In these 9 days Rwanda safari, expect to uncover the hidden wildlife treasures the tiny landlocked Country, Rwanda has for its visitors. You will visit your cousins the chimpanzees co-existing with over 12 primate species and enjoy a canopy walk experience at Nyungwe national park, travel to Volcanoes national park to encounter the endangered mountain gorillas as well as hiking to the peak of Mount Karisimbi, and meeting the African big 5 (lions, leopards, buffaloes, elephants and rhinos) plus several mammals, birds and plant species at Akagera national park.
Detailed safari
Day 1: Pickup, City tour and transfer to Nyungwe national park
In this first day of the nine days and eight nights’ safari in Rwanda, our company representative will be glad to welcome you to Rwanda (land of a thousand hills), going ahead to brief you on whatever data you have to know concerning the trip, as you enjoy a glass of juice.
After the Briefing session, start the tour with a visit to the local markets to purchase some few items and souvenirs, and then proceed to the Gisozi genocide memorial museum for a few lectures about the 1994 genocide incidence before lunch. Thereafter, embark on a 3-4 hours’ drive to Nyungwe national park for dinner and overnight as you wait to track the chimpanzees the next day.
Day 2: Chimpanzee tracking and canopy walk
At dawn, breakfast will be served at your lodge before you pick your hiking items and drive to the park for the exact activity, which starts with a trekking briefing at 8:00 am by some expert park rangers who will breakdown the rules and regulations governing Chimpanzee trekking at this park.
The park rangers will then lead you to the Jungle to search for these primates wherever they are playing, feeding, or resting. The tracking can last for approximately 1-5hours depending on how far they have moved but will enjoy the views of different primates you will encounter on the way, as well as sound covering the forest.
Upon meeting your relatives, you will be given one hour to closely watch and take snaps returning to the park’s headquarters for refreshment and Lunch
After your rest, you will go for a wonderful forest canopy walk experience (one of its kind in East Africa), which gives you an opportunity to watch monkeys, baboons and birds play in the treetops, as well as an aerial view of Nyungwe national park, the rolling hills and scattered homesteads.
Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes national park
On this day, you will check out of the lodge after having a very relaxed heavy cup of coffee at your lodge, and embark on a 5-6 hours’ smooth drive to Volcanoes national park, crossing the tea plantations, the green plantations and undulating hills by the countryside.
You will have an enroute stopover for Lunch and photography in a place with several spectacular views before proceeding with the drive, arriving at the park late in the evening for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Mountain Gorilla tracking
Early in the morning, you will have breakfast, pick your tracking documents, binoculars to see distant primates, camera for photography, long-sleeved shirt and trouser to protect your body from scratches or insect bites, and water to quench your thirst during the hiking session and head to Kinigi station, the park headquarters where the rangers will tell you the dos and don’ts while in the Jungle, as well as verifying all your tracking documents. They will go ahead to allocate you to a particular gorilla family that you will track, but with the guidance of an expert knowledgeable park ranger.
This exercise can last for approximately 5hours with one hour being yours to watch and take photos of the silverbacks, mothers feeding their young ones and the young ones playing. You will return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation as you rest from the tiresome back to back activities, then wait for dinner and a nap.
Day 5: Hike to the summit of Mount Karisimbi
After breakfast, pack warm clothes and drive for a briefing session beneath Mt. Bisoke where there is a trailhead of Mount Karisimbi, the 5th highest volcanic mountain in Africa, and the highest in the Virunga volcanoes chain.
You will navigate through a route with rainforest harboring a good selection of primates, birds and offering you an opportunity of spotting Dian Fossey research center, Mountain Gorillas in a good day and the nearby water bodies. It takes approximate 6 hours to arrive at your 1st campsite where you will have dinner and overnight stay.
Day 6: Ascend to the peak and return to the base
As the sun peeps, you will have breakfast, then proceed to the peak to Mount Karisimbi, that will put a smile on your face after a wonderful triumph, and having an amazing opportunity of spotting the created lake and the nearby mountains such as Mt. Nyiragongo and Mt. Bisoke on a good day.
After taking photos, ascend the mountain and meet your driver guide who will welcome you and take you back to your lodge for lunch, relaxation as you wait to call off the day with dinner and overnight.
Day 7: Transfer to Akagera national park
Start your day with a cup of coffee and check out of the lodge for a drive to Akagera national park. You will follow a route that will confirm to you why Rwanda is called a land of thousand hills; as you watch the acacia woodland, the undulating landscape, and the evergreen vegetation as the journey progresses, with an enroute stopover for lunch and late arrival at your lodge.
You will while having some refreshment before enjoying a mouth-watering dinner and peaceful night.
Day 8: Morning game drive and an afternoon boat cruise
You will have to wake up early for a very yummy cup of coffee, and then join your game drive guide on a 4-wheel drive to the wilderness in search of both the big and small cats you have always longed for.
Although all Africa’s big five reside in this day, finding them resting, hunting or grazing needs luck that we believe you have. Mammals often seen roaming the park are the Buffaloes, Antelopes, Giraffes, Zebras, among others and the rare ones include the lions, hyenas, and leopards.
After the search, enjoy your picnic lunch before going for a rewarding 2-3 hours’ boat cruise at Lake Ihema, which gives you an opportunity of watching the yawning crocodiles and hippos, among others.
Day 9: Morning game drive and Departure
Very early in the morning, you will head for a 2-3 hours’ adventure in the quest for some of the mammals, and birds that you missed during the previous day’s game drive. After, return for breakfast before checking out and driving to Kigali international airport for departure.
End of safari
