Trip highlights: 14 Days Remarkable Rwanda itinerary will take place in Rwanda; arriving and departing via Kigali International Airport. You will visit Kigali city, Akagera, Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda. In Kigali city you will have a tour visiting the Kigali Genocide Museum, Inema Arts centre, game drives and boat ride on Lake Ihema and local and community visit in Akagera, trek the Gorillas and Golden Monkeys, visit the Gorilla Guardians community in Volcanoes National Park and trek the Chimpanzees, Colobus Monkeys, enjoy a canopy walk and hike Isumo waterfall trail in Nyungwe National Park.
Remarkable Rwanda Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival
After you arrive Kigali International Airport, clear with immigration and proceed to the arrivals where you will meet your driver guide who will transfer you to your hotel for overnight stay.
Accommodation: Marriott Hotel Kigali (high-end), Onomo Hotel Kigali (medium) or Five to Five Hotel (budget). Meal Plan: B
Day 2: Kigali City Tour
After a relaxed breakfast, proceed for a tour of Kigali city which includes visiting the Kigali Genocide memorial center and Inema Arts center.
Kigali Genocide memorial is the best known landmark in the city. It sets out the history leading to the Genocide in Rwanda and others around the world. It helps one understand why the Genocide took place, what happened and to appreciate how far the country has moved on from that tragic time. After lunch in Kigali you will visit the Inema Arts center founded by brother’s spurs creativity for personal, social and economic growth.
Accommodation: Marriott Hotel Kigali (high-end), Onomo Hotel Kigali (medium) or Five to Five Hotel (budget). Meal Plan: B & L
Day 3: Kigali – Drive to Akagera National Park
Early breakfast and start your journey to Akagera National Park. Lunch, dinner and overnight stay at the lodge.
Accommodation: Magashi Camp (high-end), Ruzizi Tented Camp (medium) or Karenge Bush Camp (budget). Meal Plan: B, L & D
Day 4: Full Day Akagera National Park
On this day after breakfast, you will proceed for a boat ride on Lake Ihema and have a chance to visit an Island which inhabits a variety of bird species. After lunch you will enjoy a game drive in the park. Dinner and overnight stay at the Lodge.
Accommodation: Magashi Camp (high-end), Ruzizi Tented Camp (medium) or Karenge Bush Camp (budget). Meal Plan: B, L & D
Day 5: Morning Community Visit and Evening Game Drive
After a leisurely breakfast at your Lodge proceed for a morning community visit. During this tour you will experience the basic lives of the community living around this park. You will learn their culture, practices and how they go about their normal daily activities. After lunch at the Lodge you will have an evening game drive in the park.
Accommodation: Magashi Camp (high-end), Ruzizi Tented Camp (medium) or Karenge Bush Camp (budget). Meal Plan: B, L & D
Day 6: Drive to Musanze (Volcanoes National Park)
Depart Akagera National Park for Musanze. Lunch and dinner at the Resort.
Accommodation: One and Only Gorillas Nest (high-end), Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel (medium) or Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge (budget). Meal Plan: B, L & D
Day 7: Gorilla Trekking and Cultural Tour
A very early breakfast at the Resort, with your driver guide proceed to the park headquarters for Gorilla trekking briefing and thereafter proceed to the starting point; trail heads for your amazing adventure. You will be trekking the Mighty Great Apes, the Mountain Gorillas in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. This activity could take between 2-6 hours. Rwanda has 12 habituated groups of Mountain Gorillas all over the Park. You will spend an hour with the Apes, watching the habituated group going about their normal day playing, eating… etc
Upon return from your trek, you will be driven back to the Resort where you will have lunch. In the afternoon you will visit the Gorilla guardian’s village for a cultural tour. Here you will learn various aspects of culture of this community and have an insight on their way of life. This community found at the park boundaries transformed from living on bush meat by poaching for generations.
Accommodation: One and Only Gorillas Nest (high-end), Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel (medium) or Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge (budget). Meal Plan: B, L & D
Day 8: Rest Day
You will spend this entire day at leisure enjoying the lodge facilities.
