This 12 Days Luxury Rwanda Safari gives an opportunity to explore three different National Parks in Rwanda as you engage in varying safari activities and these include; Volcanoes National Park, Nyungwe Forest National Park, Akagera National Park and the vast beautiful Lake Kivu.
Before transferring to any destination in Rwanda, you shall visit the Genocide Memorials like the Nyamata Genocide Memorial Center and Kigali Genocide Memorial Center, Kandt House Museum, Inema Art Center etc.
You shall also visit the Ellen DeGeneres Campus (Dian Fossey Research Station) to learn more about Dian Fossey who sacrificed her life to save that of the Mountain Gorillas that were hunted illegally at that time as well as how the campus contributes to the livelihood of the Mountain Gorillas at Volcanoes National Park as they do so through the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.
Volcanoes National Park is located in the Ruhengeri District of Rwanda Musanze and known as the most popular safari destination in Rwanda offering remarkable Gorilla Trekking Adventures in which travelers from all over the world get to watch the majestic Mountain Gorillas in their natural forest vegetation habitat. To Trek Gorillas here, you MUST carry a valid Gorilla Trekking Permit which costs US $1500 per person.
Nyungwe Forest National Park is a biodiversity hot spot with over 70 mammal species, 320 bird species, 200 butterfly species, snake species and so much more that will interest nature lovers.
Highlights of the 12 Days Luxury Rwanda Safari
- Explore and visit Kigali City as you go to Genocide memorials and National Museums.
- Trek the Chimpanzees and Mountain Gorillas.
- Tour the Iby’iwachu Cultural Village to get an insight into the unique rural life and culture of Rwanda.
- Enjoy Game Drives at Akagera National Park.
- Explore the beautiful Lake Ihema by boat.
- Enjoy the canopy walk.
- Undertake tours of the Gisakura tea estate for a crop-to-cup tea experience.
Trip Overview of the 12 Days Luxury Rwanda Safari
Day 1: Arrive in Rwanda
Day 2: Full-day Kigali City excursion
Day 3: Drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park
Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking and a visit to the Gisakura tea estate
Day 5: The thrilling waterfall hike and Nyungwe canopy walk
Day 6: Drive to Lake Kivu, Gisenyi area via Kibuye.
Day 7: Full-day Lake Kivu exploration.
Day 8: Depart for the incredible Volcanoes National Park
Day 9: Gorilla tracking adventure and the unforgettable visit to Iby’iwachu Cultural Village.
Day 10: The ride to Akagera National Park, on the extreme Eastern border of Rwanda.
Day 11: Full-day Akagera National Park – (Game drives and boat cruise).
Day 12: Road transfer to Kigali City, an onward departure flight.
Detailed Itinerary of the 12 Days Luxury Rwanda Safari
Day 1: Arrive in Rwanda (land of a thousand hills)
You arrive in Rwanda known as the country of a thousand hills at Kigali International Airport. Here you are met by our driver guide who briefs you about the whole safari then later drives you to check-in lodge for Dinner and Overnight. Hotel Mille Collines.
Day 2: Explore and Visit Genocide Memorials in Kigali Full-day
Enjoy breakfast in the morning then embark on a full Day exploration around Rwanda’s capital city (Kigali). As you move around the city love its tidiness, rolling hills at a distance as well as captivating canopies.
You shall proceed on journey as you visit the genocide memorials like Kigali Genocide Memorial Center, the Presidential Palace Museum, Nyamata Genocide Memorials and here you learn about the tragic Genocide Memorial where many lost their lives as well as loved ones.
You shall proceed to the local Kamironko market and here you shall encounter vendors of organic vegetables, fruits, and African wear and exercise your haggling skills at the different stalls. Dinner and overnight at Hotel Mille Collines.
Day 3: Drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park
Have delicious breakfast at the Hotel then proceed to Nyungwe Forest National Park with a brief stop at Azizi Life and Rwanda National Museum before driving to the Southern Province. After a while you shall reach the green beautiful Nyungwe forest National Park. On reaching here, check-in your lodge for Dinner and Overnight. Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel.
Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking and a visit to the Gisakura tea estate
You have breakfast today in the morning then transfer to the park headquarters for short briefing on conduct around the Chimpanzees then after you are driven for an hour and a half to the Cyamudongo Forest which is located close to the park.
On reaching here with a lead park ranger in groups of 8, enter the forest to track the chimpanzees for a period of 2 to 4 hours then later you get to meet them on the forest and stay in their presence taking many photos to keep.
