4 Nights, 5 Days of Gorilla and Wildlife Safari in Rwanda
Rwanda is among the 3 lucky countries in the world that inhabit Mountain Gorillas. The country too is blessed with the “Big 5” wildlife. The trip will take you to Gorilla tracking in the famous Volcano National Park, Gem Safaris and boat cruise at Akagera National Park, visit Genocide Memorial Museum, City Tour and Cultural experience.
Day 1
Arrival at Kigali International Airport
Your Guide will be waiting at Kigali International AirPort with a placard written your names. You will proceed to the Hotel which is 20 minutes away. We understand how hectic the flight can be, therefore relax and enjoy the serenity at the hotel.
Accommodation: Mille Collines Hotel
Day 2
Destination: Akagera National Park
Activity: Boat cruise and sunset safari
After breakfast, the drive to Akagera National Park resumes. It is a 2 hours’ drive from the city, therefore an early start is recommended so that you may check in, have an early lunch and prepare for a boat cruise. A long the way to the boat, a variety of wildlife like Warthogs, Waterbucks, Olive Baboons, Bufalos and others can be encountered.
Boat cruise
At Lake Ihema, joined by other tourists, the boat cruise will set off in search of animals like Elephants, Hippos, croccodiles and a variety of bird species like the African fish Eagles, Malachite Kingfishers, Pied Kingfishers, cormorants, among others. The cruise takes an hour of a memorable experience.
Sunset safari
On arrival from the boat cruise, the fun continues to a sunset safari in an open jeep to search for the animals that you may have not been lucky to encounter during the cruise. Animals likely find are Rhinos, Leopards, Lions, Giraffes, Elephants and a variety of colorful birds.
Accommodation: Akagera Game Lodge
Day 3
Destination: Kigali and Volcano National Park
Activities: Morning safari and Visit to the Genocide Memorial Museum
Morning safari
The day starts early by going for a morning game drive in search of cats when they are still active. The mission is to find Hyenas, Lions Leopards and other animals that we may have not succeeded on finding the previous day. After the safari, the journey continues to Kigali.
Genocide Memorial Museum
Depending on the time of arrival, you will have lunch, then head to the museum. The story behind 1994 Rwanda genocide is sad but a lot is learnt. During the tour, stories are narrated through a recorded gadget on how it all started between the Hutu and Tutsi to an extent of a friend or neighbor murdering each other because of a slight difference in ethnicity due to propaganda spread by some influential people in the communities hence leading to the death of over 800,000 people. In the Museum, some of the tools used in the act are availed among other documented literature. The visit at the museum, shows how far mankind can go and teaches that nothing should be taken for granted.
Later in the day, the journey to Volcano National Park, will commence. A 2-3 hour’s drive to the Northern Province will see you traverse through the meandering, mountainous well paved roads with scenic landscapes of the lower valleys. Rivers, falls and Tea plantations.
Accommodation: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Day 4
Destination: Volcano National Park
Activities: Gorilla Tracking and Cultural Experience
Early in the Morning after breakfast your guide will drive you to the briefing point. Per group of Mountain Gorillas is allocated to eight Tourists. You are required to carry packed lunch, water and rain gear in your backpack since tracking may take 2-6 hours depending on how far or close they may be. Guided by an armed ranger and other armed forces for your protection in the jungle, you are advised to follow their advice. On reaching to the Gorillas, only one hour is allowed for viewing. These gentle giants are quite an exhilarating experience encountering them! You can’t hide the excitement of watching how they handle themselves just like human beings as teenagers play with each other and some being curious as they try coming next to you. Gorillas share over 95% DNA with the human race, imagine how much of the resemblance we share with them.
Cultural experience
Rwandese have one of the unique and rich culture in Africa! During the visit at Ibyiwachu village, you get to interact with the local people and take you through their daily lives. Traditional Dances are performed, you are introduced to local banana brewery that produces banana beer, banana gin and banana juice. Part of the experience are the local herbs introduced to you that cure various diseases. A replica of the traditional administration is also organized, so as to portray a picture or vision on how they used to live during the era of Kingdoms.
Day 5
Destination: Kigali
Activity: City Tour and Flight Home
Before your flight back home, Kigali city tour will be arranged. Visit the local markets to experience the different ambiance away from the one you are used to, buy some local artifacts and mingle with the local people. A drive around the city to famous political and economic locations or streets will be conducted too. After your tour, a day room will be arranged so as to prepare yourself before bidding farewells.
Thank you for travelling with Bukiire Africa Wildlife Safaris.
