$3,100 pp (USD)
2 travelers on Start dateArrival
Arrival
Day 1
Kigali
Kigali
Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by our representative and transferred to your hotel in Kigali. Check in at The Manor Hotel (E), where you will enjoy comfortable bed and breakfast accommodation. The remainder of the day is at leisure, allowing you to relax after your journey and settle into your surroundings. Optional activity: Embark on a Kigali city tour to discover the capital’s vibrant neighborhoods, cultural heritage, scenic viewpoints, and notable landmarks while gaining an introduction to Rwanda’s fascinating history and modern development.
- Main Destination:
- Kigali
- Accommodation:
- The Manor Hotel
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 2
Kigali – Nyanza Palace – Nyungwe in the Southwest of Rwanda
Kigali – Nyanza Palace – Nyungwe in the Southwest of Rwanda
After breakfast at we depart towards the Nyungwe National Park in the south of the country. You will stop to visit the King Palace Museum in Nyanza, once the capital of the kingdom, entirely rebuilt for visitors but which reproduces original pieces of ancient furnishings belonging to the Mwami, the king of Rwanda. Behind the museum, one can find a herd of the long-horned Inyambo cattle, the descendants of the king’s own herd.
A stop over at Azizi Life café and gift shop is recommended. Lunch is scheduled in a local restaurant in Huye (Butare).
Stop over to visit Butare. This is the second largest city in Rwanda and cultural capital, hosting the national university and the National Museum. Very characteristic are here the shops of local handicrafts, which display typical local objects such as fabrics, wood and baskets.
Arrival in Nyungwe National Park for dinner and overnight at Essencia Kivu Hotel.
- Main Destination:
- Nyungwe National Park (Chimps)
- Accommodation:
- Essencia Kivu Hotel
Wildlife in Nyungwe NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 3
The primates of Nyungwe National Park
The primates of Nyungwe National Park
After an early breakfast at 6:00 am, enter Nyungwe Forest for Angolan colobus trekking, with an optional supplement for chimpanzee trekking. Covering 1,020 km², Nyungwe is one of East Africa’s largest pristine mountain rainforests and is home to 13 primate species and over 310 bird species. Return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, enjoy the included canopy walk, lasting approximately 1½ hours, offering spectacular forest and bird views. Later, experience Rwandan tea culture. Participate in tea picking, learn traditional and modern processing methods, and enjoy a tasting at Gisakura Tea Factory. Visit the tea mini-museum and support local communities by purchasing traditional products at the souvenir shop.
- Main Destination:
- Nyungwe National Park (Chimps)
- Accommodation:
- Essencia Kivu Hotel
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 4
Along the shores of Lake Kivu to Kibuye
Along the shores of Lake Kivu to Kibuye
After breakfast you will depart from Nyungwe to continue North along Lake Kivu to reach Kibuye, between the Rwanda hills and the panoramic view of the lake. The town is located on Lake Kivu and is a great site for some relaxation.
Lunch. In the afternoon we organize a boat trip on Lake Kivu to explore islands like Napoleon and Monkey, hike to view points and see birds. •Dinner and overnight at Cormoran Lodge.
- Main Destination:
- Kibuye (Lake Kivu)
- Accommodation:
- Cormoran Lodge
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 5
Kibuye - Volcanoes National Park
Kibuye - Volcanoes National Park
After breakfast, the journey proceeds to Musanze (Ruhengeri) at the entrance to the Volcanoes National Park. The Park, with an extension of about 125 square kilometres, takes its name from the Virunga volcanoes that delimit the border with the Congo. We propose a typical lunch at Red Rock Rwanda.
In the afternoon we organize some community-based tourism experiences like basket weaving with the women, the banana beer production or pottery making. According to the time and the program, we can also “plant a tree” at a reforestation project. Proceed to Volcanoes National Park and check in at the lodge, dinner and overnight at the Mountain Gorilla View
NOTE: The itinerary of the day can take about 4 hours for about 170 km.
