8 DAY REMARKABLE RWANDA SAFARI AND TOUR (PREMIUM)

Welcome to Kigali, Rwanda.  Our tour representative and your driver/guide will meet you at 7:30am, Kigali International Airport.   Then we provide you with a detailed briefing at the Bourbon Coffee Restaurant before we head off on the 2.5 hour drive to Akagera National Park in the east of Rwanda.

Mid-morning, we will arrive at park headquarters and register before taking a very interesting behind the scenes tour.  Here key park management will go through the history of Akagera National Park (Africa’s 2nd oldest National Park), their anti-poaching methods and confiscated items, conservation measures and a look at their innovative tracking room which monitors the movements of the parks newest inhabitants the lions and rhinos.

We will then drive and check in at your accommodation and have lunch before embarking on an afternoon game in the Southern Circuit of Akagera.  This circuit is particularly known for its Giraffes, Zebras, Baboons, Waterbuck and Buffalo. 

At 5 o’clock we head towards Lake Ihema for a fantastic Boat Safari and sundowner.   This is an opportunity to get up close from a whole new perspective and see hippo’s, crocodiles and many of the 423 bird species of Akagera, all whilst watching the sun set over this magical first day.

We then return to your accommodation for dinner and overnight:

After breakfast we head off around 8am and leave the southern sector of Akagera National park for the central sector via a game drive experience.

We will arrive around midday at Hippo's Beach viewpoint which is perfect timing to spot these massive animals laze about and yawn in the waters and banks of the lakes.  Look out also for crocodiles and lots of birdlife.

After lunch we head towards the Northern Gate Exit via a game drive..  The northern sector has wide savannahs and is where we are most likely to spot Lions and the newly introduced and very shy Rhinoceros’.  Keep your eyes open for plenty of giraffes, warthogs, water buffalo, tops and even the odd leopard and hyena.  The lions were introduced 4 years ago and their numbers are increasing very healthily and the Rhinos are only less than a year in the park so it will be a great day if we manage to spot them.  

Mid-afternoon we exit via the northern gate of Akagera and return to Kigali via a 3 hour drive.

Dinner and overnight at your accommodation in Kigali Park Inn by Radisson Kigali

After breakfast at your Hotel, embark at 8am to your 4×4 vehicle and exit Kigali.   First stop is a 2-hour drive en route to the traditional power and cultural Centre of Rwanda in Nyanza/Butare. 

First stop is the Kings Palace which offers a detailed look into the Rwandan traditional seat of their monarchy.  It is an impressive re-enactment display, restored to its 19th century state and made entirely with traditional materials.  Many facts and skills and cultural uniqueness are learnt at this very interesting site.

A further hour down the road is the Ethnographic Museum of Rwanda which displays ancient and historic artifacts from throughout Rwandan history.  

We will take lunch in Butare before transferring a further 2 hours to Nyungwe National Park and then on to Lake Kivu a further hour.  You will see beautiful rainforest and plenty of monkeys on the side of the road before arriving at your accommodation overlooking the beautiful Lake Kivu. 

Check in and refresh up  at your accommodation ready for Dinner and overnight at Mantis Kivu Marina Bay Hotel

After breakfast it’s time to embark on a few expeiences in the Ancient Temperate Rainforest of Nyungwe.  Besides the Chimpanzees Nyungwe is probably most well known for it’s large populations of Colobus Monkeys.  These unique black and white monkeys are found usually not too far from the park headquarters and the trek not too strenous.

We will take a packed lunch today.  After refuelling you have a choice of either a Isumo Waterfall Trek or Canopy Walk. 

The Isumo Waterfall trek takes around 2 hours from start to finish and is a great way to experience the rainforest and it’s exotic birdlife.  You may even see different types of monkeys along the way. 

The Canopy walk is about a 20 minute trek from the park headquarters.  The suspension footway gives you a super interesting perspective of the rainforest canopy. 

In the afternoon return to your  accommodation to enjoy the sunset,Dinner and overnight at Mantis Kivu Marina Bay Hotel

Wake up early and take a packed breakfast as we head off around 6:30am for a super interesting wild animal encounter with the Chimpanzees of Nyungwe. 

At the park offices you will be briefed about the chimpanzees and the other primates in this forest and after entering into the forest searching for the shy chimpanzees and you may have a chance to see other primates on your way.

There are around 500 chimpanzees in this region of Rwanda making it an extremely important region for conservation of this rapidly declining relative.  Depending on the trackers information you may get on of the larger troops of around 60 or a more intimate troop of 20-30.  Either way chimpanzees are usually much more active than the Mountain Gorillas and are truly amazing to watch and try keep up with.  Sharing 98.7% of human DNA you will be astounded by their intelligence, confidence and traits.

