The 5 days safari in Rwanda offering Gorillas in Rwanda and Akagera wildlife tour is a special itinerary for primate and wildlife lovers. This tour package takes you on a thrilling encounter with endangered mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park and the Big 5 game all in their natural habitat.
Volcanoes National Park is Rwanda’s spectacular National Park, 160sq.km protected area located in the Northwestern part of the country. Gazetted in 1925, Volcanoes NP takes its name from the chain Virunga Volcanoes. This park holds up to 12 habituated gorilla families which live harmoniously with myriad of other faunal species.
Akagera wildlife tour includes a game drive and boat cruise. Akagera NP was officially declared as a national park in 1934 and spans up to 1122sq.km. This is an extensive savanna park, home to diverse savanna wildlife species including the cape elands, buffaloes, African bush elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras, hyenas, leopards, and bird species.
Brief Itinerary
Day 1: Kigali city tour, embark on morning drive to Akagera
Day 2: Game drive & launch cruise with an expert
Day 3: Travel by road up to Volcanoes N/Park in Ruhengeri
Day 4: Gorilla trekking experience with a local guide & a cultural tour
Day 5: Departure
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Kigali city tour, embark on morning drive to Akagera
After the morning hefty breakfast, you will set off on a city excursion with a local guide. The top attractions to explore on Kigali city tour today will include the Kigali genocide memorial, Kimironko market, and craft shops. The memorable city tour will be followed by lunch break in a classic restaurant within Kigali.
Your driver guide will thereafter transfer you up to Akagera National Park in Eastern Rwanda. Akagera is where you can encounter all the big five game in a single a habitat. This park expands up to 1122sq.km and supports variety of species including African cape buffaloes, elephants, the Maasai giraffes, zebras, impalas, lions, leopards, roan antelopes and a total of 525 species of birds.
Accommodation
- Luxury: Rusizi Tented Camp/Magashi Tented Camp
- Midrange: Akagera Game Lodge
- Budget: Akagera Transit Lodge/Akagera Rhino Lodge
Day 2: Game drive & launch cruise with an expert
Set off for a thrilling Akagera game viewing excursion with an expert. In a 4×4 safari vehicle enjoy a 2-3 hours guided game drive with an expert from Akagera National Park. During a guided game drive, expect the best sights in Akagera’s vast savanna plains including zebras, buffaloes, leopards, rhinos, elephants, lions, antelopes such as duikers, waterbucks, oribis, klipspringers, cape elands and more.
From your rewarding Akagera game drive, return and lunch will be enjoyed at leisure at your respective lodges. Leave the lodge for the afternoon Lake Ihema boat/launch cruise, a 2-3 hour expedition that allows you keep eyes on diversity of aquatic species. The aquatic life to encounter on a launch cruise include hippos, crocodiles and birds like plovers, papyrus gonoleks, malachite kingfishers, jacanas, hawks, and sandpipers, etc.
Accommodation
- Luxury: Rusizi Tented Camp/Magashi Tented Camp
- Midrange: Akagera Game Lodge
- Budget: Akagera Transit Lodge/Akagera Rhino Lodge
Day 3: Travel by road up to Volcanoes N/Park in Ruhengeri
After breakfast, your driver guide will pick you up and today, you will be transferred up to Volcanoes National Park. You connect to Kigali and proceed to the park on a scenic drive characterized by spectacular views of countryside rolling hills.
Accommodation
- Luxury: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge/Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
- Midrange: Le Bambou Lodge/Da Vinci
- Budget: Muhabura Hotel or at a comfortable Kinigi Guesthouse
Day 4: Gorilla trekking experience with a local guide & a cultural tour
Depart from your lodge after a hefty breakfast and join others for briefing on Rwanda gorilla trekking guidelines. The park official present will assign you a gorilla group to explore today with an experienced guide. The actual trekking with gorillas begins at 8:00am and the entire journey runs for 2-6 hours with guaranteed 1 hour for up close and personal with a family of these unique apes.
After interacting with these apes, begin trekking back to the lodge for relaxation. In the evening, you will be visiting Iby’Iwacu village to explore more about the Rwandese distinct cultures and traditions.
Accommodation
- Luxury: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge/Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
- Midrange: Le Bambou Lodge/Da Vinci
- Budget: Muhabura Hotel or at a comfortable Kinigi Guesthouse
Day 5: Departure
Begin your morning with a tasty cup of tea/coffee and after, set off to Kigali. At Kigali, you have two options- proceeding to the airport for departure (in case your flight is scheduled on the same day) or remain at the hotel.
End of safari
Inclusions
- Gorilla permits
- Game drives
- Boat cruise
- Cultural experiences
- Park entrance fees
Exclusions
- Tips
- Visas
- Passports
- Telephone bills
- Insurance
- Beverages
- Shopping bills