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Pop up roof 4x4, Boat
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2-20
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To be provided
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Kigali
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Game drive, Hiking, Boat trip
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To be provided
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English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic
Prepare for an unforgettable 5-day safari in Rwanda, where you’ll encounter the majestic mountain gorillas and playful golden monkeys in their natural environments. This tour merges exhilarating wildlife observation in Akagera National Park with the stunning vistas of Volcanoes National Park. You’ll partake in game drives, boat excursions, and cultural experiences, all while diving into the rich biodiversity and breathtaking landscapes that Rwanda presents.
After breakfast, your Gorilla Explorers driver-guide will pick you up and start your safari. You will start with a city tour in Kigali city, you will visit the King's Palace, and the Genocide Memorial. You will proceed to Akagera National Park, located in the Northeast of Rwanda, arriving in the evening.
The park is located in the northeast of Rwanda along the border with Tanzania. Although founded in 1934, much of the park was reallocated as farms. In 1997, the park was reduced in size from more than 2,500 sq km to its current extent of 1,122 sq km. Since 2010, a joint venture with African Parks has seen Akagera return to its former glories. It is named after the Akagera River that flows along its eastern boundary and feeds into a labyrinth of lakes, of which the largest is Lake Ihema. The forest-fringed lakes, papyrus swamps, savannah plains, and rolling highlands combine to make Akagera among the most scenic anywhere in Africa.
Main Destination: Akagera National Park
Accommodation: Ruzizi Tented Lodge - Luxury tented camp located inside Akagera NP
Meals & Drinks:
Lunch and dinner (Breakfast not included)
Non alcoholic drinks
Today, you will enjoy an early morning game drive in Akagera National Park and a boat cruise on Lake Ihema. Wildlife game drives in the Akagera National Park area are a great way to encounter various wildlife species, including lions, elephants, leopards, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, rhinos, kobs, to mention but a few. After the lunch break, you will depart for a boat ride on Lake Ihema. The boat ride offers an opportunity for more wildlife viewing, such as hippos and crocodiles, and sometimes at a close range, but safely. The lake also has a great concentration of over 500 bird species, which include shoebill storks, herons, jacanas, ibis, and gonolek, among others. After the exciting boat ride, you will head back to the lodge for relaxation, followed by dinner and an overnight stay.
Main Destination: Akagera National Park
Accommodation: Ruzizi Tented Lodge - Luxury tented camp located inside Akagera NP
Meals & Drinks:
All meals included
Non alcoholic drinks
After breakfast, you will have a short game drive and bid farewell to the park, and drive to Volcanoes National Park. This journey takes about 4-5 hours, passing through the beautiful landscapes and viewing the beautiful scenery. You will arrive in time for lunch. After lunch, you will relax. Later in the evening, you will have a cultural experience at the Iby’lwachu village, where you will have an opportunity to participate in the cultural dances with the Indigenous people of Rwanda.
Main Destination: Volcanoes National Park
Accommodation: Sambora Kinigi Lodge - Luxury lodge located less than 1hr drive from Volcanoes NP
Meals & Drinks:
All meals included
Non alcoholic drinks
Early morning, you'll benefit from a tasty breakfast at the lodge before your first exciting morning drive through the Switzerland of Rwanda Park, which is too clear in the indigenous forest for gorilla trekking and draws one to the real side of natural beauty. You will be briefed at the park headquarters and later depart for the gorilla trekking experience alongside the ranger guides. Once you find them, you will spend one hour with them taking pictures. Later, you will return to the starting point, you'll embark on your vehicle, and drive to the lodge for the night.
Main Destination: Volcanoes National Park
Accommodation: Sambora Kinigi Lodge - Luxury lodge located less than 1hr drive from Volcanoes NP
Meals & Drinks:
All meals included
Non alcoholic drinks
After your breakfast, you'll depart the park headquarters for a briefing. Later, you'll start your golden monkey trekking experience. You will bid farewell to Volcanoes National Park, embark on your vehicle, and drive to Kigali or the airport.
With cameras full of memories and hearts full of adventure, we will transfer to the airport for your departure. Until next time, let the spirit of Rwanda’s wilderness stay with you!
Main Destination: Volcanoes National Park
Accommodation: No accommodation (End of tour)
Meals & Drinks:
Breakfast and Lunch (Dinner not included)
Drinks not included
This itinerary is the ultimate “diversity” tour. The 5-Day Gorilla, Golden Monkey Adventure & Wildlife Safari combines a “Big Five” savannah safari in Akagera with two distinct primate encounters in Volcanoes National Park: the legendary mountain gorillas and the rare, endemic golden monkeys.
Golden monkeys are much more active and inhabit the bamboo forests at the base of the volcanoes. On your 5-Day Gorilla, Golden Monkey Adventure & Wildlife Safari, you’ll find that while gorillas are often calm and stationary, golden monkeys are constantly leaping through the trees, making for a high-energy photography session.
Included in the Akagera portion of your 5-Day Gorilla, Golden Monkey Adventure & Wildlife Safari is a boat trip on Lake Ihema. It offers a unique vantage point to see hippos, crocodiles, and water birds like the African fish eagle and kingfishers from the safety of a covered vessel.
Beyond wildlife, the 5-Day Gorilla, Golden Monkey Adventure & Wildlife Safari often features a visit to the Gorilla Guardians Village. Here, you can learn about traditional Rwandan medicine, archery, and witness the powerful Intore cultural dance.
You’ll need to pack for two different climates. For Akagera, bring light, neutral-colored safari wear. For the mountains, the 5-Day Gorilla, Golden Monkey Adventure & Wildlife Safari requires sturdy hiking boots, long trousers to protect against stinging nettles, and a waterproof jacket.
The bamboo forest can be dark and the monkeys move fast! For the 5-Day Gorilla, Golden Monkey Adventure & Wildlife Safari, we recommend a camera with a fast shutter speed and a lens that performs well in low light. Remember: flash is strictly prohibited for both primates.
