Trip Info
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Suitable for solo travelers and groups
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This tour begins and ends in Kigali
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This tour begins and ends in Kigali Pre and post tour accommodation can also be arranged at an extra cost if so desired
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Pop-up roof 4x4 vehicle & normal 4x4 vehicle
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Can start any day
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Mid-range, private tour
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All meals included
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English
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17
Overview
Experience the ultimate 12-day Rwanda safari, exploring the stunning Volcanoes National Park, Nyungwe Forest, and Akagera National Park. Discover diverse landscapes, wildlife encounters, and Rwanda’s rich culture on this unforgettable adventure through the heart of East Africa. Perfect for nature enthusiasts and thrill-seekers!
This will be a twelve day trip during which you will visit some of the most spectacular sights in Rwanda. Trek up Mount Nyungwe Forest National Park and look for the chimerese in Volcanoes National Park. Experience the best of Rwanda from Kigali city to Musanze!
Highlights
- Can start any day
- Private tour
- Mid-range tour
- Can be customized
- Suitable for solo travelers
- Minimum age of 17 years
- A transfer from and back to the airport is included
Itinerary
Upon arrival at Kigali international airport, you shall be greeted by our Golden Rwanda Safaris driver guide. They are going to inform you about your safari before escorting you to the hotel for your overnight stay in Kigali. Relax at your hotel.
Main Destination:
Kigali
Accommodation:
The Governor's Residence
- Luxury hotel located in Kigali
Meals & Drinks:
- Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
- Drinks not included
In the early morning after breakfast, you will be transferred to Nyungwe Forest. On the way you will see the former Nyanza King’s Palace, the National Museum of Butare and the Genocide Memorial of Murambi. It must also be noted that Nyanza was once the seat of the ancient Rwanda Kingdom before the Europeans settled in the region. It’s a compound that has the pleasant contemporary palace constructed by King Mutura in 1934.
Main Destination:
Nyungwe Forest National Park (Chimps)
Best SeasonJune-September (Less rainfall, recommended for trekking to see the chimpanzees)
High SeasonJune to September towards the end of the year (Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes NP)
Best WeatherJune to October (Sunny, but not too hot)
Wildlife in Nyungwe NP
Chimpanzee, White Rhino, Black Rhino, Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Elephant, Giraffe, Buffalo, Zebra, Wildebeest, Hippo
Accommodation:
Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel
- A moderately priced hotel found east of Nyungwe National Park-Forest and Chimps.
Meals & Drinks:
- All meals included
- Drinks not included
In the morning, after breakfast, you will set off to the Nyungwe Forest with specific intention to track the Nyungwe Colobus monkey. A simple walk in the inner confines of the forest accompanied by individuals who are experts in botany, ornithology, and interspecies social relationships, will offer a whole new level of education. You will go back to the guest house for lunch and spend the night at the hotel.
Main Destination:
Nyungwe Forest National Park (Chimps)
Accommodation:
Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel
- A moderately priced hotel found east of Nyungwe National Park-Forest and Chimps.
Meals & Drinks:
- All meals included
- Drinks not included
Today will be your second day in Nyungwe Forest. It is either you embark on the Nyungne canopy walk or take a nature walk to the waterfalls in the morning. During the afternoon after lunch you wiii pay a visit where they colobus monkeys are freely swinging from tree to tree. These two meals will be served at the hotel where you will be spending your nights.
Main Destination:
Nyungwe Forest National Park (Chimps)
Accommodation:
Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel
- A moderately priced hotel found east of Nyungwe National Park-Forest and Chimps.
Meals & Drinks:
- All meals included
- Drinks not included
In the morning when you wake up, you will be driven to Kibuye through Gisakura and it takes about 5 hours. In that journey you will be able to see thousands of green hills that are in our country and also get glimpsps of Kivu Lake. Accommodation: Your accommodation for the night will be at Betania Guest House.
Main Destination:
Kibuye (Town)
Accommodation:
Cormoran Lodge
- A lodge referenced in the middle range accommodation category located in Kibuye (Town).
Meals & Drinks:
- All meals included
- Drinks not included
Today, you will go to Gisenyi either by speedboat or car (It is your choice). During the trip you will be able to admire the picturesque views of the islands on Lake Kivu and some of the Congolese hills. These two meals will be served at the hotel where you will be spending your nights.
