10 Days Best of Rwanda safari tour

10 Days Best of Rwanda safari tour: This 10 Days/ 9 nights Best of Rwanda safari tour is one of the top booked itinerary by several travelers on a Rwanda safari conducted in all the 3 stunning safari destinations in Rwanda including Volcanoes national park, Nyungwe forest national park and Akagera national park without forgetting an adventure on Lake Kivu. This 10 Days Best of Rwanda safari tour is a carefully tailored Rwanda primate and wildlife safari package perfect for tourists interested in mountain gorilla trekking safaris, chimpanzee trekking, exploration of Lake Kivu & and wildlife viewing in Rwanda. Let’s have a look at the major activities to enjoy throughout this 10 Days Best of Rwanda safari tour.

Volcanoes national park is a top popular Rwanda safari destination famous for habiting the endangered mountain gorillas and offering excellent mountain gorilla trekking experience, this park is a home to 12 habituated gorilla families which are trekked on mountain gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda. Mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park offers a 1 hour encounter with mountain gorillas and in this one hour you are free to take memorable pictures as long as your flash light is off. You will as well enjoy a hike to Dian Fossey grave which is as well conducted in Volcanoes national park.

This 10 Days Best of Rwanda safari tour also will offer you a visit to Nyungwe forest national park a famous habitat for 13 species of primates with a huge population of chimpanzees, in this park you will get an opportunity to encounter and observe chimpanzees in their natural habitat. Other activity to do on this safari is enjoying a breath taking canopy walk.

And finally explore Akagera national park that offers ultimate experience and ample time with the wildlife and birdlife in Rwanda’s only Savannah national park that is a home to a variety of animal species which you should be ready to spot such as lions, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, hippos and many more. You will wind up your 10 days Rwanda safari with a cultural tour around Akagera national park.

This 10 Days Best of Rwanda safari tour will start from Kigali city to Volcanoes national park, to Nyungwe forest national park to Akagera national park and finally back to Kigali city.

Highlights of 10 Days Best of Rwanda safari tour

Day 1: Arrival and hotel transfer
Day 2: Transfer to volcanoes national park & Dian Fossey hike
Day 3: Mountain gorilla trekking in volcanoes national park
Day 4: Visit Lake Kivu
Day 5: Transfer to Nyungwe forest national park
Day 6: Chimpanzee trekking and Afternoon Canopy walk
Day 7: Transfer to Kigali city
Day 8: Transfer to Akagera national park & afternoon boat cruise
Day 9: Morning game drive and afternoon cultural tour
Day 10: Transfer back to Kigali and city tour

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1: Arrival and hotel transfer

Welcome to Rwanda: On day 1 of 10 Days Best of Rwanda safari tour, you are to arrive in in Kigali using Kigali international airport and transfer to your reserved hotel in Kigali. Depending on your arrival time, you will check in your hotel and have a meal as you relax from the flight.

Accommodation is got from

Luxury: The Kigali Serena Hotel

Mid-range: The Retreat Kigali

Budget: Step town Motel

Day 2: Transfer to volcanoes national park & Dian Fossey Hike

Kigali to Volcanoes national park: Well, after a relaxed breakfast at your hotel in Kigali on day 2 of 10 Days Best of Rwanda safari tour, you will be picked up by your safari driver/ guide and embark on your journey to Volcanoes national park a top travel destination in Rwanda. When you arrive in the park, proceed to check into your lodge and await your lunch.

Dian Fossey Hike: Later in the afternoon, you will be transferred to the park headquarters for a briefing before embarking on a hike to visit the grave of the great Primatologist Dian Fossey that lost her life in pursue to preserve the endangered mountain gorillas. You will learn more about the great things done by Dian Fossey before she was murdered by poachers. Later in the evening, you will descend back and head to your lodge for dinner and stay overnight at your lodge.

