10 DAYS RWANDA GORILLA TREK & WILDLIFE SAFARI

Safari Overview of the 10 Days Rwanda Gorilla trek & Wildlife Safari

The 10 Days Rwanda Gorilla trek & Wildlife Safari is a full safari package that provides you that long a waited opportunity to trek the world’s most endangered species of mountain gorilla. The 10 Days Rwanda Gorilla trek & Wildlife Safari will enable you to experience the different cultural activities and most outstanding national parks in Rwanda. The highly rewarding safari package will take you through Akagera National Park-home of unique wildlife species such as Impala, Topi, eland species, oribi, Masai giraffe, bushbuck, Defassa waterbuck, reedbuck, sable, antelope, Burchall’s zebra, hippos and the crocodiles. Nyungwe forest national park dubbed the primate capital of the Rwanda with largest counts of habituated chimpanzees, Lake Kivu the home of adventure in Rwanda, Volcanoes National Park-natural home of the world’s critically endangered mountain gorillas. The 10 Days Safari will combine Rwanda’s most marvelous tourist activities with ultimate cultural experiences and taste of world class services from some of the best lodges/hotels in Rwanda- the land of thousand hills.

Safari Highlights of the 10 Days Rwanda Gorilla trek & Wildlife Safari

Safari Day by Day

Safari Day by Day of the 10 Days Rwanda Gorilla trek & Wildlife Safari:

Day 1 of the 10 Days Rwanda Gorilla trek & Wildlife Safari: Arrival in Kanombe International Airport & Embark on Kigali City

Immediately you land at Kanombe international airport in Kigali, you will be met by our professional driver guide who will warmly welcome you and then transfer you to your pre-booked Kigali hotel for Cup of coffee and refreshment. Thereafter, embark on city tour .The city tour will take you through Gisozi genocide memorial center where you will have time to listen to the comprehensive history of Rwanda during the 1994 genocide and the events of the massacres, including personal accounts. You will view the Photographs, video clips, and artifacts of the genocide. Right after visiting Gisozi genocide memorial, you will advance to tour other interesting places like Nyamata church, Presidential Palace, explore the Natural History Museum also known as ‘Kandt house’ a first modern house built in Kigali since its existence as a capital city. You may visit art and craft centers like Caplaki, Inganzo gallery where you will spend time learning how to sew peace baskets and make Imigongo that Rwandans use for home decoration, visit local Markets Like Cyimironko Local Market, Kicukiro Local Market. In the evening, you will join the Susa Tours cultural troup for cultural entertainment. Here you will experience contemporary music, African, Rwandan food and drinks. Afterwards retire back to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodations: Kigali Serena Hotel (Luxury/Upmarket), Hotel chez Lando (Mid-Range/Standard), Hotel Okapi (Budget)

Day 2 of the 10 Days Rwanda Gorilla trek & Wildlife Safari: Transfer to Akagera National Park & do boat cruise, Behind the Scenes experience.

Right after taking an early morning breakfast, the driver guide will pick up from your Kigali hotel/lodge and embark on transfer drive of 130kms about 2-3hours drive from Kigali to Akagera Nation Park. The drive to the eastern part of Rwanda is very pleasing as it will take you through picturesque landscape of Rwanda. Upon your arrival at the park, you will be advance with the drive to your lodge to check-in, have lunch & relaxation. After lunch, embark on an afternoon boat trip along the waters of Lake Ihema-Rwanda’s second largest fresh water body. The boat trip will give you an opportunity to get close to the various water birds species including African fish eagles, open-billed stork marabou stork, cormorants, crowned cranes, egrets and herons among others. The boat trip will also reward you with the views and sights of the unique wild game like Hippos, Nile Crocodiles, elephants, Buffaloes when they are drinking on the shores of lake. After the boat trip, you will retire back to the park head Quarters for Behind the Scenes experience. Here you will get more insights into Akagera, including conservation developments within the park; you will meet some of the important individuals integral to the management of the park. Retreat back to your lodge for dinner and overnight after the activity.

Accommodation: Akagera game Lodge (Luxury), Ruzizi Tented Lodge (Mid-Range), Shakani Campsite (Budget).

Day 3 of the 10 Days Rwanda Gorilla trek & Wildlife Safari: Do early morning game drive & transfer to Butare.

Following a cup of coffee, embark on an early morning game drive along a well-designed network of tracks in Kagera national park. The game drive will provide you possibilities of meeting early morning wildlife risers when they are embarking on their daily activities of searching for food among others. You may also confront the nocturnal wildlife species when they are coming back to their hiding grounds. The range of wildlife that you stand pretty chance to watch include elephants, buffalo, zebra, bush baby, hippos, crocodiles among other mammal species. On rare occasions, you can see species such as leopard, lion and black rhino. As one of the most scenic savanna parks in East Africa, the game drive in Akagera will provide you pretty opportunity to see gentle hills blending in beautifully lowland swamps and water bodies. After enjoying the highly interesting game drive, you will return to the lodge for relaxation, lunch and thereafter embark on transfer to Butare town. On arrival to Butare, you will drive to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodations: Mator Boni Consilii (Luxury/Upmarket), Hotel Ibis (Mid-Range/Standard) Guest House Centre Diaconal (Budget/Standard).

