9 Days Rwanda gorilla trekking chimpanzees tour with big five in Akagera National Park
This nine-day semi-luxury Rwanda gorilla trekking and chimpanzees tour with the Big Five takes you to Rwanda’s most famous parks, such as Volcanoes National Park, Akagera National Park, Nyungwe Forest National Park, and other hot tourist destinations, as we will show you the detailed itinerary below.
Day 1: Pickup from Kigali – City Tour & Transfer to Akagera National Park
A guide/representative from Kisoro Tours Uganda will pick you up in the morning from the airport or your hotel in Kigali. After a briefing from your guide about how the tour is going to go, you will go for the Kigali city tour where you will visit the city markets, and the Kigali genocide museum, if time allows you can also visit the former presidential palace, a few art shops and other landmarks. Thereafter the city tour, leaves for Akagera National Park. The journey to Akagera National Park takes between 3 to 3 and a half hours.
Once you arrive at the park, you will make all necessary clearances at the gate and then proceed to the centre for visitors. From the centre, you will then proceed to your lodge.
Accommodation Options for Dinner and overnight
Luxury: Ruzizi Tented Camp
Day 2: Morning game drive in Akagera National Park and Night Game drive
Wake up early and take your breakfast as you wait for the Guide/Driver to pick you up. This morning is all about game drives. Our Guide will pick you up and take you to the best places for game drives in Akagera. You will go to different parts of the park while exploring the park’s landscape including woodland forest, savanna plains, riverine forests and wetlands. On this morning’s game drive, watch out for the African Big Five and many other animals such as hippos, Impala, warthogs, Topi, Zebras, spotted hyenas, giraffes, crocodiles, elephants and birds.
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You will go back to the lodge for lunch, after lunch you can relax and take a swim in the lodge swimming pool as you prepare for a night game drive if you wish or go out specifically to spot the birds. Akagera is one of the top birding destinations in Rwanda with over 500 species recorded including the Papyrus Gonolek and Shoebill storks. The best place to spot the birds is in the vast wetlands found in the park.
Night Game Drive is designed in a way that allows you to spot nocturnal animals like leopards, lions, hyenas mongooses, and owls among others.
Accommodation Options for Dinner and overnight
Luxury: Ruzizi Tented Camp
Day 3: Morning community Cultural Experiences and afternoon Boat trip at Lake Ihema
On this day you will have a relaxed morning, and visit some local communities for a cultural experience as you prepare for the afternoon boat cruise at Lake Ihema. This boat trip provides opportunities to spot crocodiles, hippos and other animals coming to bathe or drink from the lake. Look out for the elusive Sitatunga (swamp antelope) and waterbucks.
Accommodation Options for Dinner and overnight
Luxury: Ruzizi Tented Camp
Day 4: Brief Morning Game drive and Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park
After breakfast, prepare for the drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park, as you drive out you may have a chance to spot some animals which is yet more wildlife encounters as you exit Akagera and start the journey to Nyungwe Forest National Park in the western province of Rwanda.
Accommodation Options for Dinner and overnight
Mid-range: Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel
Day 5: Chimpanzee trekking and Isumo trail for birdwatching
Start very early with breakfast and after go for a briefing about dos and dots to follow while you are with those endangered chimpanzees before entering the forest in search of the active and playful fellows in Nyungwe forest. Comparing gorillas with chimps, the Chimpanzees are much easier to spot as they jump from one tree to another, chattering and laughing all over the place. Chimpanzee tracking usually takes about 3-5 hours depending on the location of the chimps.
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Once you find them, you will be allowed to spend one full hour while observing them, taking pictures and videos. In the afternoon you will connect to visit Nyungwe’s biggest waterfalls on Isumo trail. This is one of the most refreshing experiences with sights of different birds and some primates. This guided walk takes approximately 4 hours walking up and down the Nyungwe forest. Thereafter, return to your hotel for relaxation and good memories. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above.
Accommodation Options for Dinner and overnight
Mid-range: Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel
Day 6: Canopy walk, Birdwatching and transfer Volcanoes National Park
After early breakfast, your driver/guide will take you to the starting point for the canopy walk, after briefing about the safety, 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 below you. Thereafter, drive to Volcanoes National Park, later have a stopover for lunch and after continue to Volcanoes National Park, you will reach late in the evening at the Lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation Options for Dinner and overnight
Mid-range: Ingagi Park View Lodge
Day 7: Gorilla tracking in the Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda
Have an early breakfast and after proceed to the Volcanoes Park headquarters for briefing about the gorillas and meeting the park ranger guide. The experience is exhilarating as you get ready to hike through the jungle in search of the mountain gorillas. Some good level of physical fitness is required as you head out to trek the gorillas, this is because you ought to climb the hills to catch a glance at them. The experience is tiresome but amazing when you confront the great mountain gorillas. You will see them in groups/families as they do their daily routine work, mothers feeding their young ones, playing, feeding and some resting.
In the afternoon after trekking, you can visit Iby’iwacu village where the villagers have convinced a group of ex-poachers to turn their back on their former lifestyle and create a traditional dance group that performs for visitors on a cultural village tour. Known as The Intore, or The Heroes, this ancient form of celebration is based on the victory dance of the Rwandan kings. When not watching the traditional dances and drumming performances, you can take part by stepping into the traditional dwelling of the local king, watching an authentic medicine man preparing his herbal concoctions or trying your hand at shooting the traditional weapon of bows and arrows.
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There is lively music and festive dance plays a great role in the traditions of all the people of Rwanda and East Africa. One of Africa’s most dynamic and least well-known musical traditions, the Ballet of Rwanda is performed by the Intore, the chosen ones. The dance is performed by local men dressed in grass wigs and carrying spears, who wear little tinkling bells on each foot, providing a ringing rhythm as the background music. The ‘Dance of Heroes’ is about returning warriors, celebrating victory in battle. Complex choreography reveals the performers shifting from side to side, blending agility and grace with raw aggression. After an exciting evening return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation Options for Dinner and overnight
Mid-range: Ingagi Park View Lodge
Day 8: Golden Monkey tracking in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda
Again, have early breakfast in the morning and proceed to Volcanoes Park headquarters for briefing and after for golden monkey tracking, this is another existing moment. Before meeting the golden monkeys, you will see other primates along the way with fauna and flora as you get closer to face-to-face with the beautiful golden monkeys. You will see them play as they jump from one branch of the tree to the other; all this will be amazing and memorable for your Africa safari. After golden monkey tracking in the afternoon, you will have the opportunity to visit the Dian Fossey Ellen DeGeneres Campus also known as the Dian Fossey Gorilla Museum
Accommodation Options for Dinner and overnight
Mid-range: Ingagi Park View Lodge
Day 9: Transfer to Kigali Airport
After a late breakfast have a relaxed morning, depending on the time of your flight, you will drive back to Kigali International Airport with a stopover in Kigali City for some before your flight out late in the evening.
End of 9 Days Rwanda gorilla trekking chimpanzees tour with big five in Akagera National Park
Includes: One Gorilla and chimpanzee Permit per Person, Meet & greet services, transfers to/from Rwanda, accommodation and meals on safari as above, boat ride in Akagera, bottled water on a safari vehicle, services of driver/guide, all park entry fees in Akagera N.P, Nyungwe N.P and Volcanoes N.P and all set activities on the itinerary.
Excludes Visas, personal travel insurance, and personal items. Charter/Scheduled flights are also an optional extra. Plus, all personal expenses, like tips, drinks, etc.
