18 Days Best of Rwanda Congo Burundi

9 DAYS AFRICAN SAFARI (RWANDA AND BURUNDI)- #GORILLAS| PRIMATES AND AFRICAN CULTURE

Day 1: Arrival at Kigali

Upon arrival, you will be met and greeted by our professional guide who will briefly take you through the trip plan. He will then transfer you to the hotel in Kigali for relaxation and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Hotel Des Mille Collin (Midrange)/ Gloria hotel (Budget)

Day 2: Kigali City tour

At 7:00 am you will have breakfast and transfer to Kigali for the city tour. You will visit the Gisozi genocide memorial museum where you will learn more about the history of genocide memorial and how it went throughout the country. You will also visit the fire house which is the area where the plane that was carrying president Habyarima was brought down, that late sparked the famous 1994 Rwanda genocide. You will then visit the Belgium museum and learn more about Rwanda’s culture.  You will then have lunch and be transferred back to the hotel for relaxation.

Accommodation: Hotel Des Mille Collin (Midrange)/ Gloria hotel (Budget)

Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes with a cultural tour

After breakfast, you will checkout of the lodge for your transfer to volcanoes national park. Upon arrival, you will have lunch and be driven to of Ibwiwachu community the gorilla guidance community. This afternoon you will visit the Ibwiwachu community where you will be introduced to the traditional Rwanda through traditional; dances, poems, dressing codes among others.

Accommodation; Five volcanoes (Midrange)/ Da Vinci lodge (Budget)

Day 4: Gorilla Trekking & visit the Ellen the Generous museum

Well prepared with your packed lunch, cameras, water, rain jackets, long pair of trouser and hiking boots and other gear, you will assemble for briefing time at 8:00 am, find the rangers that will inform you about gorilla tracking the great adventure and experience!  The time taken to encounter these peaceful primates is impulsive for it may take1-5 hours. Nevertheless, on encounter, one may be forced to say, it is stunning!!!! After the adventure certificate rewards will be successful given out every trekker. After the trek, we shall drive back to the lodge for lunch. After lunch, you can go check on the Elen campus by Dianne Fossey in Kinigi. Upon arrival, you will check-in at the at the lodge for relaxation and overnight stay.

Accommodation; Five volcanoes (Midrange)/ Da Vinci lodge (Budget)

Day 5: Golden monkey trekking & transfer to Lake Kivu

This will take us through the edges of the forest via potato fields and the briefing will be conducted in the same place where the usual Kinigi park office is located this means the trekking will take us 3-4 hours after the trekking, we shall return to the lodge. After enjoying a majestic one-hour stay with the gorillas, you hike back out of the park for lunch. After lunch, you will use more of a rest day for you to think through your entire journey exploring Rwanda on the shores to the beautiful lake Kivu.

Accommodation; Lake Kivu Serena hotel (Midrange)/ Paradis Kivu (Midrange)

Day 6: Boat ride on Lake Kivu

You will wake up at your convenient time and have breakfast. After breakfast, you will take a relaxed boat ride which will give you a chance to explore one of the wonderful freshwater bodies in Rwanda.

Accommodation; Lake Kivu Serena hotel (Midrange)/ Paradis Kivu (Midrange)

Day 7: Transfer to Nyungwe forest national park

After breakfast, you will check out of the lodge with the help of your guide and transfer to Nyungwe forest national park. This drive will give you an opportunity to view the beautiful scenery of rolling hills and the beautiful communities. Upon arrival, you will check-in at the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay as you contemplate on the adventure that lies ahead of you.

Accommodation: Nyungwe top view hotel (Midrange)/ Chimpanzee lodge (Budget)

Day 8: Chimpanzee Tracking and canopy walk

After an early breakfast, we leave for Chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe forest. The forest is rich in botanical diversity and home to 13 species of primates including Chimpanzees, L’Hoest monkeys, and Columbus monkeys with 300 bird species. Your tour guide will transfer you to the briefing area where you will meet your ranger guide and receive briefing before you start your trek. After lunch, you will start a canopy walk in the afternoon. The canopy walk is a guided tour starting from the Uwinka Visitors centre in Nyungwe Forest with a 30 minutes walk via the Igishigishi Trail. The trail begins with a steep slope, but the views atop the canopy make it worth it! On a clear da you can see Lake Kivu. Dinner and overnight at the same lodge.

Accommodation: Nyungwe top view hotel (Midrange)/ Chimpanzee lodge (Budget)

Day 9: Transfer to Bukavu

On this day, you will have breakfast and transfer to Bukavu with a city tour.  You will visit the oldest church in Africa, the craft village where you will buy some souvenirs to take for people you left home.

