Rwanda offers one of the best tourism experiences in the East African region and the continent as a whole. The country is home to a number of primate species in addition to several animal and bird species. Paying a visit to Rwanda is not a wasted time since you will live to remember the trip for the rest of your life.
The seven day Rwanda safari gives you a chance to explore the home of the big five animals that is lion, rhino, elephant, leopard and buffalo in the magical Akagera national park, Rwanda city tour including visiting the historical Genocide memorial site and visiting the home of gorillas – Volcanoes National Park.
Detailed itinerary.
Day 1; Arrival, Kigali city tour and transfer to Akagera national park.
Upon arrival at Kigali international airport, you will meet our professional guide / driver who will brief you about the safari. You will learn of the dos and don’ts of some of the activities that you are to engage in.
Drive around one of the cleanest cities in Africa as you visit place to place for example Genocide memorial and get to learn of the stories behind names pinned on the walls. Visit different local markets such as Kimironko market, religious centers. You will get to appreciate Rwandans traditional attire. Towards the end of the tour find any restaurant of your choice and have a delicious lunch before embarking on your journey to Akagera national park.
Transfer to Akagera national park through rolling hills, spectacular landscape and breath-taking vegetation, check in to any lodge of your choice for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Day 2; Morning game drive and evening boat cruise.
After an early morning breakfast, meet your driver and be part of the morning game drive that will introduce you to different animal species such as zebras, rhinoceros, elephants, buffaloes, lions, to mention but a few. You must also see a number of bird species such as the papyrus gonolek and Shoe bill stork. The Park also supports 44 raptor species, the Palearctic migrants like the Gallinago media, Glareola nordmanni and Falco naumanni.
Return to your lodge for a lip-smirking lunch and relaxation before embarking on the spectacular evening boat cruise. On a lucky day, the boat cruise may also introduce you to carnivals such as hyenas, leopards, lions, etc.
Return to your lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 3; Transfer to Volcanoes national park.
After an early morning breakfast, transfer to the home of primates – Volcanoes national park. Upon arrival make sure you check in to the lodge of your choice and have a delicious meal alongside relaxation. You can choose to embark on a guided nature walk in the evening if at all time allows before returning to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay as you wait for the coming day.
Day 4; Golden monkey trekking and afternoon guided nature walks.
After an early morning breakfast, you will go to the park headquarters from where you meet your guide and embark on one of the primate activities of the park – golden monkey trekking. There are 2 troops of golden monkeys in Rwanda with the largest found in Mt. Sabinyo comprising of about 80-100 monkeys and the most visited in the park. Volcanoes national park is a home to a multitude of golden monkeys. You must enjoy seeing them play, mate, feed and socialize as they jump from tree to tree.
Alongside golden monkey trekking is spectacular animal and bird views. You will enjoy singing of different bird species as you go deep and deeper into the forests.
Return to the lodge for a delicious lunch and relaxation before embarking on an afternoon guided nature walk into deeper parts of the park. This is followed by visiting the neighboring local communities (optional) and get to learn of their culture, traditional performances, local beer and food, etc.
Return to the lodge for dinner and spend a night.
Day 5; Gorilla trekking and transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park.
While day 4 was for golden monkey trekking, this is yet another moment for primate trekking adventure but this time around not golden monkeys but mountain gorillas.
After an early morning breakfast, your driver will rush you to the park headquarters for briefing. The briefing is meant to equip you with the dos and don’ts of the trekking and being assigned a specific gorilla family to be trekked. After the briefing, your attached ranger will lead the group into the forest and the trek begins there and then. Volcanoes national park is a home to 11 habituated gorilla families ready for trekking. In the event of meeting the gorillas, you will spend an hour in their presence as you take photos, see them feed, mate, groom and play. It is a one of a kind experience!
Return to your lodge for lunch before embarking on your journey to the magical Nyungwe national park from where wonders happen.
The journey lasts for about five to six hours through Gisenyi. It is characterized by rolling hills, green vegetation, trading centers and plantations.
Upon arrival, check in to the lodge of your choice, have dinner, relax and spend a night.
Day 6; Chimpanzee tracking and Canopy walking.
After an early morning breakfast, report to the park headquarters for briefing about the dos and don’ts of the expedition. Join the ranger and let the activity begin there and then. Nyungwe forest national park is a home to a number of chimpanzees alongside bird species. The activity introduces you to a number of bird species.
Return to the lodge for a lip-smirking lunch and relaxation.
In the afternoon, embark on the spectacular tree canopy walking in the magical Nyungwe forest. The park offers one of the best canopy walking experiences in Africa. Enjoy walking on top of the forest and get to see a multiple of animal and bird species. It is a moment turned into memory.
Return to your lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Day 7; Transfer to Kigali international airport – departure.
It’s a brand new day – the 7th day of the safari and guess what! Wake up and have a morning breakfast and embark on the drive back to where the safari started from – Kigali city.
On your way to Kigali International airport, have lunch at any town of your choice and ask your driver to take you to any craft shop so that you can grab yourself something that will keep the safari at the back of your mind.
Get a flight at Kigali international airport and thus coming to the climax of the 7 day safari in Rwanda.
