Day 1: ARRIVAL & TRANSFER TO THE HOTEL

Arrival at the Kigali International Airport, meet and greet with the guide and give you a short briefing about the trip. Transfer to the Hotel, check in and acclimatize to the climate of Rwanda. Dinner and overnight at High End/ Midrange

DAY 2: KIGALI CITY EXPLORATION & TRANSFER TO AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK

Breakfast at the hotel later start the Kigali city exploration, get to learn more about Rwanda from the pre-colonial, colonial and post-colonial era as well as Genocide times. Start with Belgian camp which is near the hotel, where 10 UN peace keepers were killed before Genocide trying to protect the moderate Prime minister, later Visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial where over 250,000 Genocide victims were put to rest in mass graves.

After Lunch in Kigali, you will transfer to Fazenda Sengha at mount Kigali. Fazenda is an outdoor recreational center that offers horseback riding experiences, zip-lining and quad bikes experience.

Later you will drive to Akagera National Park where it is 2 hours and a half drive from Kigali city. This park is Rwanda’s largest national park and covers an area of approximately 1,122 square kilometers (433 square miles). The park is known for its diverse wildlife, including elephants, hippos, crocodiles, and a variety of bird species. It’s also home to predators like lions, leopards, and hyenas.

Akagera National Park offers opportunities for safaris, game drives, and boat trips along the Akagera River. It’s a beautiful destination for wildlife enthusiasts and those looking to experience the natural beauty of Rwanda.        Dinner and overnight at High End/ Midrange Hotel

DAY 3: GAME DRIVE- BOAT CRUISE & TRANSFER TO KIGALI 

Breakfast then after you will start game drive where you will get the opportunity to see over 11 species of antelopes, over 525 species of birds including the rare ones such as the shoe bill stock, papyrus gonolek and the big 5 i.e.  Lion, Leopard, Rhino, Buffalo and Elephant) to mention but a few. The park has the highest concentration of birds per square kilometer, very beautiful undulating landscapes, high species numbers and endemic species plus historical and cultural sites inside the park.

In the afternoon, you will drive to Lake Ihema for the thrilling boat ride to see schools of hippos, giant Nile crocodiles, different water birds, etc.

After you will drive out of the park and proceed to Kigali. Dinner and overnight at High End/ Midrange Hotel

DAY4 TRANSFER TO NYUNGWE NATIONAL PARK ENROUTE VISIT MUSEUMS

Breakfast at the hotel then transfer to Nyungwe National Park (8-9am) en-route do a historical minded exploration of Nyanza and Butare. Visit the King’s palace, reconstruction of the traditional royal residence, the King’s Palace is a beautifully-crafted thatched dwelling shaped like a beehive.

In olden times, Nyanza was the heart of Rwanda according to oral tradition, it was the site of battles and power struggles.

For a long time, the monarchy was mobile, moving the court between various locations. When it eventually settled in one place, Nyanza was the obvious choice. The capital of the kingdom had as many as 2,000 inhabitants, and huts built with the same methods as seen here. At the back live a few long-horned Inyambo cattle, descended from the king’s herd, whose keepers carefully tend and sing to them, keeping alive a unique tradition. The elegant cows, derived from the wider Ankole breed, played an important role during ceremonies in honor of the king. They were decorated with rich jewellery, and were taught to listen to a trainer’s songs and follow his movements in a stately parade. Rwanda ceased to be a monarchy in 1962, when it gained independence from colonial rule. However, the breeding and grooming of Inyambo is still carried out under the Rwanda Agriculture Board.

You will have lunch enroute, then after you will visit Ethnographic Museum which gives introduction to Rwanda’s kingdoms. It is a gift from Belgium’s King Badouin in the late 1980s, the Ethnographic Museum now houses one of Africa’s finest ethnographic collections, seven galleries display historical, ethnographic, artistic and archaeological artefacts accompanied by visual aids, giving visitors a rich insight into the Rwandan culture.

