Day 1: Visit Gisozi genocide memorial and transfer to Ruhengeri (Volcanoes National Park)
Upon taking a warm breakfast at your place of stay in Kigali city, embark on the journey to Gisozi genocide memorial site to visit and pay tribute to the counts of Rwandese who lost their dear lives during the unforgettable era of genocide that befell Rwanda in the year 1994. The empty skulls that are paraded in the building with the respective details may bring in tears in eyes as well as fresh memories of what exactly transpired during that fateful era. After this encounter, you will enjoy a luxurious lunch in Kigali and then embark on a journey to Volcanoes National Park which is 116km approximately 3 hours’ drive.
This journey allows you to have the opportunity to have the romantic gentle hills of the country side marked with rolling rural farmlands presenting an ideal round for scenic photographs.
You will get to Ruhengeri in the evening for entertainment and relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Accommodation options:
Luxury / Upmarket: Mountain Gorilla View Hotel Lodge
Midrange / Standard: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge
Budget / Basic: Muhabura Hotel
Day 2: Do gorilla trekking & transfer to Gisenyi (L. Kivu)
After a thrilling breakfast from your respective lodge in a chilly morning, you will assemble at the Volcanoes Park Headquarters in Kinigi at 8am for a pre-tour briefing and consequently embark on a journey to search for the mountain gorillas. The park rangers will give you the gorilla trekking rules and regulation with the dos and don’ts involved while sipping a thrilling Rwandese cup of hot coffee and listening to the soothing melodramatic cultural songs by the gorgeous Intore dancers clearly exposing the authentic tradition and the rich history of the Rwandese people.
Embark on the eagerly awaited gorilla tracking experience, penetrating amidst the forested jungles of the Volcanoes in search of the gorilla group assigned together with the eight team mates combined together with you to track a given group. The duration for this activity tends to range between 2 – 8 hours and the encounter with these unique species is an unusual experience. The hike amidst the jungle while viewing the lovely Rwandan flora and fauna, the impressive panoramic views and magical scenic landscapes of the Virungas would definitely leave you mesmerized. The eventual one hour direct contact with these world’s rarest animals eye to eye with them is worth remembering and getting attracted to their thick beautiful fur while being entertained by the playful young gorillas puts your stressful minds and thoughts into a state of relaxation and happiness quite worth the expensive price of a gorilla ticket.
Retreat from this trip and travel to Gisenyi (Lake Kivu) covering a distance of 110km about 2 hours arriving in the evening for an relaxation on the shores of this gorgeous lake which is the biggest in Rwanda. Retire for dinner and a night over.
Accommodation options:
Luxury / Upmarket: Lake Kivu Serena Resort
Midrange / Standard: Water Front Resort Lake Kivu
Budget / Basic: Paladise Malahide
Day 3: Travel to Nyungwe Forest National Park along the Nile Congo divide
After a sumptuous breakfast within a cool fresh environment offered by the morning breeze from the lake, embark on the journey to Nyungwe Forest National Park of about 294km , 7 – 8 hours’ drive which is situated in the south western part of Rwanda.
This lengthy trip takes you along the Nile Congo divide trail offering opportunities for enjoying the magical scenes of the geography of the area. You will make a stopover at kibuye resort town for lunch break before you may proceed to Nyungwe through Cyangugu town. The drive offers you impressive panorama of Lake Kivu viewing from the top at an angle of 45 degrees en route. Arrive in the evening for resting, dinner and overnight.
Accommodation:
Luxury / Upmarket: Nyungwe Forest Lodge
Midrange / Standard: Nyungwe Hill Top View Hotel
Budget / Basic: Gisakura Guesthouse
Day 4: Do Chimpanzee trekking in morning and Nyungwe canopy walk in the afternoon
After breakfast, embark on the chimpanzee trekking trip in the ancient forests in this biologically diverse national park, Nyungwe which is located in the south western part of Rwanda.
The trek commences at 8am beginning with briefing at the park headquarters before proceeding to the forest in search of these closest cousins to human beings, the Chimpanzees. Trailing beneath this thick forest and eventually having direct contact with these shy creatures, the chimpanzees for one (1) hour, making the chimp trek a memorable activity. The species live happily and flourish within their natural habitats and they are so impressive to look at for as long as you visit Rwanda, as they chomp fruits, quietly leaping from a tree to the other, rolling themselves on the trees, mating and socializing freely. The activity usually lasts between 2 – 5 hours after which you return to the lodge for lunch and a short relaxation.
In the afternoon, you assemble at Uwinka Visitor center to embark on the famous Nyungwe Canopy walk which is the first of its kind in East Africa and the third in the whole of Africa. The canopy walk way is raised to over 40m above the ground and it is 90m long hanging over a steep deep valley blanketed by a thick forest offers quite impressive scenic views of the landscapes and the flora and faunal species that are found in this area.
Return to the lodge in the evening for relaxation and overnight.
Accommodation:
Luxury / Upmarket: Nyungwe Forest Lodge
Midrange / Standard: Nyungwe Hill Top View Hotel
Budget / Basic: Gisakura Guesthouse
Day 5: Transfer back to Kigali. Visit the National Institute of Rwandan Museums en route in Butare
After breakfast, embark on around 6 hour journey covering 268km to Kigali city. The trip takes you through the magnificent countryside scenery in the land of a thousand hills, Rwanda. You will have a stopover at the National Institute of Rwandan Museums in Butare to tour the popular Butare Museum which doubles as the national Museum of Rwanda, this houses a wide range of ethnographic and archeological artifacts which make it hold a notable position in the East African region. The rich history and heritage well stored in the museum will make your en route stop remarkable. You will have lunch in Butare and then embark on the journey to Kigali to mark the end of your safari.
End of the safari with Love Uganda Safaris
