Rwanda Wildlife Safari
Rwanda, often hailed as the “Land of a Thousand Hills,” is a nation blessed with abundant natural beauty. Within its borders lies a sanctuary for the endangered Chimpanzee. In this meticulously crafted itinerary, we invite you to embark on a captivating journey. You’ll engage in exhilarating chimpanzee tracking, thrilling game drives, and tranquil boat cruises through the savannah park. Additionally, immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Rwanda’s cultural and community heritage, where you’ll gain profound insights into the diverse cultures and historical ways of life that define its people.
Travel Itinerary
DAY 1
Arrival to Kigali
Welcome to Rwanda! As you land in Kigali, our dedicated tour representative will be there to greet you and facilitate your check-in at your hotel. Depending on your arrival schedule, we might embark on a city tour of Kigali. This tour could include visits to the Gisozi Genocide Memorial Center and exploring the vibrant local craft markets.
DAY 2
Akagera national park, sunset Game drive
Following breakfast in the morning, you will journey to Akagera National Park for an extraordinary wildlife experience. This park is unique in Rwanda, offering thrilling game drives amidst a savannah landscape teeming with diverse wildlife. Upon arrival and completing necessary formalities, you’ll enter the park and embark on a game drive en route to your accommodation. After checking in and enjoying a satisfying lunch, the evening presents the perfect opportunity for a sunset game drive. During this magical time, you may have the chance to encounter a variety of animals, including but not limited to elephants, buffalos, giraffes, zebras, leopards, hyenas, lions, antelopes, and more.
DAY 3
Morning Game drive and boat ride on Lake Ihema
In the early morning, your adventure begins with a game drive through Akagera National Park. The expansive terrain offers excellent opportunities for wildlife sightings. Keep a keen eye out for buffalo, elephants, antelope, zebras, giraffes, baboons, monkeys, and the incredible diversity of 490 bird species that call this park home. To enhance your chances of encountering these remarkable creatures, a knowledgeable ranger guide will lead the way. Additionally, be on the lookout for members of the lion pride that roam Akagera.
A highlight of your visit to Akagera is a captivating boat trip on Lake Ihema. This excursion promises close encounters with large pods of hippos, Nile crocodiles, and an array of waterbirds inhabiting the island at the heart of the lake.
DAY 4
Drive to Nyungwe Forest national park
Following breakfast, depart for Nyungwe National Park, with an en-route visit to Nyanza Palace. Nestled in the southern corner of Rwanda, Nyungwe Forest is a sprawling, pristine tropical rainforest characterized by its dense canopy. Within its lush confines, you’ll encounter a remarkable array of biodiversity, including around 310 distinct bird species, hundreds of butterflies, and a profusion of orchids. Moreover, Nyungwe boasts over 75 diverse mammal species, with a notable highlight being its 13 primate species, among which chimpanzees are prominent, constituting roughly a quarter of all of Africa’s primate species.
DAY 5
Chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest national park
Chimpanzee communities within Nyungwe Forest thrive in close-knit, extended groups, with daily activities that include foraging for food and the occasional hunt for smaller mammals. The duration of your chimpanzee tracking adventure can vary, ranging from one to three hours, contingent upon the chimpanzees’ whereabouts within the forest. During your encounter, you will have the privilege of spending a maximum of one hour in their company, affording you opportunities to interact, capture photographs, and observe these remarkable animals. Following a satisfying lunch, brace yourself for an exhilarating canopy walk within Nyungwe Forest.
DAY 6
Drive to Kibuye and boat ride on Lake Kivu
Gisenyi stands as one of Rwanda’s most captivating destinations, often likened to the country’s nearest equivalent to a beach resort. Along the lengthy shoreline of Lake Kivu, you’ll discover inviting stretches of sand adorned with lush tropical vegetation. The road journey to Kibuye snakes alongside the picturesque shores of Lake Kivu, offering a delightful 3-hour drive that brings you in close proximity to the lake’s tranquil waters at various points.
While in Kibuye, relish an enchanting boat ride on the serene Lake Kivu. Afterwards, continue your journey and head to Byimana for a comfortable overnight stay.