Day 4 of the 10 Days Rwanda Gorilla trek & Wildlife Safari: Explore Butare & Transfer to Nyungwe

After taking breakfast, set off to explore Butare city in the Southern Province of Rwanda. You will visit unexplored places like the National Museum of Rwanda- which shows cultural history of the Rwanda and the region. From the Museum you will head to the National University of Rwanda (NUR).After exploring the city, you retire back to your lodge for lunch, relaxation as you wait for transfer to Nyungwe. After lunch, turn to transfer drive from Butare to Nyungwe national park a drive distance of 155kms about 3-4 hours’ drive without enroute stopovers. The drive to Nyungwe will take you through picturesque landscape dotted with local settings and local populations. On arrival to the park, you will drive to your pre- booked lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodations: Mator Boni Consilii (Luxury/Upmarket), Hotel Ibis (Mid-Range/Standard) Guest House Centre Diaconal (Budget).

Day 5 of the 10 Days Rwanda Gorilla trek & Wildlife Safari: Do an Early morning Chimpanzee trekking & Afternoon Canopy Walk.

After your early morning breakfast, you will drive to the park headquarters for an early morning briefing about the rules to follow when trekking the chimps. After briefing, you will be led by the ranger guide through the beautiful forest trail to trek the fascinating chimpanzee creatures. Along the trails you will enjoy the nice melodies of different bird species housed in the forest and you will also have chance to enjoy the views of other primates like grey-cheeked mangabey, monkeys. The activity takes between 2-6 hours but experienced guides will also make sure that they take you where you will have to see the primates as fast as possible. Face to face encounter with the chimpanzees is very amazing because you will observe them play, feed and rest. After this worthwhile experience, you will head back to the lodge for lunch and later explore canopy walk to see the beautiful twin lakes as well as various bird species.

Accommodation: Nyungwe Forest Lodge, (Luxury) Nyungwe Top View Hotel (Mid-Range),Gisakura Guest House(Budget)

Day 6 of the 10 Days Rwanda Gorilla trek & Wildlife Safari: Transfer to Gisenyi-Lake Kivu.

Depart Nyungwe Forest Park to Gisenyi in Lake Kivu after your early morning breakfast. The overland journey of 189 kms will offer you a breathtaking view of the “million” hills that decorate Rwanda. On arrival to Gisenyi town, you will drive direct to your pre-booked lodge within Lake Kivu for lunch, relaxation. After lunch, embark on an afternoon boat ride around the Virgin Islands like the Napoleon’s Hat Island. After enjoying the adventurous boat ride on the waters of Lake Kivu, retire back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodations: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel (Luxury), Cormoran Lodge (Mid-Range)

Day 7 of the 10 Days Rwanda Gorilla trek & Wildlife Safari: An Early Morning boat cruise to Virgin Islands

After an early morning breakfast, embark on boat cruise to explore the Virgin Islands like the Napoleon’s Hat Island. While at Hat Island, you may ascend to the peak of the hat to view thousands of Angola bats in the blue skies. You can also enjoy swimming in the, Crocodile free, bilharzia free water of Lake Kivu and after exploring the adventurous activities retire back to the lodge for lunch and relaxation.

Day 8 of the 10 Days Rwanda Gorilla trek & Wildlife Safari: Transfer to Volcanoes national park & Have an afternoon cultural encounter

Right after taking your breakfast, turn on your transfer drive from Lake Kivu to Volcanoes national park. The drive distance of 62 kilometers about 1and half hours’ drive will lead you to natural home of Mountain gorillas in Volcanoes national Park. On arrival to the park, you will drive to your lodge to relax and have lunch. After lunch, you will embark on an evening cultural encounter with the local communities around volcanoes national park. The cultural encounter will give you a rare opportunity to interact with the local people in their natural environment, with a taste of their unique culture and traditions. On arrival to the village, you will be genuinely welcomed by the community as special Visitors. After cultural refreshment, entrainment, you will retire back to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodations: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (Standard/Mid-range), Muhabura Hotel (Budget).

Day 9 of the 10 Days Rwanda Gorilla trek & Wildlife Safari: Do Gorilla Trekking & Musanze Cave tour.

