12 Days Rwanda Gorillas, wildlife Golden Monkeys
Tour Duration: 8 Days / 7 Nights
Places to Visit: The 12 days Rwanda Safari offers you the best opportunity to explore the leading tourist attractions in the country including Akagera Wildlife Park, Volcanoes NP for Gorilla tracking, Nyungwe Forest National Park, exciting Lake Kivu as well as Kigali capital for a city tour.
The Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali
You will be received by a representative from Africa Nature Trekkers and one of our drivers / safari guides at Kigali International Airport who will brief you about your safari and later transfer you to your hotel for dinner and overnight stay either in Step Town Motel, or Kigali Serena, or at Golf Hills Residence
Day 2: Transfer to PNV
Early morning our guide will pick you from your Hotel and head out on drive to Volcanoes National Park as you prepare for your next day’s Gorilla adventure in the forests. The park is a home to approximately 400 Mountain Gorillas which is half of their remaining population in the world. Dinner and overnight stay at Kinigi Guest House, or Mountains Gorilla View Lodge, or Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge
Day 3: Mountain Gorilla Trek in PNV
After an early breakfast, you will be led to the Park headquarters for briefing and Gorilla Group families. From here you will set out into the Volcanoes forests to search for these amazing Mountain Gorillas. You will have with you your bottled water since the gorilla adventure can be rough sometimes especially when it’s a dry season and when the Gorillas have moved a long distance. The actual Gorilla trek goes for about 2-7 hours depending on the Gorilla mobility and family category. The stipulated duration you are allowed to stay with the Gorillas is only for 1 hour. You will have chance to take photos and motion images or video coverage. After your successful adventure, you will return to your lodge for Lunch.
In the late afternoon you will visit the twin Lakes or take a short self guided walk around Kinigi (Ruhengeri). Dinner and overnight stay at Gorilla Nest Lodge, Mountains Gorilla View Lodge / Kinigi Guest House
Day 4: Golden monkeys trekking and transfer to Lake Kivu
After breakfast, you will return to the Forest to track the rare Golden Monkeys. Look out also for other primate species like the Monkeys, bird species and so on. After the trek, you will transfer to Lake Kivu which is the country’s biggest fresh water in western parts of Rwanda. Upon arriving, you will have refreshments and lunch after which you will undertake a 2-4 hours launch cruise along the Lake to the growing island which is more interesting. The cruise will provide you with a spectacular view of the Kibuye and Gisenyi towns and also the Nyiragongo Volcano in Congo which erupted recently in 2002. Dinner and overnight stay at Kivu Sun Hotel / Kivu Serena Hotel
Day 5: Transfer to Butare
After breakfast, you will transfer to Butare town. En route you will visit the old King’s Palace in Nyanza. Have lunch and later connect to Butare. Visit the National Museum. Dinner and Overnight stay at Hotel Credo
Day 6: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park
Early morning after breakfast you will drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park via Gikongoro. Upon arrival, have lunch and later set out for the Colobus Monkey tracking activity. Within the forest, you will track the rare black and white colobus Monkeys. You will also encounter other monkey species like the Varvet monkeys, Blue Monkeys and so on. Dinner and overnight stay at Gisakura Guest House / Nyungwe Forest Lodge
Day 7: Chimpanzee Tracking In Nyungwe Forest
After breakfast, you will set out early morning into Nyungwe National Park for the Chimpanzee tracking activity within the forest to search for the man’s closest friends. You will be accompanied by Forest Ranger guides who will show you different forest trail. The activity takes around 3-5 hours. Return to the lodge for lunch and in the afternoon, you will take a guided nature walk with in the forest. This will enable all those bird loving tourists to spot different bird species with in the forest. You should look out for birds like the black and white casqued hornbill and the Rwenzori Turacco. Dinner and overnight stay at Gisakura Guest House / Nyungwe Forest Lodge
Day 8: Transfer Back to Kigali City
After breakfast, you will take a short forest walk and later drive back to Kigali. En route, you will make a stopover at the Botanical Gardens with in Butare. Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel Chezlando, Kigali Serena / Golf Hills Residence
Day 9: Transfer to Akagera National Park
After breakfast, you will transfer to Akagera National Park which is the only wildlife Park in Rwanda and the smallest among the 3 of them. You will arrive at the park in time for lunch which you will have at Akagera Game Lodge. Later in the evening you will go for the evening game drive to search for wildlife animals like Elephants, Antelopes, Giraffes, Impalas, Zebras, Topis, Baboons, Bush Babies, Leopards, Buffaloes, and Gazelles and so on. Dinner and overnight stay at Akagera Game Lodge
Day 10: Game Drive and Boat Ride On Lake Ihema
You will take a hot Cup of tea early in the morning and after you will set out for the morning game drive to search for the early risers and also all the animals that you missed out on the previous game drive on day 1. During this drive you will come across different animals including Leopards, Maasai Giraffes, Zebras, different Antelopes, Buffaloes and African Elephants, among others. Later you will head back to your Lodge for refreshments and lunch. In the evening embark on the boat cruise on the stunning Lake Ihema where you will see Crocodiles and Hippos plus different water birds including the uncommon shoebill stork, Fish Eagle, Kingfisher and so on. Dinner and overnight stay at Akagera Game Lodge
Day 11: Transfer to Kigali
After breakfast, you will be transferred back to Kigali. Upon reaching the country’s capital, you will go for the short Kigali City tour and visit the Genocide memorial sites, Cultural sites, craft centers and shops and local markets. Dinner and overnight at Step Town Motel, or Hotel Chezlando
Day 12: Departure
Depending on the time of your flight, you will be transferred to the Airport for your flight back home.
End of Safari!
What to Bring
- Comfortable safari boots / shoes
- Right travel clothes
- Sun block
- Sunglasses
- Hat
- Photo /Video Camera
This safari itinerary is a proposal trip that can be gladly customized to suit any personal changes, times, dates and other specifications.