After the trek we transfer you along the picturesque shores of Lake Kivu to Kibuye. 

Check in to your accommodation and take lunch.  Relax and enjoy the tranquility and views of Lake Kivu. 

At 5pm we have arranged a gentle sundowner on Lake Kivu and after such an early start if will be easy to go to sleep after such a relaxing end to the day Dinner and overnight stay at Rwiza Village 

After breakfast, you will check out and transfer to Musanze, Volcanoes National park via a crop to cup coffee tour at Rushel Coffee Station.  Here you will see the process of picking, drying, packaging and tasting of the Bourbon Arabica beans from the nearby coffee farms.  Lunch at Rushel Lodge on the shores of Lake Kivu.

After lunch we head towards the lake border town of Gisenyi.  We will visit the Batwa Pottery and learn their activities and the ways of living ever since the beginning.  The Batwa where the original forest dwellers in these lands but are now a struggling minority.  They have found a niche as fisherman and pottery artisans and they are known to make the best handmade pottery in the region.

After the Batwa Pottery experience it a further 1.5 hours towards Musanze, Volcanoes National Park.  The road is excellent and as you approach you will witness the stunning scenery of 5 Volcanoes.   

On arrival we have a special tour oragnised with the Gorilla Doctors.  Here you will see their programs and contribution to the conservation of this rare species.  Every life counts when your population is only 1000 and these dedicated experts make a difference.  They also have an amazing in depth knowledge of Gorillas, their behaviors and language which will had a lot of value to your trek tomorrow.

Check in  your accommodation and enjoy your at Dinner Ingagi Park View Lodge

After your early breakfast you will be transferred from your accommodation around 6:30am to the Volcanoes National Park headquarters and meet with excellent and well informed local guides who keep in touch with the advance group (trackers).  The guides will give a talk on the etiquette of gorilla tracking basing on their experience with gorillas.

We then hike into the forest to where the gorillas were seen the night before and track from that point with the communication of the advance group. 

The trek can take from 2-6 hours and climb to altitudes not in excess of 7,500 feet. The terrain is rough and at times muddy. Although the hike is physically demanding the beauty of the forest and surrounding scenery make the trekking worthwhile.

 Once the gorillas are located all fatigue is forgotten, as the experience is often described as being one of the most profound natural animal encounters in the world. Remember it’s a good idea to hire a porter to help you carry your backpack or bag and can give you a hand during hiking.

After the trek we return to your accommodation to freshen, rest up and take lunch.  In the afternoon visit to Ibyiwacu Cultural Village.

Ibyiwacu Cultural Village

This is where dance is organized and you experience the traditional lifestyle of Rwandan pre-colonial period. The village is fascinating with a variety of cultural experiences it can offer, and probably the best way to get to know the local people, their culture, and their ways of living” is to take part in daily life activities.

Agricultural tourism will be part of the wider experience where guests will join local people when they go to their agricultural fields to work and learn about their work, harvest and participate in food preparation and making processes like millet grinding using stones, carrying Potatoes and water on their heads, and attend lessons and participate in preparing a local dish i.e. (Ubugari, Igikoma etc).

The wider part of experience is IGITARAMO, where all gather around camp fire, with drums and local dances before sunset, where stories, riddles are recounted by storytellers of the old Rwanda with everyone seated around the fire.

After you will return to your accommodation for Dinner and Overnight at Ingagi Park View Lodge

After and early breakfast we leave for the Golden Monkey Trek at 7 am.  Golden Monkeys are very rare and nowhere in Africa is there better access to large habituated numbers than in Rwanda.

These unique, playful and beautiful creatures will entertain you for a good hour and the trek on average is normally much easier than the Gorilla Trek.

After the trek return to your lodge for a freshen up and check out by around 11am.   Your departing flight doesn’t leave until the evening so now we will transfer you via a scenic 2.5 hour drive to Kigali and use our remaining time to experience the culture and coffee of Rwanda.

On arrival we shall go for lunch and later proceed for a 1/2 day city tour that will include Kigali Genocide Memorial and Question Coffee Master Class.

Kigali Genocide Memorial is an educational, emotional, challenging and inspiring . This transparent memorial will educate you on the causes, horrors, impact and ultimately inspiring reconciliation that is unprecedented in its successes. 

Then we transfer you to Question Coffee Cafe to your final activity of the day which is a question Coffee Master Class .  Rwanda is home to some of the world’s best specialty coffee and no one knows more about it than Question Coffee.  Here you will learn about Rwandan Coffee Culture, coffee making, tasting, roasting and packing.  This is a very enjoyable sensory experience.

As your flight doesn't leave until the late evening we will take you to dinner at one of Kigali’s very good restaurants before transferring you to Kigali Airport for your flight home.

We wish you save travels and many fond memories.