Tour Plan

• DAY 1 - 3

  Destination: Akagera National Park

  Bordering Tanzania in eastern Rwanda, Akagera National Park is central Africa's largest protected wetland and the last refuge for savannah-adapted species in the country. Stretching across a vast expanse of low-lying mountains and savannah plains, the park takes in the rolling highlands woodlands, swamp-fringed lakes, and wetlands of the Kagera River along the way. Crocodiles and hippos wallow in the park's watery basins, predators prowl through its acacia groves, and elephant, zebra, giraffe, buffalo and other animals roam across its grassy plains. Bursting with a rich biodiversity, the park features a variety of rare species, as well as a plentitude of mammals and hundreds of bird species.

  
• DAY 1 - 3

  Accommodation: Mantis Akagera Game Lodge

  Description

  Akagera National Park offers a truly exceptional wildlife experience. It is the only Big-5 reserve in Rwanda and is also home to the rare swamp-dwelling Sitatunga. Guests also have the opportunity to see an abundance of birdlife, including the rare Shoebill stork, the endangered papyrus Gonolex and the much sought-after Red-faced Barbet. With over 500 recorded species, Akagera is one of the best birding environs in the world with the highest recorded number of species per unit area. The Park has a unique diversity of habitats, including lakes, marshes, savannah, mountains, and woodland, and is the largest protected wetland in central Africa. Mantis Akagera Game Lodge stands on a hill at the southern tip of the Akagera National Park elevated above the savannah, with exceptional views of Lake Ihema. With 60 rooms, a conference venue, restaurant, bar, and a spectacular pool deck, the Lodge is the perfect home base while conferencing or exploring the conservation treasures of Akagera National Park.

  Property Facilities

  24-hour Security, Activity Desk, Bar, Conference Centre, Eco Friendly, Gym, Internet Access (Complimentary), Kiddies Club, Pool, Restaurant, Secure Parking

  Room Facilities

  Air Conditioning, Balcony / Deck, Complimentary Wi-Fi, Disabled Rooms, En-Suite, Hair Dryer, Laundry Service (Available), Mini Bar, Safe, Satellite / Cable Television, Shower, Tea / Coffee, Television, Wheelchair Friendly

  Your Stay

  2 Nights Full Board - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch  

  Day 1

  MANTIS AKAGERA GAME LODGE • AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK

  Day Notes

  Today morning, we leave for Akagera national park right after your breakfast, the driver guide will pick you up from your hotel. The journey to Akagera national park takes about 2 hours depending on the stopovers along the way. With the beautiful landscaper en route to the park, feel free to ask the guide for stopovers to capture some photos. On arrival at the park, we shall proceed to our accommodation after a short game drive and check-in. We order lunch and later take a boat trip on Lake Ihema to watch Hippos and crocodiles in the water or by the shores.   Overnight on LDBB basis.

  Boat Trip On Lake Ihema

  Day 2

  Day Notes

  Enjoy early morning breakfast and start your game drives in an open-roofed vehicle. A full day game drive here offers you an opportunity to spot a variety of game including elephants, buffalos, hippos, lions, Masai giraffe, gazelles, impala, baboons, oribi, Butchel’s zebra, topi, bush baby, leopard, and bushbuck, etc.   Overnight on LDBB basis.

  Akagera National Park Game Drive

  ACTIVITY • PLANNED

  Lead by a guide, Akagera National Park Game Drive occurs early in the mornings and late in the afternoons. While driving along the park tracks in a 4WD Safari vehicle, passengers will have the chance to spot animals such as hyenas, elephants, various buffalo and lions.

  
• DAY 3 - 7

  Destination: Volcanoes National Park

  Bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo in Rwanda, and set high on the jungle-covered slopes of the volcanic Virunga Mountains, the Volcanoes National Park is best known as a sanctuary for the region’s rare mountain gorillas. Visitors flock here to experience face to face encounters with these intriguing creatures. Regulated treks through the reserve allow visitors to spend an hour at a time with these incredible primates in their natural habitat. While the gorillas are without a doubt the main drawcard, visitors can also look forward to exploring a network of scenic hiking trails, with the beautiful day hike to the crater lake on Mount Bisoke being a particular highlight. Make sure to visit the fascinating Karisoke Research Centre and the tomb of the world-famous Dian Fossey.

