Day 1 – Welcome to Rwanda and City Tour! 

You will be picked up by our guide/driver when you arrive at the Kigali International Airport who will transfer you to your hotel where you’ll spend the night. Distance from airport to hotel: 20 minutes.

After checking in, you will continue with City tour where you will visit Kigali Genocide Memorial is the final resting place for more than 250,000 victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. It honors the memory of the more than one million Rwandans killed in 1994 through education and peace-building. after you will ahead for lunch at any restaurant you choose in Kigali.

Hotel options: Serena Hotel / Onomo Hotel, M hotel

Kigali Genocide Memorial

Day 2 Transfer to Akagera National Park – Game Drive and Boat Cruise

Breakfast at the hotel and begin your journey to Akagera National Park, eastern part of Rwanda, the journey to Rwanda’s biggest national park – which spans 1,122km² – takes 2.5 drive, from Kigali.  Assist check-in Akagera national park and go on safari.

Today’s game drive will reward you with an authentic African Big Five safari experience in a less touristy destination where lions and rhinos returned in 2015 and 2017 respectively.

Some of the park’s most famous residents include lions, elephants, rhinos, zebras, Leopards, hyenas, buffalos, giraffes, monkeys, hippos, bush pigs, warthogs, baboons, crocodiles, leopards and antelopes.

At 4:30 PM a sunset boat ride on Lake Ihema will be done, the country’s second-biggest fresh water lake after Lake Kivu.

Lake Ihema is a birder’s paradise; here you’ll be fascinated by sightings of waterbirds such as cormorants, fish eagles, African jacana, papyrus gonolek and kingfishers. But the highlights are usually sightings of the monstrous elephants grazing by the lakeside, crocodiles enjoying the sun, and hippos playing in water. The symbiotic relationship of these creatures will give you a great experience of animal harmony.

Distance from Kigali to Akagera National Park: 2.5 hours (sun set boat in Akagera)

Accommodation: Akagera Rhino Lodge /Akagera Game Lodge.

 

Day 3 – Full Day Game Drive

Breakfast at hotel and start the game drive with an opportunity of spotting some of the park’s most famous residents include lions, elephants, rhinos, zebras, Leopards, hyenas, buffalos, giraffes, monkeys, hippos, bush pigs, warthogs, baboons, crocodiles, leopards and antelopes. Overnight at Mantis Epic Hotel.

 

Day 4 – Travel to Musanze

 After breakfastast, you will have around six hours drive north of the country via Ngarama Rock and this will lead you to Musanze, Rwanda’s second-largest city and the country’s tourism hub.

On the way a visit to Ngarama Rock will be done. This rock is beautiful historical site that sits on an area of about 3 hectares and is attributed to Umwami Rudahigwa Ndoli, comprising several footprints. This magical rock is able to make an echo when hit by metal or stone.

A packed lunch will be taken at this Rwanda king historical and magical site and after lunching there.

Accommodation: Bishop House or Fatima Hotel  

 
Day 5 –  Gorilla trekking and Ellen Degerners campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund

Today is the day! It will begin at 6:00 am as gorilla trekkers are required to be at the park headquarters by 7:00 am. Critically endangered and currently numbering about 1,000 individuals (according to the 2018 census results), the mountain gorillas can only be found in two places in the world.

After equipping yourselves with the essential gorilla trekking gear (hiking boots, long trousers, gloves, etc.), the park’s head ranger will divide you and other trekkers into different groups basing on your fitness. Usually, the more physically fit track gorilla groups that require a shorter, less strenuous trek while the fit ones can scour the forest for a longer time, and at a relatively higher altitude.

The mountain gorillas you’ll be allowed to view are families that have been habituated. As the excursion progresses deeper into the forest, your guide will point out signs of previous gorilla activity – dung, nests, chewed bamboo shoots, etc. Once you find them, you’ll be allowed to stay with them for one hour. And despite their intimidating, massive size, don’t fret! Habituated gorillas are not aggressive; they’ll just stare at you blankly. After lunch you will visit Ellen Degerners campus, the campus is a hub for conservationists, scientists, students, and tourists from all over the world. It is a place where people can come to learn about mountain gorillas, the threats they face, and what is being done to protect them.

 Overnight stay at Five volcanoes boutique hotel / Bishop House

 
Day 6 – Golden Monkey Trekking

Early breakfast precedes the day, before heading to the park headquarters for the golden monkey’s trek briefing. You will then transfer you to the starting point of your guided walk, ready to begin this amazing adventure. The tour takes about 3 – 4 hrs as a round trip (depending on how often you stop). After this memorable experience, you will go for lunch and visit Twin Lakes (Burera and Ruhondo lakes) plus boat cruise.

Overnight at My Hill Eco Lodge, Sambura Lodge.

Day 7 – Transfer to Nyungwe

After breakfast you will leave My Hill Eco Lodge at 9 AM heading to the office of Nyungwe National Park located at Gisakura for registration and other formalities, with a stopover at Karongi for lunch. Distance: around 6h 30min driving.

Accommodation:  Nyungwe Top hill view hotel or Chimpanzee Lodge (Gisakura)

Day 8 – Chimpanzees Trekking and Canopy Walk Way

After packing breakfast early morning, you will lead to the Park reception for briefing and begin chimpanzee trekking journey.

The Nyungwe National Park is home to more than 80 chimpanzees and four small types of prosimian and small nocturnal primates. Chimp trekking will be interspersed with other activities where the moist air, the enlivening sounds of birds, tree frogs and insects will make you fete a real return to nature.

After the memorable chimp trekking expedition, you will return to your room for, lunch and after you will have Canopy is Suspended above a ravine in the lush montane rainforest of Nyungwe National Park, the canopy walkway provides an exhilarating perspective on the ancient treetops and wildlife.  After this memorable experience you turn to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Nyungwe Hill Top View Hotel or Chimpanzee Lodge.


 
Day 9– Transfer to Kigali

After breakfast, you will start a trip towards Kigali with opportunity of shopping (depending on the arrival time).

The Nyamirambo neighborhood, awash with lots of craft markets and art galleries, relaxing and   ready for departure on the following day, enjoy last night in Kigali and reflect on your journey through Rwanda.

Accommodation: Mille Collines / Serena Hotel or Chez Lando hotel

Day 10 – Transfer to the airport- departure

Travel to Kigali International Airport for your flight back home.