14 Days Best of Rwanda Tour
Over view
Experience the remarkable beauty and rich culture of Rwanda on this immersive 14-day Best of Rwanda tour. Engage in thrilling activities such as gorilla and chimpanzee tracking, game drives, boat trips, and a poignant visit to the genocide memorial site in Kigali. This comprehensive safari journey will take you through stunning destinations, including Volcanoes National Park, Nyungwe Forest National Park, Akagera National Park, Lake Kivu, and vibrant Kigali City. The best and most unique way to explore the land of a thousand hills.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali, transfer to hotel, and City Tour
Upon your arrival at Kigali Airport, you will be met and greeted by adventure in the wild safari driver guide who will transfer you to your hotel in Kigali. Check and relax a bit and enjoy the serenity of the lodge. Afterward, enjoy a city tour of Kigali, where you’ll have the opportunity to visit moving genocide memorial sites and explore bustling local markets while interacting with Rwandans known for their warmth and hospitality. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation options: Kigali Serena Hotel, Hotel Des Mille Collines
Meal plan: Dinner
Day 2: Transfer to Akagera National Park
After a hearty breakfast, check out of your hotel and embark on a scenic 4-hour drive to Akagera National Park. Along the way, admire the breathtaking landscapes that earned Rwanda its name as the “land of a thousand hills.” Upon arrival, check-in at your lodge and enjoy lunch. In the afternoon, embark on a boat cruise on Lake Ihema, where you can observe hippos, crocodiles, and majestic elephants along the shore, as well as spot various bird species, including the elusive shoebill stork. Return to the lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation options: Ruzizi tented camp(luxury), Akagera Safari camp (Mid-range), Akagera transit lodge (Budget).
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 3: Game Drive in Akagera National Park
Rise early for an exciting game drive to witness diverse wildlife such as elephants, antelopes (Topi and Elands), zebras, buffalos, Masai giraffes, and a variety of birds. Return to the lodge for lunch, then head out for a guided nature walk to discover the unique birdlife in Akagera. Later that evening, enjoy a thrilling night game drive to observe predators like lions, leopards, and hyenas in their natural habitat. Game drives in Akagera are best done early morning when the animals are most active and the predators are hunting for morning kill. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge.
Accommodation options: Ruzizi tented camp(luxury), Akagera Safari camp (Mid-range), Akagera transit lodge (Budget).
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 4: Morning Game Drive and Transfer to Kigali
Begin your day with an early morning game drive to catch the early risers grazing in the savannah grassland. Afterward, trek up Mount Mutumba for a picnic lunch, taking in stunning panoramic views of the park. Exit the park and embark on the return journey to Kigali, on arrival, you will drive to the lodge where you will check in for relaxation, dinner, and an overnight stay.
Accommodation options: Kigali Serena Hotel, Hotel Des Mille Collines
Meal plan: Dinner
5: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest via Butare
Depart early from Kigali to Butare, which is about a 2.5-hour journey. In Butare, visit the National Museum, which showcases an impressive array of photographic and ethnographic exhibits that illuminate Rwandan culture. After your visit, drive to Nyungwe Forest arriving late afternoon, proceed, and check in to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation options: Mantis Kivu (Luxury), Nyungwe Hill top (Mid-range), Ear Ken Barham guest house (Budget)
Meal plan: lunch and dinner
Day 6: Morning chimpanzee trekking/tracking
Awaken early for chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest, home to over 500 chimpanzees. You will attend a briefing at the park offices and afterward, the ranger guide will accompany you in to the forest for the start of the track. The activity may last from about 2-4 hours depending on the movement of the chimps. tracking chimps is less hectic compared to gorillas, chimps are noisier and playful making it easy to locate them. Once you find them, you will spend 1 hour with them as you watch them go about their daily activities. Return to the lodge for lunch and rest a bit.
In the afternoon, enjoy the captivating Waterfall Trail, which winds through the rainforest and culminates at a tranquil waterfall perfect for a refreshing dip. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge.
Accommodation options: Mantis Kivu (Luxury), Nyungwe Hill top (Mid-range), Ear Ken Barham guest house (Budget)
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 7: Nature Walk in Nyungwe Forest
Join a guided nature walk in East Africa’s largest forest, where you will not only witness diverse bird species but also have the chance to see some of the 13 primate species, including Mona monkeys and the striking Angolan black colobus among other unique creatures that call Nyungwe forest home.
Accommodation options: Mantis Kivu (Luxury), Nyungwe Hill top (Mid-range), Ear Ken Barham guest house (Budget)
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 8: Transfer from Nyungwe to Kibuye (Lake Kivu)
Today you will spend the day relaxing at the Bugaram Hot Springs, which is a lovely hour-and-a-half drive away from Nyungwe. Enjoy a swim in the warm waters before heading to the Rusizi River for a scenic boat cruise. Later, proceed to Kibuye for an overnight stay.
Accommodation: In On the Lake Hotel Kibuye
Meal plan: Breakfast
Day 9: Kibuye to Gisenyi (Lake Kivu)
Use this day to unwind and reflect on your journey thus far. Choose to relax at your hotel or enjoy the serene shores of Lake Kivu. In the afternoon, take a transfer to Gisenyi for your overnight stay.
Accommodation: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 10: Transfer from Gisenyi to Volcanoes National Park
Enjoy the morning at leisure, perhaps lounging on the beach or taking a stroll along the shore. Later, transfer to Volcanoes National Park, renowned for its rich primate life, including the famous mountain gorillas.
Accommodation options: Mount Muthaura Lodge, La Palme Hotel (Budget) Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge, (Mid-range) Bisate Lodge, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, or Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel(luxury)
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 11: Gorilla Tracking in Volcanoes
Experience the thrill of gorilla tracking in Volcanoes National Park. After an early breakfast, set off for an unforgettable encounter with these majestic creatures in their natural habitat. first, you will attend a briefing at the park headquarters by a ranger on the dos and don’ts of gorilla trekking. After you will be accompanied into the forest by a ranger guide for the start of the trek. Gorillas are constantly on the move from place to place, therefore the trek may last for about 2 to 6 or more mores to set sight of the gorillas. Once you have found them, you will spend one hour observing them in their natural habitat. After you return to the park offices where your driver guide will take you back to the lodge for relaxation.
Accommodation options: Mount Muthaura Lodge, La Palme Hotel (Budget) Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge, (Mid-range) Bisate Lodge, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, or Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel(luxury)
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 12: Golden Monkey Tracking
On the 12th day of your Rwanda safari, you will have the opportunity to track the golden monkeys in Parc Nationale des Volcans, which is renowned for its diverse primate population. Following your tracking experience, you will visit Diane Fossey’s grave; Fossey was an American researcher known for her work on gorillas. Afterward, you will be driven to Lake Ruhondo and Lake Burera, collectively known as the Twin Lakes.
Accommodation options: Rwiza Village (Budget), Twin Lakes Safari Lodge (mid-range), Twin Lakes Recreational Island (Luxury).
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and Dinner
Day 13: Depart from Ruhondo for Kigali
We will drive around the lakes and stop at the Musangabo viewing point. You will have the option to take a nature walk around the lakes. Later, we will continue our journey to Kigali. If you’re interested, you can visit the indigenous pygmies while in Kigali.
Accommodation options: Kigali Serena Hotel, Hotel Des Mille Collines
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 14: Kigali City Tour
Your tour will conclude with a city tour of Kigali, unless you have already completed it on the first day, then their no need. Depending on your flight schedule you may need to go for last-minute shopping. Have lunch and the driver guide will drop you off at the airport for your departure flight back home.
End of Tour