5 Days Rwanda Gorillas & Wildlife Safari
This 5 Days Rwanda Gorillas & Wildlife tour will give you a chance to share the love of gorillas with that of wildlife. Rwanda is known as one of the three countries in the world to host the endangered habituated mountain gorillas, these apes live in volcanoes national park in the northern part of Rwanda. From Volcanoes national park, you will cross to Akgagera national park a protected park housing incredible species of wildlife some of which are really seen elsewhere. Not forgetting a city tour too.
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
On your arrival at Kigali international airport, our safari guide will be readily available to meet and greet you and later he will brief you about the all safari. Then from here he will drive you to Kigali city and have a short visit to the Kigali genocide memorial site a burial ground for over 20,000 people who were buried under the same graveyard after the 1994 horrific war which claimed over 1 million people, if time allows also visit the local markets, hand craft shops among many others.
Later, drive to Ruhengeri Musanze district, the drive is about 2-3 hours passing through the beautiful terraced hill sides that portray much of Rwanda’s landscape. Arrive in the evening at your preferred accommodation for relaxation dinner and an overnight at.
Location: Volcanoes national park
Accommodation Option:
Luxury: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel/ Mountain Gorilla View Lodge/
Mid-range: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge/La Palme Hotel
Budget: Kinigi Guest House/Hotel Muhabura
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Drinking Water and Fruits throughout
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in volcanoes national park
Wake up early for breakfast and then after, our safari guide will pick you and drive you to the park headquarters to meet the park wardens who will get you briefed about the all process of gorilla tracking and also get you allocated to the gorilla family to track. After, you will head to the slopes of Virunga volcanoes following the ranger guide.
You will visit one of the ten habituated gorilla Rwanda family assigned to you, gorilla tracking is regarded as one of the most interesting adventurous safari activity on earth trekking through the lush forested forest slopes of the Virungas is completely a wonderful experience. trekking time is unpredictable since meeting them depends on where they last spent their night from and on the food location , so some levels of physical fitness is needed as well as trekking gears like strong shoes/boots.
You can trek from 1-6 hours through dense forest vegetation, slippery slopes and changing weather. However once they are met you will forget all the struggles you have gone through and utilize the one hour you are only allowed with the gorillas take as many photos and videos with them as you can and later return back to the base in time for a late lunch.
However some gorilla families like the Susa group are hard to find, and tracking can go up to full day, especially when it is wet and muddy. If the evening is free, visit the local communities neighboring the park. Dinner and an overnight at;
Location: Volcanoes national park
Accommodation Option:
Luxury: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel/ Mountain Gorilla View Lodge/
Mid-range: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge/La Palme Hotel
Budget: Kinigi Guest House/Hotel Muhabura
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Drinking Water and Fruits throughout
Day 3: Transfer to Akagera National Park
Early morning breakfast and transfer to Akagera National Park in the Eastern part of Rwanda on the border side with Tanzania, the drive takes about 5-6 hours’ from volcanoes national park in the northern part of Rwanda. You will have en-route visit to the genocide memorial site and lunch, you will arrive at the park in the late afternoon for relaxation dinner and an overnight.
Or if the evening is fee you can enjoy a small game drive and view some species of wildlife in the park. Dinner and overnight at:
Location: Volcanoes national park
Accommodation Option:
Luxury: Singta Kwitonda Lodge Ruzizi
Mid-range: Akagera Game Lodge,
Budget: Dereva Hotel Shakani Campsite, Mutamba Campsite
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Drinking Water and Fruits throughout
Day 4: Game drive and Boat cruise on Lake Ihema
After an early morning cup of tea/coffee, embark on a game drive to catch up with very many predators rushing to their hide-outs games expects to see include lions, spotted hyena, leopard and many other the impalas, zebras, bushbucks, elephants, giraffes, buffalos, cape eland, black tailed mongoose, Oribi and some species of primates.
After this moment retire to the lodge for full breakfast and lunch, after lunch, in the afternoon embark on another activity boat cruise on Lake Ihema here you will be rewarded with more chance to view more species of birds and animals including schools of hippos and crocodiles just meters from the boat and many species of water birds like papyrus Gonolek and shoebill storks. Retire to the lodge for Dinner and overnight at:
Location: Volcanoes national park
Accommodation Option:
Luxury: Singta Kwitonda Lodge Ruzizi
Mid-range: Akagera Game Lodge,
Budget: Dereva Hotel Shakani Campsite, Mutamba Campsite
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Drinking Water and Fruits throughout
Day 5: Transfer back to Kigali
After a hearty breakfast at the lodge, you will embark on the transfer back to Kigali, however if you missed the first Kigali city tour, our safari guide will take you for a city tour and visit interesting places and later you will connect to your departure flight at Kigali international park
End of safari
The safari includes
- Transportation and fuel in either 4X4 Safari Van or 4X4 Safari Land Cruiser all with Pop up roof & AC
- Full Board Accommodation on Safari as included in the itinerary
- 1 gorilla permit per person
- Kigali city tour
- Game drive and Launch cruise
- Full English Speaking driver guide and all his associated expenses. We can also provide any other foreign language speaking guide on request.
- Park entrance fees
- Any other Activity fees as mentioned in the Itinerary
Safari Exclusions
- Accommodation in Kigali unless is on itinerary
- Flights
- Visa fees,
- Airport taxes
- Item of personal nature, like bar bills, tipping, Laundry ,Beverages
- Optional Activity fees
- Other extra expenses not included above