8 Days Rwanda Adventure and Gorilla Safari experience

Day 1: Transfer from the Airport and Kigali City Tour

Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will go through customs and immigration, and you will be met by our company guide who will warmly welcome you to the ‘Land of a Thousand Hills’ that Rwanda is known for. You will also have the Kigali city tour where you visit various monuments, and genocide memorial sites among others. Later, you’ll drive to your booked hotel accommodation for dinner and an overnight stay. Meal plan: Dinner

Day 2: Genocide Memorial Visit- Volcanoes National Park

On this day, your driver-guide will brief you about the details concerning your safari. You’ll transfer to the North to Parc des National (Volcanoes National Park) which is located 80km from Kigali; approximately a two-hour drive. Just in case you reach Kigali early, you will have a city tour where you will be able to visit the National Museum or the Genocide Memorial Center. You’ll then have lunch and transfer to the park in the afternoon.

Day 3: Volcanoes National Park and Gorilla trekking with Community Walk

You will have an early tasty breakfast, after which your driver guide will take you to the headquarters in the park by 8 am for briefing. Later, you’ll embark on the amazing adventure which is gorilla tracking, in most cases this activity requires some physical fitness by the hikers. On several occasions, it takes between 1 to 6 hours to trek and trekkers are permitted to be with the gorillas for 1 hour.

It is a nice experience seeing them play, guard each other, and feed among others. While trekking hikers will be in line to also see other animals like golden monkeys, elephants, buffaloes as well as birds. After trekking, you will be escorted back and head to the lodge. You’ll have lunch and opt for a visit to the twin lakes; Burera and Ruhondo or take a walk in the community and watch the traditional dances of the locals. You can also just relax in the afternoon at your lodge.

Day 4: Golden Monkey Trekking and Transfer to Lake Kivu

Today, after your warm early morning breakfast, you will be picked up by our safari driver-guide who will transfer you to the park headquarters for briefing with your packed lunch. You’ll start your day with golden monkey trekking in search of these shy primates in the jungle. You will later return to the lodge for lunch and later transfer to Nyungwe National Park, reaching in the evening at your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 5: Explore Lake Kivu and Transfer to Nyungwe National Park

Today, you will have a boat cruise on Lake Kivu, where you will spot various bird species. The Lake Kivu region is home to over 400 species of birds, ranging from small passerines to large waterfowl. Some of the most common species in the region are white-breasted Cormorants, pied kingfishers, and osprey. The birdlife at Lake Kivu is also diverse as there are no fewer than 10 endemic species found here! Later, you will embark on a drive to Nyungwe National Park.

Day 6: Chimpanzee Tracking and Canopy Walk in Nyungwe  

Today, after your early morning cap of African coffee, you will leave your hotel to experience the natural forest of Nyungwe well known for having 13 species of primates. You’ll be transferred to the park for briefing and chimpanzee trekking. You will be entitled to one hour of finding the chimpanzees. After doing the chimpanzee trek, you’ll head for lunch before heading for the Canopy Walk. This suspended bridge will reward you with great views of the forest. Later, you’ll go back to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 7:

Transfer to Akagera National Park

The tour driver will pick you up from your hotel and depart for Akagera National Park in the east of Rwanda. The travel time from Kigali to Akagera is about 6.5 hours. Before checking into your lodge, you will do a short game drive to spot some animals and enjoy the amazing scenery. The southern part of Akagera National Park which is the arrival point and offers you your first game drive is covered mostly by acacia thickets and woodlands which is not a favorable habitat for most grazing animals.

Expect to see some impalas, zebras, reedbucks, giraffes, baboons, and black-faced vervet monkeys among others. However, the most exciting prospect in the south of Akagera National Park is rhinos! The rhinos live in this part of the park which is the natural habitat for them and if lucky may see them.

Day 8: Boat Trip and Transfer to the Airport

After getting done with your relaxed morning breakfast, you will head for a boat trip to Ihema Lake to see crocodiles and hippos within this beautiful lake located in the Akagera National Park. If time permits, you’ll have a brief game drive. Later, you will be transferred to Kigali for the departure.