After Tracking Chimpanzees in the afternoon, proceed on a guided tour around the Gisakura tea estate to learn and see how Tea is picked and processed before being taken to the factory. After return to your lodge for Dinner and Overnight. Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel.
Day 5: Guided Nature Walk to the Kamiranzovu waterfall & Nyungwe canopy walk
Have Breakfast in the morning then transfer for the waterfall hike and canopy walk at Nyungwe Forest National Park’s Canopy Walk which is located at 50 meters above the ground. The Canopy walk is located at the tree tops of the gigantic mahogany trees in the park. En-route you watch various primates, birds, and plains at a distance. The adventure is priceless as you traverse from one point to another. Take many photos to keep about your adventure. After you have lunch then later continue on a guided hike to one of the Park’s jaw-dropping waterfalls through steep slopes as you watch various birds species. After the adventure, return to your lodge for Dinner and Overnight. Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel.
Day 6: Drive to Lake Kivu, Gisenyi area via Kibuye
Enjoy breakfast then transfer from Nyungwe Forest National Park to the Gisenyi area along the shores of Lake Kivu via Kibuye. On reaching here, check-in lodge for Dinner and Overnight. Lake Kivu Serena Hotel.
Day 7: Full-day Lake Kivu exploration
Have breakfast then spend leisure as you explore the stunning Lake Kivu. You can opt to kayak while taking in views of the surrounding rolling hills, bird species, and the sights of fishing boats. You can also decide to just relax in the comfort of the Resort, and undertake guided nature walks and bird-watching tours. After the adventure, return to hotel for Dinner and Overnight. Lake Kivu Serena
Day 8: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Early morning breakfast at 6:30 am then transfer to the stunning Volcanoes National Park located in Ruhengeri District Musanze. Have lunch en-route then proceed to visit the Ellen DeGeneres Campus to learn about Dian Fossey who sacrificed her life to save that of the Gorillas. Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel
Day 9: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Today you going to trek and watch Mountain Gorillas. You have breakfast early in the morning at 6:30 am then transfer to the park headquarters to be briefed on conduct around the Mountain Gorillas.
After briefing, you shall be allocated in groups o 8 with a lead park ranger who leads you to the starting point where you leave from to enter the green forest vegetation to trek the Mountain Gorillas for 3 to 5 hours.
Depending on where the Gorillas as reported by the track rangers you follow their tracks then after you will find them and take many photos to keep in an hour.
You watch the Gorillas playing, resting, grooming, raising their babies.
After trekking the Gorillas, go explore the Iby’iwachu Cultural Village where you engage in community and traditional adventures and after return to your lodge. Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel.
Day 10: Drive to Akagera National Park
Early breakfast then transfer to the stunning savannah-dominated Akagera National Park where you see savannah plains, Lakes, rolling hills, papyrus swamps, woodlands, and forests. When you reach here, check-in lodge for Dinner and Overnight. Akagera Game Lodge.
Day 11: Full-day Akagera National Park tour- (Game drive& boat cruise)
Morning breakfast then transfer to embark on Game Drive in Akagera National Park as you get to watch various wildlife animals. When in the park watch the Lakes, rolling hills, savannah plains, and marshlands for a period of 3-4 hours as well as watching wildlife animals like the African bush elephants, Rhinos, Masai giraffes, lions, leopards, Oribis, buffaloes, warthogs, impalas, bushbucks, Giant elands, zebras, duikers, Defassa waterbucks, and Hippos etc.
Break off for your lunch then continue to enjoy a Boat Cruise along Lake Ihema where you will see Hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and bird species i.e the white pelicans, grey-crowned cranes, African fish eagles, pied and giant kingfishers etc. Return to the Safari Camp/Lodge for dinner and overnight rest. Akagera game Lodge.
Day 12: Transfer to Kigali City then catch your departure flight
Breakfast in the morning and transfer on departure to Kigali International Airport to board your flight back home.
12 Days Luxury Rwanda Safari Includes
- Park entry fees
- Rwanda Gorilla permit
- Rwanda chimpanzee permit
- Ranger fees
- A full-time English-speaking guide for the entire safari duration
- Bottled water throughout the safari
- Community tours
- Lake Kivu excursions.
- Gisakura tea estate tours
- Relevant government taxes and levies such as V.A.T
- Kigali City tours
- Canopy walk fees
- Airport transfers on the first and final day of the trip.
- Hiking fees
12 Days Luxury Rwanda Safari Excludes
- Porter fees
- Travel and medical insurance,
- Visa, if required
- Vaccinations (COVID-19 at the time of writing, yellow fever, and others)
- Souvenir shopping
- Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, except if provided during meals
- Laundry services
- Telephone expenses, and other expenses of personal
