8 Days Virunga,Akagera and Nyungwe Safaris Tour in Rwanda, Gorilla tours.
Mountain Gorillas, Nyungwe and Akagera National Parks
Sites: Volcanoes NP, Akagera NP Nyungwe NP and Lake Kivu.
General introduction
Volcanoes National Park is a central location for exploring some distinctly Rwandan experiences. While a visit to the mountain gorillas is often at the top of visitor, the dramatic landscape also offers thrilling hiking and visits to the fascinating golden monkeys.
Nyungwe Forest National Park: located in southwest Rwanda, partly abutting the Burundi border, I t is a vast area of mountain rainforest, home to many species of chimpanzees, plus owl-faced and colobus monkeys. The Canopy Walkway, part of the Igishigishigi Trail, is a high suspension bridge with views over the valley and surrounding forests. A trail runs to the Kamiranzovu Marsh, with its birdlife, orchids and waterfall.
Akagera National Park; The relatively warm and low-lying plains of Akagera National Park, comprise of savannah, woodland, wetland and a dozen lakes. When visiting Akagera, you can hope to see the Big Five on safari drives (Lion, Leopard, Buffaloes, Elephants and Rhinos). Visitors can also encounter Roan Antelope, Zebra, Giraffe, Topi, an incredible 490 bird species among them the rare Red-faced Barbet and Ruhuaha Chat, plus much more.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Pick up from airport and transfer to the accommodation to start your safaris tour in Rwanda:
On Arrival, you meet our driver and receptionist who give a welcome note and take you to Chez Lando Hotel for dinner and accommodation.
Day 2: Kigali City Tour, Museums and transfer to Volcanoes national park for mountain gorilla trekking.
Kigali Genocide Memorial is a visitor centre for people wishing to understand the events leading up to the events of 1994. After the morning breakfast, we visit Kigali Genocide memorial till lunch time. After lunch, we visit the Campaign Against Genocide before we proceed to Musanze-Ruhengeri, a town of Volcanoes and Mountain Gorillas. We pass through hills and mountains and you will understand really why Rwanda is called a Country of 1000 hills. Your accommodation and dinner are booked at Davinci Gorilla Lodge.
Day 3: Mountain Gorilla Trekking and visit the Gorilla Guardians Village:
After an earlier breakfast, we drive to the Headquarters of Volcanoes National Park for briefing before the Mountain Gorilla trekking; the briefing starts at 7am. The trekking can go up to 12pm to 2pm. After trekking we have lunch and after we drive to the Gorilla Guardian Village (former IBYIWACU CULTURAL VILLAGE) and have the traditional dance and learn about the King induction process. Dinner and accommodation are booked at Davinci Gorilla Lodge.
Day 4: Tracking Golden Monkeys, Tea Processing and transfer to Gisenyi.
After an earlier breakfast we track Golden Monkey (Cercopithecus Mitis Kandti), an endangered species native to Central and East Africa. It is endemic to the Virunga mountains and can be found in Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Trekking is at Kabatwa Hills, where you meet this majestic primate swinging in bamboos. The trekking ends between 11am and 12am and after lunch at the lodge, we drive to Gisenyi, a colonial town along Lake Kivu, the biggest lake in between Rwanda and DRC. On the way, we have a stop at Pfunda Tea Factory and learn how tea is planted, processed until the consumption product. After, we drive to Gisenyi; Accommodation is at Kivu Malahide Resort.
Day 5: Boat cruise to Kibuye and Coffee processing experience and transfer to Nyungwe National Park:
After breakfast, we have a boat cruise to Kibuye. This is a good experience to explore the beauty of the lake, its Islands and you can see different waterbirds like Pied Kingfisher, Great and Reed Cormorants, the migrant Lesser Black-backed Gull, etc. You have a stop at Kinunu Washing Station for a Coffee Tour Experience. At the station, you learn the whole process of coffee farming and making right from the coffee plantation where you will engage in harvesting ripe beans, through to the washing station where they are dried and further processed to produce the awesome and tasty coffee. After tasting roasted coffee, you proceed on boat to Kibuye where the lunch is waiting for you. After lunch, we drive to Nyungwe NP for estimated times of 3 hours, overnight Ken Barham Guest House.
