8 Days Rwanda Classic Safari, The Rwanda safari is an extraordinary safari that combines chimpanzee trekking and canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest National Park, gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park and game drives and boat cruise in Akagera National Park offering a comprehensive and unforgettable experience of Rwanda’s incredible natural beauty and wildlife. This safari begins in Nyungwe forest national park where you will trek to see chimpanzees in their natural habitat and embark on a thrilling canopy walk, offering a breathtaking views of the forest and its inhabitants. From there, you will head to Volcanoes National Park home to the majestic mountain gorillas, to where you will participate in gorilla trekking experience, and finally you venture to Akagera National Park where you will embark on the exciting game drives to spot the variety of the wildlife including the big five mammals that includes the lions, buffaloes, rhinos, leopards and elephants and others, Lake Ihema offers stunning views of the park’s landscapes and then the wildlife. Thought this 8-day safari, you will be immersed in Rwanda’s incredible natural beauty, fascinating culture, and unforgettable wildlife experiences, creating lifelong memories and appreciation for this incredible country.
Tour Highlights.
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali.
Day 2: Transfer to Nyungwe forest National park.
Day 3: Chimpanzee trekking and canopy walk experience.
Day 4: Colobus monkey tracking and transfer to Kibuye.
Day 5: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park.
Day 6: Gorilla trekking experience and Iby’wacu community experience.
Day 7: Transfer to Akagera national park.
Day 8: Morning game drive, boat cruise and return to Kigali.
Detailed itinerary.
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali.
On the first day of your safari, your safari guide that is our representative from African Vacation Safaris, will pick you up from Kigali International Airport he will welcome you and belief you about the 8 days Rwanda classic safari. After the briefing you will be transferred to your hotel for the dinner, relaxation and overnight stay.
Day 2: Transfer to Nyungwe forest national park.
On the 2nd day of the safari, wake up early in the morning and enjoy your hearty breakfast. After the breakfast you will check out from your hotel and get ready to transfer to Nyungwe forest national park. This is the perfect safari that will offer you a stopovers with the enroute and visit former King’s Palace at Nyanzi, National museum at Butare, and this is where you will enjoy your lunch which is the wonderful safari experience that will offer you unforgettable safari experience. And once you arrive you will check in your lodge and then you will relax, later you will be served with lunch, relaxation and overnight stay.
Day 3: Chimpanzee trekking and canopy walk experience.
On the 3th day, of the safari wake up early in the morning and enjoy your breakfast. After breakfast you will meet your safari guide and you will be transferred at the park headquarters for the briefing about the rules and regulations to follow during chimpanzee trekking. After the briefing, you will be grouped in various groups of 6 people per group and you will be start your chimpanzee trekking in the forest with the experienced rangers and park guides. Chimpanzee trekking in the park takes a period from 30 minutes to 4 hours depending on the location of the chimpanzees. And once the chimpanzees are spotted you will be given one hour to be in the presence of the chimpanzees as you watch the chimpanzees jumping from one tree to another, chattering and laughing, feeding, you will take pictures and record their movies. After the one hour of the experience you will be transferred back to your lodge for lunch. After lunch you will be transferred back to the park for the canopy walk experience to the swing bridge 50 meters in length that is suspended from the large trees, that’s the perfect experience that enables you to see the wonderful rain forest with a bird’s eye view while spotting the wildlife moving about below you. After the experience you will be transferred back to your lodge for dinner, relaxation and overnight stay.
Day 4: Colobus monkey tracking and transfer to Kibuye.
On the 4th day of the safari, get up early in the morning and enjoy your hearty breakfast. After breakfast you will check out and you will head back to the forest with the presence of your safari guide for a more perfect experience besides the chimpanzees, you will go for the colobus monkey tracking in the forest. You will be transferred for the briefing about the rules and regulations to follow during the trekking. After the briefing you will be explored to the forest for a wonderful experience that is to look for the colobus monkeys. Along the way you will be impressed with the beautiful biodiversity in the park that is animal species, bird species, plant species and tree species. And once the colobus monkeys are spotted you will be rewarded with the perfect experience in the presence of the colobus monkeys; that is watching how they do their daily experience, watching them feed, playing, grooming, taking their pictures and recording their movies. After the experience you will proceed to Gisenyi a lakeside town on the shores of Lake Kivu and let the cool breezes of the lake gives you the comfort through relaxing. After the experience you will be transferred to your lodge for diner, relaxation and overnight stay.
