12 Days Rwanda Safari
Book this 12 Days Rwanda Safari for gorilla trekking, wildlife, chimpanzees, golden monkeys and a visit to an orphanage in Rwanda. Discover the wilderness of Rwanda with this long safari that could also feature as your honeymoon package or holiday package in Rwanda.
12 Days Long Rwanda Safari Overview
Day 1, Arrival and transfer to your hotel in Kigali
Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be welcomed by our company representative together with the driver / guide and transfer to Kigali city. Depending on the time of your arrival, you will go for a short city tour with in Kigali and visit the genocide memorial sites. Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel des Mille Collines for luxury, Hotel ChezLando for Budget or Golden Hills Hotel for mid range.
Day 2, Transfer to Akagera National Park
Enjoy your breakfast and transfer to Akagera National Park. 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 in the park, you will go for a short southern Lake Ihema game drive. Look out for animals such as elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, hippos, crocodiles and many more like Antelopes. Dinner and overnight at Akagera Game Lodge
Day 3, Morning game drive and Transfer to Butare
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 the animals can be seen in the evening game drive. There are some that are early risers and can only be seen in the morning. After this you will transfer to Kigali where you will have your Lunch. After lunch you 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 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. Dinner and overnight at a hotel in Butare town.
Day 4, Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park
After 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, 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 5, Chimpanzee trekking
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 at Gisakura guest House for Budget/Nyungwe forest Lodge for Luxury
Day 6, Transfer to Kibuye along the shores of Lake Kivu
After breakfast at your lodge/Guest house, you will transfer to Lake Kivu. The lake is one of the great lakes in Africa and is the largest of the fresh water lakes that gleam in the Albertine (Western) rift of the Great Rift Valley. On the shores there is the Kibuye town which is one of the country’s most attractive of lake ports, nestled in a series of interwoven and undulating hills and will offer you spectacular views of the lake and its islands plus the surrounding countryside. Arrive at your lodge for evening relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Lake Kivu Serena Hotel
Day 7, Visit the L’Esperance Children’s Orphanage and Village
After breakfast, you will go and visit the L’Esperance Children’s Orphanage and Village. Spend the whole day at the orphanage and see how the orphaned children have been helped by donations from different organisations and also from tourists like you. Return to your Lodge in Kibuye for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 8, Transfer to Gisenyi
After breakfast, you will continue with your safari to Gisenyi town. This offers beautiful and excellent views of Lake Kivu and it’s a great place to relax while feeling its waterfront and sandy beaches. Upon arrival, you will have and then spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing or visit the host springs which will help you learn more about the formation of the Virunga Volcanic Mountains. Alternatively you can also visit the local projects in the area and interact with project members or visit the local artisans and a local women’s weaving association. Overnight in Gisenyi town
Day 9, Transfer to Ruhengeri
Breakfast will be served early this day and then after, you will check out from your Hotel and later transfer to Ruhengeri. En route, you will visit the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village where you may have a wonderful and interactive experience about the Rwandan traditions, culture and way of life. After this you will continue to the Park reaching in the late evening. Dinner and overnight at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge for Luxury/ Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge for Mid range/Kinigi Guest house or Muhabura lodge for Budget.
Day 10, Gorilla trekking in Parc National Des Volcans
Early in the morning after breakfast and a briefing from the ORTPN officials, set off for the gorilla tracking. This experience of gorilla tracking is a once in a life time adventure. The rangers will lead you deep into the forest in search for the Gorillas. You will move through the rugged terrain until you finally meet these harmonious creatures that will entertain you for about 1 hour. The activity in Rwanda can take 3-5 hours depending on the movement of these gentle primates. This is an awesome and exciting moment.
Return for lunch at the Lodge and in the afternoon, visit the Karisoke research center and the graves of Diane Fossey a woman who was murdered because she was protecting these endangered mountain Gorillas. Return for dinner and overnight stay at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge for Luxury/Gorilla nest lodge or Virunga Lodge for Mid range/Kinigi Guest house or Muhabura lodge for Budget.
Day 11, Golden Monkey Trekking and transfer back to Kigali
After breakfast, you will go for golden monkey tracking. This activity also takes like 2-3 hours in the Virunga forest. Later return back to your lodge for early lunch and transfer back to Kigali city reaching in the afternoon. Depending on your time of departure, you will either be transferred to the Airport for your flight back home or be dropped off at your Hotel in Kigali for dinner and overnight stay at your own expenses.
Day 12, Departure
Have your breakfast at the Hotel and depending on the time of departure, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight back home.
End of 12 Days Best of Rwanda safari
