15 Days Rwanda Classic Safari
15 Days Rwanda Classic Safari: Our 15 days Rwanda Classic Safari offers you the opportunity for once in lifetime wildlife encounters. You will track chimpanzees and spot monkeys, baboons and other wildlife animals in Nyungwe Forest National Park. Trekking deep into the forests of Volcanoes National Park, you will search for endangered mountain gorillas with expert local rangers. You will also have an opportunity to explore Kigali and its colorful markets, cross Nyungwe’s Canopy Walkway and take a boat ride on Lake Kivu.
Summary for 15 Days Rwanda Classic Safari.
Day 1: Arrival and transfer to your hotel in Kigali
Day 2: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park
Day 3: Chimpanzee trekking
Day 4: Forest Nature Walk
Day 5: Transfer to Kibuye along the shores of Lake Kivu
Day 6: Transfer to Gisenyi
Day 7: Transfer to Ruhengeri
Day 8: Gorilla trekking in Parc National Des Volcans
Day 9: Golden Monkey tracking
Day 10: Hiking Mountain Bisoke
Day 11: Transfer back to Kigali and to Akagera National Park
Day 12: Morning game drive and Boat ride on Lake Ihema
Day 13: Nature walk and Evening Game Drive
Day 14: Community Tour
Day 15: Transfer Back to Kigali.
Detailed Itinerary 15 Days Rwanda Classic Safari
Day 1: Arrival and transfer to your hotel in Kigali
Upon arrival at Kanombe International Airport, our guide will welcome you and transfer to Kigali city and depending on the time of your arrival; you will go for a short city tour with in Kigali and visit the genocide memorial site. Dinner and overnight stay at Hotel des Mille Collines(luxury)/ Golf Hills Residence(mid range)/ Step Town Motel(budget)
Day 2: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park
After a morning breakfast on the second day of your 15 Days Rwanda Classic Safari, you will transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park. En route, you will pass through wonderful and magnificent hills and cultivated countryside. Have a stopover at the royal King’s Palace in Nyanza for a cultural description about the history of Rwanda. Continue and visit the cultural museum at Rwesero. Proceed and reach Butare town where you will have lunch after lunch you will visit the Rwanda National Museum for a tour around the site.
Proceed and reach the Park late afternoon. Upon arrival you will visit the new Visitor’s Interpretive Centre to give you more information about the park such as number of primate species found in the park, types of bird species and other tourist activities carried out with in the Park. Dinner and overnight at Nyungwe forest Lodge(luxury)/ Nyungwe Top Hill Hotel(Midrange)/ Gisakura Guest House(budget)
Day 3: Chimpanzee trekking
On the third day of your 15 Days Rwanda Classic Safari, you will have an early morning breakfast then report to the park headquarters in Nyungwe forest for briefing before going for chimpanzee tracking. However, it is advisable to organize packed lunch and plenty of water prior to this expedition since it can sometimes last over 6 hours. In the forest, you will not only see chimpanzees to but also variety of animals and birds like the Rwenzori Turacco, black and white casqued horn bill, colobus monkeys – sometimes as many as 400 in a group. Return late in the afternoon. Return for dinner and Overnight as lodge above.
Day 4: Forest Nature Walk
After having breakfast on the fourth day of your 14 Days Rwanda Safari, you will embark on the forest Nature walk with in the park which will enable you to explore the Park’s unique tourist features including waterfalls and orchids in the high altitude swamps. Return to the lodge for lunch and spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing or Participate in the tea harvesting in the neighboring local communities or Visit a tea factory and learn about the production processes. Dinner and overnight at as lodge above.
Day 5: Transfer to Kibuye along the shores of Lake Kivu
On the fifth day of your 14 Days Rwanda Safari, you will have an early morning breakfast then transfer to Lake Kivu. The lake is one of the great lakes in Africa and is the largest of the fresh water lakes that gleam in the Albertine (Western) rift of the Great Rift Valley. On the shores there is the Kibuye town which is one of the country’s most attractive of lake ports, nestled in a series of interwoven and undulating hills and will offer you spectacular views of the lake and its islands plus the surrounding countryside.
