9 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking & Culture

Welcome to Rwanda! Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you are met by our representative. You will then be transferred to your Kigali Hotel where you will have a briefing on your safari. Overnight: Kigali Serena Hotel. (Bed and Breakfast)

Kigali – Akagera National Park (2.5 hrs) Have breakfast at your hotel; Take up a city tour of Kigali including a visit to the Genocide Memorial site a grim reminder of a senseless massacre of innocent’s lives in 1994. Learn about Rwanda’s history from pre-colonial times to the 1994 genocide; learn about other genocides in the world and how this country has dealt with that past. Tour more and see the new developments in Rwanda; the recovery has been incredible, a testament to humankind’s resilience. The history of Rwanda dates back centuries, Kigali has been a part of it for 100 years. Founded in 1907 as a German settlement, Kigali did not become the capital until Rwanda’s independence in 1962 when it replaced the colonial seat of power in Butare.

You will have lunch in Kigali;

Then drive to Akagera National Park. Once arrived you will enjoy an evening game drive.

Overnight: Ruzizi tented lodge. (Full Board)

Akagera National Park

Akagera National Park is located in the north east of Rwanda along the border with Tanzania. It is named after the Akagera River that flows along its eastern boundary and feeds into a labyrinth of lakes of which the largest is Lake Ihema. The rolling hills of Acacia and Brachystegia Woodland coupled with scattered grassland and swamp-fringed lakes along the meandering Akagera watercourse combine to create a park of breath-taking scenic beauty.

Game drive – Boat cruise: Today in the morning, depart to the park for a scenic game drive. The Akagera National Park with Game drives; Akagera is home to a variety of game, it’s an exciting reserve in which to spend a few days and an interesting contrast to the more mountainous central and western parts of Rwanda. There are plenty of animals around and the birdlife is quite exceptional. Mammals include a healthy population of Elephant and Buffalo, lions, plus 11 species of antelope including Impala, Common Duiker, Defassa Waterbuck, Bushbuck, Oribi, Tsessebe, Cape Eland and the rare Sable Antelope. Zebra and Giraffe still roam the more open acacia dotted plains. After game viewing drive back to the Camp.

In the afternoon, you will enjoy a boat trip on Lake Ihema where you can catch sight of hippos and crocodiles. Overnight: Ruzizi tented lodge (Full Board)

Return to Kigali – Drive to the volcanoes national park (5hrs) On this day when you will check out and proceed to Kigali for lunch and later transfer to Volcanoes National Park.

 Parc National des Volcans

In the heart of Central Africa, so high up that you shiver more than you sweat,” wrote the eminent primatologist Dian Fossey, “are great, old volcanoes towering up almost 15,000 feet, and nearly covered with rich, green rainforest – the Virungas”. Situated in the far northwest of Rwanda, the Volcanoes National Park protects the steep slopes of this magnificent mountain range – home of the rare mountain gorilla – and the rich mosaic of montane ecosystems, which embrace evergreen and bamboo forest, open grassland, swamp and heath. The mysterious rainforest is alive with the calls of colourful birds and chattering of the rare golden monkey, and littered with fresh spoor of the mountains’ elusive populations of buffalo and elephant. Through gaps in the forest canopy, the magnificent peaks are glimpsed, easily accessible and among the highest in Africa, beckoning an ascent.  Dinner and overnight: Virunga Lodge. (Full Board)

Parc National des Volcans

In the heart of Central Africa, so high up that you shiver more than you sweat,” wrote the eminent primatologist Dian Fossey, “are great, old volcanoes towering up almost 15,000 feet, and nearly covered with rich, green rainforest – the Virungas”. Situated in the far northwest of Rwanda, the Volcanoes National Park protects the steep slopes of this magnificent mountain range – home of the rare mountain gorilla – and the rich mosaic of montane ecosystems, which embrace evergreen and bamboo forest, open grassland, swamp and heath. The mysterious rainforest is alive with the calls of colourful birds and chattering of the rare golden monkey, and littered with fresh spoor of the mountains’ elusive populations of buffalo and elephant. Through gaps in the forest canopy, the magnificent peaks are glimpsed, easily accessible and among the highest in Africa, beckoning an ascent.

Gorilla trekking trek – Ibyi wacu cultural village. After an early breakfast at 6:30 am, you will head to RDB offices for briefing on your gorilla trekking that starts at 07:00am. Your guided walk.

Volcanoes National Park protects the steep slopes of this magnificent mountain range – home of the rare mountain gorilla – and the rich mosaic of montane ecosystems, which embrace evergreen and bamboo forest, open grassland, swamp and heath. You may spot a wide variety of bird life but the high point will be spending an hour with the remarkably peaceful gorillas despite their size and appearance as they go about their daily life, feeding, playing, resting and raising their young.
The cost, US$10 per person/per day. We advise that you utilize this service.
You will be allowed an hour with these wonderful creatures. After the trek, you will return to the lodge for lunch and you will have an option of visiting.
Ibyi Iwacu is changing the traditional perception of what constitutes tourism by turning fate into fame through sharing various aspects of rural cultures and livelihoods into tourist attractions and creating income-generating activities for rural poor people that have reformed from living on bush meat and poaching for generations.

Dinner and overnight: Virunga Lodge. (Full Board)

Gatsura Village.  In the morning after your breakfast you will visit one of the communities in the volcanoes called Gatsura village where you get to participate the local daily community activity like milking, weaving, caving and banana beer making and after return to the lodge in time for dinner. Dinner and overnight: Virunga Lodge. (Full Board)

Early in the morning have a breakfast checkout out of lodge, drive Nyungwe forest.

Nyungwe National Park

Located in the South West corner of Rwanda, Nyungwe National Park is an untouched natural rainforest that is filled with exciting biodiversity. Covering over 1000 square kilometres, Nyungwe is surely one of the world’s most beautiful and pristine mountain rainforests. It’s believed to be one of Africa’s oldest forests, staying green even through the Ice Age, which explains its diversity. Home to habituated chimpanzees and 12 other primates’ species (including a 400-strong troop of habituated Ruwenzori Black & White Colobus), it’s also a birder’s paradise with over 300 species, including 16 endemics, and is home to 75 different species of mammal.
In the afternoon at 3pm, you will go for the canopy walk as another option which offers a splendid view over the lush forest with its magnificent biodiversity. Hard wood trees dominate the upper canopy while the lower part is beautified with a large selection of orchids, flora and fauna that flourish better in the higher altitudes.

Dinner and overnight: One & only Nyungwe house Lodge. (Full Board)

Chimp trek – Nyungwe National Park. Early in morning, hike into Nyungwe Forest, the natural habitats for a huge population of Chimps. Chimpanzees are great apes that are closely related to humans. Nyungwe Forest hosts these intelligent primates who are an endangered species. Later after the trek you will return to the lodge in time for lunch and the rest of afternoon at leisure.

Kigali departure: Today after your breakfast you will drive from Nyungwe National Park to Kigali, upon arrival drive to the airport for your departure flight.

• ** END OF YOUR SAFARI WITH Neza SAFARIS **

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EXTENDING YOUR STAY WITH US: Neza SAFARIS has a variety of authentic experiences in Rwanda, Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar, Kenya and Diani or Mombasa and Uganda, We would be happy to facilitate and plan any extended stay you might require in East Africa.

• High Season January, February, June, July August, September, December.
• Low Season March, April, May, October, November