12 Days Safari in Rwanda

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Overview

A 12-day safari in Rwanda's "Land of a thousand hills" includes fun, mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, birds, African Big 5 (lions, leopards, African elephants, Cape Buffaloes and Rhinos), magnificent Kigali city, eating, relaxing, breathtaking terrain, chimps and more. There will be time for you to discover Mother Nature, meet new people and enjoy the best part of each day in cool lodging facilities while traveling in a very comfortable car.

The safari begins with a tour of Kigali city, followed by mountain gorilla and golden monkey trekking in Volcanoes National Park, primate trekking and canopy walk in Nyungwe National Park, wildlife and boat cruise experience in Akagera National Park, and Musanze cave exploration in Volcanoes National Park. Kigali city is where you will be picked up and dropped off.

Detailed safari

Day 1: Arrival and city tour

Our company representative will gladly greet and welcome you upon arrival at Kigali International Airport for a memorable 12-day tour. You will be briefed and served a delightful glass of Juice as an appetizer, as well as details on the many sites to be visited, activities to participate in, and some regulations to follow while experiencing "the land of a thousand hills." After the warm welcome, drive to the lodge to check-in and relax while taking in the scenery of the rolling hills.

After lunch, you will tour Kigali's fast-growing areas, as well as the genocide memorial site, which is home to nearly 250,000 victims of the 1994 Hutu-Tutsi conflict. The last place is testing your bargaining ability at the local markets, before returning to the lodge for refreshment, dinner and a peaceful nap.

Day 2: Transfer to Volcanoes National park. Musanze caves exploration in the evening

Early in the morning, after a soothing bath, check out of the lodge for a magnificent journey to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda's northwestern region. The road is defined by undulating hills, dotted homesteads and beautiful foliage cover that will follow you to the parking lot, where you will arrive and check in for refreshments and lunch. After lunch, spend the afternoon and evening exploring the beautiful Musanze caves.

Hundreds of individuals sought safety in the cave during ancient times and the 1994 Rwandan ethnic violence. The interior is big and dark, with Bat colonies, but within an hour, touches are used to go to the various corners. After that, return to your accommodation for the day's final supper and a nap.

Day 3: Gorilla trekking

Start your day with breakfast and gather all of your trekking essentials, including a packed lunch, a trekking permit, and water, before heading to the park headquarters for a pre-trekking permit. The ranger guides greet and advise all tourists on the dos and don'ts of trekking, as well as the peculiarity of mountain gorillas, before assigning them to a gorilla family to hike.

The walk is done on foot and lasts between 2 and 8 hours, depending on how far the apes have migrated, plus an additional hour for snapping photos and watching the family members play, mothers breastfeeding and gentle silverbacks monitor their territory. After the quality time with your cousins, have a lunch break, and return to the lodge for lodge for refreshment, some rest before dinner and a nap.

Day 4: Golden monkey trekking and cultural adventure

Drive to the park headquarters after breakfast for a pre-trekking meeting, where the trekking guidelines will be given out and the exercise will begin. Golden monkeys are among the most attractive and energetic primates on the planet. They are quick and shy, yet they demand concentration and observation to take the best shots. Hiking in pursuit of them lasts around 1-4 hours, with the possibility of seeing other primates, forest creatures, and other wildlife.

You will take a lunch break after spending time with the golden monkeys, and then spend the rest of the evening dancing, listening to stories, and sharing with the locals who live outside the park. You'll return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay at sunset.

Day 5: Transfer to Akagera National Park. Sunset game drive

After morning breakfast, check out of the lodge and proceed to Akagera National Park, a 2-hour journey with breathtaking vistas of undulating hills, rich flora and scattered homesteads. Before heading to your lodge in or around the country's only Savannah Park, you'll enjoy an enroute stopover at a location the guide deems fascinating.

Enjoy your lunch at the lodge and unwind while waiting for the sunset game drive around the savannah park. Before retiring for dinner and overnight, you'll be on the lookout for lions, leopards, hyenas, antelopes, and more.

Day 6: Game drive and boat cruise

This morning, start with a wonderful cup of coffee before heading out on an excellent 3-4-hour game drive around the park. Aside from the stunning scenery and pleasant weather, chances are good that by the time you reach the park's various corners, you will have seen a pride of lions, several antelope species, cape buffaloes, African elephants, zebras, cheetah, warthogs, and other primates, as well as birds.

After that, you'll return to the resort for lunch before embarking on an afternoon boat trip on Lake Ihema, which is home to a plethora of hippos, crocodiles, and other aquatic creatures. You will return to the lodge for dinner and stay after the cruise.

Day 7: Akagera National park to Gishwati-Mukura National Park

After a relaxing siesta, get up at a leisurely pace for a cup of tea and a guided nature walk to photograph and learn about the botany of the area. From fauna to flora, there is enough to see and admire in Akagera National Park. After the wildlife drive, you'll proceed to the restaurant for a meal before departing for a one-hour trip to Rwanda's newest national park.

When you arrive at your lodge in Gishwati-Mukura National Park, you have the choice of participating in a cycling / riding activity, which is unique to Africa. The day culminates with dinner and an overnight stay at the lodge for dinner and a relaxing sleep.

Day 8: Bird watching and transfer to Nyungwe national Park

Begin your day by learning about the numerous types of birds that can be seen and heard around daybreak. Birdwatching is such a rewarding pastime, with something to grin about every second. You'll take photos, write down the names of over 100 different bird species, and learn more as the birding guide explains. Turacos, cranes, sunbirds, and other animals can be found in this jungle.

After this, you’ll return to the lodge for late breakfast, refreshments and lunch before transferring to Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda's primate capital. Arrive at the lodge and check in for refreshments, followed by dinner and a relaxing nap.

Day 9: Chimpanzee trekking and canopy walk experience

You'll go to the park headquarters for document verification and a briefing on the code of behavior while with your cousins in their natural habitat after a hearty breakfast at the lodge. Chimpanzees are the most human-like of the primates, sharing nearly 98 percent human-like DNA and making an intriguing sound. Over 12 primate species, including white and black Columbus monkeys, olive baboons, greychecked monkeys, and others, share their region.

The walk lasts between 1-4 hours, with one of those hours spent snapping photos and asking questions about the apes. After that, you'll have a lunch break before embarking on an afternoon canopy walk, which includes views of the breathtaking terrain, vegetations, birds, and some primates in the treetops, among other things. Return to the lodge for dinner and a relaxing sleep around sunset.

Day 10: Birding excursion in Nyungwe forest and Transfer to Lake Kivu

You'll wake up to the sound and sight of several bird species in Nyungwe National Park's misty jungle today. The designated birdwatching route is the first activity of the day, followed by a return to the resort for breakfast.

After that, check out of the lodge and travel to Lake Kivu, Rwanda's largest freshwater lake. You'll arrive at the lodge for lunch, then have an evening to yourself with optional activities, dinner and sleep.

Day 11: Full day at Lake Kivu

After a leisurely breakfast at sunrise, you'll spend the rest of the day having fun and participating in various activities in and around Lake Kivu's tranquil surroundings. Swimming, photography, boat tour, and birdwatching are just a few of the activities available. A lunch break will be taken, followed by a sunset boat trip to the lodge for refreshments, dinner, and a relaxing snooze.

Day 12: Departure

Wakeup to a relaxed breakfast meal today, and thereafter checkout for a Transfer to your drop-off point at Kigali city or Kigali international airport. You will have an enroute stopover at different scenic, to have the best of the Rwandan photography and last memories. Have lunch and call it a well experienced adventure.

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Affiliations

UWA AUTO USAGA UTB