DAY 7
Immersive Village Experience in Byimana
Your day will commence with an early morning drive to a neighbouring village in Byimana, where you and your driver guide will receive a warm welcome from the hospitable local family. Following introductions and a brief orientation, you may choose to participate in various daily life activities alongside the family members. These activities could involve assisting with cooking, fetching water from the spring, engaging in digging, weaving, crafting, and more. When midday arrives, you’ll come together to savour a simple yet traditional meal with your host family. This communal mealtime offers ample opportunity to engage in meaningful interactions and gain insights into each other’s way of life.
Retire in the evening and transfer to Kigali for your overnight stay.
DAY 8
Departure from Kigali
Begin your day by checking out of your accommodation in the morning. As you journey towards Kigali city, relish the picturesque countryside views, and feel free to pause for landscape photography or engage with local communities along the way.
Upon reaching Kigali, embark on a guided city tour that unveils the historical landmarks of this blossoming capital. Your itinerary includes a visit to the Rwanda Genocide Memorial Museum in Gisozi, exploration of local fresh produce markets, and opportunities to shop for unique souvenirs at local craft shops. You’ll also delve into the history of the old presidential palace.
Concluding your memorable day, you’ll be transferred to the airport to catch your international flight.
What´s included
- 7 Nights in 3-4 star hotels
- Round trip transfer from / to the airport on private basis
- One non-resident Chimpanzee permit per person in Nyungwe national park
- All entrance fees
- Professional and experienced English speaking guide
- Meals as indicated
Excluded
- Entry visa
- International flights from/to the client's home country
- Accommodation upgrades are also not included
- Any Personal Expenses
- Tips and Gratitudes
- Any other meals than mentioned
Additional Information
- All pricing is reflected in British Pounds unless otherwise specifically denoted and is valid at time of publication but is subject to change.
- All prices are per person sharing a double room. Single and Triple room rates available upon request.
- ‘From’ prices represent land only and low season twin share prices (unless otherwise clearly stated).
- Unless otherwise stated, prices include all government levies and airport taxes as at the date of publication.
- Dates, itineraries and prices are indicative only and subject to change by time booking.
- Private Travel prices are valid for travel during low season and will vary depending on date of travel.
- Some Private Journeys do include group excursions. These excursions are not operated privately and guests join a scheduled departure tour.
- All Journeys are subject to availability. Some Journeys do not operate all year around and may not take place at desired date.
- All Hotel Names stated in the tour itinerary may change to one of a similar Standard without prior notice.
- Some countries charge additional destination tax which are either per Person or per Night. These taxes can vary and must be paid directly at the location or hotel.
- Items listed under Booking Exclusions are NOT included in the price and must be paid directly at the location.
- All Tours are escorted by English-Speaking Guides unless otherwise mentioned.
- All Excursions are based on Join-In Capacity unless “Private Tour” is explicit mentioned. Private Tours are available upon request and with surcharges.
- Self-Drive Tours may not always include a car rental. Please check carefully the included and excluded box. Driver must be in possession of a valid drivers license and for some countries an international license as well as a valid credit card.
- We will use our reasonable efforts to notify you of changes in prices.
- All our Insider Journeys itineraries as shown on our website and in our brochures will outline the relevant touring schedule and inclusions and will be priced accordingly to reflect this. Prices may vary based on the selected travel season and any individual amendments required.
- Even if the tours are requested as displayed, on occasion Insider Journeys may be required to impose surcharges depending on variables in the destinations outside of its control. Due to hotel availability in some destinations the accommodation stated in the itinerary may change to that of a similar standard. In light of recent worldwide events and due to the ever-changing current situation, there may also need to be more flexibility applied to the touring content and schedule in certain incidences and sometimes at short notice. Please note that we will always endeavour to keep the inclusions as close as possible to those shown and to notify you as best we can should such changes arise, although we appreciate your understanding in that this may not always be possible.
- All displayed tour maps are originated from Google Maps and are indicative only to show the overall routing of the tour. These are not actual travel routes and may differ to the actual itinerary.
- For more detailed price and other booking information please visit the booking condtions page click here
