8 Days Rwanda culture, wildlife and mountain gorilla safari
8 Days Rwanda culture, wildlife and mountain gorilla safari
8 days Rwanda culture, wildlife and mountain gorilla is an amazing Rwanda safari offering the authentic Rwandan culture and heritage, an encounter with mountain gorillas and various wildlife species such as the big 5 – lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards and rhinos. On this safari package you will visit Akagera national park, Volcanoes national park, Lake Kivu and various villages.
Highlights of the safari
- Day 1: Arrival
- Day 2: transfer to Akagera national park and have a game drive
- Day 3: morning boat ride and visit a homestead for a Rwandan cultural experience
- Day 4: transfer to volcanoes national park
- Day 5: gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park
- Day 6: visit the guardian’s village
- Day 7: lake Kivu – fishing village
- Day 8: departure
Detailed itinerary of the safari
Day 1: Arrival
On your arrival you will be picked from the from the airport and welcomed by our driver guide, depending on the time of your arrival you will have a Kigali city tour visiting numerous attractions in Kigali city such as Kigali genocide memorial site then head to your hotel where you will spend the night.
Meal plan – Dinner
Accommodation options
- Up market – Kigali Radisson Blu
- Mid-range – Heaven Boutique Hotel
- Budget – Yambi Hostel
Day 2: Transfer to Akagera national park and have a game drive
Leave your hotel after breakfast and head on a drive to Akagera national park the only savannah national park in Rwanda, you will arrive in the park in time for lunch which will be served after you check into your lodge. In the afternoon you will go for a game drive watching many animals such as giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, lions, elephants, buffaloes and many more. In the evening you will head back to your lodge, have dinner and stay overnight.
Meal plan – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation options
- Up market – Magashi Camp
- Midrange –Ruzizi tented camp
- Mid-range – Akagera game lodge
Day 3: morning boat ride and visit a homestead for a Rwandan cultural experience
After breakfast at your lodge, you will head to the park for a boat ride on Lake Kivu, on this experience you will watch many animals drinking water and those living on the shores of the lake such as crocodiles, hippos and many birds. After the boat ride you will head back to your lodge for lunch then head to the neighboring communities for a cultural experience, you will visit the local homesteads of the local Rwandese who are cattle keepers. While in the village you will participate in activities like milking of cows with hands (the herds man will guide on how to soothe the cow so as to milk it), you will also participate in grazing the cows, and engage in lessons in which milk is converted products such as ghee and yoghurt. In the evening you will head back to your lodge, have dinner and stay overnight.
Meal plan – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation – Local Homestead
Day 4: Transfer to Volcanoes national park
After breakfast you will have another cultural experience in the homestead where you stayed then embark on a journey to Volcanoes national park located in the northern region of Rwanda, volcanoes national park is a home to the endangered mountain gorillas, on your way you will enjoy the mountainous landscape and have excellent photography opportunities. You will have en-route lunch and when you arrive in the park you will check into your lodge and in the evening you will have dinner and stay overnight.
Meal plan – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation options
- Up market – Five Volcanoes
- Mid-range – Le Bambou gorilla lodge
- Budget – Garden palace Hotel
Day 5: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park
Have an early breakfast and head to the park’s headquarters in Kinigi for briefing, you will be assigned a gorilla family to visit and a ranger guide then head into forests looking for the mountain gorillas. The trekking takes about 2-3 hours and when you find the you are to spend 1 hour while taking amazing pictures, watch the female gorillas take care of their young ones, watch them pick fruits and play on tree tops and many more. After the experience you will head back to your lodge and have an evening of resting, have dinner and stay overnight.
Meal plan – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 6: visit the gorilla Guardians Village
After breakfast at your lodge, you will head to Iby’Iwacu cultural village “gorilla guardians village” for a cultural experience, while in this village you will learn more about the Rwandan people, who they live in their community, participate in activities such as weaving, making of local beer, engage in preparing and taste local cuisines. The climax of your experience is being entertained by local dances and drama and then witness the clowning of the king and his queen in a local drama. Return to your lodge, have dinner and stay overnight.
Day 7: Lake Kivu – Fishing Village tour
Have breakfast at your own pace, transfer to Gisenyi heading to the shores of Lake Kivu for relaxation. Lake Kivu is a beautiful lake found in western region of Rwanda bordered between Rwanda and Congo, while at the lake you will take a boat ride to the Napoleon Island, visit the hot springs, do kayaking or you can decide to just relax at the beach.
Alternatively you explore the Gisenyi fishing village where you will learn and participate in the traditional of dishing and methods of preserving them as demonstrated by the fishermen. In the evening you will return to your hotel, have dinner and stay overnight.
Meal plan – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation options
- Up market – Lake Kivu, Serena
- Mid-range – Inzonzi lodge
- Budget – Paradise Malahide
Day 8: departure
After breakfast at your lodge, you will checkout and embark on a journey back to Kigali for a drop off either at the lodge or at the airport for your departure flight back home.
Safari includes
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Community experiences
- Ground transport per 4WD
- Bottled water
- Full board accommodation
- Park entrance fees
- Boat trips
- Game drive
- Service of an English-speaking driver guide
- All mentioned activities except for the optional ones
Safari Excludes
- Extras at the accommodation i.e. drinks, telephone, laundry etc.
- Tips to porters and driver/ guide
- Insurance
