The 11 days Remarkable Rwanda Safari is designed in such a way to fulfill the desire of any traveler who intends to explore Rwanda to the maximum in terms of History, culture, nature and wildlife. This 11 days Rwanda safari includes the most important and beautiful places that Rwanda has to offer such as, Akagera national park, Nyungwe national park, Lake Kivu-Gisenyi, Volcanoes National park a home to mountain gorillas, Historical and cultural site in Butare, and Gorilla guardians village ( ibyi wacu). The 11 Days Rwanda Safari will give you the opportunity to explore the entire beauty of the country
11 days Remarkable Rwanda Safari highlights:
- Kigali City tour
- Game drives in Akagera national park
- Boat ride on Lake Ihema and Lake Kivu in Gisenyi
- Chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe national park
- Canopy walk in Nyungwe forest national park
- Community coffee tour
- Cultural visits
- Gorilla tracking
- Golden Monkey tracking
- Hiking mount Bisoke volcano up to Crater Lake.
Detailed Itinerary for 11 days Remarkable Rwanda Safari:
Day 1- Arrival and transfer to the Hotel
Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, the tour guide will welcome you and transfer you to your hotel for your overnight stay at KIGALI SERENA HOTEL / HOTEL DES MILLES COLLINES / FIVE TO FIVE HOTEL
Day 2- City Tour and transfer to Akagera national park
On this day after your morning breakfast, 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, Kaplaki craft village, and other local markets. Later you will Have your lunch break and thereafter transfer to Akagera national park which is located further in eastern province of Rwanda. This is the country’s Savannah park that has variety of habitats hence being able to accommodate huge species of big game animals such as Elephants, Giraffes, plain Zebras, Roan Antelopes, Impalas ,and Hippopotamus, crocodiles within the lake Ihema, Lions, Leopards Baboons, varvet monkeys, waterbucks, bushbucks, among others together with lots of bird species of both Savannah, water and wood lands. You will have dinner and overnight at RUSIIZI TENTED CAMP / AKAGERA GAME LODGE
Day 3- Morning Game drive and afternoon boat cruise at Lake Ihema
On this day, after morning breakfast together with your packed lunch, you will go for game drive in search of Zebras, giraffes, impalas, Elephants baboons, topi, leopards on rare occasions, Elands, Roan antelopes and lions that were recently introduced, later you will return to your lodge for the lunch break, then later in afternoon you will go for the boat ride on lake Ihema , the largest lake in the park where you stand chances to spot hippos, crocodiles and aquatic birds species like herons, sand pipers, pied kingfishers and many more, after the boat Ride, return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay at RUSIIZI TENTED CAMP / AKAGERA GAME LODGE
Day 4-Game drive through the North area as you transfer to Kigali city
In the morning after your breakfast, you will go for the game drive in search for big game animals, lookout for Elephants, lions, giraffes, Zebra, leopards, topi, Roan antelopes, Impalas waterbucks and birds of Savannah and bush thickets. You will continue your game drive, enjoying beautiful scenery up to the northern gate where you will exit at the end of the game drive. You will then continue your journey to Kigali for your overnight stay at KIGALI SERENA HOTEL / HOTEL DES MILLE COLLINES /FIVE TO FIVE HOTEL.
Day 5- Transfer to Nyungwe Forest national park with en-route visit to cultural & historical sites.
After your breakfast in the morning, you will transfer to Nyungwe national park with en route visit to Nyanza kings palace, Butare ethnographic museum, Murambi genocide memorial with lunch break en-route, thereafter continue and enter the forest as you proceed to gisakura area where you will have your accommodation. The forest is huge and its one of the largest surviving African tropical rain forests that hosts around 13 primate species, this includes chimpanzee, Angola colobus monkey, owl faced monkey l’horst monkey, red tailed monkey among others plus a lots of bird species, not forgetting its high concentration of Albertine rift endemic bird species. You will check in to the lodge have dinner and overnight stay at ONE & ONLY NYUNGWE HOUSE / NYUNGWE TOP VIEW HILL HOTEL / GISAKURA GUEST HOUSE.
Day 6- Chimpanzee tracking and afternoon canopy walk/ colobus monkey tracking.
