Highlights.

• 3 Game Drives in Rwanda’s only Savannah NP and Largest Protected Wetland in Africa.
• Boat Ride on Lake Ihema- Largest Lake in the Park and 2^nd Largest Lake in Rwanda
• Diane Fossey Museum Experience
• Gorilla Trekking in Nyungwe National Park.
• Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe NP
• Golden Monkey Trekking in Volcanoes NP
• Cultural Excursion at King’s Palace Museum –Nyanza
• Canopy Walk Experience in Nyungwe NP
• Tropical Waterfall Hike Adventure in Nyungwe NP
• Lake Kivu Night Fishing Experience
• Ibyiwacu Cultural Village Experience

What to Expect;

Expect to crisscross the Rwandan countryside from Southern to Eastern Rwanda. Encounters with Rwanda’s Gorillas, Golden Monkeys and Chimpanzees on a Trekk into Rwanda’s and Africa’s Oldest National Park – Volcanoes NP  and Oldest Montane Tropical Rain Forest –Nyungwe National Park respectively then Drives through Green Tea Plantations, a Canopy Walk Hiking Experience and a Cultural excursion at the King’s Palace Museum (Last home of the Rwandan Kings) before going East to Akagera National Park through Kigali in search of the African Big 5 (Elephants, Lions, Leopards, Rhinos, Buffaloes and other Savannah Adopted Species like Giraffes will leave every Traveler to Rwanda yearning for more. A Truly all round Touristic serving in such a short Time.

Itinerary

Day 1: Transfer to Akagera NP – Night Game Drive

You will have early Breakfast and at about 6am set off for Akagera National Park – The Largest and only Savannah NP in Rwanda. This Park which is approximately 1,122 sq. kms in size and is the largest protected wetland in Africa and is home to Africa’s and Rwanda’s last Savannah adopted species.

There will be a short coffee stopover at Imigongo Cafe before proceeding to Southern Entrance of the Park where you will check-in at around 10am and proceed to do a Half Day Game Drive in the Nyamwashama Plains. You will thereafter head to your Lodge for Lunch, relax the afternoon in your room or by the Swimming Pool. Later in the evening, you will head out again for a Night Game Drive up until 8 or 9pm in search of the more elusive nocturnal wildlife that we otherwise wouldn’t get to see during Day time. The Leopards, Hyenas and Wild Dogs that Akagera was once famous for are common sightings during the Night Game Drive. You will then return to your Hotel for the Night and Dinner.

Driving Distance: 3 hrs- Exclusive of Game Drives.

Meal Plan: Lunch, Dinner + Snacks & Soft Refreshments.

Activities: Transfer to Akagera NP, Half Day Game drive + Night Game Drive.

Day 2:  Full Day Game Drive- Northern Akagera Sector

Your 2^nd Day in the amazing Akagera NP will start with a relaxed Breakfast at 6:30am at your Hotel.

Armed with your Packed Lunch, you will then head to the Northern sector of Akagera NP in search of the Wildlife like Lions, Elephants and Giraffes predominant there. You will have your packed Lunch in the Kilala Plains before continuing to cover of the Northern Loops in search of the Big 5. You will then head back to your Lodge in the South of the Park where you will relax the afternoon away by the Swimming pool and later the Night.

Driving Distance: 6-7 Hours including Game Drives.

Meal Plan: Full Board +Snacks & Soft Refreshments

Activities: Full Day Game Drive + Sunset Boat Ride

Day 3: Morning Boat Ride- Transfer to Kigali

You will have early Breakfast and therafter head to the Boat Dock for a morning Boat Ride on Lake Ihema which is the Largest Lake in the Park and the 2^nd largest in Rwanda after Lake Kivu. Here you will catch a glimpse of the numerous wildlife coming down to the Lake for a morning Drink or swimming in the warm morning waters before heading out for feeding. Your Guide will thereafter drive back to Kigali where you will have Lunch at your Hotel then head to the Kigali Genocide Memorial where you will have 1^st hand insight into the 1994 Rwandan Genocide against the Tutsi where 1M Tutsis lost their lives in about 1 Month. You will therafter head back to your Hotel for the Night and Dinner.

Driving Distance: 3 hours

Meal Plan: Full Board, Snacks & Soft Refreshments.

Activities: Transfer back to Kigali + Kigali Genocide Memorial Experience.

Day 4: Transfer to Nyungwe NP- King’s Palace Museum + Canopy Walk Experience

You will have early breakfast at your Lodge and your Guide will start the Drive to the Southern part of Rwanda via the beautiful and picturesque Nyungwe NP which is one of the oldest Tropical rain Forests in Africa and the oldest in Rwanda and is home to Rwanda’s largest concentration of Primates including a small population of Chimpanzees and various Monkey Species like the colobus and L’Hoest Monkey endemic to the Albertine Rift. With about 1068 plant Species and 322 Bird Species and numerous Tropical Waterfalls therein, it is indeed a wonder to behold.

You will have a detour to the King’s Palace Museum in Nyanza and have a glimpse into Past Traditional Rwandan Life and Rule of the Rwanda Kings before proceeding to Nyungwe where we will do the Canopy Walk Experience. The Nyungwe Canopy Walk is a 160m Long and 70m High Suspension Bridge above the rush Green of Nyungwe and is one of the Park’s biggest attractions. You will be able to see the Rush Tree Tops of Nyungwe from above. You will therafter proceed to drive out of the Forest to your Lodge for the Night

Driving Distance: 4 hours

Meal Plan: Full Board, Snacks & Soft Refreshments.

