DAY 1
Arrival in kigali and drive to akagera national park- 2-hour drive to park
Arrive at Kigali International Airport, welcomed by our representative outside the customs and immigration hall, who will assist with immigration procedures. Immediately set off to Akagera National Park and arrive at the south gate and drive to your camp.
You will enjoy an evening boat cruise. The cruise will take you on an unforgettable journey as the sunsets. The lakes and surrounds offer views of wildlife such as cormorants, hippos and crocodiles. Knowledgeable guides are on hand to answer any questions and point out points of interest along the cruise. Overnight stay at Ruzizi Tented Camp.
DAY 2
Full day game drive
Today you will carry a packed breakfast and proceed for a morning game. On your first game drive, you will view open plains, woodlands, lakes, swamps, and grassy low mountains, home to one of Africa’s highest hippo densities, large crocodiles, as well as the rare sitatunga and almost 500 species of birds. Akagera also boasts a healthy population of lions, which were introduced by African Parks in 2015 after a 20-year absence while the black rhinos were reintroduced in 2017. After the experience, return to camp for lunch and relaxation. Later in the afternoon, you may go for another game drive.
DAY 3
Drive to kigali and visit the genocide memorial- 5 hour drive
Today morning you will drive to the North gate and proceed to Kigali city to break your journey for the next day’s tour to Nyungwe. From the North gate you will drive two hours to Kigali have lunch and in the afternoon visit the genocide memorial. Overnight stays at Kigali Serena Hotel.
DAY 4
Drive to nyungwe national park – 6-hour drive
After an early breakfast at the hotel, you will start your drive to Nyungwe. Situated in southwestern Rwanda, the Nyungwe Forest National Park is known for its exceptional biodiversity and its wide range of endemic species and the home of Rwanda’s sole remaining chimpanzee population, as well as 85 additional mammal species, 43 reptile species, nearly 300 bird species and over 1000 plant species. You will spend this day at leisure enjoying the property. Overnight stay at One&Only Nyungwe House
DAY 5
Chimp trekking and canopy walk in nyungwe national park
The day begins bright and early, driving to the park headquarters at 5:00am with a packed
breakfast. After an insightful chimpanzee trek briefing, you’ll be escorted to the forest at 6:00am and start your trek. Alongside the famous chimps, you are likely to spot a wide variety of bird life. Upon encountering the chimps, you can stay in their presence for one hour as you enjoy their acrobatics, feeding, and day-to-day behaviors. You’ll make your return to the resort at around 11:00am, and lunch will be served.
In the afternoon, we take you once again to the park headquarters for the canopy walk briefing at 3:00pm The canopy walkway consists of three bridges and three towers, with a total length of 200m. Your expert Park Guide will not only reveal the forest canopy, but also explain why it is an integral part of the tropical rainforest ecosystem. You will learn what the major characteristics of a rainforest and its canopy are, and the importance Nyungwe National Park to Rwanda as a whole.
DAY 6
Road transfer to volcanoes national park – 6hours drive
After enjoying an early breakfast at the resort, you will check out and drive to Volcanoes National Park. Best known as a sanctuary for the region’s rare mountain gorillas. Visitors flock here to experience a face-to-face encounter with these magnificent creatures. Overnight stays at One&Only Gorillas Nest or Virunga Inn.
DAY 7
Volcanoes national park – gorilla trek/relaxation
You will have a morning call at around 5:30am before meeting at the main dining area at 6:00am for breakfast and a cup of freshly brewed Rwandan coffee. 6:45am depart for the Trekking Headquarters at Volcanoes National Park (20-minute drive), on arrival: Coffee will be served, while your driver guide secures your spots with specific gorilla families (selecting the most suitable family depending on the group’s requirements – there are however no guarantees).
You will then gather in a group with the Volcanoes National Park Guide for a detailed briefing. At 8:00am, vehicles will depart to the various trailheads for a 15-minute to one-hour drive – depending on the gorilla family each group has been allocated. At the start of the trailhead, you will be allocated a porter to assist with carrying bags and navigating challenging terrain, (this is recommended). Cash is required to pay the porters (the minimum amount is USD 10). The time that it takes to reach the gorilla family varies and can be anything from 30 minutes to 3-4 hours, and treks reach an altitude from 2,500-4,000m.
The gorilla-trekking terrain varies from farmlands to thick bushes closer to the Park boundary, and visitors may be allocated to a gorilla family who is on the move – which could make their trek longer. This may at times require navigating a path through dense vegetation, which can be slippery. There are also stinging nettles, which is why we recommend packing gloves and gators to be used during Gorilla trekking.
DAY 8
Golden monkey trekking and drive back to kigali
Today morning after your breakfast, you will go for a Golden Monkey trekking. Trekking to see the Golden Monkeys is not as strenuous as the other hikes in the park. The Golden Monkey (Cercopithecus Mitis Kandti) is a local subspecies of the widespread Sykes Monkey, also known as the ‘Blue Monkey’ and is endemic to the high altitude forests. The monkeys are playful and inquisitive and often spend their time leaping from bamboo branches or frolicking on the forest floor. There are two habituated groups of Golden Monkey, one group comprises around 80 – 100 members, with its home at the foot of Mount Sabyinyo. You will then return to the accommodation where you will freshen up, have lunch and depart to Kigali.
Tour Inclusions
- Meet and greet on arrival & departure
- Private Airport and inter-hotel transfers from day 1 to the last day
- Stays at hotels/lodges & meals mentioned in the program
- Exclusive use of a safari land cruiser 4×4 with WIFI where receptive and pop up roof
- Services of a professional, experienced English speaking driver guide
- Bottled mineral water in the vehicle during the tour
- 1 Chimp trekking, 1 Canopy walk permit per person
- 1 Gorilla trekking permit per person and if traveling in low season permit is at a 30% discount
- 1 Golden Monkey trekking permits per person
- All activities, Park entry fee, visits and extra meals mentioned in the itinerary
- Emergency Medical Evacuation Services
- Genocide Memorial entrance fee
- Our assistance
Tour Exclusions
- International airline tickets
- Entry visa fees – $ 50.- pp
- Optional extras whilst in Kigali
- Soft and alcoholic drinks
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal expenses such as telephone calls, porter-age, travel insurance, etc.