12Days Discover Akagera/Nyungwe/Volcanoes Rwanda

Upon arrival at Kigali international airport, you will go through custom and immigration, Covid test and you will be met by your driver who will warmly welcome you to the Land of a thousand hills that Rwanda is know of, an later drive to your booked hotel accommodation for dinner and overnight stay at Hotel des Mille Collines on full board basis

Kigali
Rwanda’s capital and biggest city stretches across undulating lush hills surrounded by towering mountains, the largest of which is Mount Kigali, rising 1850 metres above sea level. Kigali is the country’s financial, commercial and cultural hub, served by an international airport and featuring a wide range of accommodation options, restaurants and points of interest, including the Kigali Genocide Centre, an atmospheric market and numerous craft shops. With its interesting architecture, busy streets, meandering boulevards, and green hillsides, Kigali is said to be one of the most attractive cities in Africa and is definitely worth a visit.

Today, after your relaxed morning breakfast at your hotel, you will be picked by your safari guide, and leave for Akagera national park, the journey to Akagera national park takes about 2.3 hours depending on the stopovers along the way, with the beautiful un winding landscape en route to the park, feel free to ask the guide for stopovers to capture some photos. On arrival at the park, we shall register at the park offices and later proceed to our accommodation with a short game drive and check in for lunch. We order lunch and after lunch, you opt to relax your lodge, or opt to head for brief game drive for game viewing. You will later return in the evening for relaxation. In the evening, you will go for a night game drive, to explore the park and try to sight some nocturnal, search for some wildlife for roughly 2 – 3 hours. Later return to the lodge for dinner and evening stay at Mentis Akagera Game Lodge on full board basis

Bordering Tanzania in eastern Rwanda, Akagera National Park is central Africa's largest protected wetland and the last refuge for savannah-adapted species in the country. Stretching across a vast expanse of low-lying mountains and savannah plains, the park takes in the rolling highlands woodlands, swamp-fringed lakes, and wetlands of the Kagera River along the way. Crocodiles and hippos wallow in the park's watery basins, predators prowl through its acacia groves, and elephant, zebra, giraffe, buffalo and other animals roam across its grassy plains. Bursting with a rich biodiversity, the park features a variety of rare species, as well as a plentitude of mammals and hundreds of bird species.          

Akagera National Park offers a truly exceptional wildlife experience. It is the only Big-5 reserve in Rwanda and is also home to the rare swamp-dwelling Sitatunga.

Guests also have the opportunity to see an abundance of birdlife, including the rare Shoebill stork, the endangered papyrus Gonolex and the much sought-after Red-faced Barbet. With over 500 recorded species, Akagera is one of the best birding environs in the world with the highest recorded number of species per unit area.

The Park has a unique diversity of habitats, including lakes, marshes, savannah, mountains and woodland, and is the largest protected wetland in central Africa.

Mantis Akagera Game Lodge stands on a hill at the southern tip of the Akagera National Park elevated above the savannah, with exceptional views of Lake Ihema. With 59 rooms, a conference venue, restaurant, and bar, and a spectacular pool deck, the Lodge is the perfect home base while conferencing or exploring the conservation treasures of Akagera National Park.

After an early morning breakfast at 6:00 am and leave for an early morning game drive in Akagera national park to catch up with late hunters and early risers. We will be searching for the big mammals like Elephants, Giraffes, Buffaloes, several Antelope species, and recently the re-introduced Lions and Rhinos. The park is a varied habitat for wildlife and a number bird species with over 500 bird species in the park making it a birding paradise. You will later return to lodge for lunch. After lunch, we head for a boat trip on Lake Ihema watch Hippos and crocodiles in the water or by the shores and meet the buffaloes and elephants wallowing by the water banks. Later return to the lodge for dinner and evening stay at Mentis Akagera Game Lodge 

After an early morning breakfast at 6:00 am and leave for an early morning game drive in Akagera national park to catch up with late hunters and early risers. We will be searching for the big mammals like Elephants, Giraffes, Buffaloes, several Antelope species, and recently the re-introduced Lions and Rhinos. The park is a varied habitat for wildlife and a number bird species with over 500 bird species in the park making it a birding paradise. You will have a picnic lunch. After lunch, proceed with your game drive for more search of abundant wildlife within this great park in the northern part of the park. Later drive back to the lodge, for relaxation and dinner at Mentis Akagera Game Lodge 

After your relaxed breakfast, you will jump into your jeep and find your way to Volcanoes national park via Kigali, for a Covid test, and later have lunch before visiting Kigali genocide memorial ground to learn about the 1994, Rwandan genocide incidence. You will later proceed to Musanze with a beautiful countryside view of the rolling hills, to your hotel at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge

Bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo in Rwanda, the Volcanoes National Park is best known as a sanctuary for the region’s rare mountain gorillas. Visitors flock here to experience a face to face encounter with these intriguing creatures. The park is set high on the jungle-covered slopes of the volcanic Virunga Mountains. Highly regulated treks through the reserve allow visitors to spend an hour at a time with these incredible primates in their natural habitat. While the gorilla’s are without a doubt the main drawcard, visitors can also look forward to exploring a network of scenic hiking trails, visiting the tomb of the world-famous Dian Fossey and the Karisoke Research Centre, and enjoying a beautiful day hike to the crater lake on Mount Bisoke.   

