This 15 days Rwanda safari with Gorillas will take to all Rwanda’s tourist conservation areas for a great raw nature and cultural experiences. be eager to do Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National park, seeing big Savannah mammals in Akagera national park, Hiking Bisoke Volcano, seeing the Chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest National park, meeting the local Rwandan people and of course a day to relax on Lake Kivu.
DAY 1: ARRIVAL TO KIGALI, TRANSFER TO YOUR HOTEL
This is the day you arrive in to this beautiful country, you are welcomed in by the hotel staff at the airport and then you are driven to the hotel to rest as you wait for the fascinating awaiting adventures of this epic wonderful beautiful country (Rwanda is nicknamed as land of thousand hills) in the following days. You will have a relaxed overnights at your hotel in Kigali which is a few minutes’ drive from the airport. You will have dinner and overnight at Great Seasons Hotel Kigali
DAY 2: TRANSFER TO AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK FOR A GAME DRIVE AND SUNSET BOAT CRUISE ON LAKE IHEMA
Today morning we leave for Akagera national park and immense yourself in Nature. The journey to Akagera national park takes about 2.5 hours depending on the stopovers along the way. With the beautiful landscaper en route to the park, feel free to ask the guide for stopovers to capture some photos. On arrival at the park, you will have a game drive for wildlife views and later we shall proceed to our accommodation after a short game drive and check in for lunch.
In the afternoon, proceed for a boat trip after lunch on Lake Ihema, for a close encounter with the Crocodiles and Hippos along the river banks, coupled with large concentration of over 525 bird species both migratory and savanna related.
Unique species such as Shoe billed stocks and papyrus gonolek can be encountered. Endemics include the jacanas, ibis, sand pipers and herons. You will have a relaxed evening, dinner and overnight at Akagera Game Lodge
DAY 3: GAME DRIVE IN AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK AND BOAT CRUISE ON LAKE IHEMA FOR WILDLIFE VIEW
Today morning we leave for the morning game drive with in Akagera still. You should expect to see Zebras, Masai Giraffe, leopards, elephants, lions, buffaloes, rhinos and antelopes. The game drive will not be so long because you need to get back to your hotel for lunch as you prepare for the afternoon boat cruise. The boat cruise on Lake Ihema is excellent for viewing birds, crocodiles, hippos and also land animals drinking on the shores. Among the bird species to look out for are the Shoebill Stork, kingfishers, fish eagles and cormorants. The boat cruise lasts between 2 to 3 hours after which you will be taken back to your hotel for relaxation, refreshment and dinner overnight at Akagera Game Lodge
DAY 4: TRANSFER TO VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK FOR IBYIWACU CULTURAL EXPERIENCE
Breakfast and then enjoy the beautiful services and scenery at your lodge, you shall drive northeast to the town of Musanze close to the Virunga Volcano range. In the evening, you will embark on the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village which gives you a rare chance to meet local people, in their environment, with a taste of the culture and traditions. Be genuinely welcomed by the community as a special visitor while they proudly present to you aspects of their traditions and beliefs. Expect to have a guided community walk to visit different sites and experience the everyday lives of the local people. You will have a relaxed evening, dinner and overnight at Da Vinci Gorilla lodge
DAY 5: MOUNTAIN GORILLA TREKKING IN VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK AND RELAX AT THE HOTEL
Have yourself an early tasty breakfast, after which your driver guide will take you to the headquarters in the park by 8 am for beefing. Later embark on the amazing adventure which is gorilla tracking, in most cases this activity requires some physical fitness by the hikers. On several occasions it takes between 1 to 6hours to trek and trekkers are permitted to be with the gorillas for 1 hour. It is really a nice experience seeing them play, guard each other, feed among others. While trekking hikers will be in line to also see other animals like the golden monkeys, elephants, buffaloes as well as birds. After trekking, you will be escorted back and head to the lodge for relaxation. Depending on how you feel, you can have an optional Ibyiwacu Village tour. Dinner and overnight will be at Da Vinci Gorilla Village
DAY 6: DIAN FOSSEY HIKE IN VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK AND RELAX AT THE LODGE
After having breakfast, drive to the park headquarters for briefing and be equipped about the hike. This guided hike takes you to where Fossey and Digit were buried and you can see the remains of her former research camp. Along the way, you’ll also learn more about Dian Fossey’s life and the tragic circumstances surrounding her death. You will as well see the house in which Dian Fossey was strangely murdered back in 1985 however more calm is at the place where she was laid to rest just close to her most-loved gorilla. After an amazing trek, return to the trailhead, drive back to the lodge for lunch and a refreshment and have a relaxed afternoon. Dinner and overnight will be at Da Vinci Gorilla Village
