8 DAYS RWANDA WILDLIFE AND GORILLA TREKKING SAFARI.
Overview.
Welcome to the land of ‘’a thousand hills’’- Rwanda on this 8 days safari where you will visit the most interesting national parks - Akagera, Nyungwe and volcanoes national park respectively to encounter the stunning wildlife.
The safari covers gorilla trekking, game drives, canopy walk, cultural encounter, boat cruise and city tour. Enjoy this lifetime memorable safari in the land of a thousand hills.
Detailed tour.
Day 1: Arrival in Rwanda and transfer to Akagera National Park.
A warm welcome by the driver guide at the airport followed by a transfer to the city of Kigali for refreshments and briefing about this 8 days safari in Rwanda. He will transfer you to Akagera national park in the eastern region near Tanzanian border.
The park has diverse wildlife in form of flora and faunas such as giraffes, buffalos, Topis, Oribis, roan antelopes, duikers, impala, cape eland, zebras, hippos, crocodiles among others. Arrive and check-in your accommodation or meals and overnight.
Day 2: Full day at Akagera National Park.
Discover Akagera national park through a morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise on Lake Ihema. This will give you a chance to view several wildlife such as Topis, Oribis, roan antelopes, duikers, impala, cape eland, zebras, hippos, crocodiles among others.
The game drive normally takes place in the northern sector of the park and it takes between 3-4hours. There is an option of birding where you will be able to spot many birds like Long-crested Eagle, and Pied Crow, Black-headed and Viellot's Black Weavers, Grey-backed Fiscals among others.
Day 3: Travel to Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Embark on a journey to Nyungwe forest national park after breakfast to explore its beauty. Nyungwe national park is well known for homing primates including the chimpanzee our cousins that we share with them 98% of DNA. Other primates include; Red-tailed monkey, crowned monkey, Dent's Mona Monkey, Velvet Monkey, Olive baboon, Grey-cheeked mangabey among others.
The forest host other big mammals such as Eastern Needle-clawed Galago, Bosman's potto, Golden Cat, Marsh Mongoose and Giant Forest Hog among others.
Day 4: Chimpanzee Tracking and Canopy Walk.
Head for a meeting at the park headquarters where you be given instructions about chimpanzee tracking after your breakfast. The exciting activity takes about 2-3 hours depending on where you locate the chimps as they nested the previous night.
You will find other primates like the grey-cheeked mangabey, velvet monkeys and olive baboons among others. In the afternoon head for a canopy walk that is suspended on top of the trees hence getting a beautiful aerial view over the lush Nyungwe Forest. The primates normally cross from one side to another as they jump from one tree to another.
Day 5: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park.
Transfer to volcanoes national park in Virunga Mountains a rain forested park that favour mountain gorillas. The park is also home to buffaloes, forest elephants, bush pigs, giant forest hogs which are occasionally spotted.
The vegetation is comprised of heath, moorland, and swamp among others. Arrive and check in the accommodation after an interesting journey through the tea plantations.
Day 6: Gorilla trekking and optional cultural encounter.
An interesting and memorable activity starts immediately after breakfast starting with a briefing to be informed about the dos and don’ts while trekking the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitats.
After about 2-3 hours of trekking and having a great experience, you will trek out of the forest and head for your hot lunch and refreshments and then head for an optional activity of visiting the cultural villages around your accommodation site.
Day 7: Transfer to Lake Kivu.
Have a relaxed breakfast and then travel to Lake Kivu for a leisure day out. Here you can take option activities like swimming, boat cruise, or even visiting the coffee plantations on the island.
Day 8: Depart to Kigali international airport.
The day starts with a leisure breakfast and then check out of the hotel room and start a leisurely drive back to Kigali. If time allows, you can visit the memorial site, national museum and Kimironko craft market to buy some souvenirs. The safari will end with a drop off at Kigali airport.