16 Day Best of Rwanda Expedition, This 16 Day Best of Rwanda Expedition comes with great offers covering almost every bit of the land of thousand hills. You will visit and stay with both Chimpanzees in Nyungwe national park as well as meet up with the incredible mountain gorillas in their natural setting in Volcanoes national park. More exciting and beyond primate trekking activities including a safari in Akagera national park, 2 hours hike exploring the 60m long canopy walk, a Boat ride and kayaking along Lake Kivu in Kibuye as well as Experience night fishing with the local fishermen, Gorilla guardians village and relaxation at the beach on lake Kivu in Gisenyi. Enquire Now
Detailed Itinerary – 16 Day Best of Rwanda Expedition
DAY 1: ARRIVAL AT KIGALI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
16 Day Best of Rwanda Expedition, Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be welcomed by our meet-and-greet lounge host who helps you through fast-track assistance with VISA and luggage collection. After immigration and luggage collection, you will then be handed over to our driver guide who will transfer you to your hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Dinner and overnight at Kigali Serena Hotel (Luxury), Hotel Des Milles Collines (Midrange), Urban Park suites hotel (Budget).
DAY 2: KIGALI CITY TOUR – 16 Day Best of Rwanda Expedition
Following a relaxed breakfast at 09h00, you will be driven to Nyamirambo Women’s Centre for a cooking class, walking tour, and Lunch. After lunch at 14h00, you will visit Kigali Genocide Memorial to commemorate the 1994 Tutsi Genocide where the remains of over 250,000 people are interred. Thereafter, you will then indulge yourself in a sightseeing tour around Kigali city including visits to the Kimironko local market. After your sightseeing tour, you will return to the hotel for a relaxed evening and dinner whilst utilizing the complementary offers at the hotel.
Dinner and overnight at Kigali Serena Hotel (Luxury), Hotel Des Milles Collines (Midrange), Urban Park suites hotel (Budget).
DAY 3: A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A RWANDAN AT AZIZI LIFE
At 06h00, you will be transferred to Muhanga to indulge yourself in the local Rwandan life with families that are working to get those chores done for the day. You’ll start with digging the garden using local farming tools, feeding the cows, fetching water, and preparing your traditional lunch to mention but a few. Following lunch at 14h00, you’ll have a conversation (storytelling) with the family members, sing, and enjoy folk dances as a way of socializing in the traditional society. Transfer back to your hotel thereafter.
Dinner and overnight at Kigali Serena Hotel (Luxury), Hotel Des Milles Collines (Midrange), Urban Park suites hotel (Budget).
DAY 4: TRANSFER TO AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK – AFTERNOON BOAT RIDE
Depart at 09h00 for Akagera national park, the journey to Akagera national park takes about 3 hours depending on the stopovers along the way, with the beautiful unwinding landscape en route to the park. Upon arrival, you will check in to your lodge and enjoy a hot lunch. After lunch, you will take a 2hours sun-set boat trip on Lake Ihema offering you amazing views of the Hippos and crocodiles in the water or by the shores as you meet the buffaloes and elephants wallowing by the water banks.
Dinner and overnight at Magashi Camp (Luxury), Ruzizi Tented Lodge (Midrange), Akagera Game Lodge (Budget).
DAY 5: DAY GAME DRIVE – NIGHT GAME DRIVE
16 Day Best of Rwanda Expedition, Early morning at 06h00, your guide will drive you to the park reception for an all-day wildlife safari in the park. Your guide will ensure to take you to every corner of the park to give you the opportunity to site almost all the games in the park. At 17h00, Park guides and vehicles will pick you up for a Night Game drive adventure lasting 3 hours in the Northern part of Akagera National Park. You’ll be dropped back at the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Dinner and overnight at Magashi Camp (Luxury), Karenge bush camp (Midrange), and Akagera Game Lodge (Budget).
DAY 6: GAME DRIVE – RETURN TO KIGALI
After a scrumptious breakfast at 08h00, you will head out for half day wildlife safari in the park. You will have lunch at Imigongo. Following lunch, you will take a 3-hour scenic drive to Kigali. Upon arrival at Kigali, you will check in at your hotel followed by dinner and overnight stay.
Dinner and overnight at Kigali Serena Hotel (Luxury), Hotel Des Milles Collines (Midrange), Urban Park suites hotel (Budget).
DAY 7: CULTURAL HERITAGE TOUR- TRANSFER TO NYUNGWE
After breakfast on this exciting day amalgamating a series of cultural and historical heritage, your driver guide will pick you up and take you through a 2-hour scenic drive to Nyanza King’s palace museum which offers a detailed look into the Rwandan monarchical system and its abolition in the early 1960s. Among the most amazing and impressive icons here are the enormous, doomed structures that are handcrafted entirely with traditional materials. This tour will be 2 hours long followed by lunch in Butare. Later in the afternoon, you will visit Huye Ethnographic Museum for an extensive look at ancient Rwanda’s history for 2 hours. Thereafter, you will proceed and drive for about 2 hours to Nyungwe Forest National Park. Upon arrival at the park, you will proceed to check in at your lodge followed by dinner and overnight.
Dinner and overnight stay at One and Only Nyungwe house (Luxury), Mantis Marina Bay (Midrange) Emeraude Kivu resort (Budget).
DAY 8: CANOPY WALK EXPERIENCE – COLOBUS MONKEY TRUCKING
After breakfast at 06h00, you will drive to the park office for a briefing before you undertake the canopy walk experience at Uwinka Park Reception. You will hike to the suspending 60m-long bridge giving you a panoramic view of the forest and a glimpse of birds. The Canopy walk experience features unmatched marvelous scenery. Suspended above a ravine in the lush montane rainforest of Nyungwe National Park, the canopy walkway provides an exhilarating perspective on the ancient treetops and wildlife. Nyungwe forest is a hotbed of biodiversity. Along the hour’s walk to the canopy walkway from the Uwinka Reception Centre, visitors will see countless butterflies, orchids, and colorful birds, including many endemics to the region. After this exhilarating activity, you will return to the lodge for lunch. After lunch, you will head back to the park reception for ColobusMonkey trekking some of which endemic to this region are including the RwenzoriColobus Monkey. This hike will usher you into the world of the Grey-Cheeked Mangabeys, L’Hoest Monkeys, Owl-Faced Monkeys, Blue-Monkeys, and Mona Monkeys. Further into the forest and off the beaten track of the trails and accompanied by a guide you will run into a group of up to 200 RwenzoriColumbus Monkeys.
Dinner and overnight stay at One and Only Nyungwe house (Luxury), Mantis Marina Bay (Midrange) Emeraude kivu resort (Budget).
DAY 9: CHIMPANZEE TREKKING – GIHAYA ISLAND AND COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE
After breakfast at 05h00, your guide will drive to Cyamudongo visitor reception to experience the misty rain forest of Nyungwe. You will drive for one hour to the park office for a briefing before you undertake the chimpanzee trekking activity. After an interesting and memorable search for the chimpanzees in the forest, you are privileged to spend 1 hour with them taking photographs and videos and return to the hotel for lunch. Later in the afternoon at 15h00,you will engage in 2 hours community experience at Gihaya Island. This visit will incorporate a 1-hour boat ride through Lake Kivu to and from the island offering unique folk songs, music, and cultural dances.
Dinner and overnight stay at One and Only Nyungwe house (Luxury), Mantis Marina Bay (Midrange) Emeraude Kivu resort (Budget).
DAY 10: CROP TO CUP TEA TOUR – TRANSFER TO KIBUYE – BOAT RIDE AND NIGHT GAME DRIVE
Following a luscious breakfast, you will be taken through the tea plantation tour experience at Gisakura tea experience from crop to cup. The Gisakura tea plantation stretches into hundreds of hectares and farmers can be seen planting, tending, or harvesting tea depending on the period of visitation which an enthusiastic traveler may also wish to divulge. After this breathtaking activity, you will depart for a 2 hours scenic drive to Lake Kivu – Kibuye. Upon arrival, you’ll check in at your lodge and have lunch followed by a 2hrs boat cruise on Lake Kivu. Later that evening at 17h00, you will join the Kibuye fishermen for a night fishing experience using the local methods. Thereafter, you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Dinner and overnight stay at Cleo Kivu Hotel (Luxury), Inn on the Lake (Midrange) Moriah hill resort (Budget).
DAY 11: KAYAKING – RETURN TO GISENYI – 16 Day Best of Rwanda Expedition
Following a relaxed breakfast at 09h00, you will be picked up by your guide who will lead you to experience kayaking adventures on Lake Kivu. This is a breathtaking ride with exploration of the impressive lakeshore scenery, the discovery of birds, wildlife and interacting with local communities. Thereafter, you will return to the lodge for lunch, freshen up, and check-out to hit on the road to proceed with your journey to Gisenyi. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to the hotel for check-in followed by an evening at leisure.
