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info@gorilla-trekking-safari.com
Kampala, Uganda

Best of Chimpanzee Tracking and Big Five Safari

8-Day Chimpanzee Tracking Rwanda and Akagera Big Five Safari

Start & EndDay 2Day 3Day 4Day 5Day 6-7

What you should expect

Highlights

Start Kigali (Day 1)
Day 1 Kigali Airport (Kigali)
Day 2 Nyungwe National Park (Chimps)
Day 3 Kibuye (Town)
Day 4 Gisenyi (Lake Kivu)
Day 5 Ruhengeri (City)
Day 6-7 Akagera National Park
End Kigali (Kigali) (Day 8)

Overview

This 8-Day Chimpanzee Tracking Rwanda and Akagera Big Five Safari will take you to some of Rwanda’s most amazing destinations. Hike through Nyungwe Forest National Park and search for the elusive big five in Akagera National Park. Enjoy all that Rwanda has to offer from Kigali to Musanze!

Itinerary Details

Day-by-Day


Day 1 International Airport Pick Up and Transfer to Your Hotel

Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will meet our guide who will welcome you. You will then get briefed about your upcoming activities and depending on your arrival time, you will proceed with the Kigali city tour after check-in at your hotel.

Meal Plans

Dinner (Breakfast & lunch not included)

Accommodation Plans

Hotel in Kigali
Day 2 King Palace and Ethnological Museum, Canopy Walk in Nyungwe National Park

After your breakfast, you will drive to the southwest through the greenery landscapes and stopover at the King Palace Museum where you will take a journey into the Rwanda origins and learn about the Rwandan king's lifestyle. You will visit the long-horn cows, the romantic ones who are always in the king' back yard.


Around noon, you will continue toward Butare city (the old Rwandan capital city) where you will stop to visit the biggest ethnographic museum in East Africa. You'll get to learn about the African tribes and traditional industry.


Later, you will experience a canopy walk by walking some 20 minutes in the forest and get your morning challenge by walking above the dark forest on an extended 200m and shaking bridge suspended above 70m. This will be a challenging experience where you will find yourself above the flying monkeys, birds, and tropical trees. The view is amazing!

Your overnight stay will be at a lodge.

Meal Plans

All meals included

Accommodation Plans

Lodge outside Nyungwe NP
Day 3 Drive some 2.5 hours toward Lake Kivu in Karongi

After breakfast, you will drive some 2.5 hours toward Lake Kivu in Karongi. You will have your lunch and then grab your drink and go to respond to the calling islands. Beautiful and most importantly panoramically green. You will hike Napoleon Island and stand in front of the open thousand hills. You will be amazed by the view, the fruits and the blue monkeys, the birds, and the natural silence from one island to another.

Your overnight stay will be at a Hotel.

Meal Plans

All meals included

Accommodation Plans

Hotel in Kibuye (Town)
Day 4 Transfer to Rubavu, Mount Rubavu Hike and Hot Spring

After your breakfast, you will drive about 3 hours toward Rubavu. You will reach Rubavu at lunchtime, check-in and have your lunch at a Hotel.


Later in the afternoon, you will go to hike Mount Rubavu. This mountain is over the city of Rubavu, this will give you a panoramic view of both Rubavu city and Goma city on the DRC side as Rubavu is the bordering city of DRC.

The hike will take you about 1.5 hours and then you'll go to enjoy the well-known Rubavu hot spring. You will just get off your shoes and jump into the water for your health. It will help you to relax and take away the previous tiredness. You will also experience your traditional massage before you get back to your hotel.

Your overnight stay will be at a Hotel.

Meal Plans

All meals included

Accommodation Plans

Hotel in Gisenyi (Lake Kivu)
Day 5 Transfer to Kigali, Canoeing, Visit the Parliament Building and Kimironko Local Market

After breakfast, you'll drive some 2 hours to Kigali. On your way to Kigali, you will stop in Musanze and go canoeing in the Mukungwa River, a river that is on the feet of volcanoes in Musanze.


After your lunch, you will drive straight to Kigali and go to visit the parliament building, which hosts the campaign against genocide to learn about the resilience and commitment of the current leaders who stopped the genocide and brought Rwanda to a significant successful level. The building is old and ornamented by gunshots to testify to its terrible and unique history among thousands of buildings in Kigali.


After that, if time allows, you will go to visit the Kimironko market to buy your souvenirs and meet our local people.

Your overnight stay will be at the Hotel.

Meal Plans

All meals included

Accommodation Plans

Hotel in Kigali
Day 6 Transfer to Akagera National Park Game Drive Safari

Starting from Kigali early morning (preferably at 5 am), you will drive to Akagera National Park. You will check in at the park around 8 am and register at the park entrance. You will immediately go for your long day game drive. Our drive guide will order a packed lunch (sandwich, fruits, eggs, juices) and go for a game drive. You will start by the southern part of the park home of zebras, buffalos, giraffes, antelopes, and many other species including a variety of birds.

Around 4 pm, you will return to the Lodge.

Your overnight stay will be at a Lodge.

Meal Plans

All meals included

Accommodation Plans

Lodge outside Akagera NP
Day 7 Boat Tour and the Evening Game Drives in Akagera National Park

In the morning, you will drive to Lake Ihema, the second largest lake in the country, and get in the boat to explore the big mammals and reptiles like crocodiles, elephants, buffalo, monitor lizards, and even other species coming to drink.

After the boat trip, you will drive back to the hotel for lunch and relax a little bit before you go for your evening game safari.


Later, you'll go for an evening game drive through the height of the park which will not only give you a rich spot but also a panoramic look above the five lakes between Tanzania and Rwanda. The sunset above the Akagera waterlands gives an unforgettable view of the sunset. You will then witness nocturnal species like lions, hyenas, leopards, bush babies, civets, and other varieties of cats.

Your overnight stay will be at a Lodge.

Meal Plans

All meals included

Accommodation Plans

Lodge outside Akagera NP
Day 8 Transfer to Kigali, Fly Back Home

After your breakfast, you will drive for about 3 hours back to Kigali. You will be transferred immediately to the airport to return to your home.

Meal Plans

Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)

Accommodation Plans

No accommodation (End of tour)

Booking Form

Payment Methods

Inclusions

Park fees (For non-residents)
Chimp Tracking Permit
All activities (Unless labeled as optional)
All accommodation (Unless listed as upgrade)
A professional driver/guide
All transportation (Unless labeled as optional)
All Taxes/VAT
Roundtrip airport transfer
Meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)
Drinks (As specified in the day-by-day section)

Exclusions

International flights (From/to home)
Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
Tips (Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
Personal items (Souvenirs travel insurance visa fees etc.)
Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
Some meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)

Sustainability Commitment

This tour is 100% sustainable. We encourage our travelers to minimize their carbon footprint by choosing eco-friendly practices.

Cancellation Policy

Please note our cancellation policy to ensure clarity in case of changes to your travel plans. 30 days or more before departure Full refund minus a 10% service fee. 15–29 days before departure 50% of the total booking cost will be refunded. 14 days or less before departure No refund will be provided. We recommend travel insurance to cover unforeseen circumstances.

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