On this long awaited day, you will start it by taking hearty breakfast and then transfer to the park head quarter for an early morning briefing regarding gorilla trekking etiquettes in Volcanoes Park. While at the park headquarters, you will meet other trekkers and be divided in groups of eight individuals who are allowed to trek one habituated mountain gorilla group. After briefing, you will be led by ranger guide to hike through the verdant jungle searching for mountain gorillas. The activity which will take 2-8 hours needs someone to be physical fit since it involves hiking the hills and slopping the Valleys. Gorilla trekking process is tedious but impressive when you finally set your small eyes direct to bit big round eyes of the mountain gorillas. When you eventually meet the gorillas, you will be allowed one hour with them, seeing them feed, play and look for their young ones. While staying with the gorillas, you will be required to maintain a distance of 7 meters away, also turn off the flash of your camera as you take pictures. Right after one hour, you will retire back to the starting point and transfer to your lodge for late lunch and relaxation. After lunch, embark on Musanze Cave tour through the tourist walkways, trails and stairs that take you to the dark interior of the caves that illustrates a picture of a house with several rooms and corridors. The tour will offer you an in-depth understanding of the geological, geographical as well as historical development of the globe. After exploring the cave, retreat back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodations: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (Standard/Mid-range), Muhabura Hotel (Budget).

Day 10 of the 10 Days Rwanda Gorilla trek & Wildlife Safari: Trek to Dian Fossey Tomb and Transfer to Kigali City.

After an early morning breakfast, embark on trek to Dian Fossey Tomb. The trek will offer you golden opportunity to visit the Dian Fossey Tomb and visit the house where this prominent American researcher was killed from and also listen to the experienced guide explain to you the history of the fallen conservationist. After exploring Karisoke Research Centre, you will embark on transfer drive to Kigali. On arrival to the city, the driver guide will take you to any Kigali hotel for lunch. Thereafter, the driver guide will drive you to Kanombe Airport for your scheduled flight back home.

End of the 10 Days Rwanda Gorilla trek & Wildlife Safari

Getting there

Map Shwoing the 10 Days Rwanda Gorilla trek & Wildlife Safari

Uganda Safari Attractions

PLACES TO VISIT IN UGANDA, UGANDA SAFARI ATTRACTIONS

Queen Elizabeth National Park Uganda

Queen Elizabeth National Park is understandably Uganda’s most popular tourist destination. The park’s diverse ecosystems, which include sprawling savanna, shady, humid forests, sparkling lakes and fertile wetlands, make it the ideal habitat for classic big game, ten primate species including chimpanzees and over 600 species of birds. The bird species include the black bee-eater, 11 types of king fisher, Shoebill storks and several species of falcons, eagles and other raptors.Set against the backdrop of the jagged Rwenzori Mountains, the park’s magnificent vistas include dozens of enormous craters carved dramatically into rolling green hills, panoramic views of the Kazinga Channel with its banks lined with hippos, buffalo and elephants, and the endless Ishasha plains, whose fig trees hide lions ready to pounce on herds of unsuspecting Uganda kob.
The park is known for its volcanic features, comprising volcanic cones and deep craters, many with crater lakes such as Lake Katwe where salt is mined. The national park has Maramagambo Forest and neighbors with Kigezi and Kyambura Game Reserves, Kibale National Park plus the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Kasese lying on its north-western wing.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest NP Tours

Bwindi Impenetrable national park is located in South Western Uganda, on the edge of the western rift valley, shared by Rukungiri, Kabale and Kisoro Districts. The Park with its dense ground cover of vines and shrubs is home to the world’s endangered species of the mountain gorillas, of which they are only 880 still left in the entire world and out of this, 400 hundred, are in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park remains the only park in the whole world where mountain gorillas co-exist with wild chimpanzees although there are no trekking chimps since no community has been habituated. Bwindi is one of the richest areas for flora in Eastern Africa. The forest is also sanctuary for Columbus monkeys, chimpanzees and many bird types including some endangered species. Because of its importance in protecting given bio diversities, Bwindi Impenetrable forest was recognized and up graded to a status of being a world heritage by UNESCO in 1994.

Mgahinga National Park Tours

Mgahinga National Park is Uganda’s smallest national park situated in the extreme southwestern part of Uganda in Kisoro district. The park is located on the northern slopes of the three northernmost Virunga Volcanoes namely; Mt. Muhavura (4,127 m), Mt. Gahinga (3,474 m), and Mt. Sabinyo (3,645 m). Mgahinga National Park covering an area of 33.7sq.kms was gazetted in 1991 to protect and conserve the species of the rare mountain gorillas that inhabit the park’s hilly dense forests.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is one of the parks in Uganda with an exceptional diversity of habitats, ranging from Afro-montane vegetation; plentiful bamboo vegetation to Lobelia Haegenia which supports the survival of at least 39 species of mammal and 79 birds found in the park. The Larger mammals supported in the natural habitat includes elephant, leopard, buffalo and bush pig but these are rarely seen. The famous ape species supported by the habitat involve the mountain gorilla and the less famous but equally rare and deserving of protection is the golden monkey which is found only in the Virungas and in one other forest in Rwanda. Notable bird species include the Rwenzori turaco, crowned hornbill, black kite and crowned crane.

