Rwanda Gorilla Safari, 14 days
Day 1 ARRIVAL IN KIGALI- KIGALI CITY TOUR
On arrival , you will be welcomed by a tour guide from AA Safaris and tours ltd who will brief you and transfer you to Kigali . Indulge in a Kigali city tour - Visit the genocide memorial and some other cultural centres. Retire for dinner and over nights .
Budget : Chezlando Hotel
Moderate accommodation package: Hotel Des Mille Collines/ Hotel Umubano / Hotel Gorillas
Luxury: KIGALI SERENA HOTEL
Day 2 Kigali – AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK
Take breakfast and then you will be transferred to Akagera National . Check in and then later have lunch . In the afternoon , you will indulge in a game drive . Akagera NP is a home to various savannah wildlife which include; Zebras, Girrafees, antelopes which include the diminutive Oribi, the ungainly Tsessebe and the shy Bushbucks, Herds of buffalos and elephants come out of the savannah in the evening to drink some water from the edge of the Akagera river. The park is also home to over 525 species of birds, 4 endemics and big numbers of birds migrating from elsewhere and during a walk in this savannah one can get an opportunity to see the spotted hyenas, warthog and occasionally have a stray lion moving around. The park also hosts acquatic mammals that include hippos, crocodiles while the shoebill stock which is the treasure of the Akagera together with the papyrus Gonolek are always seen occasionally . You will return for dinner and over night at either;
Budget : Centre St Joseph
Moderate : Akagera Lodge (FB)
Day 3 GAME DRIVE IN AKAGERA AND A BOAT RIDE ALONG AKAGERA RIVER
Indulge in an early morning game drive to search for those animals that you may have not seen in the previous game drive . the guide will help you search and spot the animals and then latter transfer to the lodge. Have lunch and then go for a boat-trip along Akagera River to search for those famous and legendary aquatic mammals – the Hippos and Crocodiles. Dinner and over night at your lodge.
Day 4 AKAGERA – KIGALI
Indulge in another Game drive in the morning then head to Mt Mutumba(1825M above sea level) for Picnic lunch . The mountain has magnificent scenic view of the park. . You will later transfer to Kigali for dinner and over night at your lodge in Kigali .
Day 5 TRANSFER TO KIGALI – BUTARE – NYUNGWE
Drive to Butare to Visit the National museum and then the Nyanza hill . later transfer to Nyungwe forest National park for dinner and over night at either
Budget : Gisakura Guesthouse
Luxury : Nyungwe Forest Lodge
Day 6 CHIMPANZEES AND PRIMATES WALK IN NYUNGWE NATIONAL PARK
You will indulge in Chimpanzee tracking. Search for man’s closest cousin the Chimpanzees with the aid of the rangers who will also give you the names and knowledge about the other flora and fauna that you will encounter along the Chimpanzee trekking tour in Nyungwe forest.
Later return to the lodge for lunch . In the afternoon , there is an optional visit to Uwinka and then later retire for dinner and over night at your lodge
Day 7 NYUNGWE FOREST
Make a nature walk this time to search for Colobus monkeys . The guides will this time explain to you the names of the birds along this trail together with the flora and Fauna . return to the lodge for lunch . Later relax as you wait for dinner and over night at your lodge.
Day 8 TRANSFER FROM NYUNGWE TO KIBUYE (LAKE KIVU)
Take your breakfast and drive to the Bugarama hot water springs (the largest and biggest natural spring in Rwanda) via Cyamudongo natural forest. It is possible to take a warm bath in the hot springs if time allows but this must be pre arranged so that we plan for it before . We will later drive to River Rusizi for a day trip with lunch and fresh drinks and then later transfer to Kibuye town.
Budget: Bethanie hotel
Upmarket Moriah Hills Hotel
Day 9 TRANSFER FROM KIBUYE TO GISENYI (LAKE KIVU)
Wake up and take your breakfast . This time not so early and then later relax . In the mid morning , you will transfer to Gisenyi .
BUDGET : Ubumwe Hotel / MALAHIDE PARADISE
UPMARKET : KIVU SERENA HOTEL
Day 10 FROM Gisenyi TO Volcanoes National Park
Take breakfast and later go for nature walk along the shore of Lake Kivu or take a boat ride along Lake Kivu and later have lunch . In the afternoon , you will transfer to Parc Des Volcans.
Budget : Kinigi Guest House / Muhabura Hotel
Standard :Mountain Gorilla Nest camp / Mountain Gorilla View Lodge/ Le-Bamboo Gorilla Lodge Upmarket : Virunga Lodge / Sabinyo Silver back lodge
Day 11 GORILLA SAFARI RWANDA- GORILLA TREKKING
Take breakfast and then later take your packed lunch with you for briefing at the ORTPN offices for briefing for gorilla tracking escorts and rangers. You will then start tracking gorillas in Rwanda.
The bamboo forest logs will dribble as you first perceive sound the breaking of bamboo indicating that the gorillas are nearer then bingo you face to face with one of the most charming and mesmerizing beings in the world. After gorilla tracking and encounter, stay with the gorillas for 1 hour and then and trek back to your lodge . There is an optional visit to the twin lakes of Ruhundo and Bulera but this can only be done if gorilla tracking ends early .
Relax as you wait for dinner and over night at your lodge
Day 12 GOLDEN MONKEY TREKKING
Wake up early in the morning and then assemble at the ORTPN Offices once again to get another briefing from the rangers to prepare you for Golden monkey trekking . Golden monkeys are
Medium budget: Muhabura Hotel (BB)
High budget: Le-Bamboo Gorilla Lodge (FB)
Day 13 DIAN FOSSEY WALK
Take a trek to the grave of the late famous gorilla s research – Dian Fossey . The trek is shorter and may take 3 hours . The rangers will explain all the history of how the lady was assassinated and what impact her research has done to help in the conservation of the gorillas. Later , return and transfer to Kigali .Dinner and over night at your lodge in Kigali
Day 14Transfer to the airport for your outbound flight
Flight
>