Get the best of Rwanda on our distinctly designed 10-day safari holiday. On this trip, expect to explore the top destinations in Rwanda, the Land of a Thousand Hills, and particularly, Akagera National Park, Nyungwe Forest and Volcanoes National Park. It brings to you a myriad of experiences, from primates to big game viewing.
Primate encounters will be enjoyed at Nyungwe Forest National Park, home to 13 species of primates and Volcanoes National Park for mountain gorilla trekking. Akagera N/Park in the far Eastern side of Rwanda will guarantee you ultimate guided game drive and boat cruise experiences. This special trip begins and ends in Kigali, one of the world’s most beautiful and safest cities.
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Pick up, Kigali city tour
A warm welcome into the Land of a Thousand Hill, and followed by briefing from your safari leader. Leave Kigali International Airport for a short city tour where you will visit Kigali genocide site. This historical site offers a detailed information on what occurred during the 1994 Rwanda genocide that ended in a period of about 3 months between Hutus, and Kutus. Other places to be visited include the craft centers, Kirimonko market, etc.
Day 2: Drive to Akagera national park, Eastern Rwanda
Akagera National Park is without doubt the largest park in Rwanda, and also the country’s only savanna protected area. Located in the far Eastern Rwanda, Akagera is reachable within 2 hours and a half. Drive to this magical savanna park after breakfast at a hotel and expect to enjoy the beautiful countryside while enroute. All the big 5 game roam freely in the diverse habitats of Akagera- buffaloes, elephants, leopards, lions, rhinos, plus a range of antelopes, the Masai giraffes, zebras, and over 500 bird species.
When you arrive, a leisurely lunch will be provided followed by relaxation still at the safari lodge. Late in the afternoon, you will start your wildlife expedition in Akagera N/Park and in a 4×4 drive vehicle, expect to enjoy uninterrupted sights of the big game, antelopes, birds, etc.
Day 3: Game dive & boat tour
After a delicious breakfast, start with a guided game drive tour through the game tracks of Akagera National Park on the Northern section. The morning game drive takes from 2-3 hours, and today, your wildlife experience will enrich you with amazing animal sightings of buffaloes, lions, leopards, antelopes, elephants, giraffes, birds etc. While returning to the lodge also guarantees you incredible wildlife sightings.
At 2:00pm, addition of memorable boat cruise will be enjoyed along Lake Ihema, home to hundreds of hippos, crocodiles and aquatic birds. A huge concentration of these amazing aquatic life will make your day a great one, and you return to the lodge with plenty of incredible pictures for your own memories.
Day 4: Akagera via Kigali to Nyungwe National Park
After breakfast, you will transfer from the Eastern Province to the Southern Province where Nyungwe Forest National Park is situated. Nyungwe Forest Rwanda’s premier chimp tracking destination, an incredible location where you can find 13 primate species. Enroute, lunch will be provided at Huye and you proceed to explore the National Museum before drop off at your lodge.
Day 5: Chimpanzee trek and canopy walk tour
A cup of African tea/coffee, after, exit your lodge for briefing about Nyungwe Forest chimpanzee trekking guidelines. Areas to assemble include Uwinka or Cyamudongo reception, and a park guide will be allocated to lead you on a search for chimpanzee communities. Your search isn’t predictable, but it can go for 2-4 hours which is inclusive of 1 hour for a magical encounter and photography.
Nyungwe forest offers clear sight of not only chimpanzees, but also a range of other primates like L’Hoest’s monkeys, colobus monkeys, red tailed, baboons, birds and over 310 bird species all reside here. Return to enjoy leisurely lunch, and after, set off for a rewarding canopy walk, about 2 hours while exploring Nyungwe on a suspended walk way. More primates, birds, and a magical Nyungwe Forest canopy will be part of your afternoon canopy walk experience.
Day 6: Travel to Volcanoes national park
Transfer to another remarkable primate destination, Volcanoes National Park a home to 30% of the world’s mountain gorillas that still exist today. Your road trip from Nyungwe to Ruhengeri takes about 6 hours, with enroute view of the scenic Lake Kivu- Rwanda’s largest freshwater Lake.
Day 7: Trek gorillas and cultural walk
Wake up early morning for breakfast, and proceed to Kinigi offices of Volcanoes Park to be briefed and to have a gorilla family assigned to you. 12 gorilla families all exist for trekking in Volcanoes National Park and visiting them starts at 8:00am with park guide leading each group of 8 individuals.
Trekking through the jungles takes between 2 and 6 hours before you find gorillas, but a 1-hour magical encounter & photography is guaranteed. In the evening, have insight into Rwandese distinct traditions, cultures, practices, lifestyles, dances, music performances while on evening a visit at Ibyiwacu cultural village.
Day 8: Golden monkey tracking & Dian Fossey tour. Overnight at Lake Kivu
Breakfast early in the morning, after, proceed to meet the park official at Kinigi. Choose to go for golden monkey tracking to see golden monkeys or trek to the Dian Fossey graveyard. Fossey left an incredible mountain gorilla conservation legacy, worthy sharing, and hiking to her tomb site is such an inspirational experience. After day activities at Volcanoes Park, transfer to Lake Kivu for evening relaxation.
Day 9: Lake Kivu – full day
Enjoy a hefty breakfast, and you proceed for a boat ride or kayaking on Lake Kivu, a freshwater lake that Rwanda shares with D.R. Congo. In the evening, have ample time to relax, and also heal from the strenuous adventures.
Day 10: Depart Lake Kivu to Kigali.
Leave Lake Kivu -Rwanda after breakfast from your respective hotels or lodge. At Kigali, you will be taken up to your accommodation or Kigali airport awaiting departure to the next destination/back home.
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