Gorillas and Akagera Wildlife (A 10-Day Behind-the-Scenes).
A Private 10-Day Gorillas and Akagera Wildlife
Day 1: Arrival & transfer to the hotel
You will meet the driver guide at the arrivals of Kigali international airport. Afterwards, he will transfer you to the hotel for briefing. In case you arrive early, you will do a brief city tour. During the city tour, you will visit the Gisozi genocide museum, Belgium museum, craft markets among others.
Accommodation: Movenpick Kigali (Luxury)/ Hotel des mille Collin (Midrange)
Meal plan: Dinner
Day 2: Helicopter flight to Akagera National Park with afternoon boat cruise
After breakfast, you will checkout of the hotel and transfer to Kigali international airport for the helicopter flight to Akagera national park. Upon arrival, the driver guide will pick you up and transfer you to the lodge for lunch.
After lunch, you will be transferred to the docking point for the afternoon boat cruise along lake Ihema. During the launch cruise, you will adore the cool breeze while observing numerous wildlife species on the lake Ihema shores. You will spot animals like elephants, Nile crocodiles, buffaloes, hippos and numerous bird species. After the boat cruise, you will return to the lodge for relaxation.
Accommodation: Magash camp (Luxury)/ Ruzizi tented camp (Midrange)
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 3: Morning game drive and Evening Game Drive
Following an early breakfast, you will be transferred to the starting point of the game drive. During the game drive, you will have an opportunity of spotting different wildlife species and a variety of bird species. You will spot animals such as elephants, zebras, giraffes, buffaloes, lions among others. After the game drive, you will go back to the lodge for lunch and relaxation. After lunch, you will set out for an afternoon game drive and during this game drive, you will spot animals such as Elephants, Zebras, impalas, lions among others. After the game drive, you will be transferred to the lodge for relaxation, diner and overnight stay.
Accommodation: Magash camp (Luxury)/ Ruzizi tented camp (Midrange)
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 4: Full day game drive
Following early breakfast, you will get into the safari vehicle and embark on the game drive in the spectacular savannah plains. The game rive can last between 3 to 5 hours and the time spend in the game drive is determined by the animal seen that day. During the game drive, expect to see animals such as lions, elephants, giraffes, antelopes among others. After the game drive, you will return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation.
After lunch, you will go back to the savannah plains for yet another exciting game drive. After lunch, you will go for an afternoon game drive in the Akagera national park savannah plains. Expect to see the big five such as elephants, buffaloes, rhinos, lions and the rare leopards. Other animals to be spotted include zebras, giraffes, hyenas, antelopes, topis, oribis among others.
Accommodation: Magash camp (Luxury)/ Ruzizi tented camp (Luxury
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 5: Helicopter flight to Nyungwe for colobus monkey trekking
Following breakfast, you will be transferred to the airstrip for the helicopter flight to Nyungwe Forest National Park. Upon touching down, the driver guide will transfer you to the lodge for lunch. After lunch, you will transfer to a walking trail to take part in Colobus monkey trekking. This will take you to the black and white colobus monkey.
Accommodation: One & only Nyungwe house (Luxury)/ Nyungwe hilltop view (Midrange)
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 6: Chimpanzee Tracking and Canopy Walk
On this day following a tasty breakfast at the lodge, you will get into the safari vehicle for the transfer to the park headquarters. At the park headquarters, you will be briefed by the ranger guides about what to expect during chimpanzee trekking. In the company of the armed ranger guide, you will get into the forest and start the search for the chimpanzees. During the hike, please bear in mind that you will spot primates and numerous bird species. You will be granted an opportunity of spending an hour with the chimpanzees after locating the. You will watch the chimpanzees jump from one tree to another, play, feed and nurture their young ones. After the trek, you will be taken back to the lodge for relaxation and lunch.
In the late afternoon, you will head back to the park headquarters for the canopy walk. Nyungwe Forest National Park has got the longest canopy walk and zipline in East Africa.
Accommodation: One & only Nyungwe house (Luxury)/ Nyungwe hilltop view (Midrange)
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 7: Fly to Volcanoes National Park
Have breakfast and then head to the airstrip for the helicopter flight to Musanze. Upon arrival at Musanze, the driver guide will transfer you to the lodge for lunch and relaxation. In the evening, you will be taken to the Ellen DeGeneres by Dian Fossey for a virtual gorilla trek.
Accommodation: One and Only gorilla’s nest (Luxury)/ Five volcanoes boutique hotel (Midrange)
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 8: Gorilla trekking and Ibwiwachu cultural tour
After breakfast and with packed lunch, the driver guide will transfer you to the park headquarters for briefing about the code of conduct during gorilla trekking. After briefing, you will be allocated a gorilla family and in company of the armed ranger guide, you will be driven to the starting point of the trek. The gorilla trek takes between 2 to 6 hours depending on where the gorillas slept the previous night. After 1 hour with the gorillas, you will be transferred back to the lodge for relaxation.
In the evening, you will go for the Ibwiwachu cultural tour where you will learn more about the breath-taking Kinyarwanda traditional, cultural dances, and drama.
Accommodation: One and Only gorilla’s nest (Luxury)/ Five volcanoes boutique hotel (Midrange)
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 9: Second gorilla trek
Waking up with the beautiful views of the Virunga ranges, you will have early breakfast and then transfer to the Kinigi park headquarters for briefing about gorilla trekking. After the briefing, you will be assigned a gorilla family based on your fitness level. In the company of the ranger guide, you will get into the jungle to search for the gentle giants. When you locate the mountain gorillas, you will only spend with them a period of one hour watching them play, interact, feed and nurture their young ones. After the trek, you will hike back to the starting point to of the hike where you will meet the driver guide to transfer you back to the lodge.
Accommodation: One & only gorilla’s nest (Luxury)/ Five volcanoes boutique hotel (Midrange)
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 10: Third gorilla trek and fly to Kigali
Following early breakfast, the guide will transfer you to the park headquarters for briefing about gorilla trekking. After briefing, you will enter the forest for the actual gorilla trek.
An exhilarating trek via the enchanted foothills of the Virunga ranges offers intriguing views. directions. When you get deep in the forest, you will spot numerous bird species and butterflies. The duration of the trek is determined by the location of gorillas and where they slept the previous night. You locate the gorillas; you will get allowed to spend with them 1 hour and you will be allowed to take pictures. After the trek, you will be transferred to the airstrip of the helicopter flight to Kigali.
End of tour
Inclusions
- 3 gorilla permits
- Chimpanzee permit
- Colobus monkey permit
- Canopy walk
- Transportation
- English-speaking driver guide
- Accommodation
- Meals as mentioned above
- Regional flights
- All transfers
- Game drives
- Boat cruise
- Park entrance fees
Exclusions
- Visa fees
- Tips & gratuities
- Visa fees
- Air tickets
- Personal expenses