This 8 Days Rwanda Wildlife and Birding safari transfers you to Akagera national park for game drives and boat ride, Kigali for a short city tour, Nyungwe forest national park for chimpanzee tracking and Volcanoes national park for gorilla trekking.
Itinerary for the 8 Days Rwanda Wildlife and Birding safari
Day 1 of 8 Days Rwanda Wildlife and Birding safari: Arrival in Rwanda
On arrival in Rwanda, you will be welcomed by a representative from Pamoja Tours and Travel who will drive you to Kigali for a short Safari briefing. After this, you will head to Akagera National Park which is composed of wetland, woodland, and savannah with the lowest point of Rwanda. Upon arrival, have lunch and after Indulge in an evening game drive to search for animals like Giraffe, Buffalo, Elephant and a lot of bird species like the shoebill stork which can be seen easily on the shorelines on River Akagera. Dinner and overnight stay at Akagera Game Lodge
Day 2 of 8 Days Rwanda Wildlife and Birding safari: Game drive and Boat ride
After breakfast, you will set out for the morning game drive to search for early risers and also animals you have missed out in the previous game drive. Return to the Lodge for lunch and in the afternoon go for the boat ride on River Akagera and to the nearby lakes which will expose you to water-loving birds and animal species that come along the shorelines to take water. Dinner and overnight stay at Akagera Game Lodge
Day 3 of 8 Days Rwanda Wildlife and Birding safari: Transfer to Kigali
After breakfast, indulge in the last game drive and then proceed to Mt Mutumba (1825M) for a Picnic lunch. The mountain has a magnificent scenic view of the park. After this, you will transfer to Kigali for a short city tour around the Genocide Memorial sites and local markets. Dinner and overnight stay at Kigali Serena Hotel for Luxury/Golf Hills Residence for mid-range/Okapi Hotel or Step Town Hotel for Budget
Day 4 of 8 Days Rwanda Wildlife and Birding safari: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park
After breakfast, you will drive southwest to Nyungwe forest National Park. En-route visit the Butare town which is the country’s 2nd capital after Kigali. Here visit the National Museum, National University, and the Botanical gardens. Proceed and have another stopover in Nyanza for a visit to the Old King Mwami’s palace. Nyungwe forest is on a high elevation and simply placed on 970 square kilometers of land and it is very apparent that it creates its own climate from its own biodiversity. Upon arrival in Nyungwe, participate in the evening forest walk. Dinner and overnight stay at Nyungwe Forest Lodge/Gisakura Guest House
Day 5 of 8 Days Rwanda Wildlife and Birding safari: Chimpanzee Tracking
After morning breakfast, you will head to the Park headquarters for chimp trek briefing. After this you will then go for chimp trek in the forest. The time taken to encounter the Chimps is unpredictable but usually takes between 3- 10 hours. Along the way, you will encounter other primates species found in this Park such as the Silver monkey, Owl faced monkey, Ruwenzori colobus, L’hoest’s monkey, and the Grey-cheeked Mangabeys and so many others. Return for dinner and overnight stay at Nyungwe Forest Lodge/Gisakura Guest House
Day 6 of 8 Days Rwanda Wildlife and Birding safari: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
After breakfast, you will transfer to Ruhengeri town and then to Volcanoes National Park. En-route stopover at Gisenyi town for a scenic view of Lake Kivu and for Lunch. Reach the park in the evening in time for dinner and overnight stay at Virunga Volcanoes Lodge / Sabinyo Silver Back Lodge/Mountain Gorilla View Lodge/Kinigi guest house/Hotel Muhabura
Day 7 of 8 Days Rwanda Wildlife and Birding safari: Gorilla Trekking
After breakfast, you will set out of your lodge with your packed lunch to the ORTPN Offices for briefing and gorilla tracking escorts and Rangers. You will then start your trek of the Gorillas. Once you come across the bamboo forest logs and also your first perception of the sound the breaking of bamboo indicating that the gorillas are nearer. Prepare yourself for the exciting encounter with the Gorillas and wonderful experience. Stay with the gorillas for 1 hour and then and trek back to your lodge or lunch and in the afternoon, visit the twin lakes of Ruhondo and Bulera. Dinner and overnight stay Virunga Volcanoes Lodge / Sabinyo Silver Back Lodge/Mountain Gorilla View Lodge/Kinigi guest house/Hotel Muhabura
Day 8 of 8 Days Rwanda Wildlife and Birding safari: Transfer back to Kigali
After breakfast, you will go for a short tour around Ruhengeri. Then, you will transfer back to Kigali reaching in time for Lunch. Drop off will be at your Hotel in Kigali or at the airport for your flight back home
Tour costs include the following
- Gorilla and Chimpanzee tracking permits
- Park fees (non-residents)
- All activities that are shown in the itinerary
- Professional driver/ tour guide
- All transfers (airport pick up and drops)
- All Taxes
- All transportation
- Meals (as specified in a day by day section)
- Drinking water all days
Tour costs Excludes
- International flights
- Additional accommodation before and after the trip
- Tips
- Government imposed increased of taxes and park fees
- Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visas etc)
- Laundry
- Optional activities (not detailed in the above itinerary)