Day 5: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park.
On the 5th day of the safari, wake up early in the morning and enjoy your hearty breakfast as you enjoy the charming sunrise with the bright sun rays that reflects the lake in the presence of the sweet sounds of the bird species. After breakfast, you will go on a boat cruise on Lake Kivu for the magnificent views of the lake and various attractions of the beautiful and colourful bird species. After the experience you will go back to your lodge and enjoy lunch. After lunch you will transfer to Volcanoes National Park with the perfect views along the way. And once you arrive you will check in your lodge for dinner, relaxation and overnight stay.
Day 6: Gorilla trekking experience and Iby’wacu community experience.
On the 6th day of the safari, you will wake up early in the morning and enjoy the hearty breakfast. After breakfast you will meet your safari guide together with your packed lunch and go for the gorilla trekking experience. You will be transferred to the park headquarters to the Kinigi reception area where you will receive the briefing about the rules and regulations to follow during gorilla trekking. After the briefing you will then be transferred to hike the Virunga Mountain to look for the mountain gorillas with the experienced guides and rangers. During mountain gorilla trekking you will be attracted by the various attractions like the various bird species like African Rwenzori, double collared sunbird, Ruwenzori turaco, eagle handsome Francolin, and others, and you will spot other primates like red tailed monkeys, silver monkeys and among many others, you will spot various plant species, tree species and among others. And when you find the mountain gorillas you will be given a period of one hour to be in the presence of the gorillas that is watching the gorillas feeding, female gorillas grooming their young ones, and among others, like taking their pictures and recording their videos. After the experience you will be transferred back to the starting point to where you will be rewarded with the gorilla trekking certificates for taking part in gorilla trekking.
After the gorilla trekking you will go for the Iby’Iwacu community experience as this is a unique experience where the visitors get the chance to experience the traditional daily life of the local community, and they participate in various activities like as traditional farming and cooking, local craft-making, music and dance performances and storytelling and among others that provide a unique opportunity for the cultural immersion and exchange. After the experience you will be transferred to your lodge for dinner, relaxation and overnight stay.
Day 7: Transfer to Akagera national park.
On the 7th day of the safari, wake up early in the morning and enjoy your hearty breakfast. After breakfast, you will check out from your lodge and then you will proceed to Akagera national park with the beautiful views along the way. You will pass through Kigali city to where you will do Kigali city tour this is where you visit famous and popular destinations in the city like Rwanda Genocide Memorial centre and others, this is where you will have lunch in Kigali. After lunch you will transfer to Akagera National Park, and once you arrive you will check in your lodge for dinner, and later you will go for the afternoon game drive for the perfect game drive to spot the incredible wildlife and after the experience you will go for relaxation and overnight camp.
Day 8: Morning game drive, boat cruise and return to Kigali.
On the 8th day of the safari, wake up early in the morning and enjoy your hearty breakfast. After enjoying your breakfast your safari guide will pick you and transfer you to Akagera National Park and participate in the early morning game drives and this is where you will spot the early risers like zebras, buffaloes, rhinos, impalas, elephants, lions, buffaloes, rhinos, leopards and others as they are catching prey for their morning meal, as well you will experience the best spots in the park. After the experience you will be transferred back to your lodge and enjoy lunch.
After lunch in the afternoon; you will go for the boat cruise on Lake Ihema in Akagera national park to where you will get to spot various wildlife like crocodiles, hippopotamuses and you will spot the diverse colourful bird species like the endangered shoebills stork, cormorants, spoonbills, African kingfishers and among others as you watch the sunset that is such incredible. After the experience you will be transferred back to Kigali city to where you will be dropped to your convenient place either at your hotel in Kigali or to Kigali International Airport for your flight back home.
End of 8 Days Rwanda Classic Safari
8 Days Rwanda Classic Safari inclusions.
An English speaking guide.
Boat cruise fees.
Transport.
Gorilla trekking permits.
Chimpanzee trekking permits.
Golden monkey trekking/Dian Fossey trekking fees.
4×4 safari vehicles and Fuel.
Accommodation.
Meals.
Bottled water.
8 Days Rwanda Classic Safari exclusions.
Visa Fees.
Tips.
Visa Fees.
All the activities that are not included in the itinerary.