A relatively early morning start, after your breakfast drive to the ranger station ready for chimp tracking. Here you will be briefed then set off to drive into the forest. Its approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes to get to the starting point where walking will begin as you start your chimp trek. Search for chimpanzee together with the park ranger. You will thereafter return to your lodge for lunch break. In the afternoon, you will drive to Uwinka visitor centre to start your canopy walk that will last 1-2 hours. Here you will experience and enjoy your walk on swinging bridge across the forest as you get the chance to see birds monkeys of different types as well as amazing forest views between ridges. Alternatively, you may choose to do Angolan colobus monkey, the rare monkey found in few places at high elevation along the Albertine rift valley. Afterwards return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at ONE & ONLY NYUNGWE HOUSE / NYUNGWE TOP VIEW HILL HOTEL / GISAKURA GUEST HOUSE
Day 7- Transfer to Gisenyi on Lake Kivu & Afternoon sun set boat ride
On this day, you will set off to Gisenyi town near Lake Kivu, through a scenic view of western province have lunch on the way. You will take an Evening sunset boat ride, enjoying the view of islands, methane gas plant and beautiful landscape around. The boat will take you up to the hot spring point where you will make a turning point as you head back. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at LAKE KIVU SERENA HOTEL / PALM RESORT / PARADISE MALAHIDE
Day 8- Coffee tour and transfer to Volcanoes national park
On this day after breakfast, you will take a Boat ride again and head to Kimbiri coffee farm and processing area for your coffee experience tour. Here you will tour the farm to learn about the process of how coffee can be planted cared harvested till the consumers cup. You will make your own coffee cup at the end. On return from Coffee tour, you will be transferred to Volcanoes national park for your overnight stay at FIVE VOLCANOES BOUTIQUE HOTEL / DAVINCI GORILLA LODGE / HOTEL MUHABURA
Day 9 – Mountain Gorilla tracking and cultural tour to Gorilla guardians village (ibyi wacu)
An Amazing day for you, after your breakfast report to the park offices for the briefing about gorilla tracking. You will need to be well dressed in gorilla tracking attire, carry enough drinking water and lunch pack. The tracking will take 3 – 6 hours, depending on which group you are assigned to, and depending the movement of the animal together with your own pace. You will be joined by other people to make a maximum group of of 8 people, and the walk up the mountain with a park ranger who will interpret the gorilla behaviors in the wild. Later after tracking you will visit cultural village called Gorilla guardians village formerly ( Iby iwacu) for cultural demonstrations and entertainments. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at FIVE VOLCANOES BOUTIQUE HOTEL / DAVINCI GORILLA LODGE / HOTEL MUHABURA
Day 10 – Mount Bisoke Hiking
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 an amazing crater lake on top called lake Bisoke. Enjoy the good views of the country and surrounding volcanic mountains up to the top. To do this activity you must be physically fit as the pass will be muddy just in case of heavy rain. Later descend the mountain up to your lodge for relaxation dinner and overnight stay at FIVE VOLCANOES BOUTIQUE HOTEL / DAVINCI GORILLA LODGE / HOTEL MUHABURA
Day 11- Golden monkey tracking and transfer to Kigali,
On this last day of your 11 days Rwanda safari, Wake up and take your breakfast, then drive to the park office ready for golden monkey tracking. Golden monkey is a type of monkey that is declared endangered and only surviving in the virunga ranges, specifically Volcanoes National Park and mount mgahinga in Uganda side . The tracking will take 3-4 hours thereafter, you will be brought back. You will have your lunch before you transfer to Kigali, for last minute shopping. On this afternoon of your 11 days Rwanda safari, the tour guide will then drop you at your preferred Hotel or will drop you at the Airport if it will be you scheduled departure flight.
The cost of the above itinerary will include the following:
- Transport in comfortable 4WD Safari vehicle with fuel.
- Full time Service of an experience English speaking tour Driver/ guide
- Accommodation for the nights on the safari with meals
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Chimpanzee tracking permit
- Golden monkey tracking fees
- Boat ride fees
- Park entry fees
- All activities as mentioned in the itinerary
- Bottled drinking water while on the tour
However, the cost of the 11 days Remarkable Rwanda safari itinerary will exclude;
- Visa fees
- Domestic and international flights
- personal medical insurance and emergency fees
- All optional Activities
- Expense of personal nature e.g, Tipping, beverages, shopping, etc
End of the 11 days Remarkable Rwanda Safari: