This 4 days Rwanda gorilla and wildlife safari is a thrilling primate and wildlife safari package designed for you to explore Rwanda’s iconic tourist sites. It takes you through gorilla trekking in the lush rain-forest of Volcanoes National Park and game viewing in the savannas of Akagera National Park.
Volcanoes National Park is found in the Northern Province of Rwanda about 2-3 hours’ drive from Kigali and it is a popular gorilla destination where some of the remaining 1004 mountain gorillas thrive. This 160sq.km protected area is comprised of 10 habituated gorilla families but only one will be allocated to you to track in a group of 8 trekkers. Akagera National Park lies in the Northeastern side of Rwanda approximately 2 and half hour drive from Kigali. This is the only savanna and big five game park in Rwanda and while on your game viewing safari, you will catch a glimpse at huge concentration of savanna dwellers including among others lions, giraffes, buffaloes, elephants, rhinos, leopards, antelopes and some of the bird species that make up a total of 525. Your 4 days Rwanda gorilla and wildlife safari will begin and end in Kigali.
Things to expect on your 4 days Rwanda gorilla and wildlife safari
• An hour of magical encounter with the habituated gorilla family
• Game drive along the northern part of Akagera National Park
• Boat cruise on Lake Ihema
• Ground transportation in a 4×4 safari van/land cruiser
• Bottled water
• Accommodation for 3 nights and meals
• Service of an English-speaking driver-guide
Brief itinerary your 4 days Rwanda gorilla and wildlife safari
Day 1: Transfer from Kigali to Akagera National Park
Day 2: Morning game drive and drive to Volcanoes National Park
Day 3: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Day 4: Drive back to Kigali
Detailed itinerary of your 4 days Rwanda gorilla and wildlife safari
Day 1: Transfer from Kigali to Akagera National Park
Pick up by your driver-guide at a hotel in Kigali after your breakfast or upon early arrival at Kigali International Airport. You will be briefed on what your package covers and after, start your 2 and a half road trip to Akagera National Park in Northeastern Rwanda. Arrive at Akagera National Park early enough to check-in at the lodge where you will be served lunch and for you to have some relaxation.
At 2:00 pm, you have an afternoon launch trip/boat cruise via Lake Ihema one of the largest lakes in Rwanda. On a boat cruise, expect to see schools of hippos, crocodiles as they bask along the shores of Lake Ihema, water birds including kingfishers, shoebills, papyrus gonoleks, African fish eagle plus other savanna wildlife species that roam around the shores. This is a 2-3 wildlife viewing experience and after, you will get back to the lodge to have some rest, dinner and a night stay.
Travel time: 2 and a half hours
Meal plan: Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation options at Akagera National Park
Magashi Tented Camp/Rusizi Tented Camp (Luxury); Akagera Game Lodge (Mid-range); Dereva Hotel/Camping (Budget).
Day 2: Morning game drive and drive to Volcanoes National Park
Commence your day with an early morning breakfast and later, you will set off for morning game drive via the Northern side of Akagera National Park with huge concentration of wildlife. This will take you about 2-3 hours but it will reward you with astonishing sights at African lions, elephants, buffaloes, zebras, giraffes, hyenas, antelopes especially impalas, elands, oribis, bushbucks, roan antelopes as well as bird species. You will return to the lodge to have lunch and later, check out ready to embark on 4-5 hours’ drive to Volcanoes National Park.
Travel time: 4-5 hours
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Accommodation options at Volcanoes National Park
Mountain Gorilla View Lodge/Bisate Lodge (Luxury); Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge/Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge (Mid-range); Kinigi Guesthouse/Hotel Muhabura (Budget).
Day 3: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Today, you will be expected at Kinigi park headquarters for a briefing on gorilla trekking etiquette after your breakfast. The park official will allocate to you one habituated gorilla group to track in a group of eight trekkers. Volcanoes National Park is comprised of only 10 habituated families and they include the Susa A, Karisimbi, Sabyinyo, Hirwa, Agashya, Bwenge, Ugenda, Amahoro, Umubano, and Kwitonda. After the briefing, at 8:00am, you will begin a search for mountain gorillas in the wild and this may last you about 2-6 although this usually depends on your speed of hiking, where these apes are found and nature of the habitat. Upon finding them, you have only an hour of magical encounter, photography and exploring in-depth their behaviors. However, along the way, higher chances are that you will come across other forest dwellers especially other primates, birds and unique plant species.
After, you will get back to the lodge to relax and spend your afternoon/evening enjoying the thrilling cultural experiences at Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village or visit the scenic Twin Lakes-Burera and Ruhondo. Return to relax, dine and spend a night at your respective lodge.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Accommodation options at Volcanoes National Park
Mountain Gorilla View Lodge/Bisate Lodge (Luxury); Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge/Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge (Mid-range); Kinigi Guesthouse/Hotel Muhabura (Budget).
Day 4: Drive back to Kigali
Following an early morning breakfast, check out from your lodge ready to embark on the return journey to Kigali where you will have a city tour. You will pay a visit to Gisozi genocide site, nearby local markets and later, connect to the airport in case your flight is scheduled today.
End of your 4 days Rwanda gorilla and wildlife safari
4 days Rwanda gorilla and wildlife safari includes
• Gorilla permit ($1500 per person)
• Game viewing
• Travel in a 4×4 drive safari van or land cruiser
• Service of an English-speaking driver-guide
• Bottled water
• Park entry fees
• Boat cruise
• Relevant government taxes
• All activities in the itinerary except the optional ones
4 days Rwanda gorilla and wildlife safari excludes
• Tips
• Insurance
• Other expenses telephone calls, airfares, cigarette laundry services, beverages and many more.
Packing list for gorilla trekking
• Waterproof hiking boots.
• Camera with no flashlight
• Long-sleeved shirt/t-shirt
• Gardening gloves.
• Long trousers
• First aid kit
• Bottled water
• Energy giving snacks
• Walking stick you can find this at Kinigi park headquarters/lodge
Gorilla trekking etiquette
• Always maintain a distance of 7 meters away from mountain gorillas.
• Only 8 trekkers are assigned to one habituated gorilla group.
• Only one hour is given to you to take pictures, explore their behaviors of gorillas.
• No flashlight camera is allowed when taking pictures of gorillas.
• If you need to cough, please cover your mouth and nose when sneezing.
• When searching for gorillas, make sure your voices are kept low.
• Persons above 15 years are eligible to trek mountain gorillas.
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