The 10 Days Best of Rwanda Safari is a uniquely crafted African safari package taking you to explore 3 National Parks in Rwanda and other tourist sites. This enchanting long Rwanda tour includes a visit to Akagera National Park (for game drive/wildlife tours), Volcanoes National Park for gorilla trekking, and Nyungwe Forest National Park to encounter chimpanzees. What makes it special is the fact that it encompasses several tourist destinations and activities thus allowing you to experience in-depth what the Land of a Thousand Hills holds. Below is a detailed 10 Days Best Of Rwanda Safari.
Day One: Airport transfer to hotel in Kigali city
Fly and land at Kigali International Airport –KGL where pick-up will be done by an experienced driver guide. Drive for about 10 minutes and you will be in the heart of Kigali where you will be dropped off at the hotel for relaxation & an overnight stay.
Day Two: Akagera National Park for wildlife trips
Pick up at the hotel in Kigali & drive for just 2.5 hours to Akagera National Park in the Eastern circuit of Rwanda. You will settle for a leisurely lunch in Akagera. Later on, in the afternoon, go search for the big game plus other animal species in the savanna game tracks.
Day Three: Game drive & launch cruise excursion
Wake up early, enjoy tea/coffee cup, and leave for a game drive at 6:00 am using a 4×4 safari vehicle. Enjoy sightings of morning risers including elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards, antelopes, giraffes, zebras, and birds. Start driving back after a good time exploring the park’s animal species and have lunch at leisure. Leave the lodge for the lodge for a launch cruise and this recreational experience lets you see hippos, crocodiles, and aquatic birds on Lake Ihema.
Day Four: Leave Akagera (Eastern Province) for Nyungwe Forest
Engage in a long day drive from the Eastern circuit in Rwanda to Nyungwe Forest National Park (Southern tourist circuit). En-route stop visits will be made at Nyanza Museum located in Butare and this is where you will also settle for lunch then proceed to the park to check in at the lodge.
Day Five: Track chimpanzee Nyungwe Forest
Nyungwe Forest National Park is a primate haven, inhabiting 13 primate species with over 500 chimpanzees all contained here. Today, you will be briefed about chimpanzee tracking at Cyamudongo or Uwinka reception. Here, you will also be assigned to a park guide. You will be led to search for a chimp community for about 2-4 hours and this includes one hour of a close encounter.
Nyungwe Forest is home to diverse primates. You will also come across other species such as L’hoests monkeys, vervet monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, baboons, colobus monkeys, and birds. Return and lunch will be enjoyed at leisure and in the afternoon, you will again set off for a canopy walk. Walk on a suspended walkway 50 meters on the floor while viewing primates, birds, and forest canopy.
Day Six: Forest walk
You will explore the park’s diverse primate species, flora, and birds. Over 1000 species of plants, 13 primate species, 120 butterflies, 310 bird species, and other species all exist within this park. You will encounter a variety of them on a guided forest walk and return to the lodge for relaxation.
Day Seven: Volcanoes National Park to watch mountain gorillas
After the morning breakfast, leave the lodge for Volcanoes NP where mountain gorillas reside. As you navigate to the Southern Province, expect to view the scenic Lake Kivu and also enjoy en-route lunch.
Day Eight: Gorilla trekking
Volcanoes National Park holds over 30% of the 1063 mountain gorillas and includes 12 habituated gorilla families. A single habituated family of mountain gorillas will be visited by a maximum of 8 guests. And the park guide will be the one to lead. Hire a porter services in case of heavy luggage- this adventure can last for 2 to 6 hours. You will be observing how gorillas behave and take pictures for 1 hour then start walking back to the lodge to chill. After an ample time of relaxation, set off for a cultural tour/visit at Ibyi’wacu Cultural Village.
Day Nine: Dian Fossey hike
Wake up early and get briefed at Kinigi about Dian Fossey’s trek. The Dian Fossey tomb yard will be accessed at Karisoke Research Centre. You will explore in-depth about Dian Fossey, her mountain gorilla conservation legacy, etc. The rest of the evening when you get back will be just for chilling at the lodge. Alternatively, you may read a magazine in the gardens.
Day Ten: Kigali –city tour
Start your trip back to Kigali after a leisurely breakfast and check out of the safari lodge. Arrive at the city early and begin a short tour inclusive of a visit to the Kigali genocide memorial center and local markets. After, have lunch and transfer to Kigali Airport for departure or drop off at the hotel. This will mark the end of your 10 Days Best Of Rwanda Safari.
