12 Days Rwanda Gorillas, primates & wildlife
12 Days Rwanda Gorillas, primates & wildlife, however in it, there is a hidden gem, there are 3 National parks within the country volcanoes national park, Nyungwe forest national park, Akagera national park and lastly gazetted Gishwati Mukula National Park.
The 12-day overall Rwanda tour is a highlight of the endangered mountain gorillas, shared in Virunga conservation area, wildlife game and viewing in one of the only savannah parks in the country with more than 70 mammal species, primate watch among them include chimpanzees, the little human cousin sharing 98% with human beings.
Other than Gorillas, primates, and wildlife the parks are also birders haven, there are special birding spots and some of the notable birds include; Great Blue and Ruwenzori Turacos, White-headed Wood-hoopoe, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, Chestnut Owlet, Olive Woodpeckers, Little grebe, White-bellied Robin-Chat, Mountain Masked Apalis, Northern pintail, Handsome francolin, White-headed Black Chat, Secretary bird, Western banded eagle, African hawk-eagle, black-bellied bustard and Caruther’s Cisticola, Collared Pratincole, Emerald spotted wood-dove, Klaas’s Cuckoo, African wood Owl, Broad-billed Roller, Malachite Kingfisher and so many others.
Tour highlight of 12 Days Rwanda Gorillas, primates & wildlife
- Gorilla tracking
- Chimpanzee Trekking
- Game drive and viewing
- Birding
- Boat ride
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at the Airport
Today you arrive in Rwanda “the land of a thousand hills.” You will be welcomed by your safari guide for the entire 12 days tour. Depending on your time of arrival, optional city tour or transfer to the Hotel.
Accommodation options; Kigali Marriott Hotel, Heaven Boutique Hotel, Yambi Guesthouse
Day 2: Kigali City Tour
Have a relaxed morning breakfast and later you will visit prominent and historical Rwandan sites with in the city. These sites are remarkable and memorable in the lives of the Rwandan, for example the Genocide memorial site, very many of them with in the city commemorates and are a sign of remembrance to the lost lives of 1994 genocide.in here you will find recap videos, photographs, remain of clothes and there is much to learn from the dark side of the story. You will visit Kandt museum house, craft markets for beautiful African art pieces. A day will be basically spent with in the city as there is much more interesting to see. Return to the lodge, refresh for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation options; Kigali Marriott Hotel, Heaven Boutique Hotel, Yambi Guesthouse
Day 3: Transfer to Nyungwe forest National Park
Today we drive to Nyungwe forest from Kigali, stopover in Nyanza and proceed to the park. This Park is known for its quite number of primates, canopy walk and bird species. You will reach in the late afternoon, check in at the lodge to relax over looking the moist tropical Nyungwe forest.
Accommodation options; One&Only Nyungwe house/ Gisakura lodge/ Nyungwe Nzinza Eco lodge.
Day 4: Chimpanzee tracking & canopy walk
After breakfast, you will head to Uwinka visitor center for briefing. Chimpanzee tracking will begin at 07:30am you will enter the forest in search for chimps and when they are located enjoy a full hour with them. Alongside chimpanzees, you will also spot other primate species such blue monkey, L’hoest monkey, owl-faced monkeys, Red tailed monkeys, crowned monkey, Velvet monkeys. Return for lunch at the lodge. In afternoon, you will go for a canopy walk between 50-60 meters above the ground, the highest forest bridges in east Africa. It’s an amazing experience to photography Nyungwe landscape, spot birds and primates. Return to your lodge for diner and overnight stay
Day 5: Birding & transfer to lake Kivu
Nyungwe forest national park is part of the remaining large montane forests on the African continent and rich in birds especially the Albertine Rift endemics. Some of the bird species to look out for include the Handsome Francolin, Great Blue and Rwenzori Turacos, White-headed Wood-hoopoe, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, Chestnut Owlet, Olive and Elliot’s Woodpeckers. Stripe-breasted Tit, Red-collared Babbler, Archer’s Robin Chat, White-bellied Robin Chat, Doherty’s Bush-Shrike, Mountain Masked, Black-faced, and Collared Apalises, Rwenzori Batis, Neumann’s Short-tailed Warbler, White-tailed Blue-flycatcher and Purple-breasted and Regal Sunbirds, etc. In the afternoon transfer to Lake Kivu to spend a night at the shores
Accommodation options; Lake Kivu Serena, Inzonzi lodge, Paradise Malahide
Day 7: Exploring Lake kivu
After breakfast you will have a tour of Lake Kivu which will provide the much-needed rest and opportunities for to explore the lake on a canoe ride, swimming, birding along the shores.
