5 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking and Wildlife Safari takes you to Rwanda’s gorilla trekking and wildlife viewing destinations respective. Volcanoes national park is Rwanda’s home of the endangered mountain gorillas. The park is located on the Virunga Mountains shared with Uganda and Congo. Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park is different from other parks because it is quite easier to find the gorillas even with the steep hills of Virunga Mountains. There are about 10 habituated gorilla families for visitors to see. Apart from gorilla trekking, Volcanoes national park is also a home to the endangered golden monkeys and other primates, a few of the forest animals, about 200 different bird species and a Mountain hiking destination. Akagera national park which is located in the eastern part of Rwanda in the savannah areas good for wildlife experience especially to see the big five game. Enjoy remarkable game drives for animals such as Buffaloes, Antelopes, Elephants, Giraffes, Leopards, Hyenas, lions, rhinos to mention a few. Other excursions include visiting Lake Kivu bordering Congo and a city tour in Kigali city.
Highlights
- Day 1: Arrival in Kigali – and transfer to Volcanoes national park
- Day 2: Gorilla trekking experience
- Day 3: Transfer to Akagera national park
- Day 4: Game drive and boat trip on Lake Ihema
- Day 5: Return to Kigali – Departure
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali and transfer to Volcanoes national park
Upon arrival at Kigali international airport with your morning confirmed booked flight or Depending on your location in Kigali, you will be met by your safari driver who will be your guide throughout the trip, meet and greet, pack your luggage in the safari vehicle and Volcanoes national park. It’s a 2-3 hours’ drive from Kigali to Musanze where we find the home of the endangered mountain gorillas.
Arrive in Musanze at good time for lunch after checking-in your booked accommodation. Later afternoon, visit Iby’wacu Cultural Village-a Non-Profit umbrella organization that aims at improving the lives of reformed poachers and communities around Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park through provision of conservation incentives, supporting community enterprise development and livelihood based projects. It’s a rewarding place where you will be guided around the place as you enjoy the Kinyarwanda traditions including the Intore dance, traditional ceremonies and a guided community walk. Connect to your booked accommodation for dinner and overnight stay at
- Luxury option: 5 Volcanoes Gorilla lodge/Virunga lodge
- Mid-range option: Le Bambou Gorilla lodge/Da Vinci Gorilla lodge
- Budget option: Hotel Muhabura/Kinigi Guesthouse
Day 2: Gorilla trekking experience
After early morning breakfast, you will be transferred to the Kinigi park headquarters with your trekking gears for a briefing about the endangered mountain gorillas. You have been allocated a gorilla family to trek, connect to the starting point and start trekking along with the guidance of the armed ranger guides together with the ranger guides. This activity may take between 2-8 hours searching for the gorillas depending on their movement. However meeting them is so rewarding and you will spend maximally 1 hour with them as you take time studying them and taking pictures and videos. After spending your time with the fascinating mountain gorillas, return to the base and meet your driver to connect to your lodge for lunch and refresh. Spend the rest of your day at leisure. Dinner and overnight stay at booked lodge as above
Day 3: Transfer to Akagera National Park – evening game drive
After breakfast, set off to Akagera national park located in the eastern part of Rwanda via Kigali city. This area is different from the other hilly areas of Rwanda given this savannah vegetation cover and relatively flat area. It’s a 6 hours’ drive from Musanze through Kigali then to Akagera national park. Arrive at the park, proceed to check-in your lodge, have lunch and enjoy an evening game drive. Before nightfall, return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay
- Luxury option: Ruzizi tented camp
- Mid-range option: Akagera game lodge
- Budget option: Dereva hotel
Day 4: Game drive and Lake Ihema boat cruise.
After morning breakfast, you will embark on your morning game drive around the park for a rewarding wildlife views. Expect to encounter the Big five including the Lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, cape buffaloes and the recently introduced Rhinos along with other animals including; giraffes, warthogs, waterbucks, zebras, hyenas and different antelope species. Expect to also see over 500 species of birds. The game drive may last for about 3-4 hours. Return to lodge for lunch and relax as you wait for the next activity.
In the afternoon, the driver will pick up for a boat cruise on Lake Ihema-the second largest lake in Rwanda after Lake Kivu. The boat trip exposes you to plenty of wildlife on the lake shores which come to cool off and drink water including hippos, buffaloes, huge crocodiles and birds such as malachite kingfisher and fish eagle. After the amazing boat trip, return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay
Day 5: Return to Kigali – Departure
After breakfast, check-out of the lodge and transfer back to Kigali. Upon arrival in Kigali, have lunch and proceed to Kigali airport for your onward flight back home. End of Rwanda safari
