The 8-day Safari will give you an opportunity to visit all the 3 Rwandan national parks. Start with the revived Akagera National park, then to Nyungwe national park in the southern countryside of Rwanda and end with the home of mountain gorillas –Volcanoes National park. Enjoy the different backdrops of Rwanda and 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.
Safari in details.
Day 1- Arrival and pick up.
Upon your arrival, our guide will be at the airport to pick you and transfer to Akagera national park. You can do a short city tour before transfer but all this will be determined by the time of your arrival.
Day 2-Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise in Akagera National Park.
Wake up early in the morning and take on a game drive in the park. The park is home to several big mammals not found anywhere else in Rwanda as it is the only savanna park in the country. With the recent introduction of Rhinos and lions the park is now home to the Big 5.
This morning game drive exposes to myriads of animals, including Elephants, Water bucks, Zebras, Giraffes, Bush bucks, Buffaloes and recently introduced lions.
You will, return to lodge for lunch and in the afternoon do a boat cruise on Lake Ihema for Hippos and Crocodiles. You can alternatively spend the entire afternoon at the lodge viewing unspoilt nature as you read a good book.
Day 3- Transfer to Nyungwe forest national park.
This morning, wake up have breakfast and depart for Nyungwe forest in the south. 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. Arrive in Nyungwe forest later in the evening and check in at the lodge for overnight.
Day 4-Chimpanzee Tracking in Nyungwe Forest national park.
Chimpanzee trekking is done early morning, so after an early breakfast or snack, you will also carry packed lunch. You are expected to be at the briefing point as early at 5.30 am from where you will receive information on how to behave and possible length of your trek. The ranger guide will lead you to either the Uwinka trail head or the Cyamudongo sector for chimp trekking.
Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe forest takes you deep in the forest to experience and appreciate nature. Nyungwe forest is rich with 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 Mangabey among others. After tracking, return to the lodge for dinner and in the afternoon do a canopy walk.
Day 5 Transfer to Lake Kivu and do boat cruise on Lake Kivu.
Wake up have breakfast and we leave for 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. After in the late evening check in at the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 6 Transfer to Volcanoes national park.
Wake up at 7:00am and take a warm breakfast. Depart immediately for Volcanoes national park. You will enjoy the sights of Lake Kivu and winding roads in the land of a thousand hills. On your will have a stop and visit the caves that were formed over 65 million year ago at Musanze. We arrive at the hotel later that evening.
Day 7 Gorilla tracking
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 erases all the challenges of the hikes.
You will be allowed to stay with these gentle giants for an hour for observation and photography. In the evening visit the interesting twin lakes, found on the foothills of Virunga mountains – Burera and Ruhondo. Return to the lodge for your dinner and folk tales at a fire place.
Day 8 Transfer to the airport for 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.
