10 Days Highlights of Rwanda Safari

10 Days Highlights of Rwanda Safari leads you to the best of Rwanda in the shortest time possible. Rwanda is famous as the land of a thousand hills because its hilly landscapes that are blessed with an abundance of flora and fauna despite its small size. The country, infamously known for the 1994 Genocide during which nearly one million Tusi were killed, has had a complete turn around in the past years and has become one of the most progressive and fastest growing countries in Africa. During this growth phase, the country's biodiversity has continuously remained intact, which has labelled it a popular and perfect destination at such a time! The country is punctuated with a variety of habitats that range from bamboo, moorland, acacia dotted savanna, areas of forest to mountainous landscapes. It is these suitable habitats and vegetation that act as home to a variety of species and wildlife to enhance their survival! Such wildlife include the big five, chimpanzees and most importantly the mountain gorillas, which are the prime attraction that majority of tourists are always interested in.

This 10 Days Highlights of Rwanda Safari will offer you experiences in the city of Kigali, during which you will enjoy wonderful views of the mountainous landscape. From here, you will visit the ethnographic museum in Huye shortly before proceeding to Nyungwe Forest National Park. Nyungwe contains 13 primate species that include chimpanzees, the Rwenzori colobus among others. For bird enthusiasts, the park is home to an estimated 280 bird species whose sounds and activities make the safari further pleasurable. While here, you will do chimpanzee tracking and have scenic views of nature during the canopy walk within the forests. From Nyungwe, you will drive to Kibuye for boat cruises on Lake Kivu, afterwhich you will transfer to Volcanoes National Park for the most Rwanda popular safari: Gorilla trekking. At Volcanoes, there over 400 mountain gorillas that are categorised into many families, 10 of which are habituated for tourism. While here, you will carry out gorilla trekking on one of the families. The sight at the gorillas playing, eating and conducting their daily activities is humbling! You will also do golden monkey trekking shortly before your transfer to Akagera National Park in the east of Rwanda. Akagera National Park is the only park in Rwanda that contains typical savannah animals like the giraffes, lions, elephants among others. While here, you will do game drives during which you will have spectacular views of animals like antelopes, leopards among others. You will also visit Lake Ihema where you will have stunning views of hippos, crocodiles and birds.

This 10 Days Highlights of Rwanda Safari will give you a full Rwanda experience from the big game safari in the east, the primates adventure in the south, cultural experiences and the mountain gorilla expedition in the north.

Activities

Kigali City
Nyungwe Forest National Park
Lake Kivu
Volcanoes National Park
Akagera National Park

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival

Accommodation: Kigali Serena Hotel (Luxury), Heaven Boutique Hotel (Midrange), Gloria Hotel (Budget)
Meal Plan: Lunch, Dinner
On arrival at the Kigali International Airport you will be met by your tour driver and transfer to your hotel in Kigali.

Day 2

Kigali tour

Kigali City tour

Accommodation: Kigali Serena Hotel (Luxury), Heaven Boutique Hotel (Midrange), Gloria Hotel (Budget)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today we shall tour Kigali, a city that has impressed with her impeccable cleanliness, orderliness and safety. We shall drive along the hills on which the city is built enjoying wonderful views of the mountainous landscape. We shall visit among other places the Genocide memorial, museums, local markets, and major landmarks.

Day 3

Museum tour

Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park

Journey time: 5 hours
Accommodation: One&Only Nyungwe House (High end), Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel (Midrange), Gisakura Guesthouse (Budget)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
At 8am we shall depart to Nyungwe Forest National Park in the southwest of Rwanda. Along the way we shall visit the ethnographic museum in Huye. The museum displays the cultural history of the people of Rwanda and the region.
We will thereafter transfer to your lodge and spend the rest of the evening taking in the amazing views of the forest.

Day 4

Chimpanzee tracking

Canopy walk

Chimpanzee tracking and Canopy walk in Nyungwe

Accommodation: One&Only Nyungwe House (High end), Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel (Midrange), Gisakura Guesthouse (Budget)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We shall transfer to the park office at 4.30am, meet the park guides and drive to the starting point of the trek in the forest. You will set out to track a community of habituated chimps in Nyungwe forest and also see several other unique wildlife in the forest. Over 500 chimpanzees live in Nyungwe Forest National Park, and they are part of the 13 species found in the park.
In the afternoon you will do the popular canopy walk in Nyungwe forest which provides breathtaking views over the forest.

Day 5

Forest hike

Forest hike in Nyungwe and transfer to Lake Kivu Kibuye

Journey time: 2 hours
Accommodation: Kivu Lodge (Luxury), Cormoran Lodge (Midrange), Home St. Jean (Budget)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
In the morning we shall have another trek in Nyungwe forest to see upclose more birds, monkeys, and rare plants and enjoying the views of the forest.
Later we shall drive to Kibuye and enjoy a relaxing time along the shore of Lake Kivu

Day 6

Boat ride

Boat ride on Lake Kivu and transfer to Volcanoes National Park

Journey time: 4 hours
Accommodation: (Luxury), Cormoran Lodge (Midrange), Home St. Jean (Budget)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
in the morning we shall set out for a boat ride on Lake Kivu, one of the most beautiful lakes in Central Africa, and explore the amazing scenery and visit some islands. Thereafter we shall check out and transfer to Volcanoes National Park in the north of Rwanda.

Day 7

Gorilla tracking

Gorilla tracking in Volcanoes National Park

Accommodation: Kivu Lodge (Luxury), Cormoran Lodge (Midrange), Home St. Jean (Budget)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After early breakfast transfer to the park office at 7am for allocation of gorilla groups and briefing from the respective park guides assigned to the trekking groups. You will drive the park and set out to hike up the volcanoes to find the gorillas. After the amazing encounter spend the rest of the day relaxing at the lodge.

Day 8

Golden monkey tracking

Golden monkey tracking and transfer to Akagera National Park

Journey time: 5 hours
Accommodation: Ruzizi Tented Lodge (Luxury), Akagera Game Lodge (Midrange)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
In the morning we may have another activity in the park before departure. The golden monkeys trek is wonderful adventure tracking the stunning monkeys. The monkeys are easy to find because they live in the bamboo forests are found the in lower zone of the mountain.
We shall depart to Akagera National Park in the east of Rwanda.

Day 9

Game drive

Boat ride

Game drive and boat ride

Accommodation: Ruzizi Tented Lodge (Luxury), Akagera Game Lodge (Midrange)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today we shall do a game drive in the southern part of the park. We shall look out for the rhinos, leopard, and antelopes such as the oribi. In the afternoon we shall go for a boat ride on the Lake Ihema which is good way to watch some water wildlife such as hippos and crocodiles and many birds.

Day 10