Escape to the wild and have unforgettable discoveries. We take you to the republic of Rwanda- “the land of a thousand hills” in East Africa for a 12 days tour. East Africa comprises 4 countries namely Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, and Tanzania. Rwanda emerges as one of the safest safari destinations in the region, with 4 national parks featuring an abundance of flora and fauna.
Visit Musanze caves, trek the endangered mountain gorillas and golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park; trek the chimpanzees and have a canopy walk at Nyungwe National Park. Game drives and boat cruises at Akagera National Park, beach experience at Lake Kivu, city tour, cultural adventure, photography, bird watching, camping and more. It is a road trip, with the days spent in the rural parts of the country, thus an opportunity of escaping the noise and congestion in the urban centers. This safari starts and ends in Kigali.
Detailed Trip
Day 1: Arrive and tour Kigali city
Upon your arrival at the airport, you will clear with the immigration authorities, and then meet and greet our driver guide. You will be briefed on the dos and don’ts in the country, as well as what to expect in the different destinations to be visited.
Transfer to the hotel for check-in, refreshment and lunch. If you feel fresh and time allows, there will be a city tour to the shopping places for some of the items you will need for the 12 days, a visit to the Genocide Memorial center, and dinner in one of the restaurants around town for local cuisines. At sunset, you can try out some nightlife experiences, before returning to the lodge for a peaceful sleep.
Day 2: Kigali to Akagera National Park
Check out of your hotel after breakfast for a scenic drive to Akagera National Park, the only savannah park in the country. This drive is through this fast-developing towns with the natives carrying out lots of trade, inclusive of Barbeque which offers an opportunity for you to pick some roasted chicken for a taste.
Your eyes fixed on the rolling hills, plantations, vast water bodies, and African styled homesteads. There will be a stopover for lunch and later arrive at your lodge for check-in, refreshment and dinner. In case of an early arrival, you may choose to do some guided nature walks. A peaceful night stay marks the end of the day.
Day 3: Game drive and Boat cruise
Wake up at 06:30 hours for a sunrise game drive. At the cool hours of the day, the animals can be easily seen as they start their day. You will explore the northern part of the park with a large concentration of animals, notably the zebras, impalas, lions, rhinoceros, cape buffalos, African savannah elephants, giraffes, leopards and more.
Additionally, you need luck to encounter a hunt by some of the predators such as the lions and leopards, or an animal giving birth. The wild is an open space, and the check-list is only ticked upon a successful sight.
The ranger guide will help you identify the flora, fauna and respond to any questions you may pose. Afterwards, you will have breakfast in the wild, and return to the lodge for lunch.
In the evening hours, you will head for a boat cruise at Lake Ihema. There you will interact with the local fishermen, and have amazing sightings of birds and different wildlife such as the hippos, and crocodiles. Take photos until you return to the lodge for dinner and a sweet slumber.
Day 4: Akagera National Park to Volcanoes National Park, Musanze cave tour
After breakfast, you will check out of the lodge for a transfer to Volcanoes National Park through a route marked by breathtaking landscapes, lush vegetation, busy towns, and open water bodies. The driver guide tells local stories of the Rwandese people and their culture as the journey progresses. As you come across people, you will also see their homesteads, animals and plantations.
You will arrive at the lodge and proceed to check-in, have lunch and rest. The forest and mountainous view welcoming you to the park should set you up for the next day’s adventure. Lunch will be served right on time, just like dinner and overnight. There is an optional visit to Musanze cave for cave exploration.
Day 5: Gorilla trekking
After an early energizing breakfast meal at the lodge, you will head to the park headquarters for a rewarding trekking briefing by the expert ranger guides. You will get to be assigned a gorilla family to trek, as well as understand the trekking dos and don’ts. The ranger guide will take the lead on this 1-8 hour walk, through the thick bushes, hills and trees. You will hike through the trails where the apes were last spotted while identifying the plants, some primates that may come your way, birds and more.
