12 Days Rwanda Safari Exploration Tour

Home | Safaris | rwanda | places

Overview

This safari is an ideal tour that takes to the famous national parks in Rwanda including Volcanoes national park - the home to a quarter of mountain gorilla population in the world, encompassing five of the eight Virunga Mountains. The rainforest in Volcanoes national park enables you to trek gorillas in this park. For a thrilling canopy walk, Nyungwe National park is the only park with this magical experience in the whole of East Africa and the onlyone in East Africa, as well as chimp trekking.

Have a boat cruise on the second largest lake, “Lake Ihema” in Akagera national park as well as experiencing a memorable game drive on the plain savannah at the boarder of Tanzania and Rwanda where you will have an opportunity to spot out wild animals in their natural habitats and these animals include; Elephants, buffaloes, antelopes to mention but a few.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive through Kigali International Airport – Rwanda.

Upon your arrival at Kigali international Airport, you will be welcomed by a dedicated, experienced and an English speaking tour guide and embark on a journey to your hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 2: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park and Ibyiwachu Cultural Encounter.

After an early morning breakfast, set off for a journey to the northwestern part of Rwanda to Volcanoes National park, a park known for harboring at least ¼ of the world’s remaining endangered mountain gorillas that are found along the slopes of Virunga Mountains. The journey covers a distance 139 kilometers on the road via Kinigi—Musanze highway exploring the land of a thousand hills. You will reach the park in the afternoon, check in at the lodge for lunch and some relaxation.

Then later in the evening, head to Ibyiwachu cultural village in Musanze district to visit the King’s house  and exercise kingship through village ceremony, listen to all kings’ stories, watch different Rwanda traditional dances and musical instruments. Participate in the preparation of local food; don’t miss out to participate in millet grinding using stones, carrying potatoes and water on your head. After, return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Gorilla Trekking and Visiting the Twin Lakes.

After an early morning breakfast, with your packed lunch and a bottle of water, transfer to the park headquarters at Kinigi for a pre-trek briefing, the activity starts at 8 am. Continue to trek the mountain gorillas deep in the Virunga jungles in search for a gorilla family that you have been assigned to trek. You will spend one hour in their company before you slope down the jungles to return to your lodge for relaxation.

In the afternoon, drive to visit the beautiful twin lakes - Bulera & Ruhondo, and have an optional ride on a dugout canoe to the respective Islands. Enjoy the backdrop scenery of the Virunga Volcanoes thereafter drive back to the lodge for overnight.

Day 4:  Volcanoes national park: Golden Monkey Trekking.

Have an early morning breakfast. Then you will proceed to the park headquarters where you will be briefed about the “dos and the don’ts” of golden monkey trekking. You will start searching for the elusive golden monkeys for between 1 to 5 hours. After the trekking, return to the lodge for a whole day relaxation then have dinner and overnight.

Day 5: Hike toDian Fossey Grave. Transfer to Lake Kivu in the afternoon.

With a morning cup of coffee to shake off the cold, set off for Dian Fossey grave hiking at Karisoke research center to learn more about Dian Fossey, an American primatologist and conservationist who was known for undertaking extensive study on mountain gorillas, butshe was later brutally murdered and buried near her favorite gorilla called Digit and as well get to know more about the activities of Dian Fossey. After this hiking adventure, return to the lodge and check out of the lodge to embark on your journey to Lake Kivu.

Day 6: Boat Cruise and Transfer to Nyungwe National Park and Nature Walk.

After your morning breakfast, have a soothing boat cruise on one of the great lakes of Africa with fresh waters, the hot springs and coffee island.

After this activity, transfer to Nyungwe National Park with various stopovers to take in the beautiful scenery and capture memorable photography and videography, reach the park in the evening, check into the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 7: Chimpanzee Trekking.

Wake up early in the morning and head to the park headquarters for the dos and don’ts during this activity, then penetrate into the forest in search endangered chimpanzees. The trek will take 1 to 8 hours depending on the location of these primates.
An hour spent viewing these human’s closest cousins playing, feeding the young ones is such a memorable experience. After this experience, return to the lodge for whole day relaxation, then dinner and overnight stay.

Day 8: Canopy Walk and Visit Huye City.

After a warm cup of coffee, head to Uwinka Center at exactly 8 am for a canopy walk, Nyungwe Forest canopy walk is one of the three canopy walkways in Africa. It is 90 meters below and 40 meters above the ground and this will give you an opportunity to appreciate the forests’ natural scenery. After the activity, check out of the lodge and transfer to Huye - the second largest city in Rwanda.

When you reach Huye city in Butare district, visit the National museum of Rwanda and have an opportunity to visit the popular gift shop housed within the museum and the opportunity to see the famous traditional dancers perform.

Visit the National University, which is the best university in Rwanda and the University library. After head to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Day 9: Transfer to Akagera National Park and Evening Game Drive.

After a cup of coffee in the morning, embark on your journey to Akagera National park in the eastern Rwanda for a wildlife safari. This park is one of the best places for Savannah ecosystem in Rwanda with beautiful landscapes, abundant birdlife and the big game drive.
Upon reaching the park, you will check into the lodge for lunch and relaxation. Then later in the evening, go for an evening game drive around the park, return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 10: Game Drive and Boat Cruise On Lake Ihema.

You will wake up early in the morning after your morning breakfast, embark on a journey for an early morning game drive in search the early morning nocturnal before they  go back to their hide outs, search for the big mammals in Akagera savannah like; Elephants, Giraffes, Buffaloes and antelopes. View over 500 bird species during the game drive. After this activity, go back to the lodge for lunch.

Later in the afternoon after lunch, head to Lake Ihema for a boat ride, this activity gives an opportunity to closely see crocodiles and hippos and various bird species like; shoebill stork, jacanas, herons among others. After an exciting boat ride, go back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 11: Kigali City Tour.

After breakfast, take ona journey to Kigali for a city tour around the capital city of Rwanda. Visit Kigali genocide memorial center - the burial ground of about 1 million victims during a civil conflict between the Hutus and Tutsis.

After, proceed to presidential palace museum and the Kimironko market to purchase some African handmade crafts, souvenirs. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight
.

Day 12: Departure.

Following your morning cup of coffee, you will pack up and check out of the lodge and head to Kigali international airport for your departure.