Overview

12 days of the best of Rwanda, begins in Kigali for a night, drive takes you to Nyungwe Forest National Park, three nights in this famous rich eco-system, one of the oldest rainforests in Africa, with teeming wildlife, small population of chimpanzees, other species of primates including the L’Hoest’s monkey endemic to the Albertine Rift.

Enjoy your stay in luxury, before proceeding on to Lake Kivu for two nights, recently discovered to contain approximately 55 billion m³ of dissolved biogas at a depth of 300 m. The fish fauna in Lake Kivu has 28 species and home of four species of freshwater crabs. Next two nights stay in Africa’ oldest national park founded in 1925 Virunga National Park and home to a quarter of the world’s mountain gorillas.

As you proceed to the home of Africa’s “big five”: lion, African leopard, African bush elephant, rhinoceros, and African buffalo in Rwanda – Akagera National Park, here you will enjoy game viewing day and night drives during your two nights stay.

Back to the City for your last night in Rwanda, next day as you leave for the airport, visit to the Genocide memorial and Kimironko Market, our partner’s driver will bid you fare well.

Trip Highlights

Kigali visit of the Genocide Memorial & Kimironko Market.
Nyungwe Forest National Park home to the canopy walk, Colobus Monkey Tracking.
Boat ride on Lake Kivu
Jet skiing on Lake Kivu
Mountain Gorilla Trekking
Track the Golden Monkey
Dian Fossey hike
Sunset boat ride on Lake Ihema
Day & night game drive in Akagera National Park
Big- Five in Akagera National Park

Day 1 :

Arrival – Kigali City

Met on arrival at the Kigali International Airport by our partners in Rwanda, you will be transferred to The Retreat a 20min drive away, this 20-room luxury boutique hotel. This will be your overnight stay. Once assisted to check-in, you have the afternoon at leisure, dinner and overnight at the Hotel. Meals: Breakfast & dinner. Overnight at the Retreat.

Day 2 :

Kigali City – Nyungwe National Park

Early morning breakfast, drive to the Nyanza King’s Palace Museum, followed by a visit to the National Museum of Rwanda in Huye. Drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park a 5hr 8 min drive, check-in Nyungwe Forest lodge or similar. Dinner and overnight at the lodge. Meals: lunch, dinner and overnight at Nyungwe Forest lodge.

Day 3 :

Nyungwe National Park

Early breakfast, proceed to the park headquarters for a briefing before the chimpanzee Trek, (2-2 hrs.) Nyungwe Forest is home to a big population of chimpanzees with 500 chimpanzee individuals where one troop in the main forest and other in Cyamudongo forest which is a small patch of the forest eastern part of the park. Return for lunch at the Lodge. Afternoon, embark on the canopy walk, which begins at Uwinka Visitors Centre with a duration of 2 hours, and requires one to be physically fit, patient and persistent, The canopy walk sits 60 meters above the forest floor, where you will see different bird species, primate species and a forest canopy with vast collection of purple orchids with lush green flora. Return to the lodge for dinner. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight at Nyungwe Forest Lodge.

Day 4 :

Nyungwe National Park

Early breakfast at the lodge, depart for another exploration of Nyungwe Forest, after the briefing, hike takes you on the Isumo trail (4-5hrs) from Gisakura Guest House or Nyungwe Forest Lodge with views of the lush tea plantations of Gisakura, where you may see numerous bird species, wildlife and other residents of the forest. Return to the lodge for lunch, afternoon visit to the Nyungwe Colobus Monkeys Trek, with a drive from your safari lodge to the national park’s HQ by your dedicated driver guide. Meet up with your trekking guides and rangers from the park who will place you in maximum group of ten people. A wildlife specialist will be your guide as you go through the rolling hills draped with lush tea plantations, reaching a small isolated patch of forest. You have one hour to observe the monkeys upon encounter at utmost silence, before walking back to the park HQ, return to the lodge for dinner and overnight. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight at Nyungwe Forest Lodge

Day 5 :

Lake Kivu

Leisurely breakfast, before your check-out and the 21 mins drive to Gisakura Tea plantation for a tour, experience and learn the art of picking tea leaves, and do it yourself. Enjoy the interactive and visual presentation of growing and processing African tea leaves and get your camera’s ready for some bird watching. Proceed on a 2 hr 3min drive to Kibuye whilst enjoying the view of thousands of beautiful green hills enroute to Lake Kivu, arrival in time for lunch at the Lake Kivu Serena Hotel (3 hr 58min) on Africa’s sixth largest lake. Check-in with lunch, followed by a siesta. Your afternoon is spent at leisure, you can enjoy by the pool, massage at extra charge, gym or tennis. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight at Lake Kivu Serena Hotel

Day 6 :

Lake Kivu – Rubavu

Breakfast at the hotel where the shores of Lake Kivu is 100 meters away, activities available are swim in the clean blue water swimming pool at the hotel, spa (extra cost), kayaking, speed boats, island tours, hike the bird nest, biking adventure, sunset boat cruise and canoeing, sunset/night fishing and singing with local fishermen. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight at Lake Kivu Serena Hotel

Day 7 :

Lake Kivu – Musanze – Volcanoes National Park

After breakfast, morning spent in leisure relaxing, engage in activities such as on request guided expeditions arranged by the marines, guided nature walk on Rubavu mountain a 28min drive to Rubavu district, by a speed boat or 4-wheel Jeep, along the way explore new islands along Lake Kivu and some of the Congolese hills. Rubavu district named after the Rubavu Mountain meaning ‘rib’ as a rib is an indispensable part of a human being according to the local residents. An area with red sandy beaches, warm clean water, and an easy-going topical nature, or guided tour of Gisenyi City. Check out from the hotel on a 1 hr 52min to Musanze, base town for visiting the Mountain Gorillas, onto a 26-36mins to the lodge of choice for check-in and lunch. Afternoon visit to the cultural village – Gorilla Guardian Village, a Non-Profit organization aimed at improving the lives of reformed poachers and communities around the Volcanoes National Park, returning for dinner at the Wilderness Bisate lodge. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight at Wilderness Bisate Lodge.

