This 5 Days Rwanda Akagera & Volcanoes Safari takes you to Rwanda’s most visited safari destination that is; Akagera National Park best for game viewing and Volcanoes National Park best for primate viewing. Gorilla trekking Experience. The trip starts and ends in Kigali.
Akagera National Park is one of central Africa’s largest protected wetlands and the last remaining refuse for savannah adapted species in Rwanda.
Volcanoes National Park is located in northwestern Rwanda, covering an area of 160 square kilometers of rainforest and encompasses five of the eight volcanoes in the Virunga Mountains such as; Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhabura, Gahinga and Sanyinyo. This park is home to the vast mountain gorilla and the golden monkey and was the base for the primatologist Dian Fossey.
The 5 Days Rwanda Akagera & Volcanoes Safari
Trip Highlight of the 5 Days Rwanda Akagera & Volcanoes Safari
Day 1: Pick up from Kigali and transfer to Akagera National Park
Day 2: Game Drive and Ihema boat trip
Day 3: Full Day Game Drives
Day 4: Cultural tour and Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Day 5: Gorilla trek in Volcanoes National Park
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Pick up from Kigali and transfer to Akagera National Park
On day 1 of the 5 Days Rwanda Akagera & Volcanoes Safari, depending on the location of your choice, you will get in touch with your driver to connect for the start of these 6 Volcanoes and Akagera Safari. You will meet at around 8 am at the airport or the advised point of pick up and drive north of Rwanda for about 2 and a half hours till you access the southern gate of the park. You will be welcomed by the fresh air of the park. Arrive and check into your lodge freshen up, and have lunch.
After lunch, go on the Afternoon Game Drive which offers you the opportunity to view the wildlife of Akagera such as lions, rhinos, giraffes, elephants and also several different antelope species. Dinner and overnight at your hotel.
Meal plan; Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 2: Game drive and Ihema boat trip
On the 2nd day of the 5 Days Rwanda Akagera & Volcanoes Safari, after an early morning breakfast at your hotel, the day offers you a second chance to look out for the animals you may have missed the previous evening in the park.
After breakfast, meet your driver-guide and be at the starting point by 9 am to enjoy the drive on the different trails of the park. You will meet the early raisers and hunters looking for their day’s meal. Have lunch and embark on the boat cruise on Lake Ihema.
This boat trip can take an hour with a maximum of 11 people on board. You will get to see more of the park on the lake like the aquatic animals like the crocodiles, and hippopotami enjoying the waters and the several birds like the African fish eagle and cattle egret many more. You will drive back to your accommodation with your driver-guide and spend the evening at leisure as you await the last dinner in the Akagera.
Meal Plan; Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Full Day Game Drives
On the 2nd day of the 5 Days Rwanda Akagera & Volcanoes Safari, go for a game drive with great anticipation of exploring the different animals that rise early to graze and predators looking for their early morning hunt.
After the game drive, drive back to your lodge for lunch. Later in the afternoon you will embark on the evening game drives and get to adventure several wildlife species that you might have missed out on during the morning game drives which gives you clear views of the early risers in the park like the elephants, rhinos, oribi and others
Later, drive for the evening game drives where you will get the chance to watch a range of carnivores hunting for their prey as you watch a number of herbivores heading back to their hiding spots. Dinner and overnight
Meal plans: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Cultural tour and Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Have breakfast and go for the cultural experience offered by the park, get to interact with the local community around the park and exit the park. Drive to Volcanoes National Park via Kigali. You will have lunch from Kigali and proceed to Ruhengeri town for the night in anticipation of the gorilla trek the next day. Dinner and overnight will be at the selected lodge of accommodation.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Gorilla trek in Volcanoes National Park
Gorilla Trekking: Have a light breakfast grab your packed lunch boxes and head out to the park headquarters at 7 am for a brief about the do’s and don’ts of gorillas before your trek and also get a chance to book your porter and all the hiking gear you may need. Set out into the forest in search of the mountain gorillas. After briefing, go meet up with the rangers for about 2 to 7 hours according to the location of the gorillas.
Once you meet these endangered animals, you will be given an hour to enjoy their presence and it is in this magical hour that you get to take memorable photographs and study the lifestyles of the mountain gorillas in their families as they go about their daily routines. Return to your accommodation for a late lunch and spend the evening at leisure.
You can opt to go for a community visit or cultural tour if you are feeling energetic. Get back to the lodge before the sun sets and have dinner and overnight as the night before.
Meal plans; Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: Dian Fossey Museum visit and transfer back to Kigali
After breakfast, head out to your 2-hour drive to Kigali with an en route Dian Fossey museum visit where you will spend about 2 hours learning about the famous Dian Fossey with artifacts that belonged to her along with the beauty of Virunga ranges. This is a stunning walk through the museum. Drive back to Kigali for lunch and if you have more time you may visit the Kimironko market to purchase some local souvenirs for your loved ones and also get to interact with the community.
Drop Off: You will be dropped off at your advised place in Kigali which will mark the end of your trip.
Tour Inclusion;
Gorilla trekking permit 1500 USD
Chimpanzee permit
Park entrance fees
All accommodations as per itinerary
4×4 safari vehicle & Fuel
Full time English speaking driver/ guide
Park entrance fees
Boat cruise
Vehicle entrance fees
Bottled mineral water while on safari
All activities as indicated
All meals as indicated
Tour excludes;
All optional activities as indicated
Tips
Visa fees
Air tickets
All items of a personal nature like laundry, phone calls, beer, e.t.c
Anything else not included in the itinerary