Accommodation: Hotel Begonias (Midrange)/ Elizabeth hotel (Budget)

Day 10:  Low land gorilla habituation at Kahuzi Biega

Lowland gorilla trekking at Kahuzi-Biega National Park starts with registration at the park offices. You will get up early and have breakfast before heading for the park offices. After registration you will be briefed on the rules to follow while tracking lowland gorillas, what to expect and the history of the park. The park authorities will assign you to one of the four habituated Eastern Lowland Gorilla groups. Expect to take about 4 hours out in the jungle looking for the primates. Once you find them take time to observe as much as you can because you will only have one hour with them. Remember to take as many photos and videos as you can. On completion, you will head back to the starting point where you will find the driver to take you for lunch. You will have the afternoon at leisure as you prepare to head back home.

Accommodation: Hotel Begonias (Midrange)/ Elizabeth hotel (Budget)

Day 11: Chimpanzee habituation

During an entire day in the forest, you’ll see the chimpanzees de-nesting while they wake up and emerge from their nocturnal nests between 5.30 A.M. and 6.30 A.M. You will follow the primates during the day and observe their behaviours. Enjoy their proximity and experience an unforgettable day with these charming animals. Around 7 P.M. they will retire and start making a new nest for the night.

It is important to know that your trekking, will only happen when the chimpanzees are in the area and trekking can only be booked at the lodge.

Accommodation: Hotel Begonias (Midrange)/ Elizabeth hotel (Budget)

Day 12: Transfer to Bujumbura

After breakfast, you will checkout of the lodge for your transfer to Bujumbura through the boarders of Rusizi to Ruaha boarder of Burundi. This drive will take you through farm fields of rice and plantations. This drive will also take you a large grave cemetery. It considered to be one of the largest cemeteries in Africa.

Day 13: Transfer to Kibira national park for chimpanzee tracking & transfer to Gitega

In the morning you will be driven to Kibira Forest National Park for a walk in the forest where you will see different species of birds and monkeys. This hike starts at 8:30 am and it takes between 1 -3 hours depending on the chimpanzee movement. During the hike, you will be able to see different tree species, forests parrots and water fall walk along the tree plantations.  After tracking, you will be transferred to Gitega.

Accommodation: Tropitel hotel Gitega

Meal plan: Full board

Day 14: Transfer to Gitega for a cultural tour

Today after your early breakfast, you will be driven Gitega museum for the drum experience. While on this tour, you will learn about the Burundi towards the Burundi culture and the political history of Burundi governance.  You will also visit the drummers traditional experience entertainment by Burundi Drummers while enjoying a cold drink. After the experience, you be driven to the hotel for relaxation, overnight stay and dinner.

Accommodation: Tropitel hotel Gitega

Meal plan: Full board

Day 15: Karera falls and Source of the Nile

On this day, you will walk the Nile in Burundi and then hike to the pyramid where you will be able to see the two basins (Congo basin and Nile basin). You will then proceed to Karera falls where you will hike the five water falls ie Nyakayi 1, Nyakayi 2, Karera 1, Karera 2 and Mwaro. While at these waterfalls, you will enjoy the beautiful views with the canopy walk. This experience will take you 1-2 hours.

Accommodation: Tropitel hotel Gitega

Meal plan: Full board

Day 16: Discovering Bujumbura on city tour

Have breakfast and afterwards, you will be taken to see the grave of Prince Louis Rwagasore, a hero of the independence in Burundi. You will then be guided on a climb to the “Belvedere” on the top of the hill, a dominating point of Bujumbura, offering a unique view over Lake Tanganyika. Have lunch there after of which you will be driven ten kilometres south to visit “La Pierre de Stanley et Livingstone” the commemorating stone of the place where the famous explorer Stanley uttered the infamous “Dr Livingstone, I presume” on meeting the legendary Scotsman.

Accommodation: Hotel Club du Lac Tanganyika

https://www.hotelclubdulac.com/en/

Meal plan: Full board

Day 17: Rusizi national park & game drive

Have breakfast in the early morning and there after take a short drive to Rusizi National Park. You will have an opportunity to view hippos, sitatungas (antelope) and a wide variety of birds attracted to the wetland environment. There after, you can retire for lunch at mid day and later, you are free to relax at your hotel.

Accommodation: Hotel Club du Lac Tanganyika

https://www.hotelclubdulac.com/en/

Meal plan: Full board

Day 18: Transfer to Bujumbura airport.

After breakfast, you will checkout of the lodge and transfer to Bujumbura airport for your flight back home.

End of the 18 Days Best of Rwanda Congo Burundi

Includes

• Transportation
• Accommodation
• Gorilla permits
• Chimpanzee permit
• All entrance fees
• Ground transportation
• Meals
• Boat cruises
• Golden monkey permit
• English speaking driver guide
• All items mentioned above

Excludes

• Visas
• Air tickets
• Tips & gratuities