12 days Unforgettable Rwanda Safari
Embark on an unforgettable 12 days in Rwanda during which you will discover the very best of Rwanda’s attractions combining a sightseeing of the beautiful city of Kigali, rich culture of Rwanda, a once in a lifetime encounter with the primates of Rwanda from the huge but endangered mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, and colobus monkeys then the countless wildlife in Akagera national park.
Itinerary overview
- Day 1: Arrival at Kigali International Airport
- Day 2: Kigali sightseeing
- Day 3: Transfer to Akagera national park
- Day 4: Game drive and Boat cruise
- Day 5: Transfer to Volcanoes national park
- Day 6: Gorilla trekking and visit to Iby’iwacu cultural village.
- Day 7: Golden monkey trekking and transfer to Lake Kivu
- Day 8: Transfer to Nyungwe- the home of the chimpanzees
- Day 9: Boat cruise on Lake Kivu
- Day 10: Transfer to Nyungwe national park- home of the chimpanzees
- Day 11: Chimpanzee Tracking and Canopy walk in Nyungwe forest
- Day 12: Transfer to Kigali for departure flight
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at Kigali International Airport.
Upon arrival at Kigali international airport, you will be welcomed by your designated driver guide to the land of a thousand hills and then he will transfer you to your hotel for relaxation.
Accommodation: Hemmingways Retreat(luxury)/Hotel Mille Collines (Midrange)
Meal plan: Bed & Breakfast
Day 2: Kigali Sightseeing
After breakfast at the hotel, you will meet your driver guide and head out for a city tour. During the Kigali sightseeing, will visit to Gisozi genocide memorial museum where you will learn more about the history of genocide memorial and the 1994 Rwanda genocide in general. You will also visit the Belgium peacemaker’s memorial, the local Kimironko market and the crafts centres as well as the Nyamata genocide memorial. During the city tour, you will have a stopover for a hot lunch within the beautiful city of Kigali.
Accommodation: Hemmingways Retreat(luxury)/Hotel Mille Collines (Midrange)
Meal plan: Bed & Breakfast
Day 3: Transfer to Akagera National Park and evening game drive
After a proper night’s rest, wake up to a breakfast at the hotel then you will check out and transfer to Akagera national park for a wildlife viewing experience. You will arrive at your lodge just in time for lunch. After lunch, head out for an evening game drive during which you will spot different wildlife species such as elephants, giraffes, kobs, among others. Later return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation: Wilderness Magashi Camp(luxury)/ Ruzizi tented camp (Midrange)
Meal plan: Full board
Day 4: Game drive and Boat Safari
After an early breakfast at the lodge, along with your driver guide you will leave for a game drive in search for the different wildlife in the park. This game drive will take you to the northern part of the park where most of the wildlife prefer to inhabit. While on the game drive, keep a look out for the elephants, hippos, buffaloes, lions, zebras, giraffes, impalas, among others along the game tracks. You will stop for a lunch in the park then after lunch you will take a boat safari on Lake Ihema for a beautiful afternoon breeze and some sighting of birds and wildlife.
Accommodation: Wilderness Magashi Camp(luxury)/ Ruzizi tented camp (Midrange)
Meal plan: Full board
Day 5: Transfer to Volcanoes national park
This morning, you will have your breakfast at the lodge then depart Akagera national park for Volcanoes national park through Kigali. This is 5-6 hours that will take you through the rolling hills and lush vegetation of Rwanda offering you magnificent views of the country’s countryside. On arrival, you will check in at your gorilla lodge for relaxation as you await dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation: One & Only gorilla’s nest(luxury)/ Five Volcanoes Boutique hotel (Midrange)
Meal plan: Full board
Day 6: Gorilla trekking and visit to Iby’iwacu cultural village.
After an early breakfast at the lodge, your driver guide will pick you up at 6:30am, and transfer to Volcanoes national park headquarters for a briefing on the gorilla trekking guidelines.
Upon arrival at the park headquarters, well prepared in your proper trekking outfit (long trousers, long-sleeved shirt, rain jacket, hiking boots, garden gloves), you will assemble for the gorilla trekking briefing. After the briefing, you will be grouped into 8 and each group assigned a gorilla family to visit. You will then board your safari vehicle and your driver guide will take you to the trek trailhead from where you will leave with the other members of your group in the company of a ranger guide, in search of the gorilla family assigned to you.