After an early morning breakfast, you will be transferred to the park headquarters. You will meet with your ranger who will brief you about the code of conduct while with the gorillas. You will then enter the forest in search of the gorillas. The trekking may take 2-6 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas in the jungle and your group speed as well. Meet and stay with the gorillas for a maximum of one hour.  After a great experience you will walk back to the starting point and be transferred to your lodge for lunch, and after lunch, you can decide to relax at your lodge at your leisure or head for a cultural encounter with community walk to different site to get an insight of Rwandan culture. You will later descend back. Dinner and overnight stay at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge on full board basis

Today after you warm early morning breakfast, you will be picked by our safari driver guide who will transfer you to the park headquarters for briefing with your packed lunch and start off you day golden monkey trekking in search for these primates in the jungle. Just like the gorilla trekking experience, the same applies to golden monkey trekking though no so hectic like gorilla trekking. You will later return to the lodge for lunch and later transfer to Lake Kivu, in the evening you will enjoy the night fishermen experience. Later back to hotel for diner and overnight at Kivu Paradise Resort

Situated at Lake Kivu’s northeast corner and neighbouring the Congolese city of Goma, Gisenyi is a scenic Rwandan town at the foot of fertile hills. The town offers an excellent variety of activities, including fantastic coffee shops and restaurants, an array of watersports on the lake, and some delightful beaches. The Calafia Cafe is a not-to-be-missed spot which serves delicious pastries (the banana cake is famous) and other cuisine, alongside wonderful ethically produced local coffee. Visitors can kayak, boat, take hikes to see gorillas, or go on historical and cultural tours. The Gisenyi Public Beach offers a charming location for swimming and picnicking. Don’t miss the opportunity to meander through the atmospheric Main Market, go beer tasting at the brewery, or visit the local youth cultural center to see kids practice dance, music, and gymnastics.

Have your breakfast at leisure and later go for a covid test, return to the lodge for lunch and leisure at Kivu Paradise Resort, Full Board 

After your relaxed breakfast, jump into your jeep and find your way to Nyungwe, with a beautiful en route view of the Congo side, and Lake Kivu. You will head for a boat ride in Kibuye, on Lake Kivu, where you will visit numerous island, have great chance to watch a number of bird species on the lake as it a birding paradise. Later return and head to your booked hotel for lunch and afternoon at leisure at Lake Kivu Marina Bay on full board basis

Formerly known as Shangugu, the town of Cyangugu rests at the southernmost tip of Lake Kivu overlooking the DRC’s town of Bukavu with which it is contiguous. The town serves as a popular gateway to both the lake and the nearby Nyungwe National Park, a beautiful forested area which is home to chimpanzees as well as a number of other primate species.

Mantis Kivu Marina Bay Hotel invites you to experience a resort lifestyle in the Rusizi District of the Western Province of Rwanda. This luxury hotel is located in close proximity of Lake Kivu and Nyungwe National Park in the western region of Rwanda. Located just 1km from Kamembe Airport in Cyangugu, Rwanda.

It’s designed to accommodate a convention centre, lake view swimming pool, parking area and a luxurious health spa. The hotel compromises an upscale lobby, restaurant and bar, spa and gym. The appealing look of the Kivu Marina Bay creates an inviting atmosphere to visitors coming from all parts of the world and Rwanda. It has a beautiful view of the southern lake and surrounding islands.

Today, after your early morning cap of African coffee, you will leave your hotel to experience the natural forest of Nyungwe well known for having 13 species of primates, and transferred to the park for briefing and chimpanzee trekking. You will be entitled to one hour on finding the chimpanzees. After doing the chimpanzee trek, head for lunch before heading for a tea plantation visit to explore the beautiful Gisakura tea plantations, and learn about how tea is grown and harvested to production process, later return in the afternoon for departure Covid test, dinner and overnight stay at Lake Kivu Marina Bay on full board basis

Today, you will head off to visit the forest for a waterfall hike, where you have chances to talk a cool forest breath hike, and visit a number of waterfalls in the park. Along you can sight some primates and bird species. You will later return for lunch before heading for a canopy walk. This 90 meters suspended metallic bridge will give you a great overview of Nyungwe forest and on a luck day spot one or two more primates in the forest as you take a walk on this bridge and later return in the afternoon for dinner and overnight stay at Lake Kivu Marina Bay

Nyungwe Forest Isumo Waterfalls Hike

The impressive Isumo Waterfall Trail starts off winding its way through green tea fields with grassy verges maintained by goats and is full of sun-loving wildflowers and butterflies. After this, the trail moves into the dense vegetation of Nyungwe Forest where a variety of fauna and flora can be seen. The main attraction of the hike is the Isumo Waterfall, roughly 17 metres in height. Many species of primate and birds can be seen near the waterfall. There are two main vantage points for taking in the beauty of the waterfall.

Canopy walk

Suspended above ravine amidst the lush vegetation and montane forest of the Ngungwe National Park, Canopy Walk offers participants an exhilarating perspective atop the ancient treetops and wildlife. The 160 meters long suspended bridge is accessible as apart of a guided hike along the Igishigishigi trail or those hiking the Imbaraga and Umuyove trails.

Early morning enjoy your buffer breakfast and checkout of the hotel and drive heading to the Kigali, on your way visit the Royal Palace Museum in Southern Province, this will give you a great history of traditional ways of living among Rwandans and their past way of leadership of Kingship with an en route lunch.  You will reach in the afternoon in Kigali and head for some shopping, if time allows, visit local market, and art shop, before dropped off at the airport, for your flight back home in the evening.