  
• DAY 3 - 7

  Accommodation: Tiloreza Volcanoes Ecolodge

  Description

  Tiloreza Volcanoes Ecolodge is located in Musanze and serves as an ideal base on which to explore the Volcanoes National Park. The lodge offers 13 bedrooms and a VIP cottage, all comfortably furnished and feature modern amenities. To enhance the experience, guests can make use of the onsite restaurant, pool, traditional sauna and a steam sauna.

  Experiences

  Day 3

  TILOREZA VOLCANOES ECOLODGE • VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK

  Day Notes

  Have breakfast, and then enjoy a morning game drive, we shall return to Kigali. Visit the Kigali genocide memorial site. Afterwards, depart for a 2 hour drive to Musanze, the second largest town in Rwanda, with its stunning backdrop of five volcanic mountains – The Virungas.   Overnight on LDBB basis.

  Day 4

  Day Notes

  After breakfast, report to the park headquarters for your first experience endangered species in the Volcanoes National Park. The golden monkey trek is normally an easy trek that takes 1-2 hours. In the evening, you will visit the Iby’lwacu cultural village to experience the culture of the Rwanda people. Overnight on LDBB basis.

  Volcanoes National Park Golden Monkey Trekking

  ACTIVITY • PLANNED

  Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda offers Golden monkeys trekking. This unique experience allows guests in groups of up to eight to look for and discover golden monkeys within their natural habitat. The monkeys are incredibly active and enjoy showing off for tourists and researchers that they encounter daily. The monkeys can be found closer to the base of the volcano and enjoy eating the bamboo vegetation in the area.

  Gorilla Guardians

  ACTIVITY • PLANNED

  Situated in the rural Rwandan village of Kiningi, Gorilla Guardians is a non-profit organisation that offers accommodation and a tour of the traditional village set alongside Volcanoes National Park. Guests are accommodated in local grass-thatched mudhouses. Visitors can enjoy gorilla trekking in the national park and explore the community with a guided community walk. Other highlights include becoming a king for a day, visit local schools, learn about banana brewing and discover the techniques and methods in which ex-poachers would hunt mountain gorillas.

  
• Day 5

  Destination: Volcanoes National Park Dian Fossey Tomb Tour

  Day Notes

  Follow in the footsteps of legendary primatologist Dian Fossey as you hike through the tangled highlands of Volcanoes National Park to her former living quarters and grave at Karisoke, a disused research center set in a forested glade at an altitude of 3,000m.   Overnight on LDBB basis.

  Volcanoes National Park Dian Fossey Tomb Tour

  ACTIVITY • PLANNED

  Volcano National Park Dian Fossey Tomb Tour is located in Rwanda, Africa. The historic location was the home and research facility of primatologist Dian Fossey. Visitors can trek through the forest to reach the location, taking in the spectacular views. The trekking tour is about 1.5 hours long and visitors will see wildlife such as birds, forest hogs, forest elephants and a variety of primates.

  Day 6

  Day Notes

  Spending time in the presence of mountain gorillas is a real privilege, so we're sure you'll enjoy trekking deep into the forest to find them. This is one of the most memorable experiences you can have while on safari.   Overnight on LDBB basis.

  Gorilla Trekking Volcanoes National Park

  ACTIVITY • PLANNED

  Gorilla Trekking in the Volcanoes National Park offers visitors the unique opportunity of discovering the 10 families of gorillas that live within the national park. Visitors can enjoy a cup of coffee before the trek starts and will be separated into groups of 8 depending on their physical abilities. Each group is guided by a guide and two scouts who are well trained in emergency situations. The amount of time set aside per trek is different depending on where the gorilla family is situated. Some trips may take as little as half an hour and some taking the better part of the day.  

  
• DAY 7 - 9

  Destination: Nyungwe Forest National Park

  Situated in southwestern Rwanda, the Nyungwe Forest National Park is known for its exceptional biodiversity and its wide range of endemic species. The park is composed of lush tracts of rainforest set high up on fertile mountain slopes. It is one of Africa’s most ancient forests and the home of Rwanda’s sole remaining chimpanzee population, as well as 85 additional mammal species, 43 reptile species, nearly 300 bird species and over 1000 plant species. Visitors can enjoy spotting colobus monkeys and chimpanzees hiding in the trees, hiking on a well-maintained network of trails passing through lush equatorial rainforest and catching a glimpse of a beautiful array of colourful birdlife. Don’t miss the thrilling Canopy Walk; it is one of its kind in Africa and offers impressive views of the forest.

  
• DAY 7 - 9

  Accommodation: Emeraude Kivu Resort • NYUNGWE FOREST NATIONAL PARK

  Description

  A good choice of accommodation for those who visit Nyungwe Forest National Park is the family run Emeraude Kivu Resort at Kamembe, near Cyangugu. (About 45 min from the Gisakura area). The hotel is on the top of a hill from where there is a panoramic view over Lake Kivu. Each of the 8 rooms has en-suite facilities and a private balcony with a lake view. The service is of high quality and the food is excellent. (April 2017 inspection). Cyangugu, where the resort is located, is near Cyamudongo, where the most of Chimpanzee tracking excursions are organised (only 20 minute drive). The owners, Jeanne-Francine and Eugene Rutagararama, have impressive credentials, combining hotel management with wildlife conservation and law. (Eugene is a recipient of the Goldman Environmental Prize). To go chimp tracking, the early morning drive is only an hour. After tracking, it's recommended to take an hour transfer to Uwinka for a picnic lunch,followed by an early afternoon canopy walk.

  Property Facilities

  Barbeque Facilities, Business Centre, Restaurant

  Your Stay

  2 Nights Full Board - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch

  Experiences

  Day 7

  EMERAUDE KIVU RESORT • NYUNGWE FOREST NATIONAL PARK

  Day Notes

  After early morning breakfast at the lodge, visit Lake Kivu and enjoy the morning breeze at the shores, this is an hour drive to Rubavu. Spend just an hour there then return on the road to proceed on your 4-5 hours drive to Nyungwe national park with lunch en route. Nyungwe forest is the oldest and largest rain forest in East Africa. Arrive in the park in the late afternoon and connect to your lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay on your 9- Day Rwanda Gorillas, Chimps Trekking & Big 5 in Akagera safari.   Overnight on LDBB basis.

  Day 8

  Day Notes

  Today, after your early morning breakfast, you will leave your hotel for a chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe National Park Rwanda experience. Nyungwe forest is well known for having 13 species of primates and was transformed into a park for briefing and chimpanzee trekking. You will be entitled to one hour stay on finding the chimpanzees. After doing the chimpanzee trek, head for lunch at the hotel. After lunch you head to Nyungwe National Park for a canopy walk and return in the afternoon for dinner and overnight stay.   Overnight on LDBB basis.

  Nyungwe Chimp Trekking

  ACTIVITY • PLANNED

  This is the best place in Rwanda to see chimpanzees.

  Nyungwe Forest National Park Canopy Walkway

  ACTIVITY • PLANNED

  The Canopy Walkway is located in Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda. Hanging 60 metres above the forest floor between giant trees and towers, visitors can experience the rainforest from a new perspective. The walkway provides a stunning view of the park’s amazing wildlife and nature and is accessible as part of a specialized guided tour along the Igishigishigi trail. Visitors can also take self-guided tours, hiking along the Imbaraga or Umuyove trails.

  
• Day 9

  End of Itinerary

  Day Notes

  Have an early morning breakfast and after transfer back to Kigali. En route to the City you will have lunch and also visit the Rwanda National Museum in Butare town. Proceed to Kigali where you will be dropped off at the Airport to catch your flight back home. END OF SERVICES