En route to the Lake, you will Visit the L’Esperance Orphanage in Kigarama village. You will see how the orphaned children have been helped by donations from different organizations and also from tourists like you. Arrive at your lodge for evening relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at
After having breakfast on the sixth day of your 14 Days Rwanda Safari, you will continue with your safari Lake Kivu Serena Hotel(Luxury)/ Cormoran Lodge( mid range)/ Paradise Malahide(budget)
Day 6: Transfer to Gisenyi
This offers beautiful and excellent views of Lake Kivu and it’s a great place to relax while feeling its waterfront and sandy beaches. Upon arrival, you will have lunch and then spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing or visit the hot springs which will help you learn more about the formation of the Virunga Volcanic Mountains. Alternatively you can also visit the local projects in the area and interact with project members or visit the local artisans and a local women’s weaving association. Overnight in Gisenyi town as lodge above
Day 7: Transfer to Ruhengeri
Breakfast will be served early this day on the seventh day of your 14 Days Rwanda Safari and then after, you will check out from your Hotel and later transfer to Ruhengeri. En route you will visit the Iby’iwacu Cultural Village where you may have a wonderful and interactive experience about the Rwandan traditions, culture and way of life. After this you will continue to the Park reaching in the late evening. Dinner and overnight at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge(luxury)/ Le bamboo Gorilla Lodge(mid range)/ Hotel Muhabura(budget)
Day 8: Gorilla trekking in Parc National Des Volcans
The eighth day of this 14 Days Rwanda Safari highlights a gorilla trekking activity. Early in the morning after breakfast and a briefing from the ORTPN officials, set off for the gorilla tracking. This experience of gorilla tracking is a once in a life time adventure. The rangers will lead you deep into the forest in search for the Gorillas. You will move up and down the rugged terrain until you finally meet these harmonious creatures that will entertain you with performances for about 1 hour. The activity in Rwanda can take 3-5 hours since the gorillas move up and down.
This is an awesome and exciting moment. Return for dinner and overnight stay as lodge above.
Day 9: Golden Monkey tracking
After breakfast on the ninth day of your 14 Days Rwanda Safari, you will go for golden monkey tracking. This activity also takes like 2-3 hours in the Virunga forest. Later return back to your lodge for early lunch and transfer back to Kigali city reaching in the afternoon. Take a city walk in the evening around Ruhengeri. Dinner and overnight stay as lodge above.
Day 10: Hiking Mountain Bisoke
The tenth day of this 14 Days Rwanda Safari highlights a physical challenge. After breakfast at your Lodge, you will set out for a one day hike on Mount Bisoke. This will give you views of the beautiful slopes and also get a chance to see the forest while on the mountain. Return for dinner and overnight stay as lodge above.
Day 11: Transfer back to Kigali and to Akagera National Park
After breakfast on the eleventh day of your 14 Days Rwanda Safari, you will depart for Kigali for lunch and also a short city tour to the Gisozi Genocide Memorial site. You will later transfer to Akagera national Park. En route you will pass through the country’s phenomenal landscape which will give you views of the country’s beauty and also the life style of its people. Upon arrival in the park, you will go for a short southern Lake Ihema game drive. Look out for animals such as elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, hippos, crocodiles and many more like Antelopes. Dinner and overnight at Ruzizi Tented Camp(luxury)/ Akagera Game Lodge.
Day 12: Morning game drive and Boat ride on Lake Ihema
On the twelfth day of this 14 Days Rwanda Safari highlights more activities in Akagera National Park. Early in the morning after breakfast, you will go for a Northern circuit game drive to search for animals that you may have missed out in the previous game drive. It was not a guarantee that all the animals can be seen in the evening game drive.
There are some that are early risers and can only be seen in the morning. Return back to the lodge for a small relation as you wait for lunch. After lunch, you will go for a boat ride on Lake Ihema which will offer you with views of the surrounding areas, hills and swamps. Expect to see Hippos, crocodiles and more bird species. Return back to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay as lodge above
Day 13: Nature walk and Evening Game Drive
Early morning after breakfast on the second last day of your 14 Days Rwanda Safari, you will go for a nature walk to search for different bird species. Later head back to your lodge for dinner and accommodation same as previous night.
Day 14: Community Tour
Wake at leisure and have breakfast at your lodge. You will then meet up with your driver guide and head out for a community tour to one of the local communities neighboring Akagera national park. Get to watch amazing dance and signing performances for the local dance troupes in the community. You will also get a chance to visit some craft stalls in the community and even learn first-hand how the locals make craft items. You can buy some souvenirs for you and your loved ones in support of the local community. Later drive back to the park for lunch and spend the rest of the evening enjoying the amenities at the lodge. Dinner and overnight same as before.
Day 15: Transfer Back to Kigali.
Bid farewell to Akagera national park today. Have a relaxed breakfast at the lodge and embark on your return journey back to Kigali. Drop off location will be at a location of your choice in Kigali City.
