
  • Drinking water (On all days)

Excluded

  • International flights (From/to home)
  • Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
  • Tips (Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
  • Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
  • Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
  • Some meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)