Rwanda Experience

Day 1 ARRIVAL IN KIGALI AND DRIVE TO AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK- 2 hour drive to park
Arrive at Kigali International Airport, welcomed by our representative outside the customs and immigration hall, who will assist with immigration procedures. Arrive at the south gate and then drive to the camp. kagera National Park Evening Boat Cruise. For a stress-free nature experience, tourists can embark on the Akagera National Park Evening Boat Cruise on Lake Ihema. The cruise will take visitors on an unforgettable journey as the sunsets. The lakes and surrounds offer views of wildlife such as cormorants, hippos and crocodiles. Knowledgeable guides are on hand to answer any questions and point out points of interest along the cruise. Overnight stay at Ruzizi Tented Lodge/Meal Plan: FB

Day 2 FULL DAY GAME DRIVE
Take a packed breakfast and proceed for a morning game. You’ll then embark on your first game driveAkagera comprises some of the most scenic Savannah in East Africa – open plains, woodlands, lakes, swamp, and grassy low mountains – and is home to one of Africa’s highest hippo densities, large crocodiles, as well as the rare sitatunga and almost 500 species of birds. Teeming with plains game, Akagera also boasts a healthy population of lion, which were introduced by African Parks in 2015 after a 20-year absence; black rhino was reintroduced in 2017. After, return to lodge for lunch and relaxation. Later in the afternoon, you may go for another game drive. Overnight stay at Ruzizi Tented Lodge/Meal Plan: FB

Day 3 DRIVE TO KIGALI AND VISIT THE GENOCIDE MEMORIAL- 5 hour drive
Today morning you will drive to the North gate and proceed to Kigali city to break your journey for the next day’s tour to Nyungwe. From the North gate you will drive two hours to Kigali have lunch and in the afternoon visit the genocide memorial. Located just outside of Kigali City Centre in the Gasabo district, Kigali Genocide Memorial & Museum started by a partnership of the Kigali City Council and the UK-based Aegis Trust. The center is an extremely moving, challenging, educational and ultimately inspiring as well as a great place to understand the cause, tragedy and successful rebuilding post-genocide. You will drive to your hotel in Kigali for dinner and overnight. Kigali Serena Hotel/Meal Plan: HB

Day 4 DRIVE TO NYUNGWE NATIONAL PARK – 6 hour drive
After an early breakfast at the hotel, you will start your drive to Nyungwe. Situated in southwestern Rwanda, the Nyungwe Forest National Park is known for its exceptional biodiversity and its wide range of endemic species. The park is composed of lush tracts of rainforest set high up on fertile mountain slopes. It is one of Africa’s most ancient forests and the home of Rwanda’s sole remaining chimpanzee population, as well as 85 additional mammal species, 43 reptile species, nearly 300 bird species and over 1000 plant species. You will spend this day at leisure enjoying the property. Overnight at Nyungwe Top View/Meal Plan: FB

Day 5 CHIMP TREKKING AND CANOPY WALK IN NYUNGWE NATIONAL PARK
The day begins bright and early, driving to the park headquarters at 5:00am with a delicious packed Breakfast. After an insightful chimpanzee trek briefing, you’ll be escorted to the Evergreen Forest for 6am, when the adventure begins. Alongside the famous chimps, you are likely to spot a wide variety of bird life. Their playfulness and human–like characteristics make this journey so rewarding. You may even be welcomed by chimp morning calls deep in the forest. Upon encountering the chimps, you can stay in their presence for one hour as you enjoy their acrobatics, feeding, and day-to-day behaviors. You’ll make your return to the at around 11am, and lunch will be served. This afternoon, we take you once again to the park headquarters for the canopy walk briefing at 3:00pm The canopy walkway consists of three bridges and three towers, with a total length of 200m. The walkway is embedded in a guided tour along the breathtaking Trail. On this journey, your expert Park Guide will not only reveal the forest canopy, but also explain why it is an integral part of the tropical rainforest ecosystem. You will learn what the major characteristics of a rainforest and its canopy are, and the importance Nyungwe National Park has for Rwanda as a whole. Overnight at Nyungwe Top View/Meal Plan: FB

Day 6 ROAD TRANSFER TO VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK – 6hours drive
After enjoying an early breakfast at the hotel, you will check out and drive Volcanoes National Park. Best known as a sanctuary for the region’s rare mountain gorillas. Visitors flock here to experience a face-toface encounter with these magnificent creatures. While the gorillas are without a doubt the main drawcard, visitors can also look forward to exploring a network of scenic hiking trails, visiting the tomb of the world-famous Dian Fossey and the Karisoke Research Center, and enjoying a beautiful day hike to the Crater Lake on Mount Bisoke. You will spend the day at leisure here preparing for the Gorilla trekking ahead. As your guide arranged for a PCR test for the next day’s activities. Overnight at Five Volcanoes Lodge/Meal Plan: FB

Day 7 VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK – GORILLA TREK/RELAXATION
You will have a morning call at around 5:30am before meeting at the main dining area at 6:00am for breakfast and a cup of freshly brewed Rwandan coffee. 6:45am depart for the Trekking Headquarters at Volcanoes National Park (20-minute drive), on arrival: Coffee will be served, while your driver guide secures your spots with specific gorilla families (selecting the most suitable family depending on the group’s requirements – there are however no guarantees). You will then gather in a group with the Volcanoes National Park Guide for a detailed briefing. At 8:00am, vehicles will depart to the various trailheads for a 15-minute to one-hour drive – depending on the gorilla family each group has been allocated. At the start of the trailhead, you will be allocated a porter to assist with carrying bags and navigating challenging terrain, (this is recommended). Cash is required to pay the porters (the minimum amount is USD 10). The time that it takes to reach the gorilla family varies and can be anything from 30 minutes to 3-4 hours, and treks reach an altitude from 2,500-4,000m. The gorilla-trekking terrain varies from farmlands to thick bushes closer to the Park boundary, and visitors may be allocated to a gorilla family who is on the move – which could make their trek longer. This may at times require navigating a path through dense vegetation, which can be slippery. There are also stinging nettles, which is why we recommend packing gloves and gators to be used during Gorilla trekking. You will return to the hotel, have lunch, and rest for the rest of the afternoon. Overnight at Five Volcanoes Lodge/Meal Plan: FB

Day 8 GOLDEN MONKEY TREKKING AND DRIVE BACK TO KIGALI
Today morning after your breakfast, you will go for a Golden Monkey trekking. Trekking to see the Golden Monkeys is not as strenuous as the other hikes in the park. The Golden Monkey (Cercopithecus Mitis Kandti) is a local subspecies of the widespread Sykes Monkey, also known as the ‘Blue Monkey’ and is endemic to the high altitude forests. The monkeys are playful and inquisitive and often spend their time leaping from bamboo branches or frolicking on the forest floor. There are two habituated groups of Golden Monkey, one group comprises around 80 - 100 members, with its home at the foot of Mount Sabyinyo. You will then return to the accommodation where you will freshen up, have lunch and depart to Kigali.