This round hike to the gorillas takes between 3 to 5 hours and once you locate these mountain gorillas you will be allowed 1-hour in their presence observing them and taking photos. After the trek, you will meet your driver guide and return to the lodge for lunch. After lunch, head out for a visit to the Iby’iwacu cultural village also known as gorilla guardian village where you will experience the traditions and cultures of the people of Rwanda through traditional music, dances, stories, poem, and dress code. Return to the lodge in the evening for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.
Accommodation: One & Only gorilla’s nest(luxury)/ Five Volcanoes Boutique hotel (Midrange)
Meal plan: Full board
Day 7: Golden monkey trekking and transfer to Lake Kivu
Just like the previous day, wake up for an early breakfast at the lodge then your driver guide will transfer you to the park headquarters for a briefing on the golden monkey trekking guidelines. Following the briefing, you will begin the hike in search of the golden monkeys taking you via the potato gardens of the local communities. The golden monkey trek is less demanding in comparison to gorilla trekking and the round trip will take you between 2 to 4 hours. Once you locate these golden monkeys, you will be allowed 1-hour in their presence observing them and taking photographs. You will return to the lodge for lunch after lunch you will check out of the lodge and proceed on yet another scenic drive to Lake Kivu.
After lunch, check out of the lodge and start yet another scenic drive
Accommodation: Kivu Serena lodge(luxury)/ Kivu Marina Bay (Midrange)
Meal plan: Full board
Day 8: Boat ride along lake Kivu
Wake up at leisure and settle down for a relaxed breakfast. After breakfast, take a boat ride on Lake Kivu to one of its islands giving you a chance to explore one of the wonderful and beautiful freshwaters of Rwanda. After the boat ride, you will return to the lodge for an afternoon of relaxation.
Accommodation: Kivu Serena lodge(luxury)/ Kivu Marina Bay (Midrange)
Meal plan: Full board
Day 9: Transfer to Nyungwe- the home of the chimpanzees
After a proper night’s rest, the lodge will provide with a breakfast then check out at leisure and transfer to Nyungwe forest national park. During the transfer, enjoy the different sights and winding roads in Rwanda. You will have opportunities to have different stopovers for pictures and stretching depending on your needs. On arrival, check in at your lodge for an evening of relaxation.
Accommodation: One & Only Nyungwe House (luxury)/Nyungwe top view hotel (Midrange)
Meal plan: Full board
Day 10: Chimpanzee Tracking and Canopy walk in Nyungwe forest
After an early breakfast at the lodge, you will leave for the Chimpanzee tracking experience in Nyungwe forest national park. Nyungwe forest biologically diverse rain forest with numerous plan species and home to over 13 primates’ species including Chimpanzees, L’Hoest monkeys, and Columbus monkeys and about 300 bird species. Your tour guide will transfer you to the briefing area where you will meet your ranger guide and receive a briefing on the chimpanzee trekking experience before embarking on the trek. Return to the starting point for your lunch then after lunch, proceed for the canopy walk that allows you enjoy the beautiful views of the forest from above and on a sunny day, Lake Kivu as well.
Accommodation: One & Only Nyungwe House (luxury)/Nyungwe top view hotel (Midrange)
Meal plan: Full board
Day 11: Colobus monkey trekking and coffee tour
Enjoy a morning breakfast at the lodge after which you will return to the park headquarters for the colobus monkey trekking experience. The briefing for the trek will start at 7:00am and after the briefing, you will proceed on a hike through Nyungwe national park in search of the colobus monkeys and once you locate them have a rewarding moment of watching them. You will then return to the lodge for your lodge.
After lunch, take a coffee plantation tour which will allow you understand the coffee making process from the time of harvesting, sorting, cleaning until its completely ready for consumption. After the coffee experience, return to the lodge for relaxation and overnight stay.
Accommodation: One & Only Nyungwe House (luxury)/Nyungwe top view hotel (Midrange)
Meal plan: Full board
Day 12: Transfer to Kigali for Departure flight
Today is the last day of this trip. Start your day with breakfast at the lodge then check out and transfer back to Kigali for your onward flight.
End of tour
Inclusions
- -Transportation
- -English speaking guide
- -Gorilla permits
- -Chimpanzee permits
- -Golden monkey permits
- -Agreed upon accommodation
- -Full board meal at accommodation
- -Cultural tour
- -City tour
- -Boat ride
- -Canopy walk
- -All activities mentioned above
Exclusions
- -International flights
- -All items that are not mentioned above
- -Tips and gratuities
- -Visa fees
- -Alcoholic drinks
- -Air tickets