12 DAYS BEST OF RWANDA SAFARI TOUR
12 Days Best of Rwanda safari tour: This 12 Days/ 11 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 12 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, Golden monkey trekking safaris, chimpanzee trekking safaris, exploration of Lake Kivu & and wildlife viewing safaris in Rwanda. Let’s have a look at the major activities to enjoy throughout this 12 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 golden monkey tracking adventure as well as hike to Dian Fossey grave which is as well conducted in Volcanoes national park.
This 12 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 12 days Rwanda safari with a cultural tour around Akagera national park.
This 12 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 12 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 & Visit Twin Lakes of Burela and Ruhondo
- Day 4: Golden Monkey tracking & Iby’Iwacu cultural tour
- Day 5: Visit Lake Kivu
- Day 6: Transfer to Nyungwe forest national park
- Day 7: Chimpanzee trekking and Afternoon Canopy walk
- Day 8: Isumo Water fall trail
- Day 9: Transfer to Kigali city
- Day 10: Transfer to Akagera national park & afternoon boat cruise
- Day 11: Morning game drive and afternoon cultural tour
- Day 12: Transfer back to Kigali and city tour
DETAILED ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrival and hotel transfer
Welcome to Rwanda: On day 1 of 12 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 12 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 & visit Twin Lakes of Burela & Ruhondo
Mountain Gorilla trekking in Rwanda’s Volcanoes national park: On the 3rd day of 12 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, you will have a guided walk to visit twin lakes of Burela and Ruhondo. You will then have dinner and stay overnight at your lodge as above.
Day 4: Golden Monkey tracking & Iby’Iwacu cultural tour
Golden Monkey tracking: After morning breakfast on day 4 of 12 Days Best of Rwanda safari tour, you will transfer to the park’s headquarters in Kiningi for briefing about the Golden monkey tracking in which rules and regulations to follow will be read to you. After briefing you will head in to the bamboo forests in search for golden monkeys, golden monkeys are endangered primate species and fun little cute creatures to be around. While in the presence of the golden monkeys you will enjoy seeing these creatures play on tree tops, collecting fruits which they puff into their cheeks and take amazing pictures. Unlike mountain gorilla, golden monkeys are not scared of the camera’s flashlight. After the experience you will head back to your lodge for lunch.
Iby’Iwacu cultural visit: Later in the evening, you will have a cultural visit the Gorilla Guardian Village where you will be overwhelmed by performances of music dance and drama to spice up your evening. You will then connect to your lodge for dinner and overnight as above.
Day 5: Visit Lake Kivu
Volcanoes national park to Lake Kivu: On the 5th day of your 12 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 6: Transfer to Nyungwe forest national park
Transfer to Nyungwe forest national park: After breakfast on the 6th day of 12 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 7: Chimpanzee trekking and Afternoon Canopy walk
Chimpanzee trekking: As early as 5:00am on the 7th day of 12 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 7 of 12 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 8: Isumo Water fall trail
Isumo waterfall trail: After breakfast at your lodge on day 8 of 12 days Best of Rwanda Safari tour, head to the park headquarters for briefing before finally penetrating the forest on a guided walk to Visit Isumo waterfall. Isumo waterfall trail is one of the adventurous trails in Nyungwe forest national park. This 5.3 Kilometer trail will take you about 4-5 hours forest walk. After the walk, you will connect to your lodge for lunch and spend your afternoon at leisure awaiting dinner and overnight as above.
Day 9: Transfer to Kigali city
Nyungwe forest national park to Kigali city: After a relaxed breakfast at the lodge on day 9 of 12 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 10: Transfer to Akagera national park & afternoon boat cruise
Kigali to Akagera national park: After breakfast on day 10 of 12 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 11: Morning game drive and afternoon cultural tour
Morning game drive: After breakfast on day 11 of 12 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 12: Transfer back to Kigali and city tour
Akagera national park to Kigali: On the last day of your 12 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 12 DAYS BEST OF RWANDA SAFARI TOUR
Safari inclusions
- A 4×4 safari vehicle
- A company Driver/Guide
- Fuel for your entire trip
- Chimpanzee trekking permit
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Golden Monkey tracking permit
- Canopy walk
- Isumo waterfall trail
- Boat ride
- Dian Fossey hike
- Park Entrance fees
- Visiting the Gorilla Guardians village
- Visiting twin lakes of Burela and Ruhondo
- Drinking water and lunch while traveling
- Full Board accommodation for 11 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
