DAY 1: WELCOME TO RWANDA
Welcome to Rwanda the “land of a thousand hills.” Our guide/ representative staff will be at the airport to pick you.
Start with a tour of Kigali. Drive through the fast growing neighborhoods of Kigali that are changing the face of the city. Visit the Nyamirambo women’s Centre and see the amazing artisan work by these women. Purchase some products from them.
Visit the Kigali genocide memorial site commemorating the 1994 Rwandan Genocide. Kimironko market, Niyo Art Gallery, Belgian Peacekeepers Memorial.
DAY 2: RECONCILIATION VILLAGE
This experience takes visitors for an intimate look into Mbyo’s perilous history. The reconciliation village was established by Prison Fellowship Rwanda – a non-profit group. The group began with 15 houses to determine if both the victims and offenders could coexist.
This trip will give you an experience learning about the recent history of Rwanda and how people are moving forward.
DAY 3: NYUNGWE NATIONAL PARK – ETHNOGRAPHIC MUSEUM
Transfer to Nyungwe forest in southern Rwanda after breakfast. Visit gatagara pottery factory and tea factory (You will need to leave Kigali really early to try and fit in all these activities).
Proceed to your lodge for check in and overnight.
DAY 4: CHIMPANZEE TREKKING | CANOPY WALK
After an early breakfast, leave for Chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe forest. The forest is rich in botanical diversity and home to 13 species of primates including Chimpanzees, L’Hoest monkeys, and Columbus monkeys, with about 300 bird species and several butterflies. Your community guide will lead you into the forest for chimp trekking after briefing.
Take a canopy walk which lasts approximately 2 hours after which you return to your hotel.
DAY 5: COLOBUS MONKEY TREKKING | TRANSFER TO LAKE KIVU
This morning, leave for the briefing point at Nyungwe forest. After briefing, the ranger guide will lead you into the forest for the Colobus monkey trekking. Look forward to experiencing interactions of the monkeys as they groom, feed and play for each other. You are allowed 1 hour in their presence before you start the trek back.
After this experience, depart to Lake Kivu in Kibuye. Enjoy a short tour of the town and later transfer to your lodge for check in. Depending on the weather, you will have an afternoon boat ride on Lake Kivu.
DAY 6: TRANSFER TO VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK | IBY’IWACU CULTURAL VILLAGE
Start the journey to Volcanoes national park with a stopover visit at the former Imbabazi orphanage and learn about the transformation work they do in this area.
In the afternoon, visit the Gorilla Guardians village. Learn about the culture and history of Rwanda. Try out your bow and arrow shooting skills or basketry etc.
DAY 7: GORILLA TREKKING | ELLEN DEGENERES GORILLA CAMPUS
Start the gorilla trek with a briefing from the ranger guide at the park headquarters. After the brief, join a gorilla group with guidance from your tour guide. Drive to the trail head after briefing to start your trek into the forest. After one hour with the gorillas, you start your hike out of the park. Your driver guide will pick you up and transfer you to the lodge for down time.
Visit the Ellen DeGeneres Gorilla Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund to learn more about gorilla conservation work this organization does in Rwanda and DR. Congo.
DAY 8: GOLDEN MONKEYS | TRANSFER TO AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK
Golden monkeys are found in the Virunga volcanoes of Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo. After a brief from the ranger guide, you will start your hike up in search of the golden monkeys. Enforcement officers join you to help in case you meet buffaloes which can be dangerous. The golden monkeys are more active than the gorillas and you will follow them as they move to feed. Like gorilla trekking, you are only allowed 1 hour with the golden monkey.
We leave for Akagera national park in the morning after your breakfast. The journey to the park is about 5 hours depending on the stopovers along the way. On arrival at the park, we shall proceed to our accommodation for check in.
DAY 9: AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK | GAME DRIVE
Akagera National Park is a Savannah park with Elephants, Hippos, Buffaloes and Lions. After an early breakfast we take a game drive in search of these animals, the game drive will take us to the northern part of the park where most of the animals prefer to inhabit. Look out for the Zebras, Giraffes and Impalas which are usually scattered along the game tracks.
DAY 10: DEPARTURE
Depart Akagera park after breakfast for Kigali. Proceed to the airport for departure flight.
