10 Days Rwanda Safari
The 10 days Rwanda Safari takes you to the top tourist destinations in the country. On these 10 days Rwanda Safari, you will get to visit Volcanoes national park, Akagera national park and Nyungwe Forest national park. There are lots of activities you will get to do on this trip such as; Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park, Wildlife viewing and a sunset boat cruise in Akagera national park, and track chimpanzees in Nyungwe national park. This tour starts and ends in Kigali city in Rwanda.
Detailed Itinerary for the 10 Days Rwanda Safari.
Day 1: Pickup from Kigali and City Tour.
Arrival and Pickup from Kigali: Upon your arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be welcomed by your guide from Explore Rwanda Tours. After a brief meet and greet session, you will proceed with your transfer to Kigali city center where you will commence your tour of Kigali city.
Kigali City Tour: During your Kigali city tour, you will visit interesting cultural and historical sites like the Kigali Genocide Memorial Center, Camp Kigali, Caplaki Craft Village, Kimironko market, Nyamirambo Women’s Center among others. You will have lunch in Kigali and later drive back to your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 2: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park.
Transfer to Volcanoes: Have your breakfast early in the morning and check out of your hotel. You will then embark on a two and a half hour drive to Volcanoes National Park located in Ruhengeri district in the northeastern part of Rwanda. The park is the only safe haven for the endangered mountain gorillas in Rwanda. Upon your arrival in the park, check into your lodge and have lunch. You can spend the rest of your afternoon resting at your lodge.
Day 3: Gorilla Trekking & Iby’iwacu Community Cultural Tour.
Gorilla Trekking: Have your breakfast early in the morning and proceed to the park’s headquarters in Kinigi; where you will be briefed and place in groups of 8 members each. Your gorilla trekking safari will commence at 8am, therefore it is important to always keep time. Usually, tracking gorilla groups can take between 2-8 hours with an hour of direct contact with the gorillas once they have been located. Hiking through the forest might prove to be a bit cumbersome and thus calls for one to be physical and mentally fit for the vigorous activity. Also remember to come with a good pair of hiking boots and a raincoat, in case it rains while you are in the forest.
Iby’iwacu Community visit: After your gorilla trekking, you will have your packed lunch and later proceed to Iby’iwacu cultural village where you will been taken through the interesting cultural history of the people of Rwanda. While there, you will have a short peek into the day-to-day lifestyle of the locals, get to check out their traditional handcrafts and also watch dance performances from the local dance and drummer’s troupe.
Later head back to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 4: Dian Fossey Hike.
Dian Fossey Hike: Have breakfast from your lodge, grab your packed lunch and head out for a guided hike to Dian Fossey Gravesite. Dian Fossey was a well-known American primatologist and gorilla conservationist. She is famous for her scientific research that she carried out on mountain gorilla groups in both Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. During her stay in Rwanda, Dian actively participated in conservation projects, strongly opposing poaching of gorillas and other wildlife animals. In December 1985, Fossey was found dead in her cabin at a remote campsite in Rwanda. She was buried next to her favorite gorilla, ‘Digit’ and ten other mountain gorillas that died in Volcanoes national park. The hike to Dian’s tomb starts at the park headquarters in Kinigi at exactly 7am. The hike involves a 10-15 minute stroll to the park’s border and then you will hike through the lush green forests, taking about 1 to 3 hours depending on your hiking pace and physical condition. You will then descend the steep mountain taking about 1 to 2 hours before finally coming to Dian Fossey’s Campsite. The Campsite is found at an altitude of about 3,000 meters above sea level.
Karisoke Research Center: You will also visit the Karisoke Research Center where Dian spent most of her timing carrying out research with the help of her staff. Here, you will get to learn more about her works and contribution to the study and conservation of mountain gorillas.
Later drive back to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 5: Transfer to Akagera National Park.
Transfer to Akagera: Wake up early in the morning and have breakfast at your lodge. Check out of your lodge and meet up with your guide outside your lodge. You will then transfer to Akagera national park located in Kayonza region. The drive from Volcanoes to Akagera national park can take between 4⅟₂ to 5 hours on road.
Upon your arrival in the park, check into your lodge and have lunch. Later in the evening, you can head out for an evening game drive in the park. You will have an opportunity to see lots of wildlife animals as they retire back to their dens at the end of the day.
Drive back to your lodge for dinner and accommodation.
Day 6: Morning Game Drive and Evening Boat Cruise.
Morning Game Drive: Have your breakfast early in the morning and head out for a morning game drive. Get to explore the beautiful savanna and landscape in the park. You will also have the opportunity to see wildlife animals in the park like; elephants, buffalos, lions, leopards, rhinos, waterbucks to mention but a few. You will return back to your lodge for lunch, rest for a short while.
Evening Boat Cruise: Later embark on an evening boat cruise on Lake Ihema. While on your boat cruise, you will get to see the splendid wildlife at the park like; Nile Crocodiles, Hippos and some water birds like; the marabou stork, herons and the African fish eagle. After your boat cruise, you can opt to go guided nature walk and explore the marvelous flora and fauna species that Akagera National Park has to offer.
Return back to your lodge for dinner and a good night’s sleep.
Day 7: Transfer to Nyungwe National Park.
Transfer to Nyungwe: After having your breakfast early in the morning, transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park via Butare. The national park is located in the southwestern part of Rwanda in Rusizi district. It takes about eight and a half hours of driving to get to the park from Akagera. You will have a stopover at the Royal King’s Palace in Nyanza for a short tour of the palace, have lunch and continue with your drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park. Upon your arrival in the park, check into your lodge or hotel for dinner and accommodation.
Day 8: Chimpanzee Trekking & Visit Gisakura Tea Estate.
Chimpanzee Trekking: On day 8 of your 10 days Rwanda safari, you will get to track some of the habituated chimpanzees in Nyungwe forest national park. You will be expected to arrive at the park headquarters by 7am in the morning. Actual chimpanzee trekking starts at 8am, where you will be placed in tracking groups consisting of a maximum of six members per group. Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe can take about four to six hours, inclusive of an hour that is given to trekkers once a chimpanzee group has been located. Drive back to your lodge for lunch.
Visit Gisakura Tea Estate: Later in the evening, you can head to Gisakura Tea estate. Here, you will be taken through the process of tea growing, harvesting, processing and packaging. You will even get to taste the delicious taste of the final product.
Return back to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 9: Canopy Walk.
Nyungwe Canopy Walk: Wake up early in the morning, have your breakfast and head back to the park’s headquarters at Uwinka Centre. This is where you will begin your hiking trip, which will lead you to the Canopy Walkway. The Nyungwe Forest Canopy Walk is the most exciting and adventurous activity in Nyungwe National Park. This activity is not for the faint of hearts as it involves walking along the canopy walkway, which stretches 160 meters long and extends 70 meters above the forest ground. The Canopy walkway in Nyungwe national park gives visitors a chance to explore the national park from above, as visitors along the canopy walkway can get a panoramic view of the forest canopy. In addition to this, visitors also have an opportunity to see wildlife in the park such as; monkeys, chimpanzees, butterflies and different bird species.
Head back to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 10: Transfer Back to Kigali and Departure.
Transfer Back to Kigali & Departure: Have a relaxed breakfast at your lodge and then check out. Meet up with your guide outside your lodge/ hotel and proceed with your transfer back to Kigali city. Upon your arrival in the city, your guide will drop you off either at your preferred hotel in Kigali or at the airport in time to check-in and board your flight back home. End of Tour.
