The 5 days Rwanda wildlife and gorilla tour include both trekking mountain gorillas in the tropical rain-forest of Volcanoes National Park and game viewing in Akagera National Park. Akagera National Park is Rwanda’s only savanna park and it is set suitably in Eastern Rwanda, about 3 hours’ drive from Kigali capital city. It became a national park in 1934 and it covers an area of about 1122sq.km, featuring a vast savanna grassland, wetlands. Akagera National Park offers refuge to diverse wildlife species including the big African game (buffaloes, lions, leopards, rhinos, African bush elephants), zebras, the Masai giraffes, antelopes (bohor reedbuck, roan antelopes, waterbucks, oribis, topis, bushbucks, cape elands, impalas), primates such as vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, olive baboons, over 500 bird species including elusive shoebill storks to mention but a few.
Volcanoes National Park is located in Northwestern Rwanda, approximately 2-3 hours’ drive from Kigali and amazingly, it features among the four national parks where mountain gorillas are found. It was established in 1925 and covers an area of about 160sq.kms. A side from mountain gorillas, Volcanoes National Park also inhabits the golden monkeys, buffaloes, forest elephants, giant forest hogs, spotted hyenas, bush bucks as well as over 200 bird species. On your 5 days Rwanda gorilla and wildlife tour, your journey will begin and end in Kigali.
Highlights of your 5 days Rwanda wildlife and gorilla tour
• Kigali city tour
• Game drive
• Boat cruise along Lake Ihema
• Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
• Visit the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village
• Travel in 4×4 drive safari vehicle
• Fulltime English-speaking driver-guide
Brief itinerary of your 5 days Rwanda wildlife and gorilla tour
Day 1: Travel from Kigali to Akagera National Park
Day 2: Game drive in the morning and boat cruise along Lake Ihema
Day 3: Leave Akagera National Park for Volcanoes National Park
Day 4: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Day 5: Return to Volcanoes National Park
Detailed itinerary of your 5 days Rwanda wildlife and gorilla tour
Day 1: Travel from Kigali to Akagera National Park
Meet your tour leader from Maranatha Tours and Travel who will give you a quick briefing about your Rwanda wildlife and gorilla tour. Embark on a quick Kigali city tour where you will pay a visit to the Kigali genocide site, plus the nearby the local markets and later, depart from Kigali capital city for Akagera National Park which is situated in Eastern Rwanda about 2 and half hours’ drive. Arrive early to have some rest and lunch in a safari lodge. Your afternoon will be spent exploring Akagera National Park on a game drive which lets you spot out the diversity of wildlife species including lions, rhinos, buffaloes, elephants, antelopes like oribis, topis, impalas, roan antelopes, bushbucks; birds, zebras, the Masai giraffes, and many others. Retreat from the afternoon game viewing experience to relax, dine and spend a night.
Where to stay in Akagera National Park
Luxury: Ruzizi Tented Camp, Magashi Tented Camp
Mid-range: Akagera Game Lodge
Budget: Dereva Hotel
Day 2: Game drive in the morning and boat cruise along Lake Ihema
Have breakfast early in the morning and after, begin your 3-4 hours’ game drive via the vast savannas of Akagera National Park. In your comfortable 4×4 drive safari vehicle with pop up roof, expect to see diversity of savanna dwellers including buffaloes, lions, leopards, rhinos, African bush elephants, zebras, the Masai giraffes, antelopes (bohor reedbuck, roan antelopes, waterbucks, oribis, topis, bushbucks, cape elands, impalas and bird species. Return from your morning game drive to relax and enjoy your lunch as you wait for the afternoon boat cruise.
At 2:00 pm, you will have a boat or launch cruise on Lake Ihema. This exciting game viewing experience involves exploring diverse aquatic species including hippos, crocodiles, water birds, and many other wildlife species. Retreat from this amazing watersport to relax, dine and spend a night.
Where to stay in Akagera National Park
Luxury: Ruzizi Tented Camp, Magashi Tented Camp
Mid-range: Akagera Game Lodge
Budget: Dereva Hotel
Day 3: Leave Akagera National Park for Volcanoes National Park
Check out of your lodge, meet the driver guide/tour leader and drive to Volcanoes National Park. Your journey may cover about 5 hours and you will check-in at your lodge in Volcanoes National Park.
Where to stay in Volcanoes National Park
Luxury: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Bisate Lodge
Mid-range: Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
Budget: Muhabura Hotel, Kinigi Guesthouse
Day 4: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Leave your lodge after breakfast and with your packed lunch, bottled drinking water, find other visitors at Kinigi visitor center for briefing about the dos and don’ts for gorilla trekking. You will be allocated a gorilla group and at 8:00 am, the park ranger guide assigned to you then takes you for the actual search for these amazing creatures. Volcanoes National Park is composed of ten habituated gorilla families and they include Karisimbi, Hirwa, Ugenda, Bwenge, Amahoro, Umubano, Sabyinyo, Kwitonda, Agashya and Susa A. Trekking mountain gorilla in this protected area may take you 2-6 hours which also cover an hour of magical encounter, photography. After, get back to the lodge to relax, dine and spend a night.
Where to stay in Volcanoes National Park
Luxury: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Bisate Lodge
Mid-range: Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
Budget: Muhabura Hotel, Kinigi Guesthouse
Day 5: Return to Volcanoes National Park
Following breakfast, once again you will be expected at Kinigi early for you to be briefed on the set guidelines for golden monkey tracking. Golden monkey treks may take you 2-4 hours including an hour of magical encounter. After, return to check out of the lodge and then drive to Kigali International Airport to catch up with your flight back home in case it is scheduled today.
End of your 5 days Rwanda gorilla and wildlife tour
Tour inclusions
• Park entrance fees
• Boat cruise
• Gorilla permit
• Golden monkey permit
• Relevant government taxes
• Travel in 4×4 drive safari vehicle
• Fulltime English-speaking driver-guide
• Accommodation for 4 nights and meals
Tour exclusions
• Tips
• Laundry services
• Personal insurance
• Telephone calls
• Beverages
• Cigarettes
• All the listed activities except the optional ones.