Countries: Rwanda
Destinations: Kigali, Volcanoes National Park, and Akagera National Park
Itinerary at Glance
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali
Day 2: Kigali City tour and transfer to Volcanoes National Park.
Day 3: Gorilla Trek at Volcanoes National Park
Day 4: Golden Monkey Trek and transfer to Kigali
Day 5: Transfer to Akagera National Park for game drive
Day 6: Game drive and boat trip in Akagera
Day 7: Full day game drive in Akagera National Park
Day 8: Departure
Overview
This 8 Days Explore Rwanda gorilla and golden monkey trekking safari takes you to Volcanoes National Park well known for Gorilla trekking in Rwanda. Drive through the unwinding hills in rural areas into the home of endangered mountain gorillas. Your safari begins from Kigali urban settings into the village setting of Musanze, this park is a habitat to a variety of primate species that you may encounter during your trekking. You will also travel to Akagera National Park, the only savannah park and be able to encounter a number of bird species and other wildlife on a lucky day. You will as well have a Kigali city tour, as well as golden monkey trekking and wildlife safari to Akagera National Park.
Trip Highlights
- Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
- Golden monkey trekking in Volcanoes National Park
- Game drives in Akagera National Park
- Boat ride on Lake Ihema
- Cultural experience
- Kigali city tour
Day 1: Welcome to Kigali – Rwanda!
Day Itinerary
Upon arrival at Kigali international airport and passing through the immigration process, you will be welcomed by our safari driver who will brief you shortly and transfer you to the booked accommodation.
Overnight stay at: Hotel des Mille Collines
Meal Plan: Bed and breakfast
Day 2: Transfer from Kigali to Volcanoes NP. Travel time: 2hrs
Day Itinerary
Upon getting done with your hotel breakfast in Kigali, or upon arrival at Kigali airport, you will be met by our company representative, who will introduce you to your safari driver guide, who will brief you shortly and later transfer you to the booked accommodation in Musanze which is roughly a 2 hours’ drive. If time allows, you can have a short brief Kigali city tour, with a visit to Kigali genocide memorial, learn more about the Rwanda 1994, genocide incidence, and later have lunch, before you hit up on the road, to find your way to you booked in Musanze. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge.
Volcanoes National park
Bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda in Rwanda, the Volcanoes National Park is best known as a sanctuary for the region’s rare mountain gorillas. Visitors flock here to experience a face to face encounter with these intriguing creatures, making it the most famous park in Rwanda. The park is set high on the jungle-covered slopes of the volcanic Virunga Mountains. Highly regulated treks through the reserve allow visitors to spend an hour at a time with these incredible primates in their natural habitat. While the gorillas are without a doubt the main drawcard, visitors can also look forward to exploring a network of scenic hiking trails, visiting the tomb of the world-famous Dian Fossey and the Karisoke Research Centre, and enjoying a beautiful day hike to the Crater Lake on Mount Bisoke. You can as well as opt for trekking the shy golden monkeys or head for a canoe ride on the twin lakes. The beautiful Buhanga Eco Park, still remains virgin and open to visitors, where you get more cultural insight in regards to leadership and kingship of Rwanda.
Overnight stay at: Amarembo Gorilla Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 3: Gorilla Trekking Experience at Volcanoes National Park
Day Itinerary
Finally, here comes the day, to get face to face with the gentle gorillas. After your breakfast at the lodge, your guide will be right there, to pick you up from your lodge, for briefing at the park headquarters’, for briefing and group allocation and you will later set off, for the search in the jungle, to allocate the gorillas. A minimal level of fitness is required, such that you will be in full gear to hike at great energy. In a short while of hiking, you will definitely find the gorillas, and you will have an ample moment of interaction, one on one, eye to eye, and if lucky, shoulder to shoulder with these great apes, as you meet them in their natural setting. The trek can last for 2 – 6 hours, depending on the gorilla movements, and your fitness level. This is always looked at as a one or two lifetime moment, where you come face to face with the gorillas. The experience is magical, I have no words to describe it. An hour will be allocated for you, such that you’re able to stay calm in their presence, take as many photos of your choices, and video clips as well. Later you will descend, and return to your cottages, for a lunch – retreat. This is always the highlight of the trips taken to Rwanda. You have finally ticked off a bucket list of a gorilla encounter dream. Afternoon at leisure, at the lodge.
Overnight stay at: Amarembo Gorilla Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 4: Golden Monkey trekking and Transfer to Kigali. Travel time + 2 hrs
Day Itinerary
Today after your warm early morning breakfast, you will be picked by our safari driver guide who will transfer you to the park headquarters for briefing and start off your day golden monkey trekking. Just like the gorilla trekking experience, the same applies to golden monkey trekking though not so hectic like gorilla trekking. You will later return to the lodge for lunch and later transfer to Kigali, if time permits, visit the local market and later. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge.
Overnight stay at: Hotel des Mille Collines
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 5: Transfer to Akagera National Park. Travel time + 2.5 hours
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 night game drive in search of the nocturnal wildlife, which can be sighted in the late evening. Later return to the lodge for dinner and evening stay.
Akagera National Park.
Bordering Tanzania at the East, in Rwanda, Akagera National Park, is the only Rwanda’s savannah park, patched with a number of bird species, with over 500 bird species can be spotted, 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: Ruzizi Tented Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 6: Game drive and boat trip at Lake Ihema in Akagera National Park
Have breakfast at the lodge and head for morning game drive in the southern sector of the game in search of wildlife, after returning to the lodge for refreshment and lunch. After lunch, we head for a boat trip on Lake Ihema at 3 pm watch Hippos and crocodiles in the water or by the shores and meet the buffaloes and elephants wallowing by the water banks. In the evening, you will head for evening game drive, to explore the park, and have chances of encountering some nocturnal, and leopards can often be sighted in the cool evening hours. Later return to the lodge for dinner and evening stay.
Overnight stay at: Ruzizi Tented Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 7: Full day Game drive at Akagera National Park
Day Itinerary
Today early morning after having your breakfast at your lodge/ camp, you will be picked by your safari driver guide at about 6 am from your lodge and head for a full day safari game drive to Akagera national park with your parked lunch from the lodge, as you will not return back. Akagera National Park is a Savannah Park with Elephants, Zebras, Giraffes, Buffaloes, Waterbucks, Topi’s and recently introduced Lions. We shall take a game drive in search of these wildlife and numerous bird species. The game drive can last about 5 – 7 hours depending on the animal sightings and interest. Have a picnic lunch in case you packed before your last game drive and drove back to the lodge.
Overnight stay at: Ruzizi Tented Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 8: Departure
Day Itinerary
Today, have a relaxed breakfast, and later transfer back to Kigali, have lunch and time permitting, and head for a brief city tour, with a visit to the local market and later drop off at the airport for your afternoon flight back home. End of 8 days Explore Rwanda! Meal Plan: Breakfast and lunch.
This safari package includes.
- Transportation in a 4×4 safari vehicle
- Accommodation and meals as per itinerary
- 1 Gorilla permit at 1500 per person
- En-route lunches
- Park entrance fees
- Game drives as mentioned
- Boat ride in Akagera
- Golden monkey permit
- Visit to Kigali genocide memorial
- Soft drink during the meal
- Kigali city tour
- Services of English speaking driver/guide
- Bottles of mineral water during the safari
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.