12 Days Explore Rwanda Safari
12 Days Explore Rwanda Safari
12 Days Explore Rwanda Safari : Explore the magical beautify of Rwanda – the “land of a thousand Hills”. Enjoy the different scenic backdrops and landscape of Rwanda as you take turns along the hilly roads. Rwanda’s parks are a mixture of savannah, forest, and mountains. On this 12 Days Explore Rwanda Safari, you will trek chimpanzees and colobus monkeys in Nyungwe Forest, trek mountain gorillas and golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park as well as exploring Kigali City.
Highlights of 12 Days Explore Rwanda Safari
- Day 1: Welcome to Rwanda
- Day 2: Explore Kigali City
- Day 3: Nyungwe National Park – Ethnographic Museum
- Day 4: Chimpanzee Trekking | Canopy Walk
- Day 5: Colobus Monkey Trekking | Transfer To Lake Kivu
- Day 6: Lake Kivu
- Day 7: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
- Day 8: Gorilla Trekking | Ellen Degeneres Gorilla Campus
- Day 9: Golden Monkeys & Gorilla Guardians Village
- Day 10: To Akagera National Park
- Day 11: Akagera National Park | Game Drive
- Day 12: Departure
Detailed itinerary of 12 Days Explore Rwanda Safari
Day 1: Welcome to Rwanda
Welcome to Rwanda the “land of a thousand hills”. Our guide/representative will be waiting for you at the airport to pick you and transfer you to the hotel in Kigali for check-in and overnight.
Accommodation: Raddison Blu
Meal Plan: Dinner
Day 2: Explore Kigali City
Drive through the neighborhoods of Kigali which are first growing, changing the face of Kigali City. Visit the Nyamirambo Women’s Centre and see the amazing artisan work by these women. You can purchase some from them.
Visit Kigali Genocide Memorial Site commemorating the horrific 1994 Rwanda Genocide, Kimironko Market to buy Crafts and also enjoy sights of Kigali.
Accommodation: Raddison Blu
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Nyungwe National Park – Ethnographic Museum
Transfer to Nyungwe Forest in Southern Rwanda after breakfast, have a stopover in Huye hosting the enthnographic Museum of Rwanda, here you will learn about the culture and history of the Rwanda People.
Later proceed to Nyungwe Forest National Park arriving late in the afternoon, check in at your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation: One&Only Nyungwe House
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Chimpanzee Trekking | Canopy Walk
After an early breakfast, leave for chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest. Join other trekkers at the park headquarters for briefing about chimpanzee trekking as well as the dos and don’ts.
Nyungwe Forest National Park is rich in botanical diversity and home to 13 species of primates including Chimpanzees, L’Hoest monkeys and Columbus monkeys, with about 300 bird species and several butterflies. Your guide will lead you into the forest for chimpanzee trekking, when you locate the chimpanzees you are allowed to spend only one hour in their presence watching them groom each other and take amazing photos.
Return to the lodge for lunch and in the afternoon, take a canopy walk which lasts approximately 2 hours after which you return to your lodge.
Accommodation: One&Only Nyungwe House
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Colobus Monkey Trekking | Transfer To Lake Kivu
Wake up early and head to the briefing point at Nyungwe Forest, after the briefing your ranger guide will lead you into the forest for search for Colobus Monkeys, look forward to experiencing fascinating interactions of the monkeys as they groom, feed and play with each other. You are allowed to stay 1 hour in their presence before you start the trek back.
Transfer to Lake Kivu Area for a good relaxation time. Have stops for photography and proceed to your lodge for check-in.
Accommodation: Lake Kivu Serena Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: Lake Kivu
Explore the Lake Kivu Town, have a walk in the town, visit the Museum of Environment, take a canoe ride on Lake Kivu or simply relax at the hotel.
Accommodation: Lake Kivu Serena Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Have breakfast and start the journey to Volcanoes National Park with a stopover visit at the former Imbabazi Orphanage where you will learn about the transformation work they have done in the area.
Proceed to the park arriving in the late afternoon and spend the rest of the day at rest.
Accommodation: One&Only Gorilla’s Nest
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 8: Gorilla Trekking | Ellen Degeneres Gorilla Campus
Start your day with early breakfast, head to the park headquarters in Kinigi for briefing about gorilla trekking conducted by a Senior Ranger. Drive to the trail head in groups of 8 people to start your trek into the forest, the trek takes approximately 30 minutes to 6 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas and their location that day.
After one hour with gorillas, you start your hike out of the park, meet your guide and transfer you to the lodge for lunch and short rest.
In the afternoon, visit the Ellen DeGeneres Gorilla Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund to learn more about gorilla conservation in Rwanda.
Accommodation: One&Only Gorilla’s Nest
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 9: Golden Monkeys & Gorilla Guardians Village
Head to the park again for golden monkey trekking. The cute golden monkeys are endangered animals only found in the Virunga Volcanoes of Uganda, Rwanda and DR.Congo. After the briefing from the ranger guide, you will start your hike up in search of golden monkeys, these creatures are more active than the gorillas and you fill follow them as they move to feed and play. Just like gorilla trekking, you are allowed only 1 hour with the golden monkeys.
In the afternoon, visit the Gorilla Guardians Village. Learn about the culture and history of Rwanda. Try out your bow and arrow shooting skills or basketry among others.
In the afternoon, visit the Gorilla Guardians village. Learn about the culture and history of Rwanda. Try out your bow and arrow shooting skills or basketry etc.
Accommodation: One&Only Gorilla’s Nest
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 10: To Akagera National Park
Leave for Akagera National Park in the morning after your breakfast, the journey to the park is about 5 hours depending on the stopovers along the way. On arrival at the park, we shall proceed to the safari lodge for check-in and have lunch.
Later take a boat trip on Lake Ihema, watch hippos and crocodiles as well as water birds. Have a night game drive as you head to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Akagera Game Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 11: Akagera National Park | Game Drive
Spend a full day exploring Akagera National Park, the only savannah park in Rwanda with elephants, hippos, buffaloes and lions. After an early breakfast, take a game drive in search of these animals in the northern part of the park where the most of the animals prefer to inhabit.
Day 12: Departure
Depending on your flight time, you can visit the Umusambi Village for a birding walk, explore more of the city until your transfer time to the airport. Bringing your safari to an end.
End of 12 Days Explore Rwanda Safari