DAY 7: TOUR TO THE GREAT MUSANZE CAVES-DIAN FOSSEY MUSEUM
Breakfast and then enjoy the beautiful services and scenery at your lodge, you shall drive northeast to the town of Musanze close to the Virunga Volcano range. Here you will see the Rwanda’s Musanze caves which date back 65 million years and lay with in the volcanic region where lava flow layers long ago created the Albertine Rift Valley. In the evening you will have a tour to the Dian fossey historical museum. Dinner and overnight will be at Da Vinci Gorilla Village
DAY 8: GOLDEN MONKEY TREKKING & TRANSFER TO KIBUYE TOWN ON THE EDGES OF LAKE KIVU
You will have breakfast and move to the Park headquarters for a briefing on the Golden monkey tracking rules before going out to track them in the forest. The trek takes 1– 4 hours and you have one hour to stay with the Golden monkeys once sighted. You will return to your lodge for lunch and some rest and later transfer to Lake Kivu. Dinner and overnight will be at Paradis Malahide Resort
DAY 9-10: THE CONGO NILE TRAIL – THE HIKING EXPERIENCE
You will have the two hundred and twenty seven kilometers hike includes many delights such as coffee and tea route with twelve coffee washing stations and three tea factory, quiet natural beaches and austere beauty of Rubona bay. Along the way you’ll discover community, banana and coffee plantation, three beautiful lakeside towns, hundreds of wooden bridges, and of course aligned typical African villages and thousands of miles. Dinner and overnight will be at Paradis Malahide Resort
DAY 11: OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES ON AND AROUND LAKE KIVU & TRANSFER TO NYUNGWE FOREST NATIONAL PARK
You will have your early best of Rwanda safari breakfast and head for Lake Kivu. Lake Kivu is the perfect place to chill out after the tiring Gorilla and Golden monkey trekking and hiking of the volcanoes. For most people, it is simply a place to relax and rebuild energy.
You can take a nature walk, go birding on a boat ride, explore some islands, visit the nearby hot springs, go fishing, or visit the Congo boarder. You can also visit the Ndaba Falls or take a walk around Kibuye town to acquaint yourself with the lifestyles of the inhabitants. You will later transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park where you will have a relaxed evening, dinner and overnight at Nyungwe Top view Hotel
DAY 12: CHIMPANZEE TREKKING IN NYUNGWE AND CANOPY WALK
An early morning breakfast, and later proceed to Nyungwe Forest at 6:00am to search for chimpanzee. You will also track the colobus monkeys in the forest and have a chance to view the other habitants of the forest like birds, reptiles and butterflies. Chimpanzee tracking will enable you to meet man’s closet cousins in the wild. This exciting up-close encounter with human’s closest relative will forever live with you. After the chimp tracking you will have an afternoon Canopy walk which takes place above a deep gorge cutting across the massive forest. Lasting about 1½ hours, the walk takes you through some beautiful foliage and animal habitats and you’ll have the chance to spot blue monkeys and unique birds that dwell in the upper levels of the forest canopy. You will have a relaxed evening plus dinner and overnight at Nyungwe Top view Hotel
DAY 13: TREKKING OTHER PRIMATES, VISIT TO GISAKURA TEA PLANTATIONS AND LOCAL MARKETS.
You will have breakfast and make another visit to the forest to trek other primates such as L’Hoest’s monkey, Angola colobus, Silver monkey, Hamlyn’s Monkey, Dent’s Mona Monkey, Red-tailed Monkey, Grey-cheeked Mangabeys, and Olive Baboon.
You will also see various types of birds in the verdant flora of this ancient forest. In the afternoon you will have a visit to the Nyungwe communities around the park plus a visit to the huge tea plantation and is perhaps one of the best things that will happen to you a long time to come. You walk into this tea estate to adventure close the variety of parallel ridges of tea plus the attractive mountains that provide a beautiful back drop for the plantation you will have a relaxed evening plus dinner and overnight at Nyungwe Top view Hotel
DAY 14: TRANSFER FROM NYUNGWE FOREST NATIONAL PARK TO KIGALI
After having breakfast at your pace, check out of the hotel and embark on an exciting road trip to Kigali. You can have calculated stopovers to explore the country side, lifestyle of Rwandan people, local markets etc. You can have lunch en route or at the hotel in Kigali depending on time. You will have a relaxed evening plus dinner and overnight at Serena Hotel Kigali
DAY 15: KIGALI CITY TOUR AND TRANSFER TO KIGALI AIRPORT
After having breakfast at your pace, check out of the hotel and have a guided city tour. Expect to visit the genocide memorial museum, the Kimironko Local market, craft Village. Depending on your scheduled flight, you will be transferred to Kigali international airport to readily catch your flight back home, as you say farewell to the African wilderness.
End of 15 days Rwanda safari with Gorillas.
The price includes:
- Transport a 4×4 safari vehicle
- Accommodation
- All meals/full board
- Canopy walk
- Guide fees Park fees
- Golden monkey permits
- Gorilla permit
- Nile trail
- Community experiences
- Boat cruise fees
- Chimpanzee permit
- Drinking water on board.
The price does not include:
- Tourist insurance
- Air ticket
- Visas
- Tips
- Beverages