The 5 day safari will take you East of Rwanda’s capital- Kigali to Akagera national park along the border with Tanzania. The park is home to many large plain game species and species restricted to the papyrus swamps such as the Sitatunga and much sought after Shoebill. Notable plains gem include elephants, buffaloes, Zebras, roan antelope, eland among others. It will then connect you to the 160 km2 Volcanoes national park in the north for gorilla tracking and will end with a city tour in Kigali.
Day 1: Arrival & Transfer to Akagera National Park
Our driver guide will meet you at the airport upon arrival and will drive you to Akagera national park about 3 hours East of Kigali. The park is named after the Akagera river that flows along its eastern boundary and feed into a labyrinth of lakes and the largest being Lake Ihema. Check in at your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Morning game drive & Afternoon boat cruise
Wake Up early, have breakfast and embark on the morning game drive for the early risers like the leopard, hyena, striped Jackal. Join your guide and ranger for a half day game drive , it will offer you an opportunity to encounter variety of wildlife like topi, zebras, bush bucks among others. You will return to the lodge for lunch after the drive.
In the afternoon, do a boat cruise on L. Ihema which is the largest of all the lakes in the park. The cruise will bring you close the aquatic like in the park like hippos, crocodiles and a variety of birdlife (525 species recorded in the park) like African fish Eagle, African Jacana, King fishers among others.
Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park & Afternoon Community Walk
After an early breakfast, connect to Volcanoes national park (216km) from Akagera national park. Volcanoes national park is known as a haven for mountain Gorillas and is home to five of the Volcanoes that make the Virunga ranges. The park was base for Zoologist Diane Forsey.
On arrival check in at your lodge for refreshment and lunch. After lunch do a walk through nearby forests to nearby crater lakes for scenic viewing, bird watching and photography of the volcanoes.
Day 4: Gorilla Trekking in PNV& Twin Lakes Visit
Rise early and have breakfast at the lodge, then transfer to the park headquarters where you will be briefed by park ranger on how to carry out gorilla tracking. Hiking on the slippery and muddy Volcanoes slopes with nettles is quite challenging. But the encounter with mountain gorillas erase all the challenges of the hikes. You will be allowed to stay with these gentle giants for an hour for observation and photography. (No flash lights allowed during photography). In the evening visit the panoramic twin volcanic lakes of Burera and Ruhondo. Return to your lodge for dinner and folk tales at the fire place.
Day 5: Transfer to Kigali, City tour & Departure
Have an early morning breakfast at the lodge, thereafter drive for about 2hrs 30mins to Kigali. Here you will do a city tour in Kigali. Do a visit to Mt. Kigali where you will have the views of the city and the country side, visit the neighborhood market and it will end with a visit to the Genocide memorial center. After lunch the driver guide will drop you at the airport for your departure. This will mark the end of your 5 days safari.
