During this Rwanda safari, you will reach to the historical places, join on cultural activities, view wildlife and you will enjoy Rwanda as a country. The gorilla safari will take you to Volcanoes National Park, Dian Fossey, Nyungwe Forest National Park and genocide memorial where the bodies of over 1500 people were buried.
The tour guide will pick you from your hotel and take you through Kigali city tour with a visit to Gisozi genocide memorial, Nyamata church, Caplaki craft village, and other local markets. Later you will have your lunch break and thereafter transfer to Akagera National Park which is located further eastern province of Rwanda.
This is the country’s Savannah Park that has variety of habitats hence being able to accommodate huge species of animals such as Elephants, Giraffes, plain Zebras, Rear roan Antelopes, Impalas, and Hippopotamus, crocodiles within the lake Ihema, Lions, Leopards Baboons, varvet monkeys, water bucks, bush bucks, among others together with lots of bird species of both Savannah, water and wood lands.
You will go for the game drive in search for game animals, lookout for Elephants, lions, giraffes, Zebra, leopards, Topi, Roan antelopes, Impalas water bucks and birds of Savannah and bush thickets. Park guides are important during the game drive because they are knowledgeable about the area and will take you to the right spots while sharing with your important information about the different species.
Akagera is one of the few places where night game drives can be arranged. Night game drives are done using spotlights and an open-roof vehicle to allow visitors spot nocturnal animals like genet, mongoose, bush babies, owls, night jar, leopards and hyenas.
These animals and birds are very difficult to see during the day. Night game drives cost $40 for an international visitor and lasts between two to three hours.
You will be driven to Nyungwe Forest National Park with en-route visit to Nyanza king’s palace, Butare national museum, Murambi genocide memorial thereafter continue and enter the forest to Gisakura area where you will have your accommodation.
The forest is huge one of the largest remaining of the African tropical rain forests that hosts around 13 primate species, this will include Chimpanzee, Angolan colobus monkey, owl faced monkey L’Hoest monkey red tailed monkey among others plus a lots of bird species with high concentration of Albertine rift endemic bird species.
After your breakfast you will be driven to the park office ready for chimp tracking. Here you will be briefed about the dos and don’ts then set off for drive to the walk start point in the forest, approximate 1 hour and 20 minutes to get to the starting point where walking will start, start you trek as you look out for Chimpanzees together with the park ranger, when you return, you will have lunch and drive to Uwinka to start your canopy walk that will last 1-2 hours.
This is the time you will walk on swinging bridge across the forest as you get the chance to see birds’ monkeys of different types as well as scenery or you may choose to do Angolan colobus monkey, the rare monkey found in few places at high elevation along the Albertine rift valley.
you will set off to Lake Kivu in Gisenyi town, through a scenic view of eastern province have lunch on the way, you will take an evening sunset boat ride enjoying the view of islands, gas plant and beautiful landscape around with visit to the hot springs.
Relaxing and chilling out along Lake Kivu is the best way to bring your Rwanda gorilla tour to a memorable end. Lake Kivu is the perfect place to just be instead of doing, the relax, read a book, enjoy the tropical sun, the splendid views of the Lake, the Islands, the Mountains, fishing boats, the smell of the water, the light breeze – once again – Lake Kivu the best place to relax and chill out in Rwanda – you will enjoy your time along the shores of Rwanda’s most scenic Lake
You will take a scenic drive up the hills to Kimbiri where you will experience a coffee tour, be ready to learn about the process of how coffee can be planted cared harvested till the consumers cup, on return you will be transferred to Volcanoes National Park Rwanda.
After your breakfast report to the park offices for the briefing about gorilla tracking well dressed in trekking attire and with enough drinking water. The trekking here will take 3 -6 hours, you will be joined by other people to make a small group of 8 participants and then walk up the mountain with a park ranger who will interpret the gorilla behaviors in the wild, later after gorilla trekking tour you will visit cultural village called IbyI’wacu for cultural demonstrations and entertainments.
Another early morning start after breakfast, the guide will take you back to the park office where all activity briefings are conducted from, be ready for your hiking experience to Mt. Bisoke which 3711m high, it’s one of the beautiful Volcano that has a crater lake on top called lake Bisoke, enjoy the good views of the country and surrounding volcanic mountain up to the top.
Take your breakfast and then drive to the park office ready for golden monkey tracking, this is a type of monkey that is declared endangered and on found in the Virunga ranges in this specific area. The tracking will take 3-4 hours then you will be brought back.
Trackers can locate them by looking out for fresh leftovers of bamboo shoot. Each day of tracking golden monkeys is different – the weather and troop movements decide how the day will go. Because of their constant movements on tree tops, taking photos of these monkeys involves some difficulty.
The only time the monkeys stay still is when taking shelter during the rains or when it gets too windy. The winds make it difficult for them to locate their enemies and a need to stay alert for eagles.
After lunch you transfer to Kigali, for shopping later proceed to the Airport for your departure flight back home or the guide will take you to your desired place of stay this will mark the end of the safari.
