On this trip, you will experience the beauty of Rwanda – the “land of a thousand Hills.” Enjoy the different backdrops and Landscape of Rwanda as you turn along the hilly roads. The parks are a mixture of savannah, forest, and mountainous. You will trek Chimps and Colobus monkeys in Nyungwe forest, and trek mountain gorillas and golden monkeys in Volcanoes national park.
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 and transfer you to the hotel for check in and overnight.
DAY 2: EXPLORE KIGALI CITY
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 to buy crafts and also enjoy sights of Kigali.
DAY 3: NYUNGWE NATIONAL PARK – ETHNOGRAPHIC MUSEUM
Transfer to Nyungwe forest in southern Rwanda after breakfast. Huye hosts the ethnographic museum of Rwanda, here we will learn about the culture and history of the Rwandan people.
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 again we 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.
Transfer to lake Kivu area for a good down time. Have stops for photography and proceed to your lodge for check in.
DAY 6: LAKE KIVU AND EVIRONS
Explore the lake town. Have a walk in the town, visit the museum of environment, take a canoe ride on the lake or simply relax at the hotel.
DAY 7: TRANSFER TO VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK
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.
DAY 8: 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 9: GOLDEN MONKEYS & GORILLA GUARDIANS VILLAGE
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.
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 10: TO AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK
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.
Have lunch and then take a boat trip on Lake Ihema watch Hippos and crocodiles.
You will take a night game drive today or tomorrow in search of the nocturnal animals.
DAY 11: 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 12: DEPARTURE
Depending on your flight time, you can visit the Umusambi village for a bird walk, explore more of the city until your transfer time to the airport.