Accommodation options; Lake Kivu Serena, Inzonzi lodge, Paradise Malahide
Day 8: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes Park national park is shared in Virunga conservation between Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Uganda representing one of the richest biological areas of the world. It was here that Dian Fossey began her research into Mountain Gorillas in the late 1960’s. The drive to Musanze/Kinigi from Lake Kivu in Gisenyi is about an hour but with birding along the way it can be several hours. We will have a short stop at a patch of forest for possible sightings of Narina’s Trogon after which we proceed to our lodge for overnight before gorilla trekking.
Dinner and overnight at Five Volcanoes, Le Bambou gorilla lodge, Garden place hotel
Day 7: Gorilla trekking experience
Wake up so early and prepare for the day, 07:00 am after breakfast transfer to Kinigi park quarters for briefing on gorilla rules and regulations as well as expectations. Gorilla tracking is an interesting hike amidst interspersed bamboo in search of the gentle giants. It’s an experience once you find a settled gorilla family in its natural environment going about it normal day, feeding, playing around with the young ones. When you meet them, remember to calm down, observe all the rules briefed and enjoy your one hour with the gorillas taking as many photographs as you can capture. Return to the lodge, relax a bit and later your will visit the Gorilla Guardian village for yet another enchanting moment with the locals as they entertain through their cultural traditional dances and exhibitions.
Dinner and overnight at Five Volcanoes, Le Bambou gorilla lodge, Garden place hotel
Day 8: Transfer to Akagera
After breakfast at your hotel, we set off for Akagera National Park in eastern Rwanda bordering with Tanzania. You will have a game drive thorough the park to the lodge for lunch and in the afternoon, you will do a boat ride on lake Ihema, where you be able to see elephants, water bucks, Buffaloes, crocodiles, hippos at the banks of the lake and water bird species, African fish eagles, Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters, Rufous-bellied Heron, Greater Swamp Warblers, Slender-billed Weavers, and Swamp Flycatcher. More species include Goliath, Black-headed, and Squacco Herons, Little Bittern, Grey Crowned Crane, African Open bill, African Darter, Black tern, African Wattled Plover, Long-toed and Senegal Lapwings, Water Thick-knee, and Giant, Pied and Malachite Kingfisher etc. Return to the lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation options; Magashi Camp, Ruzizi tented camp, Akagera game lodge
Day 9: Game drive and viewing
Wake up at 06:00am have a cup of coffee and after head out to the open savannah for a sunrise game drive. Expect to see animals such as leopards, hyena, lion as you go thorough different tracks in the park. You also look out for Rhinos, Elephants, Giraffes, Buffaloes, Topi, Zebras, Impala. The Park is a varied habitat for wildlife and a birders haven with over 500 species such as African fish eagle, African harrier hawk, African jacana Bateleur, Squacco heron. The game drive will last about 6 hours or more depending on your interests. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay
Accommodation options; Magashi Camp, Ruzizi tented camp, Akagera game lodge
Day 10: Departure
Wake up at a convenience time, have breakfast and have one more round of game drive through the park exiting back to Kigali city, you may pass through craft shops to buy souvenirs and proceed to the airport for Departure.
Tour includes
- Ground transport per 4X4 vehicle
- Park entrance fees
- Game drives
- Birding fees
- Boat trip
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Bottled water
- Full board accommodation
- Service of an English-speaking bird guide
- All mentioned activities except for the optional ones
Tour excludes
- Extras at the accommodation i.e. drinks, telephone, laundry etc.
- Tips to porters, site guides and driver/ guide
- Insurance
- Optional activities
What to bring
- Waterproof binoculars
- Sun hut
- Sunscreen
- Good camera
Gorilla trekking tips
- Recommended clothing is long trousers and long-sleeved sweaters or shirts while in the forest to avoid insect stings.
- Insect repellent
- Gardening gloves
- Waterproof hiking boots and rain gear
- Carry your day pack with lunch or some snacks. Eating, drinking and smoking near the gorillas is forbidden – designated time and place will be communicated.
- Photography is permitted, although you must not use flash
- Porters are available to help you carry your day pack for a small charge.
