Safari overview
9 days Rwanda gorillas & wildlife safari covers 3 of the 4 National Parks in Rwanda, taking you through thrilling wildlife experiences. The 8 nights, 9 days Rwanda safari lets you undertake gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, wildlife viewing in Akagera National Park, chimpanzee tracking and canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest National Park. Your tour will begin and end in Kigali Capital of Rwanda.
Brief itinerary for the 9 days Rwanda gorillas & wildlife safari
Day 1 of 9 days Rwanda gorillas & wildlife safari, travel to Akagera National Park
Day 2: Full day wildlife excursion at Akagera National Park-Rwanda
Day 3: Akagera-Nyungwe Forest National Park, Rwanda
Day 4 of the 9 days Rwanda gorillas & wildlife safari, chimpanzee trekking
Day 5: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park, Ruhengeri
Day 6: Gorilla trekking, Iby’Iwacu Village Walk
Day 7: Golden monkey tracking
Day 8: Bisoke hike/Dian Fossey trek
Day 9: Departure
Detailed itinerary of the 9 days Rwanda gorillas & wildlife safari
Day 1 of 9 days Rwanda gorillas & wildlife safari, travel to Akagera National Park
Day one of your 9 days Rwanda gorillas & wildlife safari starts early with a hefty breakfast. After breakfast, leave your hotel by 8:00 am for Akagera National Park on the Eastern side of Rwanda 2 and half hours’ drive in a 4WD vehicle. Akagera is the only savanna safari park in Rwanda and protects a diversity of wildlife such as elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards, rhinos, crocodiles, hippos, zebras, Masai giraffes, roan antelopes, 500 bird species, and many more.
Lunch will be enjoyed early upon arrival at Akagera National Park and followed by an afternoon boat cruise. On a boat cruise which you will enjoy on Lake Ihema, expect to keep an eye on crocodiles, hippos, water birds etc.
Accommodation
Upmarket: Magashi Luxury Tented Camp/Rusizi Tented Camp
Midrange: Akagera Game Lodge
Basic: Dereva Hotel or Camping
Day 2: Full day wildlife excursion at Akagera National Park-Rwanda
Have an early morning breakfast and after, a full day excursion at Akagera National Park today includes a morning game drive and boat cruise in the afternoon. In the morning, undertake a guided game drive via the savanna game track in a 4×4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof for you to enjoy excellent views of bush elephants, buffaloes, zebras, giraffes, birds, antelopes, etc.
Retreat from the savanna game track to have lunch at leisure before you proceed for an afternoon launch cruise. Expect to see more of the basking crocodiles, hippos, water birds on Lake Ihema of Akagera National Park.
Accommodation
Upmarket: Magashi Luxury Tented Camp/Rusizi Tented Camp
Midrange: Akagera Game Lodge
Basic: Dereva Hotel or Camping
Day 3: Akagera-Nyungwe Forest National Park, Rwanda
Rise up early morning and day 3 of your 9 days Rwanda gorillas & wildlife safari will be for you to transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park in the Southern side of Rwanda. Enjoy the scenic view of the Southern region of Rwanda and arrive early for lunch at your lodge in Nyungwe National Park.
Accommodation
Upmarket: Nyungwe Forest Lodge, One & Only Nyungwe House
Midrange: Nyungwe Top View Hotel
Basic: Gisakura Guesthouse
Day 4 of the 9 days Rwanda gorillas & wildlife safari, chimpanzee trekking
Enjoy your heavy breakfast early, after leaving the lodge for day 4 of your 9 days Rwanda gorillas & wildlife safari briefing about chimpanzee tracking at Uwinka Reception. 500 chimpanzees live in Nyungwe Forest National Park, the majority of which have undergone habituation and while tracking chimps, there are also lots of primates to see including black and white colobus monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, red colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, pottos, baboons plus birds.
Retreat from the Nyungwe Forest after 1 hour of viewing chimpanzees, taking their pictures and have lunch at leisure. In the afternoon, expect to spend 2-3 hours enjoying the only canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest National Park. Here, enjoy amazing sightings of primates, birds, Nyungwe Forest canopy etc.
Accommodation
Upmarket: Nyungwe Forest Lodge, One & Only Nyungwe House
Midrange: Nyungwe Top View Hotel
Basic: Gisakura Guesthouse
Day 5: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park, Ruhengeri
Enjoy an early cup of tea/coffee, after, day 5 of your 9 days Rwanda gorillas & wildlife safari will be transferring to Volcanoes National Park in Ruhengeri Region. En-route, have a brief visit at Lake Kivu then proceed to check into your pre-booked accommodation at Volcanoes National Park, Northwestern Rwanda.
Accommodation
Upmarket: Bisate Lodge/Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Midrange: Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge/La Palme Hotel of Rwanda
Basic: Muhabura Hotel, Kinigi Guesthouse-Ruhengeri
Day 6: Gorilla trekking, Iby’Iwacu Village Walk
Wake up early to take your breakfast, after leaving for a briefing on day 6 of your 9 days Rwanda gorillas & wildlife safari where you will have an understanding of the rules and regulations for gorilla trekking. Hiking through the bamboo forest and steep slopes to find mountain gorillas can be strenuous and today, get along with some pack of snacks, bottled water. You will be allocated to any of the 13 families of gorillas in Volcanoes National Park, park guide and expect to take 2-6 hours looking for mountain gorillas but it includes 1 hour of face to face encounter.
Retreat from the bamboo forest, have ample time to relax and later, undertake a short walk to the Iby’Iwacu Village for cultural interaction. Leave thereafter for dinner and overnight stay in the pre-booked accommodation.
Accommodation
Upmarket: Bisate Lodge/Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Midrange: Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge/La Palme Hotel of Rwanda
Basic: Muhabura Hotel, Kinigi Guesthouse-Ruhengeri
Day 7: Golden monkey tracking-Ruhengeri
Breakfast early morning and after, day 7 of 9 days Rwanda gorillas & wildlife safari will be for briefing about golden monkey tracking regulations. Tracking golden monkeys starts at 8:00 am, and lasts for 2-4 hours which covers one hour face to face with golden monkeys in the wild. Return to have long evening relaxation and overnight stay.
Accommodation
Upmarket: Bisate Lodge/Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Midrange: Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge/La Palme Hotel of Rwanda
Basic: Muhabura Hotel, Kinigi Guesthouse-Ruhengeri
Day 8: Bisoke hike/Dian Fossey trek
Have early morning breakfast, after, gather at the briefing point to have insight about Bisoke hiking. Start the trek to the summit of Bisoke volcano 3710m and you will be led by an experienced park guide.
Accommodation
Upmarket: Bisate Lodge/Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Midrange: Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge/La Palme Hotel of Rwanda
Basic: Muhabura Hotel, Kinigi Guesthouse-Ruhengeri
Day 9: Departure
After an early morning cup of tea/coffee, day 9 of the 9 days Rwanda gorillas & wildlife safari will be checking out of the lodge. Leave Volcanoes National Park Ruhengeri for Kigali, enjoy a city tour where you will visit Gisozi genocide centre, other historical sites, markets etc then proceed to Kigali Airport for departure.
End of the 9 days Rwanda gorillas & wildlife safari
Safari includes
Gorilla permit
Golden monkey permits
Bisoke hike fees
Cultural experience
Game drive
Boat cruise
Park entrance fees in the 3 parks
Bottled water
Ground travel in Rwanda for 9 days
Accommodation in Rwanda for 8 nights and meals
Safari excludes
Cigarettes
Tipping
Shopping
Laundry
Telephone
Extra activities outside the 9 days Rwanda safari
