5 DAY REMARKABLE RWANDA HIGHLIGHTS TOUR (PREMIUM)

Welcome to Kigali, Rwanda.  Our tour representative and your driver/guide will meet you at 8am, Kigali International Airport.  Then we  provide you with a detailed briefing before we head off on the 2-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, Water buck and Buffalo. 

At 5 o’clock we head towards Lake Ihema for a fantastic Boat Safari and sun downer.   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 from the Southern Sector of Akagera National Park to the Central Sector via a game drive.

We will arrive at Hippo Beach around midday which is the perfect time to spot the Hippo's who love this area.  Look out for crocodiles and birdlife as well. 

We will also take a packed lunch here at Hippo beach before heading through the northern part of the park towards the Northern Gate Exit.  The northern sector has wide Savannah's and is where we are most likely to spot  Giraffes, Topi's, Hyena's and if lucky Leopards, Lions and the the shy and newly re-introduced Rhinoceros’ .  The lions where introduced 4 years ago and their numbers are increasing very healthily and the Rhino’s are only less than a year in the park so it will be a great day if we manage to spot them.

Late in the after we exit via the northern gate of Akagera and return to Kigali via a 3 hour drive.

Dinner and overnight at your accommodation.

This morning relax a take a sleep in if you desire as after breakfast we do not have to check out until 10am.

Then we head off on the scenic 2.5-hour drive to Musanze at the based of the Volcanoes National Park. En route you will discover why Rwanda is called The Land of a Thousand Hills. 

On arrival we will check in and have lunch before proceeding around 2pm to the nearby Iby’wacu Cultural Village.  This village is an exhibition of traditional Rwandan life, pre-colonialism.  Not only does it display Rwandan culture beautifully, but the village is staffed by ex-poachers thus providing them with alternative income and becoming productive members of society.  Rwanda really has on the most interesting and colorful cultures in Africa and you will enjoy the artisans, traditional huts, singers and dancers.

After Iby'Iwacu Cultural Village experience, we proceed for an amazing behind the scenes experience with The Gorilla Doctors.  The professional veterinarians and conservationists play a huge role in ensuring future population growth’s by treating injured and sick Mountain Gorillas.  Think about it, if your population is only 1000 in the entire world how devastating an unchecked illness could be.  They will show you a presentation of their history, work and achievements and also educate you on the behavior’s and language of the Mountain Gorilla.  This adds huge value to your trek tomorrow.

Retire for dinner and overnight at your accommodation.

Today you have a unique and privileged experience to trek and meet at close quarters the rare Mountain Gorilla.  There are only around 1000 of these magnificent creatures left in the world with around 1/3 of those in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda.

Early in the morning after breakfast you will be taken to the park headquarters where you will be educated on the trek, Gorilla behavior and assigned in to groups of suitable fitness. 

The trek can take between 2-6 hours depending on the movements of the Gorillas.  This is considered one of the great natural animal encounters on the planet.

The rangers will lead you deep into the forest in search for the Gorillas. You will move up and down the rugged terrain until you finally meet these harmonious creatures that will entertain you with performances for about 1 hour once you find them.

Afterwards we return you to your lodge for lunch.

Dinner and overnight at your accommodation

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.  Your departing flight doesn’t leave until the evening so now we will transfer 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 short 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. 

From this moving experience we then we proceed to our final activity of the day which is a question Coffee Master Class at Question Coffee.  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 leaves at 8:40 pm 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.