Main Destination:
Gisenyi (Lake Kivu)
Accommodation:
Lake Kivu Serena Hotel
- Tourism accommodation and luxury hotel in Gisenyi, near the shores of Lake Kivu
Meals & Drinks:
- All meals included
- Drinks not included
This midweek break will involve leisure and swimming in Kivu Serena Beach. After breakfast and your time at the beach, you will transfer to Musanze, the gateway town to the northern region and the home to the mountain gorillas. Just go for a chimpanzee tracking experience at the Kigeyo ridge before going back to the Hotel at Ibyiwacu cultural village.
Main Destination:
Musanze (City)
Accommodation:
Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel
- A mid-range lodge situated in the Ruhengeri district of the City.
Meals & Drinks:
- All meals included
- Drinks not included
Before lunch time, you will be picked from the hotel to start trackers for a gorilla trek in the famous Volcanoes National Park. You should get to the main office for a 7:00 o’clock briefing and a coffee break before starting on your trek. These two meals will be served at the hotel where you will be spending your nights.
Main Destination:
Volcanoes National Park (Gorillas)
When To GoJune to August: it is dry, making it easier to trek.
Peak SeasonJune — September (Permits are hard to come by)
Best WeatherJune to October (Sunny, but not too hot)
Wildlife in Volcanoes NP
Gorilla, Chimpanzee, Elephant, Buffalo, White Rhino, Black Rhino, Giraffe, Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Zebra, Wildebeest, Hippo
Accommodation:
Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel
- Moderate: Accommodation with a distance of less than 1hour driving distance from the Volcanoes National Park (Gorillas)
Meals & Drinks:
- All meals included
- Drinks not included
Today you go to Volcanoes National Park where you will go to see the Golden monkeys. Again, you will be required to be at the main office at 7:00 am for a briefing before your trekking activity. Return for lunch and then proceed to Burera and Ruhondo twin lakes. These two meals will be served at the hotel where you will be spending your nights.
Main Destination:
Musanze (City)
Accommodation:
Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel
- A mid-range lodge situated in the Ruhengeri district of the City.
Meals & Drinks:
- All meals included
- Drinks not included
After breakfast, there is a drive to see Akagera National Park from Kigali. Here you will have lunch before proceeding into the Akagera National Park. In the afternoon we will take a boat ride to Lake Ihema before proceeding to do a brief bird watching activity in Akagera. Accommodation will be at the lodge for the night.
Main Destination:
Akagera National Park
ClimateThe best seasons to visit Tanzania are June to September and mid December to mid February because it is dry and the animals are easy to see.
High Season June to September (This is one of the busiest seasons in the park especially on the weekends)
Best WeatherJune to October (Sunny, but not too hot)
Wildlife in Akagera NP
Giraffe, Buffalo, Zebra, Hippo, White Rhino, Lion, Elephant, Black Rhino, Leopard, Hyena, Cheetah, Wildebeest, Wild Dog
Accommodation:
Mantis Akagera Game Lodge
- This accommodation establishment is a luxury lodge based inside Akagera National Park.
Meals & Drinks:
- Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
- Drinks not included
In the morning after taking your breakfast, proceed for a game drive in the park. Akagera National Park is situated in the eastern part of Rwanda and is bordered by Tanzania. This park is currently under the management of African Parks and they have done a good job in its conservation. There were many issues with people and the park in the past but part of the park has been fenced and others are given guided tours to the communities where they are encouraged to benefit accordingly. Savannah biome: there is only one savannah national park in Rwanda and it houses several mammal species. Among the wild animals found in the park, there are lions, elephants, giraffes, hippos, kobs, zebras, bushbucks, waterbucks and the newly introduced black rhinos which were brought from South Africa. This has made Akagera National Park to be a big five park as it was in the past. It also supports several avian life styles in many microhabitats above the canopy in timberland, in swamps, on lakes and in the Savannah.
Main Destination:
Kigali
Accommodation:
The Governor's Residence
- Luxury hotel located in Kigali
Meals & Drinks:
- Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
- Drinks not included
Subsequent to the breakfast and depending on the departure flight schedule, there is an optional tour to the Ntarama Church. This was the location where more than 5000 people were killed during the Rwandese civil genocide in the year 1994. This genocide memorial is situated 30 Km south of Kigali in the Bugasera district. They are a brutal reminder of the violence that existed in this church and its artifacts. Take your time to learn more about the unity and reconciliation commission while in this place.