- Main Destination:
- Volcanoes National Park (Gorillas)
- Accommodation:
- Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Wildlife in Volcanoes NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 6
Mountain gorilla tracking or other activities
Mountain gorilla tracking or other activities
After breakfast at 8:00 am, optional mountain gorilla trekking begins in search of one of the habituated gorilla families. Following a briefing by park rangers, proceed to the trailhead with a packed lunch, water and rain jacket; sturdy hiking shoes are recommended. Trekking time varies depending on the gorilla family’s location. Once with the gorillas, enjoy approximately one hour observing their behavior and taking photographs or videos. Lunch will be a packed meal or served at the lodge. In the afternoon, visit the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund’s Ellen Campus, including the Conservation Gallery, which highlights mountain gorilla conservation from Dian Fossey’s pioneering work to the present day. Visit the Azizi Life Gorillas Gift Shop, and, in Kinigi, enjoy an optional Intore traditional dance performance.
- Main Destination:
- Volcanoes National Park (Gorillas)
- Accommodation:
- Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 7
Volcanoes National Park / Akagera National Park
Volcanoes National Park / Akagera National Park
After breakfast transfer to Akagera NP. Akagera NP with 1085 square km of protected area, is named after the river Akagera which marks the border between Rwanda and Tanzania. This is a vast savannah, also characterised by the presence of important lakes, like Lake Ihema the biggest, Lake Hago and Kivumba. From 2010 with the management of African Parks many developments took place in the park, including the fencing of some areas and the reintroduction of lions. Today Akagera NP has become a positive example in Africa of good management of natural resources, also with attention to benefit local communities out of conservation practices.
Lunch en route in a restaurant. In the afternoon game drive.
Dinner and overnight at Mantis Akagera Game Lodge.
- Main Destination:
- Akagera National Park
- Accommodation:
- Mantis Akagera Game Lodge
Wildlife in Akagera NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 8
Akagera National Park
Akagera National Park
After breakfast, depart for photographic safari, with a choice between the offered loops like the Rwisirabo Loop or Kitabili Loop. Return by lunch time at the lodge.
In the afternoon we propose to take the boat excursion on Lake Ihema, the larger water body of the park, activity that starts not far from the lodge. The 2 hours trip is a worthy experience, not only to spot hippos, Nile crocodiles and water animals, but especially water birds. Among the common birds you might spot: whisltling duck, African openbill stork, African jacana, squacco heron, goliath heron, grey heron, African darter, great cormorant, African Fish Eagle, pied kingfisher, little bee eater, scarlet chested sunbird. In the evening take a short game drive to Lake Shakani and Lake Birengero.
Return to the lodge by 6 pm (permitted time) for dinner and overnight at Mantis Akagera Game Lodge.
- Main Destination:
- Akagera National Park
- Accommodation:
- Mantis Akagera Game Lodge
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 9
Akagera National Park - Kigali
Akagera National Park - Kigali
After early breakfast, at around 6.30 you take a long photographic game viewing from the Southern to Northern sector of Akagera National Park. The main areas for game viewing are the Lake Hago and Kitabili open grasslands, then reach Mohana plains. Due to the increasing numbers of the wildlife in the park, you might spot Maasai giraffes (especially in the Northern acacias savannah), bufaloes, zebras, impalas, antelope roan, oribi, waterbuck, elephants. Lions are also easily seen, while the rare leopard is a rare spot. For today you bring with you the packed lunch prepared by the lodge which can be taken from any picnic point like on the shores of Lake Hago.
In the afternoon, proceed back to Kigali and reserved for departure flights from Kigali International Airport or extend the overnight in Kigali.
NOTE: The itinerary of the day can take about 6 hours including the safari for about 200 km.
- Main Destination:
- Kigali
- Accommodation:
- No accommodation (End of tour)
- Meals & Drinks:
