20 Day Rwanda Comprehensive safari
Tour overview
This tour starts and ends in Kigali City of Rwanda, this Rwanda tour includes most of the tourist attractions of Rwanda, some of them include; Nyungwe National park which is famous for chimpanzee trekking and many other primate species, Akagera National Park, famous for wildlife species and lake Ihema for boat trips, Volcanoes national park common for over 400 mountain gorillas with 10 habituated gorilla families, The main towns of Rwanda, ie; Kibuye, and Gisenyi. The other attractions to enjoy on this safari include; Kigali city tour, Lake Muhazi and the Butare National Museum.
Tour Highlights
Day: Arrival at Kigali Airport
Day 2: Enjoy Kigali City Tour
Day 3: Visit Rusumo waterfalls & Transfer to Akagera National Park
Day 4: Enjoy a Game drive in the southern sector of the park
Day 5: Enjoy the Northern part of the park and a visit to Lake Muhazi on your way to Kigali
Day 6: Transfer to Kigali and stop at Rwamagana
Day 7: Visit Nyanza and Butare and later transfer to Nyungwe National Park
Day 8: Transfer to Kanyaru Coffee plantation and later to Nyungwe National Park
Day 9: Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park
Day 10: Enjoy a Colobus hiking in the forest
Day 11: Enjoy a nature walk in Nyungwe National Park
Day 12: Track the Mona Monkeys in Nyungwe National Park
Day 13: Transfer to Gisenyi
Day 14: Enjoy gorilla trekking in Volcanoes N. P
Day 15: Second day Gorilla trekking.
Day 16: Golden monkey tracking in Volcanoes N.P
Day 17: Enjoy natural walk with in the park
Day 18: Have a hike to Mt Bisoke & drive back to Kigali
Day 19: enjoy a city tour & some shopping
Day 20: Transfer back to Kigali Airport
Detailed Itinerary
Day: Arrival at Kigali Airport
Upon your arrival, the company guide will welcome and will brief you about the whole safari, he will then drive you to your respective hotel in Kigali to relax after a long Journey.
Accommodation Options
Luxury: Serena Kigali Hotel
Mid range: Hotel Gorillas Kigali
Budget: Stepp Town Hotel
Day 2: Enjoy Kigali City Tour
Have breakfast at your lodge and the guide will pick you take you for a Kigali city tour; you will explore the beautiful attractions within the city. These include the Gisozi genocide memorial site, which was constructed in the remembrance of the genocide that took place in 1994 in Rwanda, you can also learn about the whole history of the genocide. You will then drive to Kimilonko Market which is one of the busiest and biggest in Kigali city, get chance to enjoy Rwanda’s traditional dishes and get chance to interact with the local people of Rwanda. You will then proceed to Nyaritarma Golf club to enjoy some refreshments and then go to the Belgium memorial site as well as the famous Richard Kandt Historical Museum were Kigali city was started by the Germany colonialists in 1907.
Enjoy your lunch at any local restaurants and after visit the Nyamta and Ntarama genocide memorial museum sites, these located outside the city. These two sites will give you the real evolution of the 1994 genocide which took place in Rwanda. After the visit, you will be driven back to Kigali at your Hotel.
Accommodation Options
Luxury: Serena Kigali Hotel
Mid range: Hotel Gorillas Kigali
Budget: Stepp Town Hotel
Day 3: Visit Rusumo waterfalls & Transfer to Akagera National Park
Breakfast early in the morning, and after transfer to Rusumo waterfalls which is situated on the Akagera River which is the mother source of River Nile on the boarder of both Tanzania and Rwanda, you will get chance to watch the cascading waterfalls of River Kagera and also enjoy the surrounding beauty of the vegetation around the falls. Enjoy a picnic lunch and after proceed to Akagera National Park to enjoy a game drive were you will view many animal species including the lions, elephants, giraffes and many more
Accommodation options
Luxury: Ruziziz tented camp
Mid range: Akagera Game Lodge
Budget: Ruzizi camping site
Day 4: Enjoy a Game drive in the southern sector of the park
Have breakfast at your lodge and after proceed for a game drive through the southern sector of the park. This side of the of park is covered with savannah grasslands and lots of wildlife species including; the African Buffaloes, elephants, giraffes, impalas, zebras, antelopes and many more. Have lunch at your lodge as you prepare for a boat cruise on Lake Ihema were you will view many aquatic animals like the crocodiles, hippos, butterflies and many more, later visit the Nyarabiyoro Island for bird watching and view variety of birds. Get back to the lodge and relax for afternoon
Accommodation options
Luxury: Ruziziz tented camp
Mid range: Akagera Game Lodge
Budget: Ruzizi camping site
Day 5: Enjoy the Northern part of the park and a visit to Lake Muhazi on your way to Kigali
Have breakfast at your lodge and after transfer to the northern part of the park where you will find many herds of savannah animals, you will view many fauna and flora species in this side of the park. You will then drive to the top of mt Mutumba which is the highest mountain in this park, on this mountain; you will be able to view the whole view of the park. Then after proceed to L. Muhazi for lunch at Jambo beach as you enjoy the fresh waters of the lake and stay there for a night
Day 6: Transfer to Kigali and stop at Rwamagana
Have breakfast at the lodge or hotel and after transfer to Kigali city having a stopover at the local community Orphanage centers and doing some sightseeing as you enjoy your lunch in Rwamagana, after, you will proceed to Kigali and spend a night there.
Accommodation Options
Luxury: Serena Kigali Hotel
Mid range: Hotel Gorillas Kigali
Budget: Stepp Town Hotel
Day 7: Visit Nyanza and Butare and later transfer to Nyungwe National Park
You will leave the hotel and proceed to Nyanza king’s palace where you will learn about the entire palace with its entire ancient Kingdom of Rwanda. The built grass king’s house is a beautiful attraction to the tourists. After, proceed to the national museum in Butare to learn about the history of Rwanda as a country, you will also enjoy traditional entertainment by the dancing troop called the Intore. Have an overnight at Butare.
Day 8: Transfer to Kanyaru Coffee plantation and later to Nyungwe National Park
Enjoy your breakfast and after transfer to Kanyuru which is Rwandan Burundi board, you will enjoy many stopovers to get a chance to take some pictures and also interact with the local people in the nearby communities, get back to Butare town for your lunch and after transfer to Nyungwe National Park.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Nyungwe Forest Lodge
Mid range: Nyungwe Hill top Hotel
Budget: Gisakura Guest House
Day 9: Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park
Have breakfast early in the morning, your guide will drive you to the park head quarters to have a briefing about the dos and the don’ts of chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park. This trek starts at exactly 6:00am and enter the forest to search for the primate species. Have a chance to come eye to eye with the chimps and many monkey species including the silver monkeys, red tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, olive monkeys as well as the grey cheeked mangabey.the trek will also give you a chance to view many bird species. You will have some good time with the chimpanzees and watch them as the play, feed, and take care of their young ones. After the trek, proceed to your accommodation as you prepare to enjoy a guided walk within the park to view some other wildlife species
Accommodation options
Luxury: Nyungwe Forest Lodge
Mid range: Nyungwe Hill top Hotel
Budget: Gisakura Guest House
Day 10: Enjoy a Colobus hiking in the forest
Have breakfast and after enter the forest so as to hike colobus monkeys at Uwinka, this forest is also believed to have a troop of 400 of these colobus monkeys and its one of the largest troop of the arboreal primates in Africa. This walk in the forest is a great experience and is carried out with a professional guide, you will after return to the lodge for lunch and relax in the afternoon.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Nyungwe Forest Lodge
Mid range: Nyungwe Hill top Hotel
Budget: Gisakura Guest House
Day 11: Enjoy a nature walk in Nyungwe National Park
This park is known as a natural rain forest and is the only one remaining in Africa. It has many animal species including; 200 species of orchids, 275 bird species, 260 tree species, colorful butterflies, 13 primate species including the chimpanzees. This national park is ideal for nature walks and you can get chance to view all the mentioned animal and plant species. The nature walk will provide you with the best safari experience ever and you will view many primate species including; the golden monkeys, chimpanzees, silver monkeys, vervet monkeys, Mona monkeys and many more. After the nature walk, return to the lodge for your lunch and in the afternoon, visit the tea factory to view the whole process of tea making.
Accommodation options
Luxury: Nyungwe Forest Lodge
Mid-range: Nyungwe Hill top Hotel
Budget: Gisakura Guest House
Day 12: Track the Mona Monkeys in Nyungwe National Park
Enjoy breakfast, and after proceed to Karaba area of Nyungwe National Park to engage in Mona Monkey tracking and many other species. These species of monkeys are also residents of this area and they are so nice to watch as they feed and play around. You will later drive to Kibuye town and enjoy your lunch there. Later in the afternoon, visit the genocide memorial church which was built to commemorate the 1994 Rwanda genocide that took place in Rwanda.
Accommodation Options
Luxury: Cormoran Lodge
Mid-range: Moriah Hill resort hotel
Budget: Bethanie Guest House
Day 13: Transfer to Gisenyi
Have breakfast at the hotel and after proceed for a boat cruise on Lake Kivu to Gisenyi, the other option may be by road. On your arrival, you will enjoy lunch and spend the afternoon relaxing along the shores of Lake Kivu, another option might be doing sun bathing or taking a swim in the lake.
Accommodation Options
Luxury: Lake Kivu Serena hotel
Mid-range: Gisenyi Public beach
Budget: Stipp hotel Gisenyi.
Day 14: Enjoy gorilla trekking in Volcanoes N. P
Early in the morning, drive to Kinigi headquarters for briefing about the group to track. This is really an exciting trek which provides good views of the Virunga Mountains in all directions. You will follow a trail that enters the rain forest full of many wildlife species. Some of these include; monkeys, buffalos, elephants, birds and many more. Later, after a great search for these gentle giants, you will come eye to eye with these wonderful primates and be given a full hour to interact with the gentle giants and also take photos. This is the most exciting experience of this two day safari in Rwanda. You will watch them feed, play and jump all over the trees. After your trek, the rangers will escort you back to the lodge to enjoy your late lunch and you prepare to relax for the afternoon or take a Ibyiwacu community walk around the park to interact with the local people.
Accommodation Options.
Luxury: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Mid-range: La Palme Hotel
Budget: Kinigi Guest House
Day 15: Second day Gorilla trekking.
Have breakfast at the lodge, and after proceed to the headquarters for briefing about gorilla trekking for the second time, you will trek another family all together and it will a worthwhile experience. After your trek, return to your lodge for lunch as you prepare to visit the twin Lake of Butare and Ruhondo, you will enjoy the magnificent views along these lakes and after return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation Options.
Luxury: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Mid-range: La Palme Hotel
Budget: Kinigi Guest House
Day 16: Golden monkey tracking in Volcanoes N.P
Enjoy breakfast in the morning, and the park guide will lead you to the forest to start tracking the golden monkeys. This activity starts at 7:00am like gorilla trekking, these species are endangered and have two habituated golden monkey troops totaling to 80 individuals. Only 8 people are allowed to track each troop per day, these are interesting species since they can be watched as they play , jump, feed and it makes it easy for the tourists to take their photos. Tracking golden monkey is a delightful and rare experience. After the trek, return to the lodge for lunch and after proceed to visit Musanze town as well as the cultural village to enjoy some local interactions with the local people.
Accommodation Options.
Luxury: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Mid-range: La Palme Hotel
Budget: Kinigi Guest House
Day 17: Enjoy natural walk with in the park
Have breakfast at the lodge, after proceed with the forest trail which will lead you to Karisoke research Centre in order to pay tribute to the great primatologist who gave up her life to take care of the mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National park, you will visit her tomb were she was buried and get the history of her short life with the gorillas. This activity will take some hours since it has some hikes and you will also get a chance to view many other primate species as you walk along the trails. You will later get back to the Lodge for a late lunch and relax for the afternoon.
Accommodation Options.
Luxury: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Mid-range: La Palme Hotel
Budget: Kinigi Guest House
Day 18: Have a hike to Mt Bisoke & drive back to Kigali
You will leave the hotel after enjoying breakfast and meet with your guide who will drive to the point where you will start your hike to Mount Bisoke, this activity also takes 1 to 2 hours and it depends on the fitness of the track. It needs enough energy since it involves high heights. Return to the lodge or hotel for lunch and in the afternoon, you will depart from kinigi and proceed back to Kigali city.
Accommodation Options
Luxury: Serena Kigali Hotel
Mid-range: Hotel Gorillas Kigali
Budget: Stepp Town Hotel
Day 19: enjoy a city tour & some shopping
Morning breakfast, and after proceed to the city to enjoy the rest of the attractions which you had missed on the previous city tour on day 2. You will get a chance to visit the curio markets and the Kimilonko market were fruits are sold. Here you will get chance to interact with the locals, enjoy lunch in one of the local restaurants and after visit the craft shops to buy yourself a souvenir to take back home. After the shopping, return back to the lodge
Accommodation Options
Luxury: Serena Kigali Hotel
Mid-range: Hotel Gorillas Kigali
Budget: Stepp Town Hotel
Day 20: Transfer back to Kigali Airport
Enjoy your last breakfast at the hotel, the guide will be waiting for you to transfer you back to the airport to catch your flight back home.
. END OF SAFARI
Tour inclusions
photography and touring,
2 Gorilla trekking permits (Uganda & Rwanda)
Chimpanzee trekking permits
full board accommodation,
Full time English speaking professional driver/guide,
All tour activities as detailed in the itinerary,
Bottled water while on safari,
Tour Exclusions
Tips,
Laundry services,
Beverages/ drinks,
international flights,
Visas,
Items of a personal nature,
optional activities and any other extras not detailed in the above itinerary
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