Dinner and overnight at Kivu Serena hotel (Luxury), Kivu paradise hotel (Midrange), Kivu hill view hotel (Budget).
DAY 12: BOAT RIDE – BOARDER VISIT – TRANSFER TO VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK
After breakfast at 08h00, you’ll enjoy a boat ride on Lake Kivu to the hot springs. Thereafter, your driver guide will escorted by a local guide will take you for tour around Gisenyi city including visiting the Border of Rwanda and DR Congo. After lunch 14h00, your guide will ensure you take the Covid-19 PCR test ($50 per person) before transferring you to the Volcanoes National Park (1.5Hrs drive).Upon arrival, you will check-in at your lodge followed by evening relaxation full of meditation.
Dinner and overnight at One and Only Gorillas nest lodge (Luxury), Five volcanoes boutique hotel (Midrange), Classic resort lodge (Budget).
DAY 13: DIAN FOSSEY TOMB IN VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK
Following breakfast at 06h30, your will be transferred Kinigi visitor reception center for a briefing prior to hiking Dian Fossey tomb. The tomb of American primatologist Dian Fossey lies at Karisoke Research Centre within Volcanoes National Park where travelers pay regular tributes to this great conservationist who kick-started gorilla protection in the park. Fossey was killed in 1985 by poachers in Volcanoes National Park while carrying out her primary work of protecting mountain gorillas.After this exhilarating activity, you will return to the lodge, freshen up and have a proper hot meal. You will later spend your evening at leisure whilst utilizing lodge extra services including massage, swimming pool and sauna.
Dinner and overnight at One and Only Gorillas nest lodge (Luxury), Five volcanoes boutique hotel (Midrange), Classic resort lodge (Budget).
DAY 14: ULTIMATE GORILLA TREKKING – 16 Day Best of Rwanda Expedition
This is the highlight of your trip! A day that you’ve been waiting for and have been meditating as well as building up the momentum to meet the famous endemic mountain gorillas. Your day begins with breakfast at 06h30, then head to the park reception for briefing at 07h00. Thereafter, you will be guided through the Virunga jungle to search for the shy mountain gorillas. You will have 1 hour after meeting the gorilla family. You will get full briefing of their family formations, background, and observe their life style in their own habitat and family setting. After this mind-blowing activity, you will return to the lodge for lunch followed by a relaxed evening and dinner whilst utilizing the complementary offers at the hotel.
Dinner and overnight at One and Only Gorillas nest lodge (Luxury), Five volcanoes boutique hotel (Midrange), Classic resort lodge (Budget).
DAY 15: GOLDEN MONKEY TREK – GORILLA GUARDIANS’ VILLAGE
After breakfast at 06h30, transfer to Kinigi park offices. At around 07h00 you will get briefing about Golden Monkeys trucking code of conduct before heading out to the golden monkey trucking trails. After this intimate experience, you will return to the lodge for lunch. Thereafter, you will transfer to the Gorilla Guardians’ village to experience Rwanda cultural preservation through key aspects including the importance of cows, how to milk a cow, local banana beer making, traditional dance, basket weaving class by the Rwandan women, herbal medicine experience to mention but a few.
Dinner and overnight at One and Only Gorillas nest lodge (Luxury), Five volcanoes boutique hotel (Midrange), Classic resort lodge (Budget).
DAY 16: TRANSFER TO KIGALI – DEPARTURE – 16 Day Best of Rwanda Expedition
After breakfast at 08h00, you will take a 3-hour scenic drive to Kigali. Upon arrival at Kigali, you will have the opportunity to pick out some of Rwanda’s unique art pieces and blends including baskets, coffee, chillies and many others at selection of key Souvenir shops including Kimironko market. You will then have a late lunch at sundowner before transferring you to the airport for your homebound flights.
Included
1. All Permits and Entrance fees included in the itinerary.
2. All game drives and boat rides.
3. All ground transportation in a 4WD Vehicle.
4. All other activities included in the itinerary.
5. All Accommodation as indicated in the itinerary.
6. English-speaking Experienced Safari-guide.
7. All meals as indicated in the itinerary.
8. Refreshments and snacks in the vehicle.
Excluded
1. All Covid 19 tests
2. All Tips to Hotels/Lodges/Camps staff and Safari Guide
3. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks that are not accompanying meals.
4. International flight/s and departure taxes and other taxes.
5. Visa fees. Visas are available online or at arrival at all Entry points.