The trekking exercise lasts for approximately 1-8 hours, plus an extra hour with the gorillas for photography, and sightseeing. Mountain Gorillas are the largest and strongest primates in the world, but shy and safe to be in their presence. They possess over 95% human-like DNA; feed on vegetables and live as a family led by a dominant alpha male with a silver-like lining at the back hence the name Silverback. After gorilla trekking, you will have a lunch break, and retire to the lodge for refreshment, dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 6: Golden monkey trekking and cultural tour
Wake up to the first meal of the day at the lodge, and then go to the park headquarters for golden monkey trekking. After the ranger guides have explained the trekking dos and don’ts, next is a 1-4 hours’ trekking. Golden monkeys are one of the most beautiful primates in the world.
They are shy and very playful thus demanding your absolute attention to watch them skip from one tree branch to another, feed, and communicate with each other. That is done within the one hour given by the ranger guide for photography and sightseeing.
You will then return to the lodge for lunch, and a visit to Iby’iwacu cultural village for a thrilling Rwandese village experience. With a warm welcome, you will enjoy the local stories by the natives of the place, community walks, music and songs. Tell the story about the food in the village by having a taste of the local meal. End your day at the lodge for the day’s rest.
Day 7: Transfer to Nyungwe NP
Wake up to a mouthwatering breakfast meal at the lodge. Afterward checkout for a transfer to the primate jungle of Nyungwe National Park. The forest is a habitat for over 13 unique primate species including the chimpanzees. The journey to the park offers the view of the zigzag roads, rolling hills, and lush plantation covers. The homesteads along the road are African style, and your eyes will fall in love with it. Enjoy the drive to the park, arriving in the evening hours for a check-in, relaxation, dinner and the night’s stay.
Day 8: Chimpanzee trekking
After breakfast, you will pick up the trekking documents, put on hiking attire and go to the park headquarters for a pre-trekking briefing. The session lasts for about 30 minutes with the ranger guides explaining the trekking dos and don’ts. Scientific research reveals that chimps have a common ancestry with man, and thus share over 98% human like DNA. The resemblance with man will be seen during this 1-4 hours’ trekking exercise in the lush forest. You have to face the hills, steep slopes, bushes and more to meet our cousins. An hour is allotted for you to take photos, watch them interact, and ask the ranger guides different questions.
Chimpanzees are very intelligent and live on primary vegetables and ants. They share a habitat with other primates such as the white and black colobus monkeys, baboons, red-tailed monkeys and more. After this one-hour session with the apes, you will return to the lodge for refreshments, lunch, a leisurely evening, dinner and a nap.
Day 9: Birding and canopy walk
The first thing when you wake up is to grab a cup of coffee. Afterwards, you will join the birder guide for bird watching which commences at 07:00 hours at sunrise. Through the designated trails, you will spend about 2-3 hours identifying the different bird species in the open Nyungwe Jungle with over 290 bird species.
Lookout for among others; the Rwenzori Turacos, great blue Turacos, rear grauers, barred long-tailed cuckoo, Rwenzori hill babbler, white-tailed flycatcher, Rockefeller’s sunbird and more. After bird watching, you will return to the lodge for refreshment and a rest.
At 14:00 hours, head out for a rewarding canopy walk in Nyungwe forest. This canopy is carefully suspended on tree branches and offers a magical view of the forest cover, the landscape, dotted homesteads, and the birds and primates at the tree top. The day ends with dinner and an overnight stay at the lodge.
Day 10-11: Lake Kivu exploration
These two days are for rest, meditation and setting up yourself for activities after the vacation. You will have breakfast, and transfer to Lake Kivu; check in to the lodge and take a rest. The activities you have to pick include among others; swimming, nature walk, quad biking, canoe ride, bird watching and more.
Lake Kivu is the largest freshwater lake in Rwanda. You have plenty to eat, drink and engage in while exploring the lake. One of the activities not to miss out on is cycling. Enjoy each minute of the passing time at the lake shores and meet ups with those you will find at the lake. End the day with dinner and a peaceful night stay.
Day 12: Departure
After a great time with the birds, white sand beach and all the experience. The last day will be breakfast as the first thing in the day, and a transfer to the airport/hotel or any other preferred safari destination. There will be an enroute stopover at the King’s palace in Nyanza for cultural exchange.
End of safari.
