If you are craving for more days in Rwanda then this 12 days Rwanda gorilla safari is exactly what you need. This safari combines an adventure in Volcanoes National Park, an excursion of Lake Kivu, Nyungwe Forest National Park and Butare in a single schedule of a trip. Look through the schedule for the exact breakdown of activities day by day.
12 Days Rwanda Gorilla Adventure Overview
Day 1: Arrival and transfer to your hotel in Kigali
On arrival at Kigali international airport or Kanombe airport, you will be welcomed by our company representative together with your driver / guide and depending on the time of your arrival, you will go for a short city tour within Kigali and visit the Kigali genocide memorial site. Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel des Mille Collines for luxury. Midrange and budget options can also be arranged.
Day 2: Transfer to Parc National Des Volcans
Enjoy breakfast and enjoy another stroll around Kigali city where you will visit the Kimironko market and mingle with the locals and after transfer to Ruhengeri in the Northern Province driving on a smooth tarmac road. The park is well known for its rare mountain gorillas making Gorilla trekking the major tourism activity. Arrive Ruhengeri late afternoon and transfer to your lodge for dinner and overnight at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge for Luxury or Virunga Lodge for Mid range, and Kinigi Guest house or Muhabura lodge for Budget.
Day 3: Gorilla trekking in Parc National Des Volcans
Have early morning breakfast, carry your packed lunch, and go for briefing by the ORTPN officials after which you will set off for the gorilla trekking. The ranger guides will lead you deep into the forest in search for the mountain Gorillas moving across the rugged terrain until you finally meet these harmonious creatures that you will immensely enjoy viewing and photographing for about 1 hour.
The activity in Rwanda can take 3-5 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas. This experience of gorilla trekking is a once in a life time adventure and coming up-close with the mountain gorillas is an awesome and exciting moment. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight as above.
Day 4: Dian Fossey / golden monkey trek
You will have breakfast and transfer to the Park Headquarters for registration and briefing about the Golden Monkey tracking or Dianne Fossey grave trekking. You will choose one activity and later set off to start the activity. For those who will be tracking Golden Monkeys, they should be aware that these Golden Monkeys are rare species of primates in Africa and only a few populations can be seen in the Virunga forests of Volcanoes National Park and Mgahinga National Park for the side of Uganda.
For those who will go for Dianne Fossey grave Trek, they should be aware that she was an American Zoologist who was murdered in 1985 while on her research about the rare species of Mountain Gorillas and other primates in Parc Des Volcanoes. Her graves are close to her research center. After the trek, return to the lodge and enjoy the evening at leisure. Dinner and overnight as above.
Day 5: Transfer to Lake Kivu
Enjoy your morning sleep and have breakfast at will after which you will transfer to Lake Kivu in western Rwanda. Arrive in time for lunch after which you will take a launch cruise on the lake. This will give you spectacular views of the area while taking in relaxing waves of the lake and the fresh water breath! Dinner and overnight stay at Lake Kivu Serena Hotel or Hotel Malahide Paradise
Day 6: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park
After your morning breakfast, you will transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park. En route visit the new Visitor’s Interpretive Centre to give you more information about the park such as number of primate species found in the park, types of bird species and other tourist activities carried out with in the Park. Proceed and check into your Hotel for Lunch.
In the afternoon, you will go for Colobus Monkey trekking. To be able to do the activity, you will have to hike through lush forests and endless green tea fields while taking the stunning views of the surroundings. Dinner and overnight at Gisakura guest House for Budget or Nyungwe forest Lodge for Luxury.
Day 7: Chimpanzee Tracking in Nyungwe forest
After breakfast, report to the park headquarters in Nyungwe forest for briefing before going for chimpanzee tracking. However, it is advisable to organize packed lunch and plenty of water prior to this expedition since it can sometimes last over 6 hours. In the forest, you will not only see chimpanzees to but also variety of animals and birds like the Rwenzori Turacco, black and white casqued horn bill, colobus monkeys – sometimes as many as 400 in a group. Return late in the afternoon. Return for dinner and Overnight as above
Day 8: Transfer back to Kigali and to Akagera National Park
After breakfast, you will depart to Kigali where you will have lunch later transfer to Akagera national Park which has been recently boosted with the introduction of lions from South Africa. En route, you will pass through the country’s phenomenal landscape which will give you views of the country’s beauty and also the life style of its people. Upon arrival at Akagera Park, you will go for a short southern Lake Ihema game drive. Look out for animals such as elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, hippos, Antelopes and the newly introduced lions. Dinner and overnight at Akagera Game Lodge
Day 9: Morning game drive and Boat ride on Lake Ihema
Early in the morning after breakfast, you will go for a Northern circuit game drive to search for animals that you may have missed out in the previous game drive. It is not a guarantee that all animals can be seen in the evening game drive.
There are some that are early risers and can only be seen in the morning. Return back to the lodge for a small relation as you wait for lunch. After lunch, you will go for a boat ride on Lake Ihema which will offer you with views of the surrounding areas, hills and swamps. Expect to see Hippos, crocodiles and more bird species. Return back to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay as above.
Day 10: Nature walk and transfer back to Kigali city
Early morning after breakfast, you will go for a nature walk to search for different bird species. Return back to the lodge for lunch and drive to Kigali city. Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel des Mille Collines for luxury, Golden Hills Hotel for mid range or Step town motel for budget.
Day 11: Transfer to Butare
Early in the morning, you will depart Kigali City and transfer to Butare town which was the first country’s Capital city. En route you will pass through wonderful and magnificent hills and cultivated countryside. Have a stopover at the royal King’s Palace in Nyanza for a cultural description about the history of Rwanda.
Continue and visit the cultural museum at Rwesero. Proceed and reach Butare town where you will have lunch and then check in into your Hotel and later visit the Rwanda National Museum for a tour around the site. The Museum will provide you with more information about the Rwanda’s history and culture. Return for dinner and overnight stay as above.
Day 12: Departure
Have breakfast and transfer to the airport for your onward flight.
End of 12 Days Rwanda Gorilla Adventure safari
