Overview
Explore and experience the best of Rwanda – the Land of a Thousand Hills in 12 days. The 11 nights/12 days safari in Rwanda includes visit to 3 of the 4 Rwanda National Parks. The long safari includes exciting activities/experiences such as mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, game viewing in Akagera National Park & chimpanzee tracking Nyungwe Forest National Park.
It also includes visit to Lake Kivu, Kigali city tour, canopy walk Nyungwe Forest and colobus tracking. Your safari in Rwanda for 12 days begins and ends in Kigali Capital.
Detailed itinerary
Meet Rwanda driver guide for a warm welcome and later, have briefing on 12 days safari in Rwanda. After, transfer to a hotel in Kigali Capital- the cleanest city in Africa and you will have a relaxed and refreshing evening.
Enjoy a hefty breakfast, after meet and greet your driver guide then set off for a short Kigali excursion. Explore the beautiful sites in Kigali including historic centres such as Kigali genocide site, craft markets, souvenir shops, visit the Kandt museum and after, drive to Akagera National Park in Eastern Rwanda 2 hours and half drive.
Akagera NP is a big five game destination established in 1934 and sits on 1,122sq. km. The park features 3 main habitats savanna, swamps & mountain, protecting variety of wildlife such as lions, spotted hyenas, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, rhinos, antelopes, hippos, primates, crocodiles, 520 bird species and a lot more.
Reach Akagera early and check into a hotel you booked, enjoy lunch and later, go enjoy a launch/boat cruise along Lake Ihema. Lake Ihema is among Akagera’s largest Lakes and a boat cruise lets you explore several of hippos, crocodiles and water birds then you get back to have overnight stay at the lodge.
Have breakfast and start day 3 of your 3 days safari in Rwanda with a guided game drive in 4x4 tourist vehicle. Enjoy excellent view of Akagera’s savanna wildlife such as lions, buffaloes, elephants, antelopes, birds, zebras, giraffes and so much more.
Retreat from 2-3 hours guided game drive in the savannas of Akagera, have leisurely lunch and in the afternoon, embark on a second phase of a launch or boat cruise on Lake Ihema to see more hippos, water birds, crocodiles and more.
Enjoy a hefty breakfast, after leave Akagera National Park for Nyungwe Forest NP about 7 hours’ drive in a comfortable safari vehicle. En-route lunch will be offered at Huye and National Museum visit, then proceed to Nyungwe NP.
Breakfast early after, briefing will be done at 7:00am about chimp tracking regulations at Uwinka reception. From 8:00am, set off for actual chimpanzee trekking lasting 2-4 hours and on finding chimps, you have one hour to explore in depth how they behave. Nyungwe being a home to all 13 primate species, there is also a chance to see more other species, as well as birds.
Return from the jungles with park guide, settle for a leisurely lunch at the safari lodge. In the afternoon, day 5 of your 12 safari in Rwanda takes on a canopy walk. Enjoy sight of park’s primates in large numbers, birds and a beautiful canopy.
After breakfast, get to briefing at Nyungwe forest n/park offices about colobus monkey tracking. The park inhabits about 400 colobus monkeys with one troop hosting up to 200 habituated individuals. Have enough time exploring about colobus monkey behaviors, take photos and also expect to encounter other primates.
Wake up early for breakfast, after drive for 5 hrs up to Volcanoes National Park mountain gorilla paradise in Rwanda. 12 gorilla families are all in Volcanoes NP, ready for gorilla trekking and you will be visiting any of them on your day 5 days safari in Rwanda.
After breakfast, get to Kinigi offices for briefing on gorilla trekking guidelines in Volcanoes National Park Ruhengeri. Gorilla families will be assigned today and you will be trekking one as a group of 8 people.
You will spend 2-6 hours searching for gorillas and it includes an hour of a close encounter. Return to your accommodation for refreshments and overnight stay.
Enjoy a cup of tea/coffee, after briefing will be done early morning about golden monkey tracking rules. At 8:00am, the park guide assigned to you will escort you on a search for golden monkeys 2-4 hours inclusive of 1 Hour face to face encounter when you come across them in the wild.
After a hefty breakfast, leave the lodge for a cultural visit at Gorilla Guardians village/ Ibyiwachu village. Have adequate time exploring unique cultures, traditions, dances, music performances of Rwandese and more. Later, drive to Lake Kivu for relaxed evening and later overnight stay at your respective accommodation.
A heavy breakfast early morning, after have adequate time exploring the beautiful Lake Kivu shores. There are lots of exciting experiences/activities to be part including a boat ride to the island or go kayaking, relax at the shores and more.
Enjoy your breakfast, after you will be transferred from Lake Kivu to Kigali airport. From Kigali airport, fly back home which marks the end of your 12 days safari in Rwanda.