After visiting these wonderful museums, you will proceed to Nyungwe National Park. Dinner and overnight at High End/ Midrange Hotel

DAY 5: CHIMPANZEE TRACKING-CANOPY WALK WAY & TRANSFER TO GISENYI

Early breakfast (you can take packed breakfast) at 5AM then drive to the edge of the forest where chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe starts you will go with experienced trekking guides and trackers who will give you exciting information about the humans’ closest relative in DNA composition, you will spend up to an hour following and watching the chimpanzees once you spot them.

After having lunch, you will visit Canopy Walkway which is one of the longest and highest canopy walkways in East Africa. It extends for approximately 160 meters and stands at a height of about 70 meters above the forest floor.

Nyungwe Forest is known for its rich biodiversity, and the canopy walkway offers an excellent vantage point for observing various bird species, primates, and other wildlife that inhabit the forest.

After you will drive to Rubavu(Gisenyi)–approximately 4 hours driving-– is a large town on the northern edge of Lake Kivu Part of Africa’s Great Rift Valley, Lake Kivu in the west of Rwanda is surrounded by magnificent mountains and has deep emerald green waters covering a surface area of 2,700 km2. It is Rwanda’s largest lake and the sixth largest in Africa. Dinner and overnight at High End/ Midrange Hotel

DAY6: GISENYI BOAT RIDE, FISHING EXPERIENCE, VISIT BOARDERS & TRANSFER TO MUSANZE.

Breakfast then drives to Lake Kivu, the Rwanda’s most attractive of lake ports, nestled in a series of interwoven and undulating hills and offering visitors spectacular views of the lake, its islands and the stunning surrounding countryside. It is considered as one of Rwanda’s hidden treasures, with its lush green hills and peaceful breeze,

you will experience boating in Lake Kivu and fishing with traditional fishermen; get to learn different techniques they use.

 Later visit Hot spring at the shore of the lake and Border Crossings interesting experience its point of connection between Rwanda and DRC, after drive to volcanoes National Park. Dinner and overnight at High End/ Midrange Hotel

DAY 7: MOUNTAIN GORILLA TREKKING & ELLEN DE GENERESS GORILLA FUND

Early morning breakfast then drive to the park headquarters, arrival to the park reception, briefing and grouping, completing park formalities then embark on a once in a lifetime experience of tracking mountain gorillas.

Once you spot them you are allowed to spend an hour watching your closest long-lost cousin. This is perhaps one of the most breathtaking wildlife experiences on earth!!! You get so close to these awesome giant primates. You stare at each other blankly not knowing who to break the long silence first. Tracking the gorillas through the light mountain forest on the slopes of the Virunga is a magical experience.

After lunch visit Dian fossey Gorilla Fund, it is dedicated to the conservation, protection and study of gorillas and their habitats in Africa. Our successful, integrated approach includes close collaboration with local governments and communities as well as partner around the world.

The Ellen Campus represents a huge expansion of our teaching and laboratory spaces, enabling us to not just increase but transform our programs to study gorillas and their critical forest habitat and bring educational opportunities to early career African scientists and members of the local community.

Dinner and overnight at High end/ Midrange Hotel

DAY 8:  GOLDEN MONKEY TREKKING & TRANSFER TO KIGALI- DEPART

Breakfast then transfers to Volcanoes National Park reception, briefings and grouping, completing park formalities go to the entrance of the park early morning to trek 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.

After having lunch at the lodge, you will drive back to Kigali for flight out.

 

END OF SERVICES!

Important Note:

The cost of this package varies depending on several factors:

– Type of accommodation (5-star, midrange, or budget)

– Number of participants (solo traveler, couple, family, or group)

– Nationality (East African Community residents may have discounted park fees)

– Season (peak or low season rates)

QUOTATION

Number of People(USD)	Nationality Category
XXX	XXX

 

INCLUSIONS

– Private transportation in a 4×4 safari vehicle throughout the trip

– Accommodation as per itinerary (standard room – double occupancy; single room available)

– All meals and soft drinks as per itinerary

– Bottled water on board during transfers

– All tours mentioned in the itinerary

– Taxes and administrative costs

 EXCLUSIONS

– Travel and health insurance

– Alcoholic beverages and other caffeinated drinks

– Personal expenses such as laundry, tips, shopping, etc.

– Photography fees