Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport you will be met by a representative who will assist you with customs and immigration clearance. Thereafter you will be taken to your driver/guide and transferred to Kigali Serena hotel.
Time permitting visit the Genocide memorial or experience Kigali NIght life.
Depart Kigali this morning with your driver for transfer to Akagera National Park
Over the next two days witness a national park coming back to life, home again to lions, rhinos, and an abundance of plains game roaming over its gently rolling hills and open savannah. Watch elephants submerge in silver-blue Lake Rwanyakazinga, raising their trunks like periscopes for air. Monitor lions, leopards, and black rhinos, learning the latest in monitoring technology. Safari by boat on the lake, and perhaps enjoy catch-and-release fishing. Drive across one of the most lovely, calming landscapes imaginable, for up-close-and-personal wildlife encounters – many predators; buffalo, zebra and antelope herds; a journey of giraffes; a plethora of birds.
Magashi’s home is 6 000 exclusive-use hectares of Akagera National Park, like Rwanda itself, a miraculous story of survival and regeneration. Located in the country’s north-east, Akagera was devastated by the 1994 genocide and its aftermath, with a rise in poaching and returnees settling with their cattle on park land. Over the last ten years, the park has been significantly rehabilitated and today offers one of the most thrilling safari experiences in Africa.
Following breakfast and a morning activity depart for Huye visinting Rwandan Coffee plantations, Kings Palace Museum and the National Ethnographic Museum.
Overnight at Hotel Maisons-Sifa.
Nyanza & Nyungwe Forest
After breakfast, drive south to Nyanza, the historical seat of the Rwandan kingdom and visit the Royal Palace Museum, the more modern Palace building, the Rwesero Art Museum, and the Rwanda National Museum in the University town of Butare.
After stopping for lunch at a local restaurant – eating common Rwandan food and mingling with the local people, proceed to Nyungwe Forest National Park arriving at Nyungwe House- One and Only for dinner/overnight.
Chimpanzee Tracking in Nyungwe
Rise early at 4h30, you will be met at your lodge with packed breakfast then transfer to the Park offices for your Chimpanzee tracking. Afternoon you will be taken for Canopy Walk.
From the park information center, descend the 40º slant via a zig-zag foot path to the first tower deep in the forest valley for the walk on the suspension bridge. Besides being so high in such a picturesque location, the walk allows access to the upper parts of the forest, where one can see some unique ‘canopy’ species; apes, birds, butterflies, plants and insects, flowers, leaves and other animals that live in the roof of the forest which are otherwise invisible. It is an unforgettable experience.
Day 4: Colobus Monkey Trek & Kibuye
After breakfast, transfer to the park HQ for a half day forest trek in search of the Angola Colobus monkeys which can be found in troops of several hundred.
This fair to moderate trek can be adapted to guests’ fitness and lasts up to 6 hours. It's an absolutely amazing experience, to see so many Colobus monkeys at the same time. Besides their incredible numbers, Angola Colobus differ from the more common Eastern colobus by the extent of white hair and leaner frame. Other primates likely to be seen during the trek include l'Hoest's monkey and the grey-cheeked mangabeys. The birds are spectacular too, including Giant hornbills, great blue turacos and red-breasted sparrow hawks are amongst the specials.
Back for a quick freshen then check-out and drive to Kibuye, stop at Cormoran Lodge for lunch, then proceed to Lake Kivu Serena Hotel where you will enjoy dinner and overnight.
Enjoy a morning boat ride and Napolean Island or try some Kayaking, then depart for Volcanoes National Park. There may be time for an afternoon hike.
Over the next few days Enjoy canoeing or kayaking as well as trekkiing for the Mountain Gorillas and Golden Monkeys.
Gorilla Trek Rise early with packed breakfast, you will be collected and taken to the park’s HQ for briefing before departing on your Gorilla Trek. Once the Gorillas have been located, you will be able to spend 1 hour with them before making your way to Bisate Lodge for lunch. Enjoy your afternoon at leisure.
Golden Monkey Trek This morning, you will be collected from the lodge and taken on Golden Monkey Tracking.
Tracking usually takes from 2 to 4 hrs. Once you come to the habituated families, you will spend the allowed one hour with them as they go about their daily life. Then, it’s back to the lodge for lunch, afternoon at leisure. Dinner and overnight.
Morning drive back to Kigali, proceed on a city tour of Kigali, visit the Genocide memorial and the craft markets with lunch at a local restaurant on your own, afterwards transfer to the Airport for your departure flight(s).
