This 8 Days Gishwati, Akagera and Volcanoes National Park Safari experience is all you need to take part to have the ultimate Rwanda safari experience having a bit of everything when you participate in chimpanzee trekking in Gishwati Mukura National Park and gorilla trekking in volcanoes national park for the primate safaris in Rwanda, in volcanoes national park, you will also participate in mount bisoke hike which is part of the Virunga mountain ranges with a number of rewarding attractions that can be seen when you embark on hiking the mountain. You will also have the chance to visit Akagera National Park for the game drives in Rwanda, and the boat cruise on Lake Ihema which will give you access to the endangered shoebill stork and so many more species. Continue with the itinerary below for a more detailed experience;
Highlights of your safari
Day 1: Transfer to Gishwati Mukura National Park
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking
Day 3: Transfer to Akagera National Park and Ihema Boat Cruise.
Day 4: Full day Game drive
Day 5: Half-game drive and transfer to Volcanoes National Park
day 6: gorilla trek in Volcanoes National Park.
day 7: Mount Bisoke hike
day 8: transfer back to Kigali.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Gishwati Mukura National Park
On day 1 of the 8 Days Gishwati, Akagera and Volcanoes National Park Safari, at a location of your choice in Kigali city, you will be picked by your guide who will brief you about your safari experience. After the briefing session, you will participate in the Kigali city tour which will lead you to a number of destinations like the Kigali genocide memorial museum to understand more about the Rwanda genocide, you will also visit the Kimironko market the largest and oldest market in Rwanda where you can purchase a number of souvenirs, you will also get to interact with different groups of people and so on. After the Kigali city tour, you will make your way to Gishwati Mukura National Park, on reaching the park you can participate in the nature walk which will give you a relaxing adventure walking through the trails in the park, you will watch a number of primates in the park like the Mona monkey, vervet monkey and after the safari experience, you will also watch a number of bird species. After the safari experience, head to your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 2: Chimpanzee trekking
On day 2 of the 8 Days Gishwati, Akagera and Volcanoes National Park Safari, wake up early in the morning have breakfast and with your packed lunch, you will make your way in the park to participate in chimpanzee trekking in Gishwati Mukura National Park. With chimpanzee trekking in the park, you will have the opportunity to hike through the forest which will give you a number of different attractions from the primates to the different bird species and so on. When you get to the habituated chimpanzee troop, you will get to spend an hour with the species, taking pictures of the species, you will watch how the species interact with one another, you will get to take their pictures and so on and in case of any questions about the species, you can ask your safari guide to give you all the relevant information. You will head back to your hotel for relaxation, dinner, and an overnight stay.
Day 3: Transfer to Akagera National Park and Ihema Boat Cruise.
On day 3 of the 8 Days Gishwati, Akagera and Volcanoes National Park Safari, you will be met by your driver guide at your agreed location at the Kigali city or Kigali International Airport to transfer to Akagera National Park where you will arrive in time to embark on the boat cruise on Lake Ihema where you will see game-like hippopotamuses, elephants quenching their thirst from the river banks, Crocodiles and many bird species like the endangered shoe bill stork, the kingfishers and many other water birds that live around the lake and the surrounding swamps. Dinner and overnight at Akagera Game Lodge (mid-range) Karenge bush camp (budget)
Day 4: Full day Game drive
Rise up early in the morning have breakfast and go for a morning game drive with great anticipation of seeing the different animals that rise early to graze and predators looking for their early morning kill, especially the big cats like the leopard, lions and many other carnivores. You will get to watch a number of herbivores like the rhinos grazing within the plains, elephants, gazelle, oribi, and many other rewarding game animals. After the morning game drives, you will head back to your hotel for refreshments and later in the afternoon transfer to take part in the evening game drive. Get ready to watch how the park comes to life as the sunsets with a number of predators coming from their hiding spots to catch prey, the herbivores catching their last bite for the day, the crocodiles can be seen sun-basking, elephants quenching their thirst from the river banks which will make your safari quite memorable. After an amazing safari experience, you will make your way back to your camp for dinner and an overnight stay. Akagera Game Lodge (mid-range) Karenge bush camp (budget)
Day 5: Half-game drive and transfer to Volcanoes National Park
After an amazing lunch at your accommodation facility get ready to make your way back to Kigali city. You can participate in a half-game drive to watch the species in the wild that you might have missed out on during the game drive. After the activity, you will make your way to Volcanoes National Park arriving in time for check-in at your hotel.