Driving distance: About 2- 3 hours’ drive from Kigali city

Accommodation is got from

Luxury: The 5 Volcanoes Lodge/ Sabyinyo Silverback lodge/ Songa Lodge

Mid-range: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge

Budget: Hotel Muhabura

Day 3: Mountain gorilla trekking in volcanoes national park

Mountain Gorilla trekking in Rwanda’s Volcanoes national park: On the 3^rd day of 10 Days Best of Rwanda safari tour, you are to do an adventurous and memorable mountain gorilla trekking safari. After morning breakfast at your lodge, you will leave your lodge and head to Volcanoes national park headquarters at Kiningi for briefing session. In the briefing rules and regulations to follow while trekking for mountain gorillas will be read to you, be assigned a gorilla group to trek, hire a porter to assist you and then hike into the forests in search for mountain gorillas. Mountain gorilla trekking allows a minimum of 8 people per group and one gorilla group is trekked per group per day, when you encounter the gorillas you will be mid blown by the huge size of the gorillas and their nature. You will take beautiful pictures as long as your flashlight is off and then hike back to the park’s headquarters, meet your guide and head out of the forest and enjoy your packed lunch. In the evening, if time allows, you may choose to have an optional visit to Ibyiwacu cultural village or have a guide walk to visit twin lakes of Burela and Ruhondo (All this can be arranged if needed). You will then have dinner and stay overnight at your lodge as above.

Day 4: Visit Lake Kivu

Volcanoes national park to Lake Kivu: On the 4^th day of your 10 Days Best of Rwanda safari tour, breakfast will be served at leisure after which, you will check out of your lodge and head to Gisenyi for a full day adventure on Lake Kivu. Upon arrival, you will check in for your lunch.

Afternoon boat ride: After lunch, you will enjoy a breath taking boat ride along Lake Kivu as you watch stunning attractions including abundant of birdlife and a view of a sunset over the horizon. Later in the evening, connect back to your hotel for diner and overnight rest.

Driving distance: 2 hours’ drive from Ruhengeri/ Kiningi to Gisenyi

Accommodation got from,

Luxury: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel

Midranges: La Palm Beach Hotel

Budget: Paradise Malahide

Day 5: Transfer to Nyungwe forest national park

Transfer to Nyungwe forest national park: After breakfast on the 5^th day of 10 Days Best of Rwanda safari tour, you will check out of the hotel and meet your driver for a transfer to Nyungwe forest national park your next safari destination. This is a 5-6 hours’ drive from Lake Kivu to Nyungwe with an enroute lunch. Upon arrival, proceed to check in your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Driving distance: 5-6 hours from Lake Kivu to Nyungwe forest

Accommodation is got from

Budget: Gisakura guest house

Midrange: Nyungwe Top View Hotel

Luxury: Nyungwe Forest Lodge

Day 6: Chimpanzee trekking and Afternoon Canopy walk

Chimpanzee trekking: As early as 5:00am on the 6^th day of 10 Days Best of Rwanda safari tour arise for morning breakfast and after breakfast, you will be driven to the park’s headquarters at Uwinka reception for briefing before the start of the Chimpanzee trekking experience in Nyungwe forest national park. During briefing, rules and regulations to follow on this safari will be read to you and then hike into Nyungwe forests in search for chimpanzees. Nyungwe forest national park is a home to 13 primate species that are chimpanzees, golden monkey, Rwenzori colobus, L’Hoest’s, silver monkey, golden monkey, owl-faced monkey, red-tailed monkey, Dent’s Mona monkey, Vervet monkey, olive baboon, grey-cheeked Mangabey, and 3species of bush baby. As your hiking from the forests of Nyungwe you will get a chance to spot these primates, birds and various species of flowing plants, when you find the chimpanzee you are to spend 1 hour in the presence of chimpanzees observing the chimpanzees as they feed their babies, playing on treetops and taking amazing pictures. After the trek you will go back to the park’s headquarters, then head to your lodge for lunch.

