Explore Kigali city, get up close and personal with some of the most sought-after primates, birds, and wildlife in the world, and take in the warm hospitality of the locals. It is a road trip with decent lodging options, a knowledgeable guide. The safari begins and concludes in Kigali, Rwanda.
Detailed trip.
Day 1: Arrival and Kigali city tour.
On arrival in Kigali, one of Africa’s most picturesque cities, you’ll experience the city’s calmness, friendliness, cuisines and beautiful buildings. At the airport, a representative from our company will pick you, brief you and provide information about the republic of Rwanda.
After that, you’ll check in at the lodge for refreshments and lunch before going on a nighttime city tour that includes stops at the National Museum, craft markets, and monuments. After everything, finish your day at the lodge with a hearty dinner and nap.
Day 2: Transfer to Nyungwe National Park
After breakfast, you will depart Kigali city for Nyungwe National Park; home to Man’s closest cousins – chimpanzees. There are about 13 primate species in the park, yet dominated by chimpanzees that you will track the following day. Nyungwe National Park is situated in south – western part of Rwanda and it will take you about 5-6 hours’ drive through the country side marked by lush greenery, breathtaking landscape and more.
Enroute stopover will be in Nyanza for lunch and thereafter proceed with the drive to your lodge where you will end the day with dinner and peaceful nap.
Day 3: Chimpanzee trekking and canopy walk
After a hearty breakfast at the lodge, you’ll head to the park headquarters for registration and a pre-trek briefing. The ranger guides will greet you, give you a briefing on the dos and don’ts of this trek and then accompany you during the exercise, which takes place over the course of 3–7 hours.
One of the cutest primate species on planet earth is a chimpanzee. They are recognized as Man’s relative since they resemble people, produce over 25 pleasant sounds and share 98% of man’s genes. After learning about the chimpanzees’ way of life in their natural habitat, you’ll take lunch break and then spend the evening on a canopy, taking pictures and soaking in the views of surrounding area, including farmlands, lush greenery, mountain peaks, birds at treetops, and more.
Day 4: Drive to Gishwati – Mukura National Park
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the lodge when you awaken. Transfer north wards to Gishwati-Mukura national park after breakfast. Upon arrival, settle into your lodge for lunch, dinner, and a restful siesta. This is one of the oldest rain forests on the African continent, which is also Rwanda’s fourth national park. Its location on the brink of Congo-Nile trail in Rwanda’s western region allows tourists to explore the Albertine Rift’s diverse wildlife.
Day 5: Primate trekking and birdwatching in Gishwati-Mukura National Park
Just as you are getting ready to eat, the first meal of the day arrives at your table. Next, choose your lunch from your bag and proceed to the park’s main station to begin the primate experience. There is potential that you will see chimpanzees, blue monkeys, olive baboons, black and white Colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, and L’Hoest’s during the session, which lasts for about three to four hours. You may recognize various species by name, character and sound, as well as other park residents, with the aid of a ranger guide.
Have lunch break after your primate safari, then spend remainder of the day and evening identifying various birds that call this dense forest their permanent home. Spend about two hours with the guide during the session, and you will head back to the resort for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 6: Gishwati-Mukura National Park to volcanoes National Park
Start your day with a mouthwatering breakfast at the lodge, then go to the Gishwati National Park for Volcanoes, one of Africa’s most known national parks and home to man’s closest living relatives, the critically endangered mountain gorillas. You will stop for lunch enroute and arrive at your lodge in the volcanoes national park late. Dinner and a night’s rest.
Day 7: Gorilla trekking
This day begins very early with breakfast, followed by a transfer to the park headquarters where the ranger guides will go through the dos and don’ts of trekking, gorilla behaviors in the wild and other issues. Individuals are given a gorilla family to track after the first session, which lasts about 30 minutes.
A typical gorilla trek lasts between two and eight hours, adding an extra hour to spend with the apes when you may take pictures, ask the ranger guides questions about the apes, and more. A stroll in the forests, mountains, or wetlands is a memorable experience. More specifically, the possibility of coming across additional primates, birds, and unusual plants cannot be completely ruled out. You will eat lunch in the jungle after seeing mothers tend to their young, silverbacks lead the family, and other sights, and then you will return to the lodge for a rest, dinner, and a sweet night’s sleep.
Day 8: Transfer to Akagera National Park
Begin your morning with heavy breakfast meal at the lodge, and then check out to be taken to the only savannah park in the nation: Akagera National Park. The drive is spectacular, allowing you to take in the stunning vista of the undulating hills and lush foliage. You’ll stop for lunch enroute in Kigali City, after which you’ll continue to your resort in the park for refreshments, dinner and a relaxing nap.
Day 9: Game drive and boat cruise
After breakfast, go on a game drive around the savannah park with your ranger guide, where you will learn about various plant types, primates including monkeys, and more while also admiring the beautiful scenery. A 3- to 4-hour game drive offers the chance to see various prey and predators grazing, hunting, or sauntering in the wild. Lions, leopards, cheetahs, African elephants, Cape Buffaloes, oribis, warthogs, waterbuck, giraffe, and other famous species are among them.
After the game drive, there will be a delectable lunch followed by a boat tour on Lake Ihema. The boat ride lasts for around two to three hours while you observe hippos, crocodiles, and other wildlife while also enjoying the refreshing lake wind and beautiful sunset views. Enjoy dinner and a restful snooze to round off this day.
Day 10: Return to Kigali. End of safari.
Following a leisurely breakfast at the lodge in the morning, you will depart for Kigali, where, depending on your arrival time, an early lunch will be served before a transfer to the airport for a flight to another location or just to the pre-arranged drop-off location.