Tour overview
Safari Highlights:
This safari takes you on this incredible Rwanda trails; visiting not only the genocide memorial sites, but also giving you the opportunity to mingle with the Rwandese people and learn about their culture. Not to be missed on this safari is the Virunga Volcanoes with Tropical rainforests protecting over 250 of the remaining Mountain Gorillas. We will proceed to the Akagera National Park with amazing game viewing spotting abundant wildlife and some of the rarest birds (papyrus gonolek, the bizarre shoebill stork) in Africa. Again you can try camping at the picturesque Akagera river banks as this is one of the unique memories you will take from Rwanda. The safari concludes at the richest Chimpanzee hotspots in the Great Lakes region – the Nyungwe National Park. The park has 13 recorded species of primates comprising 25% of Africa’s total. Again birders would not want to leave Nyungwe National park for it has more than and 275 species of birds recorded and 120 species of butterflies.
Voyager African Safaris is giving you this Rwanda Highlights in (11Days/10Nights) Welcome and Discover Africa!
Included
- All meals and Accommodation as per itinerary
- All ground transportation in a comfortable 4*4 vehicle
- Services of a full time English speaking Guide / driver
- Water /Coffee/ Tea while on Safari
- Game drives and Ranger fees
- Park entrance fees
- All Government taxes / Levies
- All attraction sites and activities as per itinerary
Not Included
- Airfare To and from Uganda
- Visa and departure taxes at the Airport
- Activities not mentioned in the Itinerary
- Wines ,beers and spirits & all the beverages other than the mineral water on the safari
- Personal Insurance
- Items of personal nature e.g. telephone calls, tips and gratuity, laundry and souvenir
Day 1: Arrival
Met on arrival by our representative at Kigali International Airport and checked into accommodation facility of your choice (budget or luxury); where you will relax and take the rest of the day at leisure, till dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
An early breakfast followed by a drive to Ruhengeri (the Gorilla sanctuary) in the North. Check-in will be at Gorilla Nest Lodge /or accomodation facility of your choice (budget or luxury) where you will also have lunch at.
Volcanoes National Park (Parc National des Volcans) is heaven for the mountain gorillas and is home to five of the eight volcanoes of the Virunga Mountains (Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhabura, Gahinga and Sabyinyo), which are covered in rainforest and bamboo
You will relax and in the late afternoon you will visit the grave of Dr. Dian Fossey. One of the world’s leading female scientists who devoted her life to protecting and studying the mountain gorillas in Africa.
Day 3: Gorilla trekking
After an early breakfast, you will report to the briefing point and thereafter led through the forest by experienced trackers on Gorilla trekking expeditions.
During your trek you will spot other primates such as golden monkeys and a variety of animals including the buffalo, bush duiker and a wide variety of bird life. Gorilla trekking is a strenuous activity and can take anywhere from one to eight hours, depending on Gorilla movements. Hence, a reasonable degree of fitness is required.
On locating the gorillas you will watch them feed, play, rest, raise their young and you will also be allowed to photograph them. After this awesome experience, you will return to your nest for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Transfer to Lake Kivu (1-2 hours)
After breakfast you will depart for Lake Kivu. This is the largest lake in Rwanda and is beautifully located amid numerous mountains and steep, green terraced hills. Lake Kivu with its beaches is ideal for swimming, boat rides and sun bathing.
On arrival, you will enjoy a mid-morning boat ride on the lake and bird lovers can expect to see birds such as pelicans, majestic crowned cranes, malachite kingfishers’ hawk and many more. You will also have a chance to see a variety of water animals such as Hippos. Check-in, lunch and overnight will be at the accommodation facility of your choice (budget or luxury).
The lakes shores of Lake Kivu are surrounded by three resort towns namely, Gisenyi, Kibuye and Cyangugu. After lunch you will tour and discover these three colourful lakeside resort towns, pursuing the various activities they have to offer, including speedboats, canoe sailing, and mountain walks. There after you will return to your hotel for dinner and overnight
Day 5: Transfer to Akagera National Park via Kigali (4-5 hours)
Breakfast followed by checkout and a drive to Akagera National Park via Kigali city lunch en route. You will arrive in the late afternoon and check-in at Akagera Game Lodge or accommodation facility of your choice (budget or luxury). You will relax and enjoy the lodge facilities till dinner and overnight.
Day 6: Full Day in Akagera National Park
Have a cup of tea/coffee then set off for a Sunrise game drive in the Akagera game trails. Animals to be seen here include, herds of elephant, buffalos, leopards, hyenas, lions, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, chest-nut coated impalas, diminuitive oribis, secretive bush bucks and cape elands.
After the game drive you will return to the lodge, relax and enjoy the lodge’s facilities until the late afternoon when you will go on a canoe ride on Lake Ihema where you will see a large number of hippos, Nile crocodiles and birds such as fish eagles. You will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 7: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest NP
After an early breakfast you will checkout and drive southwards with interesting stopovers at Nyabisindu to visit the Nyanza King’s Palace, the capital of ancient Rwanda Kingdom; Butare to visit the Museum; Genocide memorial centre at Murambi and lunch along the way. Proceeding to Nyungwe National park, arriving in the evening and checking in at Nyungwe Forest Lodge or accommodation facility of your choice (budget or luxury)
Day 8: Full Day In Nyungwe Forest
Today you will wake up early, and have breakfast then set off by 6.00hrs on Chimps trails with packed lunch. Occasionally spotting other primates includes the Ruwenzori Colobus, L’Hoest’s monkey, Silver monkey, Golden monkey, Owl-faced monkey, Red-tailed monkey, Den’t mona monkey, Vervet monkey, Olive baboon, Grey-cheeked mangabey, Three species of bushbaby and much more.
The trek can take whole day, and yet some people feel they need more than a day in this forest to see all the variety of primates. After a satisfactory trek and nyungwe forest experience, you will then return to the hotel to relax and take the rest of the day at leisure.
Day 9: Optional
Birding & Forest Walks:
The avian highlight of Nyungwe is the great blue turaco - an outlandish blue, red and green bird which streams from tree to tree like a procession of streamlined psychedelic turkeys. Other spotting includes the Ruwenzori turaco, Ross’s turaco, Grey –cheeked hornbill, Red-throated alethe, Red-breasted sparrow hawk, White-headed wood-hoopoe, Kungwe apalis, Ruwenzori batis, Blue-headed and Regal sunbirds.
Along the way you will spot primates and interesting scenery.
Scenery & Sightseeing
Take a nature walk to various waterfalls and viewing points. This is a very scenic area ideal for picnics; and a unique birding paradise.
Later you will return to your hotel for relaxation and later take the rest of the day at leisure. Dinner and overnight at your hotel.
Day 10: Transfer to Kigali
You will have a relaxed breakfast followed by a drive to Kigali arriving in the afternoon, lunch en route. Check-in will be at the accommodation facility of your choice (budget or luxury).
And depending on your interest, you may choose to visit the African crafts markets and pick out a souvenir.
OR: you may also visit the Kigali Genocide momorial and learn more about the history of this country. The rest of the day will be spent at lesuire and relaxing.
Day 11: Departure
On this day our guide will trasfer you for to Kanombe airport in time for your outbound flight.
End of safari!