Overview
Enjoy magical mountain gorilla encounters and also get up close with the big 5 in the savanna grassland on this special 6-day tour in Rwanda. Akagera and Volcanoes National Parks are the two destinations to be explored on this trip. In Akagera N/P, you will have a remarkable treat to a memorable game drive and boat cruise which guarantees you views of the big game and aquatic life.
Inside Volcanoes National Park, there exist over 30% of the world’s 1063 mountain gorillas and 12 habituated gorilla groups. You will be tracking mountain gorillas in Volcanoes NP and in the evening, pay a visit to the Gorilla Guardian Village for cultural interaction.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival/pick up at a hotel & drive to the Eastern Province of Rwanda
Meet your Rwanda safari tour/driver guide for a briefing about the 6 days you will be spending in this dubbed Land of a Thousand Hills. After, leave the hotel or Kigali airport for Eastern Province to check in at the lodge in Akagera National Park. For pick up at a hotel, you will have a city tour- visit the Kigali memorial center & Kimironko market, then transfer to Akagera.
Day 2: Enjoy the Akagera game drive & launch cruise tour
Set off for a game drive after having a delicious breakfast and you will be using a 4×4 drive car with a pop-up roof. Expect to spend 2-3 hours inside Akagera while viewing its wildlife such as lions, buffaloes, elephants, impalas, Masai giraffes, topis, zebras, leopards, bushbucks, gazelles, elands, and birds.
Afternoon lunch and relaxation, go and enjoy Lake Ihema boat cruise for 2-3 hours, which brings you a close view of aquatic animals. The aquatic animals to watch include hippos, crocodiles, and water birds. Akagera is a birder’s paradise with a record of more than 625 bird species including kingfishers, fish eagles, jacanas, herons, shoebill storks, and more.
Day 3: Game drive or hot air balloon ride & community visit
Enjoy breakfast early in the morning and after, you will leave for 2nd phase of the Akagera game drive or set off for a hot air balloon experience. Hot air balloon offers unforgettable aerial views of the park’s diverse animals, especially the big game and other species.
A community tour in the vicinity of the park will be done in the evening. Explore the unique cultures and traditions of Rwandese, and their heritage, and enjoy the dances and music performances. Areas of interest on a cultural tour- the Imigongo art and craft center, Humure refugee village tours and more.
Day 4: Akagera national park to Volcanoes National Park
Have a delicious breakfast and after, start your drive from the Eastern Province through Kigali to Volcanoes National Park. This will be a 4-5 hours drive and enjoy the picturesque view of the rolling hills as you connect to Musanze/Ruhengeri for a gorilla tour.
Day 5: Experience gorilla trekking in Rwanda
Before you set foot into Volcanoes N/Park jungles, the briefing will be conducted to let you know the rules for gorilla trekking. Other things that come during the briefing include the allocation of gorilla groups to each group of 8 visitors, each visiting one family or group.
At 8:00 am, you will then begin your trek which takes 2-6 hours but this varies depending on clients’ hiking speed. Stay with gorillas for 1 hour, observe them as they play, groom, and also take pictures. When you get back to the lodge, have lunch and in the evening, visit the gorilla guardian village to have that feel of an authentic African experience.
Day 6: Transfer to Kigali airport or hotel
At leisure, enjoy your cup of tea or coffee, and after, check out of the lodge in Musanze. Begin your drive back to Kigali expecting to take 2-3 hours and either get dropped off at the hotel or airport for departure which marks the end of 6 days Akagera & Volcanoes NP safari.
