Safari Overview
Kigali City Exploration, Transfer to Akagera National park , Boat ride at lake Game Drive & Transfer to Kigali, Volcanoes national park, Bisoke mountain climbing, Diana fossey, Golden Monkey Trekking, Transfer to nyungwe via the congo-nile trail, Chimpanzee tracking in nyungwe & waterfall hike
Safari Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at the Airport
Arrival at the Airport pickup by your guide who will transfer you to the Hotel. Overnight at The Court Boutique Hotel
Day 2: KIGALI CITY EXPLORATION
Start historical-minded exploration of Kigali city with visits to landmarks from colonial, post-independence, genocide and post-genocide times for example Kigali Genocide memorial site where over 259,000 genocide victims were put to rest in mass graves, Dr. Richard Kandt Museum who was the first Germany explorer to settle in Kigali, Belgian camp where they killed the 10 Belgian UN soldiers who were protecting the moderate prime minister before the start of genocide etc.
Transfer to Bugesera in the afternoon to visit the reconciliation village where the survivors of genocide live together in harmony with the perpetrators that killed their own families, Nyamata and Ntarama genocide churches where thousands of innocent people were butchered in the house of God.
Overnight at The Court Boutique hotel
DAY 3: TRANSFER TO AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK – BOAT RIDE AT LAKE IHEMA
Early Transfer to Akagera National Park for a thrilling boat ride on Lake Ihema to go see schools of hippos, the giant Nile crocodiles, African elephants and lots of water birds. In the afternoon, Search for the big 5 that include lions, Rhinos, Leopards, Elephants and buffaloes plus the 12 species of antelopes including the biggest antelopes such as the eland cape and roan antelopes, some of the 525-bird species including 4 rare birds of Akagera, reptiles, amphibians, plants, magnificent landscapes, historical sites; a place with the highest concentration of birds per square kilometer than any other national park of Africa and hundreds of hippos etc.
Overnight: – AKAGERA GAME LODGE.
Day 4: GAME DRIVE & TRANSFER TO KIGALI:
Full day game drive in the park from the south and exit in the north of the park which gives you the opportunity to see diverse wildlife species (big 5, 12 species of antelopes, giraffes, hippos, crocodiles etc); undulating landscapes, cultural-historical sites in the park, over 525 species recorded in this park to mention but a few. You will have packed lunch boxes with fruits, juice, mineral water, professional driver guide and good 4×4 open roof jeep. DINNER AND OVERNIGHT AT EPIC HOTEL – NYAGATARE.
Day 5: TRANSFER TO VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK
Transfer to Volcanoes National Park. En-route visit the twin lakes and the Uganda – Rwanda border to enable guests enjoy the amazing landscapes and volcanic formations in the north. Overnight at La Palme hotel
DAY 6: BISOKE MOUNTAIN CLIMBING OR DIANA FOSSEY NATURE TRAIL WALK – VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK:
Early breakfast at 6am then transfer to the park at 6am for briefings and registrations. Two options prevail for the client to choose from; one is climbing Bisoke mountain which has a crater lake on top and get to see the different vegetation zones of the Virunga massif, other animals in the park such as elephants, buffaloes, duikers etc. Second option would be going for a breathtaking walk following the trails of Diana Fossey who was the 1st American primatologist to habituate mountain gorillas from 1967 until 1985 when she was killed in the park and now buried inside the park with other famous gorillas she worked with including Digit etc. Dinner and overnight at Palme Hotel
Day 7: GOLDEN MONKEY TREKKING
Go to the entrance of the Park early this morning to see the Golden Monkeys. It is now believed the only feasible population of these Golden Monkeys resides only in Volcanoes National Park part of the Albertine Rift Valley and endemic monkeys. They are beautiful and endangered primates which have become quite habituated to humans, making it possible to observe them closely. Dinner and overnight at Palme Hotel
Day 8: TRANSFER TO NYUNGWE VIA THE CONGO-NILE TRAIL
The Congo-Nile trail is one of the magnificent trails that interlinks with the most scenic sites of Lake Kivu and elaborate the entire Congo-Nile divide. The drive enriches you with real village life styles and activities. You will learn more about coffee and tea tours; get chance to visit Napoleon and Peace islands on lake Kivu where you will hike the islands to see fruit bats, birds and amazing sceneries of lake Kivu. Proceed to Nyungwe Forest. Overnight: – Emerald’s Hotel.
Day 9: CHIMPANZEE TRACKING IN NYUNGWE & WATERFALL HIKE
Early breakfast at 5:30am then drive to the edge of the forest to start the trekking of chimpanzee and also enjoy the day with the bearded primates including the black and white colobus monkeys, mountain monkeys, vervet monkeys, olive baboons etc. In the afternoon, visit the waterfalls or the canopy walk. Overnight: – Emerald’s Hotel.
Day 10: TRANSFER TO KIGALI VIA BUTARE:
En-route visit Murambi genocide memorial, historical-minded exploration of Nyanza – visit the King’s palace and traditional Rwanda home; the National ethnographic museum, introduction to Rwanda’s kingdoms, discovery of colonial architecture, enjoy traditional dancers from the museum. Transfer to airport after the trip.