Day 1: Kigali
Arrival at Kigali international airport, met and transferred to your Kigali Hotel. The history of Rwanda dates back centuries, Kigali has been a part of it for more than 100 years. Founded in 1907 as a German settlement, Kigali did not become the capital until Rwanda’s independence in 1962 when it replaced the colonial seat of power in Butare.
Overnight: Park Inn By Radisson Blue/ Serena Hotel. (Bed and breakfast)
Day 2: Kigali City tour
Have Breakfast at your hotel;
Learn about Rwanda’s history from pre-colonial times to the 1994 genocide; learn about other genocides in the world and how this country has dealt with that past. Tour more and see the new developments in Rwanda; the recovery
has been incredible, a testament to humankind’s resilience. Lunch at a Local Restaurant.
Day 3: Kigali – Akagera National Park
Have Breakfast at your hotel;
Pick up from the Hotel, Then drive to the eastern province with stopovers and local community interaction on the way to Akagera National park. Akagera, is set at a relatively low altitude on the border with Tanzania; Akagera National Park is dominated scenically by a labyrinth of swamps and lakes that follow the meandering course of the Akagera River.
After Check in into your hotel enjoy the afternoon game drive or a sunset BoatRide on Lake Ihema. (Approximately 2.5 hours drive from Kigali).
Overnight: Ruzizi Tented camp/3B safari lodge (Full Board Basis)
Day 4: Akagera National Park – Game drive
Early breakfast, enter the park for Morning Game drives; Akagera is home to a variety of game, and an exciting reserve in which to spend a few days. It offers an interesting contrast to the more mountainous central and western parts of Rwanda. There are plenty of animals around and the birdlife is quite exceptional.
Mammals include a healthy population of Elephant, Lions, Buffalo and black rhinos, plus 11 species of antelope including Impala, Common Duiker, Defassa Waterbuck, Bushbuck, Oribi, Tsessebe, Cape Eland and the rare Sable Antelope. Hippos are present in impressive numbers in the lakes and rivers and Zebra and Giraffe still roam the more open acacia dotted plains. Later in the evening, re – enter the park for Night Game drive.
Overnight: Overnight: Rizizi Tented camp/3B safari lodge. (Full Board Basis)
Day 5: Akagera National Park – Volcanoes National park
Early breakfast at the lodge.
Drive to Volcanoes National park via Kigali. This is a scenic drive North West wards through the beautiful terraced hillsides that display Rwanda’s landscape.
Arrive at Ruhengeri, the base for Gorilla trekking at the Volcanoes National Park. The town itself, located only 25km from Uganda boarder.
The constant flow of humanity is quite remarkable. The Town has great views of the surrounding volcanoes. People are very friendly here and although a former Belgian colony (and thus French-speaking), many people speak English now.
Upon arrival, take up Red Rock excursion and get to know more about Rwandan History and local life experience. Later in the evening, joined at the lodge by Park Warden for conservation presentation. (Approximately 5.5 hours drive from Kigali).
Overnight: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge / Five Volcanoes. (Full Board Basis)
Day 6: Volcanoes National park – Gorilla trekking
Early breakfast at your lodge
0600 hrs; Transfer to the Volcanoes National Park HQs
0700 hrs; Registration where the park staff determines which group of Gorillas you will visit. The park staff discusses your fitness level and advises you of the trekking times and conditions to the various groups based upon their location in the park the previous evening. There are a total of 80
gorilla permits available each day with a maximum of eight trekkers visiting any one group.
Once the trekkers are put into groups, each group’s Lead Guide briefs the trekkers of the trekking procedures as well as the “do’s and don’ts” while in the presence of gorillas. After the briefing, trekkers return to their respective vehicles for the drive up the mountain to the starting point. Trekking can take from two to six or more hours if the gorillas move before the park rangers locate them the next morning. The guides stop frequently to allow trekkers a chance to rest and take photos along the way. Have lunch at the lodge and afternoon relaxation.
Overnight: Gorilla Mountain View Lodge. (Full Board basis)
Day 7: Departure
Have breakfast at the Lodge;
Thereafter enjoy the Scenic drive from the foothills of the Virunga volcanoes and drive south some banana plantations on a scenic drive to Kigali. Everything and everywhere, sheer green and hanging on the hills; Rwanda truly – land of a thousand fertile green hills. Upon arrival in Kigali, thereafter be transferred to Kigali Airport for your departure flight.