Day 6: Gorilla trek in Volcanoes National Park.
As early as 6 am, you will be expected to be up for breakfast and ready to set off for the trek. Our guide will meet you after having your breakfast and your lunches packed and he will take you to Kinigi Headquarters where you are expected to be given a brief before starting the gorilla trek. This brief is done at 7 am. You are given guidelines during this brief before you are allowed to start the trek. This gorilla trek can take about 2 hours to half a day as it’s unpredictable. When you finally find the gorillas, you will have to maintain a 7 meters’ distance and you are allowed one hour to admire and take photos of the gorillas. After the trek, you will have lunch and be taken back to your hotel as the night before to relax and reminisce on the experience. You can also embark on the iby’iwacu cultural village tour which will give you an insight into the people of Rwanda by visiting the local community which will give you the chance to observe their unique cultural values through dance, food, and many other features that you will get to observe when you participate in the activity. After the experience, you will head back to your hotel for dinner and overnight will be at Da Vinci lodge (mid range) Hotel Muhabura (budget)
Day 7: Mount bisoke hike
After an early morning breakfast at your hotel, you will head to the park headquarters then you will embark on your journey of hiking Mount Bisoke where you will have amazing views of the park, you will get to see a number of bird species, a number of primate species and have amazing views of the crater lake at the summit where you can take a number of species and if you’re lucky you will get to see Rwanda gorilla families, a number of other primate species. After the memorable safari, you will head back to your hotel for lunch and embark on the iby’iwacu cultural village tour which will give you an insight into the people of Rwanda by visiting the local community which will give you the chance to observe their unique cultural values through dance, food and many other features that you will get to observe when you participate in the activity. After the experience, you will head back to your hotel for dinner and overnight will be at Da Vinci lodge (mid range) Hotel Muhabura (budget)
Day 8: Transfer back to Kigali.
On this day you will have breakfast at your own pace but ensure to check out of the hotel in time. After an early morning breakfast at your hotel, your guide will pick you up and get to participate in the Dian Fossey hike which will lead you to the museum, where you will understand more about her works in the conservation and the sustainability of the gorillas in Africa. After the safari experience, you will then make your way to Kigali city having lunch en route. You will be dropped off at a location of your choice in either Kigali safari. If you missed out on the city tour on the first day, you can take part in the Kigali city tour where you will visit a number of sites like the Kigali genocide memorial museum, the Kimironko Market where you can purchase souvenirs.
Quotation Includes:
- Accommodation
- Pick up and drop off in Kigali
- All activities as indicated in the itinerary
- 4×4 Safari Landcruiser with pop up roof and fuel
- Full-time English-speaking Guide/Driver.
- All accommodation as indicated in the itinerary
- All meals are as indicated in the itinerary.
- Bottled drinking water while on safari.
Not included:
- Air tickets.
- Visa fees
- Personal expenses such as telephone calls, email, laundry, beverages, or meals not indicated in the itinerary, Portage, and wait staff gratuity.
Inclusions;
- 4X4 safari land cruiser with a pop-up Roof & Fuel
- Full-time English speaking driver/ guide
- Park entrance fees
- Lunch
- Accommodation
- Chimpanzee trekking permit
- Pick up and drop off in Kigali city
- Vehicle entrance fees
- Bottled mineral water while on safari
Excludes;
- Tips
- All items of a personal nature like tents, bedding, laundry, phone calls, beer, e.t.c
- Anything else not included in the itinerary