Afternoon canopy walk: In the afternoon still on the day 6 of 10 Days Best of Rwanda safari tour, you will drive back to the park for canopy walk. Canopy walk is done a high suspended metallic canopy above the tree tops, canopy walk offers aerial views of the birds and monkeys playing on treetops and the scenic surrounding. After the exercise you will head back to your lodge for a relaxed dinner and stay overnight.as above.

Day 7: Transfer to Kigali city

Nyungwe forest national park to Kigali city: After a relaxed breakfast at the lodge on day 7 of 10 Days Best of Rwanda safari tour, you will check out of the lodge and embark on your journey to Kigali city. This is a 6-7 hours’ drive with an enroute stopover at Butare museum and proceed to Kigali city arriving late in the evening for hotel check in, dinner and overnight.

Driving distance: 6-7 hours from Nyungwe to Kigali

Accommodation is got from

Luxury: The Kigali Serena Hotel

Mid-range: The Retreat Kigali

Budget: Step town Motel

Day 8: Transfer to Akagera national park & afternoon boat cruise

Kigali to Akagera national park: After breakfast on day 8 of 10 Days Best of Rwanda safari tour, check out of the hotel in Kigali and meet your Rwanda safari driver for a journey to the eastern province of Rwanda to Akagera national park the only savanna park in Rwanda. This is a 2-3 hours’ drive from Kigali city. Your final destination will be Akagera national park where you will check in your lodge for lunch.

Afternoon Boat cruise: After lunch, embark on an afternoon boat cruise along Lake Ihema. This boat cruise rewards you with a stunning and scenic views of different aquatic wildlife including Hippos, Crocodiles, water birds and many more that thrill along Lake Ihema. Later in the evening, return to your lodge for dinner and overnight sleep as above.

Driving distance: 2-3 hours

Accommodations will be got from,

Budget: Dereva hotel

Midrange: Akagera Game lodge/ Karenge Bush Camp

Luxury: Ruzizi Tented Camp

Day 9: Morning game drive and afternoon cultural tour

Morning game drive: After breakfast on day 9 of 10 Days Best of Rwanda safari tour, you will embark on a morning game drive in Akagera national park. Game drives in Akagera national park enables you to get closer to animals as they roam this savanna park. Akagera national park is a recognized home for various species of animals and the only savannah park in Rwanda, on this morning game drive you will enjoying viewing animals like lions, rhinos, zebras, impalas, giraffes, Topis, elephants and many more. You will also spot various species of birds such as Senegal lapwings, giant kingfisher, grey crowned crane, open bill stock, papyrus Gonolek, and many more. After the game drive, you will be driven back to your lodge for lunch.

Afternoon Cultural tour: In the afternoon, you will be led on a thrilling cultural experience where you will meet and interact with the local Rwandese and learn more about their unique cultural practices. Return to the lodge later on for dinner and night rest as above.

Day 10: Transfer back to Kigali and city tour

Akagera national park to Kigali: On the last day of your 10 Days Best of Rwanda safari tour, have your last game drive in the park and finally exit for a drive to Kigali Rwanda where you will be dropped off at Kigali international airport for your night departure flight back home or at a hotel in Kigali in case you need to spend more time in Kigali.

END OF 10 DAYS BEST OF RWANDA SAFARI TOUR

Safari inclusions

A 4×4 safari van
A company Driver/Guide
Fuel for your entire trip
Chimpanzee trekking permit
Gorilla trekking permit
Canopy walk
Boat ride
Dian Fossey hike
Park Entrance fees
Visiting the Gorilla Guardians village (optional)
Visiting twin lakes of Burela and Ruhondo (Optional)
Drinking water and lunch while traveling
Full Board accommodation for 9 nights
Pickup and drop-off in Kigali

Safari exclusions

Tips and gratuity
Pre and post tour accommodation (Can be arranged upon request)
International airfares
Rwanda Visa
Items of personal nature such as alcoholic drinks and laundry