8 Days Rwanda Primates & Wildlife Safari

8 Days Rwanda Primates & Wildlife Safari takes you through Rwanda’s pristine wilderness, where encounters with majestic primates and diverse wildlife await. Journey into the dense rainforests of Volcanoes National Park to track endangered mountain gorillas, witnessing their intimate family dynamics up close. Traverse the lush landscapes of Nyungwe Forest National Park, home to chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, and over 300 bird species. Venture into Akagera National Park, where savannah plains teem with lions, elephants, and antelopes. Expert guides lead you on immersive wildlife experiences, sharing their knowledge of Rwanda’s ecology and conservation efforts. This safari promises unforgettable moments and a deep appreciation for the natural treasures of the “Land of a Thousand Hills.”

Day 1: Short southern lake circuit game drive around Akagera National Park

Arrive at Kigali International Airport and be greeted by our professional and local guides. You will then be briefed by our staff. Depart for Akagera National Park. The route which passes through Rwanda’s phenomenal landscape and living lifestyles. After a quick rest at the hotel, you will go on a southern game drive alongside the Lake Ihema circuit.

During the game drive, there are plenty of animals to see including elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, hippos, crocodiles and many other mammal species. As one of the most scenic savannahs in East Africa, the game drive in Akagera provides you an opportunity to also view gentle hills blending beautifully with lowland swamps and water bodies.

On this day (depending on game drive time), we offer you a choice of Value Added Package from the following:

• Evening walks around the hotel where you can see various bird species.
• Participate in day-to-day local pastoral lifestyle.
• Presentation on the ecology of the Akagera ecosystem and the conservation efforts, including the coexistence dynamics between local people and wildlife.

Overnight at Akagera Game Lodge. (B, L, D)

Day 2: Northern game drive and transfer to Kigali

Early morning game drive starts with a spectacular sun rise and early morning bird calls. Enjoy the beautiful scenery and landscape through the northern game drive is where you will see hippos, crocodiles and more wildlife than on the lake circuit. Transfer to the Volcanoes National park. Overnight Gorilla Mountain View lodge.

Day 3: Local Community tour

The community tour discovers hidden local culture and tradition. This is the time to discover the day-to-day livelihood of local people and how they spend their time, and participate in local dances while wearing traditional local “Umushanana” dress.

On this day we offer you a choice of value added package from the following:

• Visit Ruhengeri Market, providing you with an opportunity to see and buy local Rwandan fabrics and to see how local markets are organized.
• Visit our local projects, to see how your travel with us contributes to making a difference in local people lives and interact with project members.
• Attend traditional dance lessons, to see and have a taste of local culture and how it is embedded in the tradition.
• Taste local food and beer.
• Visit a local household and experience local lifestyle.
• Listen to a presentation on community development and mountain conservation.
• Go on walks in villages surrounding the park and interact with local people.
• Visit the twin lakes Burera and Ruhondo and marvel at the views of the Virunga mountain chain.

Overnight at the Gorilla Mountain View lodge. (B, L, D)

Day 4: Transfer to Nyungwe National Park en-route along Gisenyi, Lake Kivu, and Kibuye

Lake Kivu: Kivu is one of the great lakes in Africa and the largest of the fresh water lakes that gleam in the Albertine (Western) rift of the Great Rift Valley. Lake Kivu stands 1461m (4,790ft) above sea level and is Africa’s highest lake. The northern shore is subject to eruptions from nearby Mt Nyiragongo..

Gisenyi: It offers excellent view of the lake and the Virunga volcanoes massif. With its waterfront and sandy beaches, Gisenyi is a wonderful place to relax with the feel of tropical beach resort with captivating air.

Kibuye: It is the most attractive of the lake ports, with a series of interwoven and undulating hills. It’s among Rwanda’s hidden treasures, with lush green hills and a peaceful breeze.

During this journey, you will see interlocking landscapes and varying land use practices. You will see the natural beauty of Lake Kivu with its islands, oddly shaped peninsulas and the huge Ijwi Island that is rich in the cultural history of the Rwandan people. Overnight at Gisakura Guest House Nyungwe (B, L, D)

Day 5: Trek chimpanzees

Nyungwe National Park is the only destination in the world where you can see more than five primate species in a single location including rare species such as chimpanzee, mountain monkeys and the angolan black and while colobus monkeys. Nyungwe presents a unique phenomenon in primate tourism due to its huge concentrations of habituated primates whose troops can include 400 to 500 individuals. As an avian hub for birders, Nyungwe is the best place to partake in bird watching. Overnight at Gisakura Guest House Nyungwe (B, L, D)

Day 6: Trek colobus monkeys

Trek colobus monkeys in Nyungwe National Park the only place in the world where you can see a colony of more than 500 individuals in the wild.
On this day (depending on trekking time), we offer you a choice value added package from the following:

• Participate in tea harvesting in the neighboring local communities.
• Visit the tea factory and learn about the production processes of one the highest quality tea produced in East Africa.
• Visit local artisan groups to learn and participate in this and other local community income generating projects. This is also an opportunity to buy local crafts products.
• Listen to a presentation on the ecology of Nyungwe National Park and the ongoing conservation efforts, including the dynamics of coexistence of park/wildlife and local people.
• Watch cultural dance performed by one of the local community dance groups.

Overnight Gisakura Guest House Nyungwe (B, L, D)

Day 7: Transfer to Kigali and various cultural sites

Transfer to Kigali. En-route, you will stop at the town of Butare and visit the National Museum which provides insight into Rwandan history and culture. Along the way to Kigali, you will also visit the famous Kings palace in Nyanza which offers a rich insight into Rwandan pre-colonial history. Your final stop is at the art museum at Rwesero Nyanza. Along the way from Nyungwe to Kigali, you will pass through magnificent hills and cultivated country side. Overnight at Serena Hotel Kgali (B, L, D)

Day 8: Kigali City Tour and departure

Kigali City tour: Kigali named by Dr. Richard Kandt, the first colonial resident governor of Rwanda in 1907, is Rwanda’s capital. Kigali is the main administrative and economic centre of Rwanda. With an ever green feel of fresh air, it is the cleanest and safest city in the region. Kigali’s face is her fortune; it is this dramatic beauty from which its name is derived. There are, however, other factors; Kigali is a city that delights the mind as well as the eye of any visitor. It is the city where the past lives comfortably with the present.