13-days Rwanda expedition with primate trekking Rwanda safari: you will have a city tour and visit Akagera National Park for a game drive and boat ride; Nyungwe Forest for chimpanzee trekking and canopy walks; guided nature walks to waterfalls; head out for the amazing Volcanoes National Park’s gorilla tracking in their typical mist; you will relax at Lake Kivu; enjoy the fresh fried fish; and end your Rwanda expedition with a Kigali city tour to famous historical sites and shop souvenirs’ and curios!
Detailed itinerary for 13-days Rwanda expedition with primate trekking safari
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali Rwanda
Upon arrival at the airport, you will have a person on our team greet you and drive you to your hotel, where you will spend the night. Depending on how tired you are, you may or may not be briefed on this day.
Accommodation Options:
- Upmarket: Kigali Serena Hotel
- Mid-range: Classic Hotel
- Budget: Flame Tree Village, Kigali
- Meal plan: Dinner
Day 2: Kigali city tour
After our breakfast, we shall embark on our safari vehicle and start our city tour to a historical site in Kigali, visiting landmarks of colonial, post-independence, genocide, and post-genocide times. That is Kigali Solaire, Stade regionale, Kigali Genocide Memorial Site, Kandt Museum, and Belgian Camp. Transfer to Bugesera in the afternoon to visit the reconciliation village, Nyamata, and Ntarama genocide churches. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation options:
- Upmarket: Kigali Serena Hotel
- Mid-range: Classic Hotel
- Budget: Flame Tree Village, Kigali
- Meal plan: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 3: Transfer from Kigali to Akagera National Park
Transfer to Kirehe after you have had your breakfast. You will have some lunch en route. Later visit Imigongo, practice with ancient artisans in the region, and watch the waterfalls in Rusumo, on the border of Tanzania and Rwanda. After a leisurely scenic drive, proceed to Akagera National Park, home to wild game species.
Accommodation Options:
- Upmarket: Akagera Game Lodge
- Mid-Range/Budget: Golf Hills Residence
- Meal plan: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 4: Akagera game drive and village expedition
Dawn on game drives and birding trips in Akagera National Park, a variety of wildlife and birds are spotted. After, depart to the northern part of the park and visiting the pastoralist heritage experience, return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation options:
- Upmarket: Akagera Game Lodge
- Mid-range/Budget: Golf Hills Residence
- Meal plan: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 5: Morning game drive with boat ride
After your breakfast, we head out for another game and drive to search for more wildlife that were missed on the previous drive. Return to the lodge for lunch and, after taking a stunning boat ride on Lake Ihema, spot aquatic wildlife like crocodiles, schools of hippos, and over 50 species of water birds like pelicans and sunbirds, among others.
Accommodation options:
- Upmarket: Akagera Game Lodge
- Mid-range/Budget: Golf Hills Residence
- Meal plan: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 6: Transfer from Akagera National Park to Twin Lakes
Have breakfast, and thereafter transfer to Ruhengeri for ethnobotany tours. Lunch en route and later visit the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo and community project initiatives like brick-making sites and beehive locations. Dinner and overnight at your lodge of choice in Ruhengeri town
Accommodation options:
- Upmarket: Mountain Gorilla view lodge
- Mid-range: Le’bambou gorilla lodge
- Budget: Kinigi guest house
- Meal plan: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 7: Gorilla tracking in Volcanoes National Park
Breakfast early in the morning, and then go for the lifetime experience activity of gorilla tracking in Volcanoes National Park. Remember to carry walkable shoes, rain gear, a hut, sunscreen, insect repellent, and much more while in the tropical rainforest. Visit Buhanga Forest for Kinigi Cultural Village.
Accommodation options:
- Mid-range: Le’bambou Gorilla Lodge
- Meal plan: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 8: Community expedition and Lake Kivu experience
Visit the banana and sorghum beer production sites after breakfast and even carry out a free beer testing. After, transfer to the shores of Lake Kivu, relax as you swim on the shores of Lake Kivu.
Accommodation options:
- Upmarket: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel
- Mid-range: Paradis Malahide
- Budget: La Petite Colline Guest House
- Meal plan: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 9: Transfer from Gisenyi to Goma
Have your breakfast and head on for a tour of Gisenyi town. Lunch and a visit to Goma town in the Congo. Then transfer by boat to Kibuye with an en-route visit to Amahoro Island. Dinner and overnight at your lodge in Kibuye town
Accommodation options:
- Upmarket: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel
- Mid-range: Paradis Malahide
- Budget: La Petite Colline Guest House
- Meal plan: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 10: Transfer from Kibuye to Nyungwe Forest National Park
After breakfast, transfer by boat to Cyangugu-Kamembe town and relax at the lakeside. Dinner and overnight
Accommodation options:
- Up Market: Nyungwe Forest Lodge
- Mid-Range: Nyungwe Top View Hotel
- Budget: Gisakura Guest House
- Meal plan: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 11: Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest and canopy walk
With a delicious breakfast, get ready for chimpanzee trekking and other primates like white and black colobus and vervet monkeys in Nyungwe National Park. Lunch and then taking a canopy walk trail to experience other primates, birds, and the scenic view of canopies. Return to the lodge.
Accommodation options:
- Upmarket: Nyungwe Forest Lodge
- Mid-range: Nyungwe Top View Hotel
- Budget: Gisakura Guest House
- Meal plan: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 12: Guided nature walk to waterfalls.
Grab some breakfast, and then Visit the Kamiranzovu swamps; view other species of primates like the black and white colobus monkeys and mountain monkeys; and spot the birds. Dinner and overnight
Accommodation options:
- Upmarket: Nyungwe Forest Lodge
- Mid-range: Nyungwe Top View Hotel
- Budget: Gisakura Guest House
- Meal plan: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 13: Transfer from Nyungwe to Kigali city or airport
After breakfast, visit the National Museum for an introduction to Rwanda’s kingdoms, discover the colonial architecture, and enjoy traditional dancers from the museum or the national university. For a history-minded exploration of Nyanza, visit the king’s palace and traditional home, where you will cook and share lunch with the family. En-route, visit the Basilica of Kabgayi and return to Kigali city. End of 13-days Rwanda primate trekking safari.
13-days Rwanda expedition with primate trekking safari Includes
- Airport transfers
- Accommodation and meals as per the itinerary
- Transportation by safari vehicle
- Game drive
- Boat ride
- Park fees
- One gorilla trekking permit
- One chimpanzee tracking permit
- Guided nature walk
- Visit Lake Kivu and take a boat ride.
13-days Rwanda expedition with primate trekking safari excludes:
- Airfare
- Rwanda Visa
- Luxury drinks
- Laundry
- Tips for local guides
- Telephone and porter fees while trekking
- Personal Insurance
- Personal shopping bills and cigarettes.