Safari Highlights

• Game drive
• Boat ride
• Chimpanzee tracking
• Canopy Walk
• Gorilla tracking
• Lake Kivu
• Photography moments

Day 1: Arrival

Welcome to the beautiful land of “a thousand hill.” Our guide/ representative staff will be at the airport to pick you and transfer you to your hotel or take you for the Kigali city tour or transfer to Akagera national park. The activity you engage will depend on the time you arrive.

Day 2: Explore Akagera National Park

Akagera-national-park-zebrasAkagera National Park is a Savannah park located in north eastern Rwanda on the boarder with Tanzania. It is home to several big mammals not found anywhere else in Rwanda.

On a morning game drive right after an early breakfast, we will look out for Elephants, Zebras, Giraffes, Buffaloes, Water bucks, Bush bucks and recently introduced Lions.

The game drives in Akagera national park usually take place in the the northern sector of the park. The game drives can last for almost an entire day depending on the animal sightings and your interests.

Return to lodge for lunch and take a boat trip on Lake Ihema for Hippos and Crocodiles OR you can alternatively spend the afternoon at the lodge enjoying nature as you read a good book.

Meal plan – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation

Up market – Magashi Camp
Midrange – Ruzizi tented camp
Mid-range – Akagera game lodge

Day 3: Transfer to Nyungwe forest national park

This morning we depart for Nyungwe forest in southern Rwanda with a stopover for lunch in Huye formerly known as Butare. Huye hosts the ethnographic museum of Rwanda that was formerly known as the national museum of Rwanda, here we will learn about the culture and history of the Rwandan people. We arrive in Nyungwe forest later in the evening.

Journey time –  7 hours
Meal plan – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation

• Upmarket – Nyungwe House
• Mid-range – Nyungwe top view lodge
• Budget – Gisakura guest house

Day 4: Chimpanzee Tracking and Canopy Walk

Chimpanzee in nyungwe forest Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe forest takes you deep in the forest to experience and appreciate nature.

Chimpanzee trekking is done early morning with packed breakfast or snack, unless you are the kind that can have an early breakfast. You are expected to be at the briefing point as early at 5.30 am from where you will receive information on how to behave and possible length of your trek.

Nyungwe forest is rich in botanical diversity and home to 13 species of primates like L’Hoest’s monkeys, Rwenzori Colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, grey cheeked mangabeys etc. Your ranger guide will lead you to either the Uwinka trail head or the Cyamudongo sector for chimp trekking.

In the afternoon you will be transferred to the Uwinka centre to start your canopy walk as you explore the park even more.

Meal plan – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 5: Transfer to Nyungwe Volcanoes National park

 Today morning after your hectic and engaging day in the forest yesterday, you prepare to start journey to Volcanoes national park. We leave for Volcanoes national park after breakfast, enjoy the sights of Lake Kivu and winding roads in the land of a thousand hills.

Journey time – 6 hours
Meal plan – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation

Up market – Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge
Mid-range – Le Bambou gorilla lodge
Budget – Garden place hotel

Day 6: Gorillas in the Mist

Meet the mountain gorillas in the dense jungles of the Virunga ranges. The trek to the gorillas starts with a briefing at the park headquarters in Kinigi where you are assigned a ranger and gorilla family to trek.

The trek through volcanoes national park is an unforgettable experience that many people look to undertake. The trek can last from an hour or less to several hours later depending on where the gorillas nested the previous night – you need to be relatively fit to enjoy this experience and remember to pace yourself as you trek.

Depending on the time the gorilla tracking lasts, you have opportunities for a cultural group performance by visiting a cultural village or take a community walk.

Meal plan – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 7: On the shores of Lake Kivu

Lake kivu gisenyiAs you reminisce on your experience with the mountain gorillas, we leave for Gisenyi on the shores of Lake Kivu.

This will be more of a rest day for you to think through your entire journey exploring Rwanda on the shores to the beautiful lake Kivu.

The activities you can engage in include a visit to the to the hot springs, take a boat trip to an island, kayaking on lake kivu,visit DR Congo – Rwanda border, and relax at the lakeside in the evening sipping a way to your favorite.

Alternatively you can simply spend the day relaxing at your lodge

Journey time – 1 hour

Meal plan – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation

Up market – Lake Kivu Serena
Mid-range – Inzonzi lodge
Budget – Paradise Malahide

Day 8: End of the 8 day Rwanda Classic Tour safari

Today is your last day on this Kagera Safaris – Rwanda wildlife safari. Start your day with breakfast and transfer to the airport for your exit flight, in case you have some time before your flight you can have a short Kigali city tour.

Gorilla trekking tips

• Mountain gorillas live at high altitude you should pace yourself while on the trek and drink enough water.
• Recommended clothing is long trousers and long sleeved sweaters or shirts while in the forest to avoid insect stings.
• Waterproof hiking boots are essential and rain gear useful.
• Carry your day pack with lunch or some snacks. Eating, drinking and smoking near the gorillas is forbidden – designated time and place will be communicated.
• Photography is permitted, although you must not use flash
• Porters are available to help you carry your day pack for a small charge.