6 DAYS RWANDA WILDLIFE AND GORILLA SAFAR1

These 6 days Rwanda Wildlife and Gorilla Safari will give you the two ultimate safari experiences i.e. game drives in Akagera National Park and gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park. The Akagera national park is the only Savannah park in Rwanda hosting many big mammals with the most sought-after being Lions, Buffaloes, Giraffes, Zebras, and Hippos which will provide for great photographic moments. After this experience proceed to the Volcanoes National Park for an unforgettable encounter with the mountain gorillas.

SAFARI HIGHLIGHTS

Kigali city tour

Game drive

Optional - Boat trip on Lake Ihema

Gorilla trekking

Gorilla Guardians Village

 ITINERARY

Day 1: Arrival for the 6 days Rwanda Wildlife and Gorilla Safari

Today you start the amazing experience touring Rwanda on this wildlife and gorilla safari. Our driver guide will pick you up at the Kigali International Airport on your arrival, and transfer you to your Hotel in Kigali

Meal plan - Dinner

Overnight Stay in Kigali

Day 2: Kigali city tour and Transfer to Akagera National Park

After breakfast, we take the Kigali city tour visiting key areas like the Genocide Memorial, craft centers, Kandt National Museum, etc. You can choose which sites to visit because in the afternoon we journey to Akagera National Park after having lunch in the city.

Akagera National Park is located in eastern Rwanda, our journey will be about 2.5 hours, and arriving late afternoon we will head to the lodge to check in. You can have short stopovers en route to Akagera Park for photo moments of the beautiful landscape and people.

Journey time - 2 hours

Meal plan - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 3: Exploring wildlife in Akagera National Park

We arise early and leave right after breakfast to explore Akagera national park in search of the big mammals like Elephants, Giraffes, Buffaloes, several Antelope species, and recently the re-introduced Lions. Most of the game drives happen in the northern part of the park where we will spend the better part of the day and return to the lodge later that afternoon.

 Akagera National Park is the biggest in Rwanda with beautiful scenery and landscape. It has varied habitats for wildlife and a birders' haven with over 500 species in the park. There are also opportunities to explore the park on foot together with a ranger by taking a nature walk, this can be incorporated on request, especially in the afternoon.

You have opportunities for a boat safari on Lake Ihema to watch Hippos and crocodiles in the water or by the shores.

Meal plan - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

 Day 4: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park

After breakfast, we relive the great wildlife safari experience in Akagera National Park before transferring to the Volcanoes National Park where the massive gentles giants inhabit. It is a natural habitat for the mountain gorillas providing the perfect environment and food for the gorillas. Volcanoes National Park is located in northern Rwanda about 2 hours from Kigali in Kinigi, Musanze. The drive from Akagera National Park to Musanze will be through Kigali city, enjoying several villages with great landscape views. You can ask the driver to stop for picture moments at different viewpoints as you see the endless hills and understand why indeed Rwanda is referred to as 'the land of a thousand hills'. We will arrive at the lodge later that evening ready for the gorilla hike the next day.

Journey time - 5 hours

Meal plan - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

 Day 5: Rwanda Gorilla trekking safari

After a good restful night, your whole agenda today is tied to meeting the mountain gorillas in the lush and dense jungles of the Virunga ranges - precisely the Volcanoes National Park. Your driver guide will transfer you to the briefing place right after your early breakfast to listen to the ranger guide on how to behave while in the park and divide you into the different gorilla groups.

In the meantime, as you wait for the briefing enjoy the Rwandan cultural dances and the freshly brewed Rwandan coffee. After a briefing from the Visitors Center - you embark on the trek that will eventually bring you to the gorillas in their natural habitat.

The trek can last from an hour to several hours depending on where the gorillas nested the previous night - you need to be relatively fit to enjoy this experience.

Depending on the time the gorilla tracking lasts, you have an opportunity to visit the Gorilla Guardians village for a taste of the Rwandan culture.

Meal plan - Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 6: End of your 6-day Rwanda Wildlife and Gorilla Safari

We hope that you have had a fantastic time exploring the wildlife and culture of Rwanda and will look back at these memories with a smile. This is the last day of your safari, after a lazy morning we start the journey to Kigali for your return flight or hotel. If your flight in later in the night you can add an optional activity like golden monkey trekking, hiking one of the Virunga, visiting Dian Fossey's tomb, and learning more about her conservation work.

TOUR INCLUDES

Ground transport per 4WD

Bottled water

Full board accommodation

Park entrance fees

Game drive

Boat trips

Service of an English-speaking driver guide

All mentioned activities except for the optional ones

TOUR EXCLUDES

Extras at the accommodation i.e. drinks, telephone, laundry etc.

Tips to porters and driver/ guide

Insurance

GORILLA TREKKING TIPS

Ø Mountain gorillas live at high altitudes and this may cause difficulties for some visitors. You should pace yourself and drink plenty of water.

Ø Warm clothing is advised as the trekking is done at 1,700 m above sea level so is generally quite cold.

Ø Recommended clothing is long trousers and long-sleeved sweaters or shirts while in the forest to avoid insect stings.

Ø Waterproof hiking boots are essential and rain gear is useful.

Ø 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.

Ø Photography is permitted, although you must not use flash

Ø Porters are available to help you carry your day pack for a small charge.