Activities: Transfer to Nyungwe NP, Kings Palace Museum + Canopy Walk

Day 5: Nyungwe NP Chimpanzee Tracking- Nyungwe NP

You will have early Breakfast and at around 6am, proceed to Gisakura Reception Centre where you will be briefed and assigned your Guide for the Day before proceeding for the drive to our Trekking Point for the Day – Uwinka Sector or Cyamudongo sector which have the biggest Habituated Chimpanzee Families in Nyungwe NP for Chimpanzee Trekking. Chimpanzees are believed to be Man’s closest relatives sharing about 98% of our DNA. Unlike Gorillas that are gentle, the Chimpanzees are more active and tracking them could be quite the sport with running after them involved. The Trekk takes between 2-4 hours.

After the Tracking experience, we will drive back to the Lodge, have late Lunch and relax for the rest of the afternoon.

Driving Distance: 5 hours

Meal Plan: Full Board, Snacks & Soft Refreshments.

Activities: Chimpanzee Tracking.

Day 6: Nyungwe NP – Tropical Waterfall Hike + Transfer to Kibuye

You will have a relaxed breakfast at your Lodge and your Guide will start the Drive you to the Park reception Office where you will check in, Pick a Guide and go for a tropical Waterfall Experience through unwinding, gentle Forest Track roads before reaching the bottom of the fall. A beautiful sight to behold from the Bottom. You will thereafter exit the Park and start the Drive to Kibuye where you will have late Lunch rest the afternoon. Later in the evening, you will head out for a Night Fishing Experience on the largest Lake in Rwanda-LAKE KIVU where you will have first-hand experience and interaction with the Local Fishermen catching (using bright lights) the popular SAMBAZA FISH which is endemic to Rwanda and the Lake as they sing folk songs. You will later return to your Lodge for the Night and Dinner.

Driving Distance: 3 hours

Meal Plan: Full Board, Snacks & Soft Refreshments.

Activities: Tropical Waterfall Hike + Lake Kivu Night Fishing Experience

Day 7: Transfer to Gisenyi

You will have relaxed morning and breakfast at your Lodge and your Guide will start the Drive to the Border coastal like Town of Gisenyi where you will check at your Luxury Hotel. You will have late Lunch there after which you can decide to have a walk around the City, do a Boat Ride on the Lake, relax in your Room or Bask on the warm sands of the Beach after which you will have Dinner and rest for the Night.

Driving Distance: 4 hours

Meal Plan: Full Board, Snacks & Soft Refreshments.

Activities: Transfer to Gisenyi (Optional Boat Ride/City Walk/ Beach)

Day 8: Transfer to Volcanoes NP Rwanda – Diane Fossey Museum

You will have relaxed Breakfast after which your Guide will drive you to the Northern Rwanda District of Musanze where you will have Lunch then proceed to visit the Diane Fossey Museum and Campus. Diane Fossey was an American Veterinarian and conservationist who dedicated her life to living, conserving and Protection of Gorillas. An Icon of Conservation not only in Rwanda but the world over. Here at the Museum, we will have an in-depth, detailed understanding of the Gorilla conservation story in the Virunga Massif spearheaded by her between 1969 to date. We will thereafter head to our Lodge, Check-in and relax the evening and Night in preparation for Golden Monkey Trekking the next Day.

Driving Distance: 4 hours

Meal Plan: Full Board, Snacks & Soft Refreshments.

Activities: Transfer to Volcanoes NP + Diane Fossey Museum

Day 9: Volcanoes NP Rwanda – Golden Monkey Trekking.

Golden Monkeys named after their shiny Gold looking Furs are part of the 3 most prominent and Popular Primates to Track in Rwanda and Uganda where they are found. With their playful nature and Human like Gaze/eyes, they are indeed worthy a visit in their Montane Bamboo Habitat. The Trekk just like with other Primates starts early where you will then be driven to the Park Office for Briefing, assigned a Group and Guide for the Day then head into the Jungle for the Trekk. The Hike is generally easy-moderate depending on where they are feeding from. After the Trekk, we will return to your Lodge for Lunch and later in the afternoon visit the Gorilla Guardians Village also known as Ibyiwacu Cultural Centre where you will have insight into the Gorilla and Primate Conservation story from the Local’s perspective and their transition from being Hunters and Poachers to pioneers of Conservation and Productive Agriculture. We will therafter return to the Lodge for Dinner and the Night.

Driving Distance: 1 hour

Meal Plan: Full Board, Snacks & Soft Refreshments.

Activities: Golden Monkey Trekking + Ibyiwacu Cultural Village

Day 10: Volcanoes NP Rwanda – Gorilla Trekking Experience

This will be the Big Day…..the Cherry on the Top. On every Traveller’s Bucket list, Gorilla Trekking is like no other. These Gentle Giants ,closest cousins to Humans weigh up to 200Kgs for the Male Silverbacks and can eat up too 30Kgs a Day. They are truly a sight to behold and an unforgettable experience getting to spend that assigned 1Hr with them. Your Guide will drive you to the Park Reception where you will be briefed, assigned a Group to Trekk for the Day. The Trekk takes between 2-6 Hours and you get assigned 1Hr to spend with the Gorillas. After the Trekk, your Guide will start the Drive back to Kigali with Lunch enroute where he will drop you off at your Hotel to freshen up before taking you to the Airport for your flight marking what will have hopefully been an amazing RITZ SAFARIS ADVENTURE.

Driving Distance: 3 hours

Meal Plan: Full Board, Snacks & Soft Refreshments.

Activities: Gorilla Trekking + Transfer back to Kigali/Airport.

For more information about this tour contact us by clicking on this link

Some Information

10 Days: Duration

7/10: Physicality

Volcanoes, Nyungwe & Akagera NPs- Rwanda: Location

15+: Age