Accommodation: One and Only Gorillas Nest (high-end), Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel (medium) or Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge (budget). Meal Plan: B, L & D
Day 9: Golden Monkey Trekking
After breakfast at the Resort, proceed to the park headquarters for briefing and thereafter drive to the trail heads for another highlight of the Volcanoes National Park. Trekking usually takes 4 hrs. When you encounter the habituated primates you will spend 1 hour with them as they go about their normal day. The monkeys are playful and inquisitive by nature hence spend their day leaping from bamboo branches. Upon return from your trek, you will be driven back to the Resort where you will have lunch and spend the rest of the day relaxing and enjoying their facilities.
Accommodation: One and Only Gorillas Nest (high-end), Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel (medium) or Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge (budget). Meal Plan: B, L & D
Day 10: Musanze – Drive to Nyungwe National Park
After breakfast start your drive to magnificent Nyungwe National Park passing via Gisenyi having lunch en-route. Arriving your lodge in the evening. Dinner at your Lodge.
Accommodation: One and Only Nyungwe House (high-end), Nyungwe Forest Lodge (medium) or Gisakura Guest House (budget). Meal Plan: B, L & D
Day 11: Chimpanzee Trekking and Canopy Walk
On this day you will depart the Resort with packed breakfast and drive to the park headquarters for briefing then proceed to the starting points into the forest. During this trek you will see a variety of bird species and the Primates. You will be allowed to stay in the presence of the Chimpanzees for an hour as you enjoy watching them go about their normal day. You then return to the lodge to rest and have lunch.
In the afternoon, you will once again proceed to the park headquarters for canopy walk briefing. Experience the forest from a dazzling perspective on the canopy walkway the only one of its kind in East Africa. Dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation: One and Only Nyungwe House (high-end), Nyungwe Forest Lodge (medium) or Gisakura Guest House (budget). Meal Plan: B, L & D
Day 12: Colobus Monkey Trek
After breakfast at the Resort, proceed to the park headquarters for briefing and start your Colobus Monkey trek. These Primates are Old World Monkeys of the genus Colobus native to the African continent. They are black with white fur on their necks and backs. As you walk through the rainforest you will be amazed how large they are in number; about 400 individuals in a group comprising the largest group of the Angolan Colobus Monkeys in Africa. This trek isn’t as tiresome as the Chimpanzee trek tends to be. You will see a good number of them at the tree tops as they swing from one branch to another. Return to the Resort in time for lunch. Then spend the rest of the day relaxing at the Resort and enjoying its facilities.
Accommodation: One and Only Nyungwe House (high-end), Nyungwe Forest Lodge (medium) or Gisakura Guest House (budget). Meal Plan: B, L & D
Day 13: Isumo Waterfall Hike
After breakfast, you will proceed to the park headquarters where you will be briefed and then proceed to the starting point of your hike. This is the trail most tourists to Nyungwe National Park hike. This trail covers a distance of 10.6 kilometres together with the road segment and takes approx. 4 hours to complete. It begins at Uwinka and Gisakura reception area. This trail passes through tea plantations to the magnificent Isumo waterfalls that it is named after. The name “Isumo” is a local slang meaning waterfall. This trail lies on an altitude of 1770 metres above sea level at the low point and 1940 metres above sea level at the highest point. It’s considered a moderate trail to hike. Dinner and overnight stay at your Hotel.
Accommodation: One and Only Nyungwe House (high-end), Nyungwe Forest Lodge (medium) or Gisakura Guest House (budget). Meal Plan: B, L & D
Day 14: Departure
After an early breakfast at the Resort, you will be assisted with checking out; then you will start your drive to Kigali International Airport to catch your late departure International flight. Meal Plan: B & L
Remarkable Rwanda Safari Inclusions and Exclusions:
Includes
- Return airport transfers
- 13 night’s accommodation with meals as indicated in the itinerary above
- Activities shown in the itinerary
- Kigali Genocide Museum
- Inema arts centre visit
- Park fees
- Boat ride on Lake Ihema
- Game drives
- Community visit in Akagera National Park
- One Rwanda Gorilla permit $1,500 per person
- Gorilla Guardians cultural visit
- Golden Monkey trekking permit
- Chimpanzee trekking permit
- Canopy walk
- Colobus Monkey trekking permit
- Isumo waterfall hike
- Services of an experienced English speaking driver guide
- Transportation in a 4×4 safari vehicle
- Government taxes
Excludes
- International flights
- Visas
- Insurance
- Optional activities
- Tips
- Drinks
- Items of personal nature
