9 Days Rwanda Classic Safari
9 Days Rwanda Classic Safari: Rwanda is incredibly interesting to visit in its incredible scenic hilly landscapes making her famous as “Land of a thousand hills” rich in biodiversity. This 9 Days Classic Rwanda Safaris is the longest way of spending your safari in Kigali and takes you to Rwanda’s most visited primates’ destinations that is Volcanoes national park and Nyungwe national park with a bit of relaxation during the trip. Volcanoes national park is the most popular park unique for gorilla trekking along with other 2 parks in Uganda and 1 in Congo. Volcanoes national park has about 10 habituated gorilla families for tourism. Apart from gorilla trekking, Volcanoes national park is also a home to the endangered golden monkeys and a few of the forest animals and the park hosts about 200 different bird species. Nyungwe forest national park on the other hands is home to the endangered chimpanzees and 12 other species of primates. Trekking chimpanzees in Nyungwe forest is one of the most scenic experiences under the montane rainforest and walking on a canopy above the forest is an added beautiful experience. Akagera national park which is located in the eastern part of Rwanda in the savannah areas good for wildlife experience especially to see the big five game. Enjoy other excursions include visiting Lake Kivu bordering Congo and a city tour in Kigali city.
Safari highlights of the 9 Days Rwanda Classic Safari
- Day 1: Pick up from hotel and transfer to Ruhengeri
- Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Parc National Des Volcans
- Day 3: Golden Monkey tracking
- Day 4: Full day in Gisenyi
- Day 5: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park
- Day 6: Chimpanzee tracking and Canopy walk
- Day 7: Transfer back to Kigali and to Akagera National Park
- Day 8: Morning game drive and Boat ride on Lake Ihema
- Day 9: Transfer back to Kigali city
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Pick up from hotel and transfer to Ruhengeri
Upon arrival at Kigali international airport with your morning confirmed booked flight or Depending on your location in Kigali, you will be met by your safari driver who will be your guide throughout the trip, meet and greet, pack your luggage in the safari vehicle and Volcanoes national park. It’s a 2-3 hours’ drive from Kigali to Musanze where we find the home of the endangered mountain gorillas.
Arrive in Musanze at good time for lunch after checking-in your booked accommodation. Later afternoon, visit Iby’wacu Cultural Village-a Non-Profit umbrella organization that aims at improving the lives of reformed poachers and communities around Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park through provision of conservation incentives, supporting community enterprise development and livelihood based projects. It’s a rewarding place where you will be guided around the place as you enjoy the Kinyarwanda traditions including the Intore dance, traditional ceremonies and a guided community walk. Connect to your booked accommodation for dinner and overnight stay at 5 Volcanoes Gorilla lodge/Virunga lodge for Luxury option/Le Bambou Gorilla lodge for the mid-range option/Hotel Muhabura/Kinigi Guesthouse for the budget option
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Parc National Des Volcans
After early morning breakfast, you will be transferred to the Kinigi park headquarters with your trekking gears for a briefing about the endangered mountain gorillas. You have been allocated a gorilla family to trek, connect to the starting point and start trekking along with the guidance of the armed ranger guides together with the ranger guides. This activity may take between 2-8 hours searching for the gorillas depending on their movement. However meeting them is so rewarding and you will spend maximally 1 hour with them as you take time studying them and taking pictures and videos. After spending your time with the fascinating mountain gorillas, return to the base and meet your driver to connect to your lodge for lunch and refresh. Spend the rest of your day at leisure. Dinner and overnight stay at booked lodge as above
Day 3: Golden Monkey tracking
After breakfast, you will go for golden monkey tracking. This activity also takes like 2-3 hours in the Volcanoes national park with an allowance of 1 hour to spend time with the golden monkeys. Later after the experience you will meet up with your driver guide to connect for a late lunch and transfer to Gisenyi. You will check into your hotel in Gisenyi, settle in and dinner will be served. Overnight will be at Kigali serena hotel for luxury/Palm Garden Hotel for mid-range/Paradise Malahide Hotel for budget option
Day 4: Full day in Gisenyi
After having breakfast, you will continue with your safari to Gisenyi town. This offers beautiful and excellent views of Lake Kivu and it’s a great place to relax while feeling its waterfront and sandy beaches. Upon arrival, you will have lunch and then spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing or visit the host springs which will help you learn more about the formation of the Virunga Volcanic Mountains. Alternatively you can also visit the local projects in the area and interact with project members or visit the local artisans and local women’s weaving association. Dinner and overnight in Gisenyi town at hotel as above.
Day 5: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park
After a morning breakfast, you will transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park. En route, you will have lunch in Rusizi. Reach the Park late afternoon. Upon arrival you will visit the new Visitor’s Interpretive Centre to give you more information about the park such as number of primate species found in the park, types of bird species and other tourist activities carried out with in the Park. Dinner and overnight at One and Only Nyungwe House for luxury option/Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel for mid-range option/Gisakura Visitors Centre for budget option
Day 6: Chimpanzee tracking and Canopy walk
Enjoy breakfast and go for briefing about the endangered chimpanzees before entering the forest in search of the active and playful fellows in Nyungwe forest. The Chimpanzees are much easier to spot as they jump from one tree to another, chattering and laughing. Chimpanzee tracking usually takes about 3 hours. On finding them, spend an hour while taking pictures and videos. You will then return to your accommodation for lunch.
After lunch, you will go on a walking trail that will take you to the Canopy Walk-a swing bridge 50 meters in length that is suspended from large trees. You will be able to see the amazing rainforest with a bird’s eye view, spotting wildlife moving about below you. Before night fall, you will return to the lodge for dinner as above. Dinner and overnight at hotel as above
Day 7: Transfer back to Kigali and to Akagera National Park
After breakfast, you will depart for Kigali for lunch and also a short city tour to the Gisozi Genocide Memorial site. You will later transfer to Akagera National Park. En route you will pass through the country’s phenomenal landscape which will give you views of the country’s beauty and also the life style of its people. Upon arrival in the park, if you have time, you will go for a short southern Lake Ihema game drive. Look out for animals such as elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, hippos, crocodiles and many more like Antelopes. Dinner and overnight at Ruzizi tented camp for luxury option/Akagera game lodge for mid-range option/Dereva hotel for luxury option
Day 8: Morning game drive and Boat ride on Lake Ihema
The seventh day of this Rwanda Safari highlights more activities in Akagera National Park. Early in the morning after breakfast, you will go for a Northern circuit game drive to search for animals that you may have missed out in the previous game drive. It was not a guarantee that all the animals can be seen in the evening game drive.
There are some that are early risers and can only be seen in the morning. Return back to the lodge for a small relation as you wait for lunch. After lunch, you will go for a boat ride on Lake Ihema which will offer you with views of the surrounding areas, hills and swamps. Expect to see Hippos, crocodiles and more bird species. Return back to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay at Lodge as above
Day 9: Transfer back to Kigali city
Early morning after breakfast on the last day of your 9 Days Rwanda Classic Safari, you will go for a nature walk to search for different bird species. Return to Kigali city. Depending on your time of departure, you will be transferred to the Airport for your flight back home or your hotel in Kigali as you will advise.
End of the 9 Days Rwanda Classic Safari
