Day 1, Arrival in Kigali
Upon arrival at the Airport, you will be personally met by our company representative who will transfer you to your Hotel in Kigali for dinner and overnight stay at Kigali Serena Lodge (Luxury), Golf Hills Residence (Mid range) or Chezlando Hotel/Step Town Hotel/Okapi Hotel (Budget)
Day 2, Transfer to Butare
After breakfast, you will transfer from Kigali to Butare which is the 2nd biggest city of Rwanda and it’s therefore regarded as the intellectual city of Rwanda. This is so because the city hosts National Museum, The National University and several other Universities, and so many research institutions. En route to the town, you will visit Nyanza currently Nyabisindu for an exploration of the former Mwami’s palace (King’s palace) and the seat of the feudal monarchy. Upon reaching Butare, you will visit the National Museum which is one the well set-up if not the finest ethnographic museum of East Africa. It’s a good source of information on the cultural history of Rwanda and the region. Dinner and overnight stay in Butare town
Day 3, Butare tour and transfer to Nyungwe
After breakfast at your Hotel, you will visit the botanical Gardens and also the locally revered hot springs in Rugarama. Return back for lunch and in the afternoon, transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park with a brief stopover at the Uwinka offices for the information concerning the presence of the semi-habituated groups of chimps and colobus monkeys. Dinner and overnight stay at Gisakura Guest House (Budget) or Nyungwe forest Lodge (Luxury)
Day 4, Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe
Early morning after breakfast you will visit Nyungwe National Park for a day’s chimp trek with in this forest. First you will get a briefing from the ranger guides and then later you will enter the forest to search for the chimpanzee and other primates such as: Angolan Colobus (Colobus angolensis), Red tailed monkeys, Varvet monkeys and so on. Dinner and overnight stay at Gisakura Guest House (Budget) or Nyungwe forest Lodge (Luxury)
Day 5, Primates or forest walk in Nyungwe
After breakfast at the lodge, you will set out for the guided nature walk or primate treks. Alternatively, you can carry out a canopy walk with in the forest to search for different bird spices which reside in the Park. Dinner and overnight stay at Gisakura Guest House (Budget) or Nyungwe forest Lodge (Luxury)
Day 6, Transfer to Kibuye
After breakfast, you will transfer to Kibuye. The journey will take you through beautiful countryside, crossing valleys full of agricultural produce. Kibuye is one of the three resort towns on Lake Kivu and is the most beautiful among them. You will arrive in time for lunch after which you will spend the rest of the afternoon resting at your Hotel. Dinner and overnight stay at Molia Hill Resort (Luxury) /Kibuye Guest House (Budget)
Day 7, Transfer to Gisenyi
After breakfast, you will set out for the speed boat trip to Gisenyi which is ($ 200pp) also another beautiful town found on Lake Kivu. On the boat trip, you will encounter local people, fishing villages and the fishermen and the residents of the Idjwi Island (Congo) who are rowing long distances in their dugout canoes to visit the Rwanda markets. Reach Gisenyi in time for Lunch. Spend the rest of the afternoon resting. Dinner and overnight stay at Stipp Hotel (Budget) Serena Kivu Sun Hotel (Luxury)
Day 8, Transfer to Kinigi
After breakfast, you will leave the beautiful Gisenyi town and transfer to Kinigi with en route stopover at the Ross Carr’s Imbabazi Orphanage. The Orphanage was founded by Mrs. Rosamond Halsey Carr in late 1994 at Mugongo to care for the genocide orphans. After the tour you will have lunch and transfer to Kinigi where you will reach in the evening. Dinner and overnight stay at Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge (mid range) or Kinigi Guest House (Budget ) Mountain Gorilla view Lodge (Luxury)
Day 9, Gorilla tracking in Rwanda
After breakfast at your Lodge, you will get a short briefing from the ranger guides before you set off for your wonderful gorilla trek. Like in Uganda, you are also allowed to stay with the Gorillas for only one hour. You will utilize this time to watch the Gorillas as they go about their daily activities, take photographs and Video coverage and so on. Trekking in Rwanda is not as tiresome as it in Uganda and also the tracking time is not as long as that of its neighbour Uganda. Return back to the lodge for lunch and in the afternoon, you will visit the Twin Lakes of Burera and Ruhondo for a cultural experience. Dinner and overnight stay at Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge (mid range) or Kinigi Guest House (Budget ) Mountain Gorilla view Lodge (Luxury)
Day 10, 2nd Gorilla tracking or Dian Fossey or Golden monkeys
After breakfast, you will set out for the 2nd day Gorilla trek (depends on the availability of the 2nd Gorilla permit booked in advance) or alternatively, you can visit Dian Fossey’s grave trek on Mt. Karisimbi and Karisoke. Here you will get to know more about this historical lady who is well-known for saving so many Gorilla lives from the poachers and also encouraged Mountain Gorilla conservation. After this, return back for lunch and in the afternoon, you will transfer back to Kigali for dinner and overnight stay at Kigali Serena Lodge (Luxury), Golf Hills Residence (Mid range) or Chezlando Hotel/Step Town Hotel/Okapi Hotel (Budget)
Day 11, Transfer to Akagera National Park
After breakfast, you will drive for 3 hours to Akagera National Park via Kayonza in Eastern Rwanda. Arrive before lunch and check in into your lodge. After checking in, take a swim and bath as you prepare for your next day’s activities. You can take a nature walk near the lodge for wildlife and bird watching. Dinner and overnight stay at Akagera Game Lodge
Day 12, Game drive and boat ride
After an early morning breakfast, you will set out for the game drive in the park. Search for wildlife animals such as Giraffes, Lions, Elephants, buffaloes, elands, Kobs, and if you are lucky you can see the Leopard. This is the only park where you can drive for a long distance without knowing which wildlife you will find on your way. Return back to the Lodge for lunch and after you will go for the afternoon boat exploration on Lake Ihema. This is a very rewarding activity and can expect to see schools of Hippos, Nile Crocodiles, and a lot of bird species. Also extend your boat ride to lakes like Kivumba, Hago; Mihindi and Rwanyakizinga which are a good spot for birds and hence nice for birders. Dinner and overnight stay at Akagera Game Lodge
Day 13, Transfer back to Kigali and departure
After breakfast, set out for a drive back to Kigali where upon arrival, you will have a short city tour and later depending on the time of your departure flight, you will be transferred to the Airport to catch your flight back home.
