The 5 days lowland gorillas and lake Kivu boat tour is one of those expeditions which most visitors are always recommended to do while on their visit to East Africa. It takes visitors to two different countries starting from Kigali city in Rwanda to Kahuzi-Biega National Park in eastern D.R. Congo where you will do gorilla trekking and later head to Lake Kivu for boat cruising, giving you a chance to explore aquatic animals like crocodiles, hippos, different bird species and many more.
Upon your return in Kigali city, undertake a city tour where you will visit sites like Kigali genocide memorial center, Riichard Kandt museum, Beligum peace memorial monument, Kimironko market and a cultural experience of the Banyarwanda people who will perform and entertain you at the hotel in Kigali.
Detailed Itinerary.
Day 1: Arrival at the airport in Kigali and transfer to Kahuzi-Biega National Park.
Airport pick up by your driver guide who will give you a quick briefing about the 5 days safari. Briefing session will be short but precise. Later drive southwest wards to Kahuzi-Biega National Park, a journey that takes a period of 7-8 hours from Kigali to Bukavu in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Upon arrival, check in at the booked lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2: Eastern lowland gorilla trekking experience.
Begin this beautiful day with delicious breakfast at the lodge and head to the park’s main entry gate where you will present a gorilla trekking permit and be briefed about the rules and regulations to follow during this adventure. Later you will be divided into groups, each consisting of 8 trekkers with armed ranger guide to trek a given gorilla family. This park hosts 5 habituated gorilla families.
Lowland gorilla trekking usually takes 30 minutes to 7 hours depending on the movement and location of these gorillas. After seeing them, you will be allowed an extra one hour in their presence taking photos and videos. While on the trek, you will get a chance to view other primates such as vervet monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, and many more. Return to park headquarters for a trekking certificate and drive to your lodge for dinner and night stay.
Day 3: Transfer to Lake Kivu for a boat cruise.
On a 3rd day of this safari, begin the day with morning breakfast at your lodge and after a drive heading to lake Kivu a journey that will take you 1-2 hours’ drive. After reaching the lake, participate in a boat cruise which takes 2-3 hours viewing different animals like crocodiles, hippos and other small primates which come to the lake to drink water without forgetting bird species resident in this area. Drive back to your lodge and relax while waiting for dinner.
Day 4: Drive to Kigali for a city tour.
Wake up to your morning meal after which you will head to Kigali for a rewarding city tour. During Kigali city tour, visit historical places such as the Kigali genocide memorial center to have a look at the remains of over 250,000 1994 genocide victims between the Hutu and Tutsi that claimed lives of over 800,000 people.
You can also decide to visit Kimironko market which is the oldest and largest market in Kigali where you can buy some souvenirs, fruits, vegetables and other items that you can take for remembrance. Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Cultural experience and departure.
Being your last day of this safari, wake up early and be served morning breakfast after which you will head for Kinyarwanda cultural experience where you will be told about their history and the norms of Rwandan people through music, dance, drama, art and other performances which will give you a clear insight into their origin. After this cultural experience, drive to Kigali International airport for your departure flight.
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