Kibale Forest National Park Tour

Kibale National park is positioned in the two districts of Kabarole and Kamwenge in western part of Uganda. The park covers an estimated area of about 795km and it’s acknowledged to have one of Uganda’s most gorgeous tropical forests. The park was established in 1993 to help protect the large areas of natural forest that were at first managed and protected as a logged Forest Reserve. The park is the only Park in the whole of east Africa that has both montane and lowland forests. It’s also considered to the only park in Uganda the pearl of Africa that has the highest number of primates with 13 different species inhabited in the park including many families of chimpanzees and several types of Columbus monkeys. Bushbuck, waterbuck, duiker and giant forest hog may also be seen. The forests and the grasslands support abundant bird life – almost 375 species have been identified and 144 types of butterfly.

Lake Mburo National Park region tour

Mbarara district locally known as the land of milk and honey is situated in southwestern Uganda and is bordered by isingiro, Kiruhura, Sheema among other district. Because of its strategic location, Mbarara town has become a significant stop over town for travellers on Uganda safaris to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Lake Bunyonyi and Queen Elizabeth National Park. The district is also key tourism destination in Uganda and the key tourist attractions of the district are given below;Lake Mburo National Park is situated about 240 kilometers south-west of Kampala, 30 kilometers east of Mbarara town. At first, this park was located in Mbarara town but due to the creation of new districts, the park is part of Kiruhura district. In Lake Mburo National Park one can enjoy game drives to view unique wildlife such as buffaloes, Zebras, leopards, impalas, hippos among other animals. One can as well enjoy a highly adventurous boat cruise on the lake Mburo. For travellers who are bird lovers, Lake Mburo National Park is a home to exclusive bird list including rare shoebill stock. Within Lake Mburo national Park, there many lodges where one can spend a night. These include Mihingo Lodge; Mantana tented Camp, Rwakobo Rock, Mburo Safari Lodge, Arcadia Cottages and Rwonyo Camp.

Mount Elgon National Park Tour

This is an extinct volcano located on Uganda’s eastern border with Kenya. The mountain boasts numerous interesting features including gorges, ancient caves, waterfalls and hot springs. Birdlife is abundant on the mountain although various wildlife may also be encountered. Mt. Elgon is the fourth highest mountain in Eastern Africa, with the second-highest peak in Uganda (Wagagi Peak – 4321 meters). Mt. Elgon contains crater covering over 40 kms at the top of the mountain, surrounded by a series of rugged peaks.The ascent of Mount Elgon passes through a series of roughly concentric vegetation zones. The lower slopes of the mountain are intensively farmed up to the park boundary. The first zone of natural vegetation is montane forest which runs from the park boundary up to 2500m. this is followed by bamboo and low canopy forest (2400-3000m), then high montane health (3000-3500m) which includes the giant heather (Philipea excelsia) growing up to 6m tall. Above 3500m, cold temperatures and fierce winds force the heather to give way to open moorland. Finally, above 3800m, dramatic afroalpine vegetation is found among tussock grasslands and Carex bogs. This rare and spectacular vegetation type is restricted to the upper reaches of East Africa’s highest mountains and includes the giant groundsel (Senecia elgonensis) and the endemic Lobella elgonensisi.

Kidepo National Park Tours

Kidepo National Park Tours, Wildlife tours big 5 game drive safaris in Uganda, Safari Uganda tour. Visit and dance with the Karamajong and participate in part of their culture and tradition.

This great Park is located in the rugged, semi-arid valleys of the remote Karamoja region in north eastern Uganda between the border of Uganda, Kenya and South Sudan. The park which covers 1,442square kilometers of land is arguably the most diverse fauna of any park in Uganda. With over 77 species of mammal, several of which are restricted to the Kidepo and Karamoja region, the park also has circumscribed carnivores such as the bat-eared fox, cheetah, striped hyena as well as caracal and aardwolf. Other carnivores accommodated in the park area are lion, leopard side-striped jackal, spotted hyena, and black-backed. The rarely ungulates species include the lesser and greater kudu, chandlers Mountain reedbuck, klipspringer and Guenther’s dikdik among others. Other large ungulates include elephant, Rothschild’s giraffe, Burchell’s zebra, bush pig, warthog, Capped buffalo, eland, bushbuck, hartebeest and oribi, Defassa waterbuck, Bohor reedbuck, Jsckson’s hartebeest and oribi. Five pronounced primate species are recorded in the park including the endemic Kavirondo bush baby.