Day 6: Coffee processing, Ethnographic Museum and transfer to Akagera National Park wildlife Safari.
after breakfast we visit Malaba Coffee Cooperative to learn how coffee is processed from planting to cup. At 11am we visit the Ethnographic Museum before we drive to Akagera NP; accommodation is at Akagera Transit Lodge.
Day 7: Touring Akagera National Park and Sunset boat.
We have a morning tour to the savannah wildlife park and we can see the animals like giraffes, Impala, Zebra, Buffaloes, etc. We stop at 12 am and our lunch is at Akagera Game Lodge. At 3pm, we resume our animal viewing and we drive toward Lake Ihema and at 4.30pm we have a sunset boat to see flocks of birds, Hippopotamus, Crocodiles and animals coming for watering like Elephants. accommodation is at Akagera Transit Lodge.
Day 8: Half day touring Akagera National Park and transfer to the airport:
We have a half day game driving and after lunch we drive to Kigali and we head straight to the airport to capture with the evening flight; End of the tour.
Cost
2 Pax (Couple/sharing): USD 10,200/pers
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
- Cost: The cost includes full board accommodation in a medium range accommodation and meals include one soft drink: carbonated drink, water, coffee, tea, transport (car, fuel, driver-guide and mineral water), park entrance and other attractions (including guide), taxes and bank charges. It doesn’t cover flight and visa, tips, tests of COVID-19 and/or quarantine costs and personal expenses (Laundry, alcohol drinks, telephone calls, etc.)
- Currency: The cost is in American Dollars and the main local currency is Rwandan Franc. However, at hotels and COVID tests clients can pay extra services in foreign currency mainly US Dollars, Euro and Pounds (dairy rate is communicated on daily basis) and cards like Visa and Mastercards ae accepted at hotels and big shops.
- Accommodations: Our tours are for medium range, but the clients can indicate if he/she wants budget or luxury and we review the price accordingly. There is a variety of budget and medium class accommodations around national parks and birding destinations.
- Infrastructure: There is a good network of asphalted roads and Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, is the cleanest city in Africa with safe roads and clean hotels.
- Connecting to diverse destinations: All major attractions are located within 1-5 hour drive from Kigali. Volcanoes NP is in 2 hours, Nyungwe NP is in 5 hours drive from Kigali.
- Safety: East Africa, especially Rwanda, is a thriving, safe with low crime rates in Africa.
- A base to visit East African destinations: Rwanda is located in the heart of central and East Africa with easy access to bordering countries: Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, Kenya and Democratic Republic of Congo.
- Visa: From 1st Jan 2018, Nationals of all countries receive visa on arrival at Kigali International Airport and all land borders. Th one East African Tourist Visa will allow travel between Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda with the same multiple entry visa. Citizens of countries members to the African Union, Commonwealth and La Francophonie get visa upon arrival and are waived visa fees for a visit of 30 days
- Climate: Rwanda has temperate tropical highland climate with 2 rainy and 2 dry seasons. At higher altitudes temperatures range from cool to warm.
- Travel airlines: Airlines servicing Kigali International Airport are: RwandAir, Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, KLM, Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines,
- Walking: When birding in mountain forests, Nyungwe, Volcanoes and Gishwati-Mukura NP, we walk on well-maintained trails, while in Akagera NP, birding is done inside the car (apart from pick nick and campsite); we use 4×4 open roof cars to allow a good sighting of hidden birds in savannah and acacia trees.
- Period: The tour is open along the year
- Cancellation Policy: On the confirmed reservations, we charge the cancellation date as follow:
- Before 30 days we refund charge bank charges and 5% of staff time
- 30 days prior to date of the trip: 25% cancellation fee will be charged
- 29 – 15 days prior to date of the trip: 40% cancellation fee will be charged
- 14-5 days prior to date of the trip: 75% cancellation fee will be charged
- Less than 5 days prior to client arrival date: 100% cancellation fee will be charged