8-Day Rwandan Marvels Beyond Gorilla and Akagera Safari

• You'll be collected from the airport.
• Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Arrival at Kigali Airport

- At your arrival at Kigali Airport, you will be met by Attractive Safaris’s representative at the Kigali international airport. He will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall with a sign marked “Attractive Safaris.” After greetings, you will be transferred to your accommodation.
- Transfer to your hotel
- Accommodation: 5 Swiss Hotel (2*) or similar
- Meal plan: dinner.

Main Destination:

Kigali

Accommodation:

5 Swiss Hotel

• Mid-range hotel located in Kigali

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Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Akagera National Park Game Drive

- Early in the morning around 5:00 a.m., departure for Akagera National Park. Stop at Kayonza Imigongo Art Center for breakfast. Then continue on the road to explore the park and admire the many species of animals, including the “Big 5” (elephants, lions, rhinos, buffalos, leopards), zebras, antelopes, giraffes, monkeys, birds, etc.
- Lunch during the visit (picnic).

- Accommodation: Camping option, Karenge Bush Camp area
- Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Drinks: Mineral water.

Main Destination:

Akagera National Park

Best Time To Visit June to September and mid-December to mid-February (It is drier and wildlife is easier to spot)

High Season June to September (The park is busiest at weekends)

Best Weather June to October (Sunny, but not too hot)

Wildlife in Akagera NP

GiraffeCommon

BuffaloAbundant

ZebraAbundant

HippoAbundant

White RhinoOccasional

LionOccasional

Show more

ElephantOccasional

Black RhinoRare

LeopardRare

HyenaRare

CheetahNone

WildebeestNone

Wild DogNone

Accommodation:

Karenge Bush Camp

• Mid-range tented camp located inside Akagera NP

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Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Akagera – Byumba (Gicumbi)

Maximizing early morning animal spotting - breathing in the fresh country air - visiting Ngarama Rock - enjoying tea and visiting the National Liberation Museum in Mulindi.
- Very early in the morning sightings of nocturnal animals not seen during the day, focusing on the Kilala plain area.
- Breakfast at the camp around 8:00 AM.
- Around 9:30 a.m., drive to Byumba via “Gatsibo-Ibyapa bya Ngarama” to visit Ngarama Rock, an interesting historical and cultural site in Rwanda covering an area of 3 hectares.
- Have lunch on Ngarama Rock at 1:00 p.m. (picnic).
- Guided tea experience in Mulindi: farmers offer tea cultivation experiences at the Mulindi factory.
- Visit the National Liberation Museum/Mulindi. This museum has a lot to say about the liberation struggle in Rwanda that took place from 1990 to 1994.
- Then, return to the town of Gicumbi (Byumba)

- Accommodation: Ubwuzu Guesthouse or appartment option

- Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

- Drinks: Mineral water.

Main Destination:

Akagera National Park

Accommodation:

Ubwuzu Guest House

• Budget guest house located near Akagera NP

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Gicumbi to Volcanoes National Park - Rugezi Swamp Sightseeing & Canoeing

- On the way: viewing the Kisaro's "Radical Terraces"and continue to visit the Rugezi swamp, have canoe excursion for bird-watching, especially Grey-crowned crane and Grauer's swamp warbler, as well as White-winged scrub warbler and Papyrus gonolek. Beyond birds, the area also supports other wildlife, including mammals and reptiles, and is a vital part of Rwanda's biodiversity.
- Then visit Burera and Ruhondo twin lakes
- Lunch at My Hill Resort, fresh grilled fish
- After lunch, continue your journey to Kinigi. Visit the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, where you'll learn about the future of gorillas and their conservation.
- Ellen DeGeneres Campus is a multi-acre ecological facility adjacent to Volcanoes National Park, designed to create the next generation of conservationists.
- Accommodation: La Locanda (eco-wellness boutique hotel) or similar
- Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Drinks : Mineral water.

Main Destination:

Volcanoes National Park (Gorillas)

Best Time To Visit June to August (It is drier and hiking is easier)

High Season June to September (Permits are scarce)

Best Weather June to October (Sunny, but not too hot)

Wildlife in Volcanoes NP

GorillaCommon

ChimpanzeeNone

ElephantRare

BuffaloRare

White RhinoNone

Black RhinoNone

Show more

GiraffeNone

LionNone

LeopardNone

CheetahNone

ZebraNone

WildebeestNone

HippoNone

Accommodation:

La Locanda Hotel

• Mid-range guest house located less than 1hr drive from Volcanoes NP (Gorillas)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Mountain Gorilla Trek (optional)

Meet early in the morning at the National Park office for a briefing. Once the group of gorillas has been located and approached with the help of the trackers, you will be able to observe them for one hour, no more, from a distance of no more than 5 meters, so as not to disturb them.
For those whose budget does not allow for a gorilla visit ($1,500/person), we offer a golden monkey trek ($100/person) as an alternative.
- Golden monkeys are only found in the Volcanoes National Park conservation area. Two clans have become accustomed to human presence. With a maximum of one hour, you will be able to observe golden monkeys up close in their natural habitat.
- Hiking time: 3 hours
- In the afternoon after lunch at the hotel, the whole group will visit the village of “Iby'Iwacu” for a moving experience of Rwandan culture, customs, and traditions.
- Accommodation: La Locanda (eco-wellness boutique hotel) or similar
- Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Drinks: Mineral water.

Main Destination:

Virunga Mountains (Mountain Range)

Accommodation:

La Locanda Hotel

• Mid-range guest house located in Ruhengeri (City)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Ascent of Bisoke Volcano

- Meet at the National Park to meet the team that will take you to the summit of Mount Bisoke (3,711 m), one of the eight volcanoes in the Virunga chain. Accompanied by a National Park guide, you will gradually climb through the different vegetation zones, from bamboo to equatorial forest, to heather and giant ragwort. You may even be lucky enough to encounter mountain gorillas.

- Hiking time (ascent and descent): 6 hours.

Optional activity: Hike to Diane Fossey's grave

For those who are unable to climb Bisoke volcano, we offer an alternative hike to Diane Fossey's grave:

- Diane Fossey, an American researcher specializing in mountain gorillas, played a crucial role in the protection and conservation of mountain gorillas.
- Hiking time: 4 hours.
- Then continue to Gisenyi to spend the night on the shores of Lake Kivu.
- Accommodation: Paradis Malahide (3-star hotel) or similar
- Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Drinks: Mineral water.

Main Destination:

Mount Bisoke (Virunga Mountains)

Accommodation:

Paradis Malahide

• Mid-range resort

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Relaxation and fun on the beaches of Lake Kivu

- Lake Kivu is a relaxing paradise for swimming, lounging on red sand beaches, water sports, and adventure.
- Morning: Relax on the red sand beaches: swimming, kayaking, etc. in this idyllic and heavenly location on Lake Kivu.
- Lunch at Lakeside Kivu Restaurant
- Afternoon: Tour of the beautiful city of Gisenyi and visit to the border of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Return to Kigali.

- Accommodation: 5 Swiss Hotel (2-star hotel) or similar
- Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Drinks: Mineral water.

Main Destination:

Lake Kivu

Accommodation:

5 Swiss Hotel

• Mid-range hotel located in Kigali

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Kigali City tour and departure

- After breakfast, visit the Gisozi Genocide Memorial and other places of interest in the city.
- Then enjoy some free time in Kigali to buy souvenirs.
- Transfer to the airport at 5:00 p.m.
- Meal plan: Breakfast and Lunch (Dinner not included)

End of the safari.

Main Destination:

Kigali

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

• Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
• You'll be dropped off at the airport.