The 12 days Rwanda safari is an ideal tour that takes one to the famous national parks in Rwanda including Volcanoes national park – home to half of mountain gorilla population in the world and it encompasses five of the eight virunga mountains, the rainforest in volcanoes national park enables you to trek gorillas in this park.
For a thrilling canopy walk, Nyungwe forest is the only national park with this magical experience in the whole of East Africa and one the three in East Africa. Also enjoy chimp trekking, a boat cruise on the second largest Lake “Lake Ihema” in Akagera national park as well as experiencing a memorable game drive on the plain savannah at the boarder of Tanzania and Rwanda where you will have an opportunity to spot out wild animals in their natural habitats including; Elephants, buffaloes, antelopes to mention but a few.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at Kigali International Airport.
Upon your arrival at Kigali international Airport, you will be welcomed by Standard Safaris tour guide and embark on a journey to your hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park and Ibyiwachu cultural encounter.
After an early morning breakfast, set off for a journey to the northwestern part of Rwanda to Volcanoes National park, a park known for harboring more than a quarter of world’s remaining endangered mountain gorillas found along the slopes of Virunga Mountains.
The journey covers a distance of 139 kilometers on the road via Kinigi—Musanze exploring the land of a thousand hills. You will reach the park in the afternoon, check in the lodge for lunch and some relaxation.
Then later in the evening, head to Iby’Iwachu cultural village in Musanze district to visit the King’s house and exercise kingship through village ceremony, listen to all kings’ stories, watch different Rwanda traditional dances and musical instruments.
Participate in the preparation of local food; don’t miss out to participate in millet grinding using stones, carrying potatoes and water on your head. After, return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Gorilla Trekking and Visiting the Twin Lakes.
After an early morning breakfast, with your packed lunch and a bottle of water, transfer to the park headquarters at Kinigi for a pre-trek briefing, the activity starts at 8 am. Continue to trek the mountain gorillas deep in the Virunga jungles on search for a gorilla family that you have been to.
You will spend one hour in their company before you slope down the volcanoes to return to your lodge for relaxation.
In the afternoon, drive to visit the beautiful twin lakes Bulera & Ruhondo, optional ride on a dugout canoe to the interior of the lakes. Enjoy the backdrop scenery of the Volcanoes thereafter drive back to the lodge for overnight.
Day 4: Golden monkey trekking.
Have an early morning breakfast. Then you will proceed to the park headquarters where you will be briefed about the “dos and the don’ts” of golden monkey trekking. You will start searching for the elusive golden monkeys for between 1 to 5 hours. After the trekking, return to the lodge for a whole day relaxation then have dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Dian Fossey and Transfer to Lake Kivu.
With a morning cup of coffee, set off to go for Dian Fossey grave hiking at Karisoke research center to learn more about Dian Fossey an American primatologist and conservationist who was known for undertaking extensive study on mountain gorillas.
She was later brutally murdered and buried near her favorite gorilla called Digit and as well get to know more about the activities of Dian Fossey. After this hiking, return to the lodge and check out of the lodge to embark on your journey to Lake Kivu.
Day 6: Boat Cruise and Transfer to Nyungwe National Park and Nature Walk.
After your morning breakfast, have a soothing boat cruise on of the greatest lakes in Africa with fresh waters to Goma border, the hot springs and coffee islands.
After this activity, transfer to Nyungwe National Park with various stopover points for memorable photograph, reach the park in the evening check into the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 7: Chimpanzee Trekking.
Wake up early in the morning and head to the park headquarters for the dos and don’ts during this activity, then penetrate into the forest in search of endangered chimpanzees. The trek will take 1 to 8 hours depending on the location of the primates.
An hour spent viewing these human cousins Playing, feeding the young ones is such a memorable experience. After this experience, return to the lodge for the whole day relaxing then dinner and overnight.
Day 8: Canopy Walk and Visit Huye City.
After a warm cup of coffee, head to Uwinka Center at exactly 8 am for a canopy walk, Nyungwe Forest canopy walk is one of the three canopy walkways in East Africa. It is 90 meters below and 40 meters above the ground and this will give you an opportunity to appreciate the forests’ natural scenery. After the activity, check out of the lodge and transfer to Huye the second largest city in Rwanda.
When you reach Huye city in Butare district, visit the National museum of Rwanda and have an opportunity to visit a popular gift shop housed within the museum and the opportunity to see the famous traditional dancers perform.
Visit the National University, which is the best university in Rwanda and the University library. After head to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Day 9: Transfer to Akagera National Park and Evening Game Drive.
After a cup of coffee in the morning, embark on your journey to Akagera National park in the eastern province of Rwanda for a thrilling wildlife encounter. This park is one of the best places for Savannah ecosystem in Rwanda with beautiful landscapes, abundant birdlife and the big game drive.
Upon reaching the park, you will check into the lodge for lunch and relaxation. Then later in the evening, go for an evening game drive around the park, return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 10: Game Drive and Boat Cruise on Lake Ihema.
You will wake up early in the morning after your morning breakfast, embark on a journey for an early morning game drive in search the early morning nocturnal before they go back to their hide outs, search for the big mammals in Akagera savannah like; Elephants, Giraffes, Buffaloes and antelopes. View over 500 bird species during the game drive. After this activity, go back to the lodge for lunch.
Later in the afternoon after lunch, head to Lake Ihema for a boat ride, this activity gives an opportunity to closely see crocodiles, hippos and various bird species like; shoebill stork, jacanas, herons among others. After an exciting boat ride, go back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 11: Kigali City Tour.
After breakfast, transfer on your journey to Kigali for a city tour around one of the cleanest cities in Rwanda. Visit Kigali genocide memorial center, the burial ground of about a million victims of the war between the Hutus and the Tutsi. After proceed to presidential palace museum and the Kimironko market to purchase some Rwanda African handmade crafts and souvenirs. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 12: Departure.
Following your morning cup of coffee, you will pack up and check out of the lodge and head to Kigali international airport for your departure.
End of safari