Day 8 :

Volcanoes National Park

Early breakfast at the lodge, proceed on a drive to the Park’s HQ for a briefing on your Gorilla Trek before proceeding on the walk. This is the most popular tourism product in Rwanda and, involves hiking through mountainous area and forests in search of the Mountain gorillas who are an endangered species. The Trek takes between 1-6 hours offering 10 habituated groups/families to choose from, return to lodge for lunch, afternoon spent at leisure. Or opt to spending time at the lodge’s nursery and help in the area’s reforestation by planting a tree, join the lodge’s chef to the local market for the day’s fresh ingredient, and drive to the grave of Dian Fossey, famed for her research on the mountain gorilla. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight at Wilderness Bisate Lodge.

Day 9 :

Volcanoes National Park

Early morning breakfast, drive to the park HQ for a briefing by 07:00am on the trek, which starts 15mins away from the park. The Golden monkeys are divided into two troops with the largest has 80 to 100 monkeys is located in the Sabyinyo and the most visited troop in Rwanda. The other troop is slightly smaller and found in Volcanoes. Return for lunch at the lodge, followed by an afternoon drive of 1hr 57mins to visit the twin Lakes of Burera and Ruhondo, during the boat tour, nature walk or fishing and be sure to carry your binoculars as the bird life is great. A 2 hr 45min drive back to Kigali, arriving for check-in and dinner at Kigali Marriott where you will spend the night. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight at the Kigali Marriott Hotel.

Day 10 :

Kigali – Akagera National Park

Early breakfast, check-out, a 2hr 36min drive to Akagera National Park, with a brief stop at the Nyakarambi village where you can learn about the cow dung paintings by the Kakira Women Cooperative. On arrival at the Mantis Akagera Game lodge, check-in and have lunch. Take a boat ride on Lake Ihema, providing an opportunity to spot crocodiles, hippos and other animals coming to bath or drink from the lake, as you look out for the elusive Sitatunga (swamp antelope) and waterbucks. Return to the Mantis Akagera lodge to freshen-up before dinner. It is possible to go on a night game drive to allow you spot the nocturnal animals like the leopard, hyenas, mongooses, owls and primates. Meals: Breakfast, lunch dinner. Overnight at the Mantis Akagera Lodge.

Day 11 :

Akagera National Park

An early breakfast, dept for 06:30am early morning game viewing drive exploring the parks landscapes, woodland forest, savannah plains, riverine forest and wetlands in search for the Impalas, warthogs, Topi, Zebras, spotted hyenas, Giraffes, Buffaloes, Elephants, Crocodiles, hippos and bird species. Drive around Kilala plain in the mid-morning game drive, in view to spot the Big 5 Lions, Rhinos, and other big game that may be seen. For bird lovers, the wetlands are one of the best birding destinations in Rwanda with over 500 species recorded including the Papyrus Gonolek and Shoebill storks. Return to the lodge for lunch or pick picnic lunch as you check-out and proceed on your last game drive in the park before a 2 hr 42min drive to the exist gate, and another 3 hr 33 min (159.5 km) to Kigali, check-in at the Retreat Hotel for dinner. Meals: Breakfast, lunch at lodge, dinner at The Retreat Hotel Kigali.

Day 12 :

Kigali City

After a leisurely breakfast, and subject to your departure outbound flight, you will check -out of the hotel, for a city tour, visit of the Genocide Memorial and Kimironko Market for souvenirs or opt to relax, have lunch then depart on city tour before your evening outbound flight. Our driver will bid you farewell and you proceed for check-in.

FAQs

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What should I carry to wear on this safari?

Water proof shoes – hiking or boots as the trails are mostly muddy or waterlogged.
Warm jacket or sweater
Rain jacket
Hat, sun protection, insect repellent (as you will walk in the forest)
Long sleeve shirt and long pants.
Waterproof outer-wear.

There are several things you need to know to enjoy the Golden monkeys trekking and these include:

When taking photographs, flashes are not allowed on the cameras as they scare the monkeys away.
You need to carry food or snacks and water for the hike. There are no other stops where you will get food, therefore it is advisable to pack breakfast from the hotel or a few snacks to munch on along the way.
You will need a rain jacket as the weather in the area is unpredictable especially morning hours.
You will need to carry good hiking shoes to avoid sliding on the wet ground, a wide brimmed hat for when it is hot to shield you from the sunshine and repellent to avoid insect bites.

How many hours is the chimpanzee trekking?

It takes two to six hours guided trekking.

When is the best time to go on the chimpanzee trekking?

Nyungwe is open all year round, however its best to visit during the dry season as its easier to get around on the hiking trails. During the rainy season, the fruits in the forest make the chimps easier to be found.

Which electricity outlet sockets are used in the Republic of Rwanda?

Here one of the two European standard electrical socket types are used:
The “Type C” Europlug and the “Type E” and “Type F” Schuko.
You will need a travel plug adapter in order to plug in. Electrical sockets (outlets) supply electricity at between 220- and 240-volts AC.