Overview
You will see the splendor of Rwanda, the “Land of a Thousand Hills,” on this journey. As you travel along the steep roads, take in the many backdrops and landscapes of Rwanda. The parks have a combination of savannah, woodland, and hilly terrain. You will undertake chimp trekking in Nyungwe forest and gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park. Interact with Rwandans up close by visiting their houses and participating in various activities.
Safari Highlights
- Colobus monkey trekking
- Canopy Walk in Nyungwe Forest
- Gorilla tracking in Volcanoes
- Golden monkey trekking
- Community experiences
- Lake Kivu
- Reconciliation village
- Game drive
- Boat ride
- Chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival to Kigali
On arrival to Rwanda, a guide from African buffalo safaris will brief you about your 14 days safari and thereafter transfer you to your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 2: Reconciliation Village tour & Kigali City Tour
The morning will begin with a trip to the genocide reconciliation hamlet outside of Kigali, where you will hear the experiences of genocide survivors who live alongside the perpetrators. If you have time after this experience, go to the Kigali genocide monument, Kandt museum, and art and craft shops.
Day 3: Transfer to Akagera National park
After breakfast today, your driver guide will pick you up from the hotel and transport you to Akagera National Park. When you arrive at the park, you will travel to your hotel to check in. Following that, you will go on a game drive.
Day 4: Game drive and Boat Safari
Akagera National Park is a Savannah park where elephants, hippos, buffaloes, and lions may be found. After an early breakfast, we will go on a game drive in quest of these species. The game drive will take us to the northern portion of the park, where the majority of the animals choose to live. Look for Zebras, Giraffes, and Impalas, which are commonly seen along game trails.
Lunch will be served at the resort. After lunch, you’ll go on a boat safari on Lake Ihema to enjoy the afternoon air and spot some birds and wildlife.
Day 5: Community Tour around Akagera
Eastern Rwanda is rather flat in comparison to the rest of the nation and is popular with pastoralists. You will visit a cow keepers’ homestead and participate in various activities. Begin by helping to milk the animals with your hands. The herdsman will show you how to calm the cow and milk it. You’ll also learn how milk is traditionally processed into products like ghee and yoghurt.
Day 6: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest – the home of chimpanzees
We leave Akagera National Park this morning for Nyungwe Forest National Park via Kigali. We’ll stop in Huye for lunch and a visit to the national museum to learn more about Rwanda’s history and culture. Later in the evening, we arrive in Nyungwe Forest.
Day 7: Chimpanzee tracking and Canopy walk in Nyungwe forest
We depart for Chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe forest after an early breakfast. The forest is home to 13 species of primates, including Chimpanzees, L’Hoest monkeys, and Columbus monkeys, as well as 300 bird species. Before you begin your journey, your tour guide will transport you to the briefing area, where you will meet your ranger guide and receive a briefing.
Return to the lodge following the monkey trek, or do the Canopy walk directly so that you can relax once. The canopy walk provides stunning views of the forest from above while admiring nature.
Day 8: Colobus monkey trekking
This morning, we go for the Nyungwe forest briefing point. The ranger guide will bring you into the forest for the Colobus monkey trekking after a briefing. One of the habituated troops has over 200 members, so you can expect to see amusing interactions amongst the monkeys as they groom, eat, and play for one another. You have one hour in their company before beginning your journey back.
Day 9: Transfer to Volcanoes national park
After breakfast, we go for Volcanoes National Park. In the country of a thousand hills, take in the many vistas and meandering roads. Depending on your needs, you will be able to make several stops for photos and stretching.
Day 10: Gorilla trekking
Meet the mountain gorillas in the Virunga mountains’ deep woods. The journey begins with a briefing at the park headquarters in Kinigi, where you will be given a ranger and gorilla family to hike with. Following the briefing, your ranger guide will accompany you to the trek’s starting site. Depending on the location of the gorilla troop you are hiking, you may need to drive to the beginning site of the trek. The walk into these big beasts’ habitat is a satisfying and unique experience that many people seek out. Depending on where the gorillas nested the night before, the trip might last anything from a few minutes to many hours.
Day 11: Golden Monkey Trekking
Similarly to yesterday, your driving guide will take you to the park headquarters for a briefing before you begin your trip. Golden monkeys are more active than gorillas and will demand you to move as they forage for food. Once you find them, you can only stay with them for one hour before beginning your journey back.
Day 12: Gorilla Guardians Village tour & Transfer to Lake Kivu
Visit the gorilla guardians community in the morning to learn more about Rwandan culture. For a day, pretend to be a King or Queen, take up knitting, or learn how to handle a bow and arrow. Transfer to Lake Kivu after this trip to unwind from all of the rigorous travel and events.
Day 13: Lake Kivu Experiences
This will be more of a relaxing day for you to reflect on your entire tour exploring Rwanda on the beaches of the stunning Lake Kivu. Activities include visiting the hot springs, taking a boat ride to an island, kayaking on Lake Kivu, seeing the DR Congo – Rwanda border, and relaxing at the lakeside in the evening while sipping your favorite drink.
Day 14: Transfer to Kigali
Enjoy your breakfast, check out your lodge and then transfer to the airport for your flight back home.
