Countries: Rwanda and DR Congo
Destinations: Kigali, Akagera National Park and Kahuzi Biega National Park.
Itinerary at Glance
Day 1: Arrive in Kigali
Day 2: Transfer to Akagera for game drive and boat ride
Day 3: Full day game drive and return to Kigali
Day 4: Transfer to DRC – Rubavu
Day 5: Gorilla Habituation at Kahuzi Biega National Park
Day 6: Transfer to Kigali for departure (evening flight)
Overview:
Embark on a remarkable 6-day adventure with One More Adventure Safaris, combining the best of wildlife exploration in Rwanda’s Akagera National Park and an extraordinary gorilla habituation experience in the pristine Kahuzi Biega National Park in Congo. From Kigali to Bukavu, immerse yourself in the natural wonders and captivating wildlife of the region. This 6-day adventure with One More Adventure Safaris offers a unique blend of wildlife discovery, scenic beauty, and a close encounter with endangered gorillas. It’s a journey filled with memories that will last a lifetime.
Trip Highlights
- Gorilla habituation at Kahuzi Biega National Park
- Game drive in Akagera National Park
- Boat cruise on Lake Ihema
- Kigali city tour
- An incredible encounter with gorillas
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali
Day Itinerary
Upon arrival at Kigali international airport, you will go through customs and immigration, and you will be met by our company guide who will warmly welcome you to the Land of a thousand hills that Rwanda is known for, and later drive to your booked hotel accommodation. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Overnight stay at: Hotel des Mille Collins(Mid – range lodge).
Meal Plan: Bed & breakfast
Day 2: Transfer to Akagera for Game Drive and Sunset Boat Ride
Day Itinerary
Today, after your relaxed morning breakfast at your hotel, you will be met, by your safari guide, share a short briefing and later jump into your safari jeeps and leave for Akagera national park, the journey to Akagera national park takes about 2.5 hours depending on the stopovers along the way, with the beautiful unwinding landscape en route to the park, feel free to ask the guide for stopovers to capture some photos. On arrival at the park, we shall proceed to our accommodation after a short game drive and check in for lunch. We ordered lunch and later headed for a brief game drive for game viewing. We will be searching for the big mammals like Elephants, Giraffes, Buffaloes, several Antelope species, and recently the re-introduced Lions and Rhinos. The park is a varied habitat for wildlife and a number of bird species with over 500 bird species in the park making it a birding paradise. After, we head for a sunset boat trip on Lake Ihema watch Hippos and crocodiles in the water or by the shores and meet the buffaloes and elephants wallowing by the water banks. Later return to the lodge for dinner and evening stay.
Akagera National Park.
Bordering with Tanzania to the East, in Rwanda, Akagera National Park, is Rwanda’s only savannah park, patched with a number of bird species, with over 500 bird species can be spotted, and numerous wildlife, including the Big Five. Akagera National Park, has been recently stalked with Rhinoceros, and lions, which has greatly multiplied and improved on the wildlife safari experience in Akagera. The park offers endless day game drives and night game drives including a boat cruise on Lake Ihema. If you’re truly into wildlife safari experience, Akagera National Park is a great add on, on your trip to Rwanda.
Overnight stay at: Akagera Game Safari Lodge (Mid – range lodge).
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 3: Full Day Game Drive and Return to Kigali
Day Itinerary
Have an early morning breakfast at your lodge, and order for picnic lunch as well, later meet your safari guide, and head off for a full day game drive to the north of the park, spot countless wildlife, as you try as much as possible, and later have picnic lunch served during the course of the day. You will continue with the game drive up to the northern exit, use the loose before we drive back to Kigali and later be dropped at the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Overnight stay at: Hotel des Mille Collins
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 4: Transfer to Bukavu – Congo
Day Itinerary
Upon getting done with your early morning breakfast at your hotel in Kigali or upon arrival at Kigali airport with an early morning flight, you will be met by your driver guide, who will brief you shortly and drive Rubavu via Karongi as you proceed for lunch in Rusizi, in a local restaurant, before we proceed to Rubavu border post, where we shall undergo immigration process, get DRC visa and you cross over to DR Congo through Rubavo border to your booked lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Kahuzi Biega National Park
Located in the southeastern part of DR Congo, 30 km away from Bukavu, which is a border post between Rwanda and DR Congo, Kahuzi – Biega National Park is the only national park in DR Congo where visitors have the opportunity to track the famous eastern lowland gorillas in their natural habitat. The park was established in 1970, with the main aim to conserve the lowland Eastern gorillas, which are the major attraction of the park. The park has two fully habituated gorillas that are the major source of attraction. The park covers an area of 6000 km 2 and protects a mountain forest in eastern DRC, which is the most densely populated region of the country. The park is named after the two spectacular extinct volcanoes which dominate its high altitude sector, Mont Kahuzi (3,308m) and Mont Biega (2,790m). Kahuzi Biega National Park is a Safe destination that is managed by Wildlife Conservation Society. The eastern lowland gorilla—also known as Grauer’s gorilla—is the largest of the four gorilla subspecies. It is distinguished from other gorillas by its stocky body, large hands and short muzzle. Despite its size, eastern lowland gorillas subsist mainly on fruit and other herbaceous materials, just like other gorilla subspecies.
Overnight stay at: Nediva Hotel Bukavu (Mid – range lodge).
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 5: Gorilla Habituation in Kahuzi Biega National Park
Day Itinerary
After a delightful breakfast in the morning, you will head for your first briefing at the park headquarters’, where you will as well get the registration, and pick up your assigned ranger guides and drive off to the park habituation trekking starting point for your lowland gorilla habituation experience. You will later head off with your ranger guide, and a team of researchers who will share with you a lot of information about Kahuzi Biega National Park and how the gorilla habituation exercise is done. You will have a maximum of 4 hours with the gorillas, watch mothers wean their babies as the gentle giant, look around in protection. You will later return to your booked accommodation for refreshment, later have lunch and spend the afternoon at leisure. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Note: You can opt to transfer to Rwanda and stay in Karongi, around Lake Kivu
Overnight stay at: Nediva Hotel Bukavu (Mid – range lodge).
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 6: Return to Kigali for Departure
Day Itinerary
Today after taking your early morning breakfast, you will meet with your driver guide, share a short briefing as usual, and transfer over to Rwanda through Bukavu border and hit the road to Kigali, catch up with lunch and later visit the Kigali genocide memorial grounds, which honors the memory of the more than one million Rwandans killed in 1994 through education and peace-building. You will be able to watch and listen to some video clips from some of the survivors’ of the incident. If time permits, visit the local markets and craft shops, before heading to the airport to catch up with your onward flight. End of service!
Meal Plan: Breakfast & lunch.
This safari package includes.
- Transportation in a 4×4 safari vehicle
- Accommodation and meals as per itinerary
- Gorilla habituation permit per person
- Museums visit
- Game drive in Akagera
- Boat cruise on Lake Ihema
- Park fees
- En-route lunches
- Kigali city tour
- Services of English speaking driver/guide
- Bottles of mineral water
- Fun and other excursions as mentioned in the itinerary.
The package excludes expenses of personal nature like:
- Visa Fees & flights
- Optional activities
- Tips & gratuities
- Laundry
- Alcoholic drinks
- International vaccinations
- Health test requirements
- Porter fees while trekking
- Personal travel Insurance
- Personal shopping bills
- Phone call bills
- Extras while at the hotel
- Items of personal nature
Please contact us for a free detailed quote on the option of your choice. We can tailor a request that suits your interests, and budget, as well as we can change or upgrade the lodge options. Write to us with more details about your safari.