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The 10 Days Rwanda Jungle Escape and Mountain Gorilla Trekking Safari tour leads you to Rwanda’s treasured adventure sites/places. For the 10 days on this tour, you are to see Rwanda for what it truly is! Rwanda, popularly known as ‘the land of a thousand hills’, is one of the unique and diverse destinations in Africa. Rwanda Gorillas and Wildlife Safari shall take you to Rwanda’s most popular parks, Volcanoes National Park for Gorilla trekking, Golden Monkey tracking, Ibyacwu Cultural Village visit. A hike to one of the 5 volcanoes hosted in this park shall be an option. It will also include Nyungwe Forest National Park for Chimpanzee tracking and the canopy walk experience. A visit to Akagera National Park for the wild game safaris and a boat ride is part of this exciting escape to Rwanda. A tour of Kigali city shall kick start this exciting escape to the jungles of Rwanda.
Rwanda Gorillas and Wildlife Safari itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival at Kigali International airport
Meet up with your driver from Jungle Escape Africa upon arrival at Kigali airport. Exchange pleasantries and drive to the hotel for relaxation or overnight stay. Depending on your flight arrival time, a tour of Kigali city and the Genocide Memorial can be possible or not.
Day 2 – Kigali Genocide and city tour, transfer to Akagera National Park
Kigali has emerged as one of the cleanest cities in East Africa. After breakfast at the hotel, we are starting with a tour of this clean and well planned city where we shall visit the local markets, Kigali Genocide Memorial site and any other place within. We shall then drive to Akagera National Park, check into our lodge, have lunch and relax or do some swimming if we find the afternoon to be hot. Set out in the evening to traverse the park for some wildlife/animal sightings. At this time of the day (evening), look out for the cats and nocturnals as they are more active than in the morning. After 2 hours of the game drive, drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 3 – Game drive and Boat ride
It is always advisable to start off early when going for the game drive so immediately after breakfast, rush to the game trails to catch moments of animals starting to graze or hunt. Expect to spot elephants, Giraffes, Buffaloes, Zebras, Bush bucks, Elands, Waterbucks, the birds, among others. If lucky, you can spot the elusive Leopards, Lions and Hyenas. Return to the lodge after the game drive. Have lunch and drive to the landing area to take a boat on Lake Ihema where you will see Crocodiles, Hippos in plenty, birds, elephants at the lake shores and much more. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 4 – Akagera National Park to Nyungwe Forest Park
After a tasty breakfast at the lodge, we shall check out and embark on the drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park. This is probably the longest drive you will make during this 10 Days Rwanda Jungle Escape and Mountain Gorilla Trekking Safari tour. This drive is however punctuated by stops for great scenic views, photos, lunch and anything that may necessitate stopping. Other stops will be at Butare Museum and the Nyanza Palace to explore Rwanda cultures from the roots. Reach Nyungwe in the evening and check into your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 5 – Chimpanzee tracking and Canopy walk experience
On the 5th day of the Rwanda Gorilla and Wildlife Safari, we shall do Chimpanzee tracking in the morning and a canopy walk experience in the afternoon. Unlike Uganda where Chimpanzees can be spotted in many forests such as Kibale, Budongo, Maramagambo, Kalinzu, Kyambura Gorge, Ngamba Island and some other isolated areas, Nyungwe Forest is the only place for the Chimpanzee tracking activity in Rwanda.
On this day, your driver shall transfer you to the briefing point for the usual guidance about Chimpanzee tracking. Aside the hilly terrain that makes the trek quite hard going, Chimpanzees are very active and mobile so requires some level of fitness to keep up with the relenting trek. After finding them, respect the one-hour rule and trek out of the forest when 60 minutes elapse. The canopy walk in the afternoon is another activity that should not be missed on any tour to Rwanda. Drive back to the lodge after this tree-tops walk.
Day 6 – Nyungwe Forest Park to Lake Kivu
After breakfast at the lodge, we shall drive to the nearby Lake Kivu area for a moment of relaxation after the Chimpanzee trekking activity. Lake Kivu is one of the renown African Greatest Lakes. It is a picturesque location at the Great African Rift Valley. On Lake Kivu, we shall do a canoe ride to the hot springs. As you relax by the lake, we shall have experience the sundowner, sunset and views of the local fishermen on traditional boats.
Day 7 – Lake Kivu to Volcanoes National Park
With some stop overs, take a scenic drive to Volcanoes National Park arriving in time for lunch. Afternoon and evening relaxation at the lodge.
Day 8 – Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National Park is the only habitat for Mountain Gorillas and Golden Monkeys in Rwanda. It is such a spectacular place with not only the rare wildlife species but also a gazetted area hosting 5 of the Virunga Volcanoes. Transfer to the park offices after breakfast to register for the exciting Gorilla trekking activity in the forests located at the slopes of the Virunga Volcanoes. The thrilling views of the volcanoes come as a reward to the visitor in Volcanoes National Park. Your guide will lead you to the allocated Gorilla family which you shall observe for one hour after finding it and later troll out of the forest to meet your driver and drive back to the lodge.
After some rest at the lodge, we shall drive to Ibyacwu cultural village to learn more and engage in some of the Kinyarwanda cultural activities as shall be demonstrated by the local people/guides. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight
Day 9 – Golden Monkey tracking / hike to Dian Fossey’s Grave site / hike to one of the Volcanoes
On this day, you have a choice between Golden Monkey tracking and any other activity in Volcanoes National Park. However, this decision should have been made earlier or the previous day incase the activity requires some advance preparations like securing the permit. The activities to choose from are: Golden Monkey tracking, hike to Dian Fossey grave site, hike to one of the Virunga Volcanoes; Mount Bisoke, Mount Muhavura or Mount Gahinga.
Day 10 – Return to Kigali and departure
As you wake up to the views of the volcanoes fresh and full of life, have a tasty breakfast before embarking on your drive back to Kigali city. It is only a 2 hours of drive time from Volcanoes National Park to Kigali. Lunch shall be at a local restaurant in Kigali before a drop off at the airport for your evening flight back home. End of 10 Days Rwanda Jungle Escape and Mountain Gorilla Trekking Safari tour.