Overview
On this tour, you will visit all the major highlights that Rwanda has to offer, visiting Nyungwe National Park, experience the Congo Nile Trail, Lake Kivu, Volcanoes National Park and a safari to the Akagera National Park.
Highlights
- Chimpanzee Tracking
- Canopy walk
- Boat Ride on Lake Kivu & Lake Ihema
- Gorilla Tracking & Golden Monkey Tracking
- Safari Drives
- Kayaking on Twin Lakes
Itinerary
Upon arrival at Kigali International airport, you will meet and greet with your guide and thereafter transfer to your accommodation in Kigali. Depending on your arrival time, you may go for a city tour of Kigali including a visit to the genocide memorial, art galleries and local art markets.
Early breakfast, transfer south of Rwanda to Nyungwe Forest Park arriving in time for lunch. Thereafter transfer to the Park headquarters for an afternoon Canopy walk. You will have great views of most of the forest and the sight of primates running through the trees and the cool breeze above the ground will be a great satisfaction of Nature. Nyungwe National Park is most treasured for its primates, there is a remarkable 13 primate species recorded resident in this lush rainforest. This includes man’s closest living relative, the chimpanzee as well as the delightful L’Hoest’s monkey and numerous fun-loving troops of Black and White Colobus.
After breakfast, drive to the park headquarters for briefing before heading out for Chimpanzee trekking. Through the forest you will spot several tree species, flowering plants, listen to the sounds of nature and Chimpanzee whispers as you trek. Nyungwe is truly a rainforest with over 2000mm of rain recorded annually with montane forests. The Forest Park offers Chimpanzee treks, numerous trails for bird lovers.
After breakfast, drive to Karongi on the shores of Lake Kivu. You will enjoy a sunset boat ride on Lake Kivu.
This morning You will drive to Volcanoes National Park. Later in the day, you will visit the twin Lakes Burera and Ruhondo for Kayaking
This morning, you will go for gorilla tracking in Volcanoes National Park. Later in the day, you will visit the Gorilla guardians village for a cultural experience.
Today you will go for to track the golden monkeys. Trekking to see the golden monkeys is another highlight of Volcanoes National park. The Golden Monkey is a local subspecies of the widespread Sykes Monkey, also known as the “Blue Monkey” and is endemic to the high altitude forests of the Volcanoes National Park area. Thereafter, you will drive to Kigali for overnight. You will get to experience different cuisines in Kigali, eating out at your choice restaurant in the city.
This morning, you will drive to Akagera National Park. You will enjoy game drives in the park for the day. The Park borders fine-looking rising and falling plains, solid broad-leafed forests, and brighter acacia woods that define its favorable nature to animals and visitors. Depending on the day, you may go for an afternoon game drive where you will spot mammals like Giraffes, Buffaloes, Elephants, Crocodiles, Hippos Spotted Hyenas and masses of birds.
Today you will have an early morning game drive in the park, then return to your accommodation and in the afternoon have a boat ride on lake Ihema. You will sail along the water edge which is covered with several trees, drift past numerous giant hippos and see several crocodiles some in the shallows of the water and other basking on the shore.
Today, you will drive to Kigali for your departure flight out.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Inclusions
- This tour is tailor-made, guest inclusions vary depending on preferences.
Exclusions
- This tour is tailormade, so exclusions depend on client preferences
BEFORE YOU GO
Colobus Monkey Tracking, Hiking Trails, Guided Nature Walks
Clothing (essential)
- Summer shirt/s and shorts – for walking in the heat at the start of the trek
- Warm long-sleeved shirt – for when it gets cold
- Warm long walking trousers (not jeans!)
- Fleece jacket (one or more, and/or a down jacket) – for additional warmth; or a warm anorak/jacket which should not be too heavy
- Thermal underwear
- Good quality waterproof and windproof outer shell (Jacket & trousers)
- Cheap plastic poncho
- Hat – a warm hat and a sun hat (that has both a peak and shades the back of your neck)
- Wool Hat/Balaclava
- Gloves – 2 pairs; one pair of thin liners and another of warmer, waterproof outer gloves are more practical than mittens.Footwear
- Mountain boots – essential (good quality well- worn in)
- Walking Shoes (another pair of lighter weight walking shoes / trainers for the start of the climb)
- Several pairs of warm, cushioned socks (so you always have a dry pair to change into)
- Have a limited but useful role in preventing scree, snow and mud (at the start of the climb) from getting into your boots. Rubber boots can work out more.
Rwanda is near the Equator which explains its weather, it only shines or rains. Rwanda is near the Equator. Rwanda has a temperate tropical highland climate, with lower temperatures that are typical for equatorial countries because of its high elevation. There are two rainy seasons in the year; the first runs from February to June and the second from September to December. These are separated by two dry seasons: the major one from June to September, during which there is often no rain at all, and shorter and less severe one from December to February. The temperature on the plains tend to be between 21°C and 30°C and in the mountainous areas they can go down to 10°C in certain months, especially November.
Visitors from or passing through a yellow fever and cholera zone (most of tropical Africa and South America) may be able to produce a valid International Certificate of Vaccination.
Make sure your Yellow Fever vaccination is up to date before arriving in Rwanda. Air travellers who only pass through the airports of such a zone are exempt from the requirement. It is also advised that all travellers be vaccinated against Meningitis, Typhoid and Hepatitis.
As this is a malaria zone, visitors should also take prophylactics against malaria although the best way to avoid catching malaria is to avoid bites by using mosquito repellent and sleeping under a mosquito net. For your own comfort take a mosquito repellent. Mosquito nets are provided in most hotels, lodges and camps. Precautions should be taken against malaria both when visitors are in the country, and when they return home. It is advisable to drink only bottled water and avoid swimming in ponds and still water pools. Desist from taking tap water.
Visa and MasterCard are the two most widely accepted credit cards in Africa, while Diners and American Express may not always be accepted. Cards should have a chip and pin if you plan to use them to withdraw money from ATMs.
Please be sure to advise your bank before you travel that you will be using your card in a different country as they may block access to your card if they do not know that you are travelling.
