8 DAYS RWANDA CULTURE & GORILLA TREKKING SAFARI
8 Days Rwanda culture and gorilla trekking safari: This 8 Days/ 7 Nights Rwanda culture and gorilla safari is an authentic and amazing combined Rwanda safari to trek the endangered mountain gorillas as well as enjoy an insight of Rwanda culture and heritage and all other stunning attractions in Rwanda the land of a thousand hills. During this 8 Days Rwanda culture and gorilla trekking safari, you will visit Akagera national park, Volcanoes national park, Lake Kivu and Ibyiwacu Cultural village.
Highlights of 8 Days Rwanda culture and gorilla trekking safari
- Day 1: Arrival in Kigali Rwanda – cultural experience of Rwanda
- Day 2: Game drive in Akagera national park
- Day 3: Visit a homestead for a Rwandan cultural experience
- Day 4: Transfer to Volcanoes national park
- Day 5: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park
- Day 6: Visit Gorilla Guardians Village/ Ibyiwacu cultural center
- Day 7: Transfer to Lake Kivu – Fishing Village tour
- Day 8: Transfer back to Kigali
DETAILED ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrival for a cultural experience of Rwanda
Welcome to Rwanda: Upon landing at Kigali international airport on day 1 of 8 Days Rwanda culture and gorilla trekking safari, you will be met and picked up by our company representative who will welcome you to the land of a thousand hills. Meet and greet and then set off on a Kigali city tour where you will enjoy several attractions in the city including the Kigali genocide memorial sites after which you will embark on your journey to Akagera national park for overnight at Magashi Camp/ Ruzizi tented camp/ Akagera game lodge
Meal plan: Lunch and Dinner
Driving distance: 2 hours
Day 2: Game drive and boat cruise in Akagera national park
Game drive and boat cruise: On the 2nd day of your 8 Days Rwanda culture and gorilla trekking safari, you will have breakfast before embarking 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.
Afternoon boat cruise: After game drive, you will head back to the lodge for lunch after which you will spend your afternoon on a 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.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Magashi Camp/ Ruzizi tented camp/ Akagera game lodge
Day 3: Visit a homestead for a Rwandan cultural experience
Cultural experience: After breakfast on the 3rd day of 8 Days Rwanda culture and gorilla safari, we shall take you for a breath taking cultural tour to the Eastern part of Rwanda where you will meet and interact pastoralists. This adventure will take you to a homestead of cattle keepers where you will take part in some of the cultural practices including milking cows, grazing and as well have some lessons on how to convert milk into cheese and ghee traditionally. This is a full day adventure and later in the evening, you will either spend the overnight in a local homestead or a nearby guest house.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 4: Transfer to Volcanoes national park
Drive to Volcanoes national park: After enjoying your breakfast at the place where you spent your overnight on day 4 of 8 Days Rwanda culture and gorilla trekking safari, you will check out and embark on a 4-5 hours’ drive to Volcanoes national park with an enroute stopover in Kigali city. You will then proceed with your journey to Volcanoes national park via park headquarters for clearance and pick up both the gorilla trekking permit as you proceed to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: 5 Volcanoes Gorilla lodge (Luxury)/ Le Bamboo Gorilla Lodge (Mid-range)/ Hotel Muhabura/ Garden palace Hotel (Budget)
Day 5: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park
Rwanda gorilla trekking: Have your breakfast served in the morning of day 5 of 8 Days Rwanda culture and gorilla trekking safari then be transferred to the park headquarters for a briefing by 7:00am with other trekkers before setting off for gorilla trekking adventure in the wilderness of Volcanoes national park. After briefing, penetrate the forest in search of habituated mountain gorillas available for trekking. Spend one hour with the gorillas after landing on them as you watch them, take photographs, and learn some of their manners such as feeding, breast feeding, copulating among others and later on be transferred back to your lodge to freshen up as you warm up for an evening cultural tour to the Ibyiwacu cultural village. Spend your evening enjoying the entertainment by the local Rwandese and return to the lodge for dinner and overnight as above.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: 5 Volcanoes Gorilla lodge (Luxury)/ Le Bamboo Gorilla Lodge (Mid-range)/ Hotel Muhabura/ Garden palace Hotel (Budget)
Day 6: Visit Gorilla Guardians Village/ Ibyiwacu cultural center
Full day in Gorilla Guardian village: After breakfast on day 6 of 8 Days Rwanda culture and gorilla trekking safari, you will be transferred to the Gorilla guardian village as well known as the Ibyiwacu cultural center where you will learn more about the life style of the locals in those villages who decided to dedicate themselves to do a good work of conserving and protecting gorillas. These locals were once poachers but right now they condemn poaching. You will then enjoy thrilling traditional performances by the locals, learn how to make the local beer from bananas and finally visit a homestead where you will take part in preparing local meals and enjoy.
Day 7: Transfer to Lake Kivu – Fishing Village tour
Transfer to Lake Kivu / Gisenyi: After enjoying a relaxed breakfast at your hotel/ lodge on day 7 of 8 Days Rwanda culture and gorilla trekking safari, we depart volcanoes national park for Lake Kivu in Gisenyi. Lake Kivu is such a stunning lake bordering Rwanda and DRCongo. While at Lake Kivu, you will enjoy a boat ride to explore the Beautiful Napoleon Island, visit the hot springs and enjoy beach relaxation since you have a full day on Lake Kivu. Late in the evening, take on a village tour to the fishing village where you will join fishermen in learning about the traditional fishing and preservation methods. Retire to your lodge for dinner and grab night rest.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Lake Kivu Serena (Luxury)/ Inzonzi lodge (Mid-range)/ Paradise Malahide (Budget)
Day 8: Transfer back to Kigali
Departures: Today marks the end of your 8 Days Rwanda culture and gorilla trekking safari. Well, depending on your flight details, you will enjoy a relaxed breakfast at your lodge after which you will check out and embark on a journey to Kigali where you will be dropped off at the Hotel in Kigali or direct at Kigali international airport.
Meal plan: Breakfast and Lunch
END OF 8 DAYS RWANDA CULTURE & GPORILLA TREKKING SAFARI
Safari inclusions;
- Rwanda Gorilla trekking permit
- Cultural experience
- A 4×4 safari vehicle for all ground transportation
- Enough bottled drinking water
- 7 nights’ accommodation on full board basis
- All Park entrance fees
- Boat trips on Lake Ihema and Lake Kivu
- Game drives
- Services of an English speaking safari driver/ guide
Safari Excludes;
- International travel visa
- Additional accommodation can be arranged upon request
- Other drinks and beverages
- All expenses of personal nature such as telephone, laundry
- Tips and gratuity
- Life Insurance