Main Destination:
Kigali Genocide Memorial (Kigali)
Accommodation:
No accommodation (End of tour)
Meals & Drinks:
- Lunch (Breakfast & dinner not included)
- Drinks not included
End of tour
- Extra accommodation for additional individuals can also be arranged however at an added cost.
- They will drive and drop you directly to the airport.
Includes/Excludes
Cost Includes
- • Park fees (For non-residents)
- • Gorilla permits (One per person, non-resident)
- • All activities (Unless labeled as optional)
- • All accommodation (Unless listed as upgrade)
- • A professional driver/guide
- • All transportation (Unless labeled as optional)
- • All Taxes/VAT
- • Roundtrip airport transfer
- • Meals (As provided in the day-by-day section)
Cost Excludes
- • International flights (From/to home)
- • Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
- • Tips (Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
- • Other expenses (T-shirts, travel insurance, visa, etc.)
- • Government has put up policies that have included raising the taxes and or fees charged for access to parks.
- • Certain foods (As recommended in the use section by day)
- • Drinks
FAQs
This 12-Day Rwanda Safari & Beyond –Volcano, Nyungwe & Akagera is one of the most diverse options for observing wild animals. Here in Nyungwe forest national park, activities include tracking of chimpanzees together with other primates such as the colobus monkeys. Volcanoes National Park is your perfect place to visit if you want to witness gorillas in their natural behavior. Some of the large animals that can be found in Akagera National Park include lions, leopards, elephants, rhinoceros, and buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, hippos, and crocodiles. Here as well you will also be able to spot many birds since Rwanda has registered over 700 bird species.
This safari is moderately tiring to a bit challenging especially when tracking the chimpanzees and the mountain gorillas. The trek in Volcanoes National Park may take few hours depending on the area where the gorilla families are found and this involves physical activities such as forest trekking and climbing steep slopes. Like in other destinations, chimpanzee tracking entails hikes in the morning through hilly terrains. However, the remainder of the program is less strenuous, with drives towards various cultural sites and scenic views, as well as game viewing in Akagera National Park that involves little or no physical exertion. For safety reasons, it is required that the participants are healthy and can walk on rough terrains.
When it comes to choosing the best time to visit Rwanda for the Rwanda Safari & Beyond (Volcano, Nyungwe, Akagera), the two dry seasons that are from the end of June to September as well as between December and February are the best. These months are relatively dry and the ground is hard making it easier to hike while looking for the gorillas and the chimpanzees. Wildlife viewing in Akagera National Park is also said to be best done during the dry season because animals congregate round water points. , but the rainy periods (March-May and October-November have greener surroundings, low number of guests, and good birding experience.
While on the Rwanda Safari & Beyond (Volcano, Nyungwe, Akagera for 12 days), the traveler will need to carry comfortable footwear for hiking especially when trudging around the volcanoes and the forests for gorillas and chimpanzees, long-sleeved shirts, lightweight trousers, a waterproof jacket. In addition to the car, a good pair of binoculars will come in handy if you plan on going out for wildlife and bird watching. Sunscreen, insect repellent, hat, and sunglasses are the things that are much needed while traveling to protect oneself form the scorching heat. A high quality camera with extra batteries and memory cards should be taken along to capture vivid pictures of the countryside and animals. Because the weather is moderate in Rwanda, wearing layers is useful when the temperature fluctuates during the trip.
Yes permits are needed for gorilla and chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda during the Rwanda Safari & Beyond (Volcano, Nyungwe & Akagera). The prices for a gorilla trekking permit is $1,500 for per person and for the permit for chimp trekking is $90 for one person. These permits must be obtained prior to the visit since there are limitations to the number of permits that may be issued. It is your tour operator’s responsibility to arrange for the permit on your behalf. Regarding fees, there is a general entrance fee for Akagera National Park, and other park specific rates will be applicable for game tracks and boat cruises.
The Rwanda Safari & Beyond (Volcano, Nyungwe, Akagera) tour is a 12 days trip that includes cultural and wildlife encounters. In Kigali, the tour will include visiting the genocide memorial, which gives an insight into Rwanda’s history and its rise from the nightmare it was through a genocide. In Ruhengeri the most attractive destination would be the local villages where you can see traditional Rwandese dances and understand their crafts. It will features; Hiking to the lakeside towns such as Kibuye and Gisenyi that give you a view of Rwandese hospitality. It will be a memorable experience as it presents the opportunity to learn a lot about the country’s history and culture as well as daily life.
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