The Ultimate Rwanda Experience
This trip has it all - mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, game drives in the savannah landscape of Akagera and boat cruises.
Volcanoes National Park • Nyungwe Forest National Park • Akagera National Park • Lake Kivu
Why You’ll Love This Trip
If you're looking at Rwanda as your safari destination, it is safe to assume you're excited about the opportunity to track the endangered mountain gorillas. This is the ultimate safari by foot. With just over a 1000 of these magnificent mammals left, this is also a step in the right direction towards tourism with a purpose.
When you finally come face to face with these giant apes in the wild, you will have ample opportunities to take several pictures to relive those magical moments for the rest of your life.
This trip also gives you the chance to follow other primates such as the chimpanzees, which are the closest relatives to humans sharing about 98% of their DNA composition with us, and colobus monkeys.
You will also be able to explore Akagera National Park, the last remaining refuge for savannah-adapted species in Rwanda.
Is This Trip Right For You?
You need to be prepared both in terms of the right gear you bring along for the trek and the fitness aspects. We will share a detailed packing list which will help you bring the right gear with you. While you're there with the gorillas, we want you enjoying every moment of it, and not wishing you had been better prepared for it all.
While you don't need to be an athlete, you should have reasonable fitness to undertake this magical experience. On the morning of your adventure, the rangers do their best to accommodate people in the right groups based on their age and fitness levels. But, it may not always be possible to find a gorilla group for you that is the closest. Based on the gorilla group you're assigned to and how they move that particular day, you may walk an hour or several to meet them.
The terrain could range from tall bamboo forests with soggy clay footing to green vine-covered jungles with unforgiving stinging nettles. Add to that the moving weather conditions where it can be rainy one moment and sunny the next.
If you are reasonably fit and exercise regularly, you will be able to enjoy this trek. If you haven't been working out recently, do your part to prepare your body for this trek so you can enjoy it. From the time you book your trip, start preparing. Walk daily and progressively build on the fitness. Mix up the routine with stair climbing. During the actual trek, you will take ample breaks for hydration and the rangers do their best to accommodate everyone in the group. You will also have the opportunity to hire a porter who will carry your day pack and help you navigate tricky sections.
Your Trip Itinerary
Day 1
Upon arrival at the Kigali airport, you will be received and transfered to your hotel so you can relax and be well rested to take on the trip from the following day.
Day 2, 3
Begin your trip with a scenic drive to Akagera National Park arriving on time for lunch.
Akagera has varied terrain characterized by woodland, swamps, low mountains and savannah. It is home to a variety of wildlife including zebras, giraffes, elephants, lions and hundreds of bird species, such as the rare shoebill stork. In the southern part of the park, vast Lake Ihema is home to hippos and crocodiles. You will have the opportunity to go on morning game drives and afternoon boat cruises to experience the different sections of the park and allow for optimal sighting of the different species.
Day 4, 5, 6
Have an early breakfast and set off on a long drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park, home to the endangered chimpanzees. Along the way, visit the national museum in Butare, the Murambi genocide memorial site and the Nyanza King’s Palace. You will have lunch en route.
On the day of chimpanzee tracking, after breakfast, transfer to the park headquarters to be briefed by the park warden on etiquette while tracking chimps before you begin the hike. Watch the chimps playing around, feeding and be prepared to take lots of pictures. Besides chimpanzee tracking, you can also go for colobus monkey tracking and also see other primates like vervet monkeys and L'Hoest monkeys. Go for a canopy walk in the forest to experience the beautiful sights and sounds of different bird species such as the Rwenzori Turacos, Hornbills among others. Enjoy a self-guided walk around the nearby area and see the Kamiranzovu waterfalls.
Day 7, 8
After breakfast, enjoy a spectacular drive to Volcanoes National park. You will have ample stops on the way for photography, lunch and simply taking in the scenery.
On the day of gorilla tracking, upon reaching the park quarters, you will be briefed on the etiquette for gorilla tracking by the senior park ranger. Begin your memorable gorilla trekking adventure which could take anywhere from 1 to 8 hours in the jungle. Once these animals are spotted, you will have the opportunity to stay in their presence for an hour. After the activity, you will head back to the lodge for relaxation or go for nature walks or cultural walk to the Ib’iwachu Cultural village.
Day 9
After breakfast, you could go to track the golden monkeys, the most endangered primate species at Parc des Volcans (Volcanoes NP). Alternatively, you could do the Dian Fossey hike at Karisoke Research Centre, where Dian, an American anthropologist, spent years researching and conserving the gorillas before she was killed and buried next to Digit, a silverback gorilla. You will then continue your trip towards Lake Kivu and spend the evening relaxing on the shores.
Day 10
After breakfast, enjoy a boat cruise up to the coffee island and take in the view of the sorrounding islands. On return, you will be transfered back to Kigali. Depending on your return flight time, you could go on a city tour or go shopping. You will then be transfered to the Kigali airport for your departure flight. It's time to say goodbye as you board your return flight.
Inclusions
Gorilla & Chimps Permits • Full Board Accommodation • Full time English speaking Driver/Guide • Ground Transportation by a 4×4 safari vehicle • Park Ranger Fees • Relevant Government Taxes • Airport transfer, as long as your flight is on the same day on which the safari ends
International flights • Visas • Travel insurance • Gratuities • Expenses of personal nature such as drinks, tips, laundry, telephone, cigarettes, accommodation & meals not indicated in the itinerary and optional activities.