This 8 day Rwanda Safari will give you an opportunity to experience all the 3 Rwandan national parks. You will start with the scenic and revived Akagera National park, proceed to Nyungwe national park in the southern side of Rwanda and end with the home of mountain gorillas –Volcanoes National park.
Enjoy the different backdrops of Rwanda as you turn along the winding roads. The parks are a mixture of Savannah, forest, and mountainous giving you varied sights of Rwanda. From big game like Elephants, Zebras to primates like Chimpanzees and Gorillas including boat rides on Lake Kivu are some of the highlights on this safari and cultural encounter.
Day 1: Arrival & Transfer to Akagera National Park
At the airport, you will be received by our experienced guide who will brief you about the whole trip as he transfers you to Akagera national park. It is roughly a six hour journey from Kigali to the park, enjoying spectacular views of Rwanda’s countryside. On arrival at the park, just check in at the lodge, dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Morning game drive & Afternoon Boat Cruise
Akagera National Park is a Savannah park located in north eastern Rwanda on the border with Tanzania. It is home to several big mammals not found anywhere else in Rwanda. And with the recent introduction of Rhinos and lions the park is now home to the Big 5. On a morning game drive right after an early breakfast, we will look out for Elephants, Zebras, Giraffes, Buffaloes, Water bucks, Bush bucks and recently introduced Lions. The game drives in Akagera national park usually take place in the northern sector of the park.
You will, return to lodge for lunch and in the afternoon do a boat cruise on Lake Ihema for Hippos and Crocodiles OR you can alternatively spend the afternoon at the lodge enjoying nature as you read a good book.
Day 3: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park
This morning we wake up early in the morning, have breakfast and depart from Akagera National park for Nyungwe forest in southern Rwanda. The journey is about 7 hours and we shall have a stopover for lunch in Huye formerly known as Butare. Huye is home to the ethnographic museum of Rwanda that was formerly known as the national museum of Rwanda; here we will learn about the culture and history of the Rwandan people. We arrive in Nyungwe forest later in the evening and check in at the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Chimpanzee Trekking & Canopy Walk
Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe forest takes you deep in the forest to experience and appreciate nature. Chimpanzee trekking is done early morning, so after an earl y breakfast or snack, you will also carry packed lunch. You are expected to be at the briefing point as early at 7am from where you will receive a simple briefing on the dos and donts on your trek.
Nyungwe forest is rich in botanical diversity and home to other primate species other than chimpanzees like L’Hoest’s monkeys, Rwenzori Colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, grey cheeked mangabeys among others. The ranger guide will lead you to either the Uwinka trail head or the Cyamudongo sector for chimp trekking.
Day 5: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Wake up early in the morning and have breakfast. After breakfast, we leave for Volcanoes national park. You will enjoy the sights of Lake Kivu and winding roads in the land of a thousand hills. We arrive at the hotel later that evening.
Day 6: Gorilla trekking and Twin lakes visit
Early morning, have breakfast and transfer to the park head station to catch up with gorilla trekking briefing at 8 am. The guide briefs you about the rules and regulations about gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park. Trekking the gorillas takes you to the tropical forest and hiking through the lower slopes of the Virunga ranges. On meeting the apes, spend one magical hour with the gorillas and then slope back to the headquarters. In the evening, enjoy the amazing scenic viewing of the stunning landscape including the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo, it’s something purely beautiful to the eyes.
Day 7: Transfer to Gisenyi & Afternoon boat cruise
Wake up have breakfast and we leave for (About an hour from Volcanoes) Gisenyi on the shores of Lake Kivu. This will be more of a day for you to think through your entire journey exploring Rwanda on the shores to the beautiful Lake Kivu. The activities you can engage in include a visit to the to the hot springs, take a boat trip to an island, kayaking on Lake kivu or relax at the lakeside in the evening for sunset photography. After in the late evening check in at the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 8: Transfer to the airport & Departure
Start your day with breakfast and transfer to the airport for your exit flight, in case you have some time before your flight you can have a short Kigali city tour.
