9 Day Gorilla Safari in Rwanda
9 Days Rwanda safari: This 9 days 8 nights Rwanda grand tour certainly gives you a great opportunity. In order to enjoy what Rwanda offers. You will trek the primates in the Nyungwe forest national park, from here you will connect to volcanoes national park . Trek the endangered mountain gorillas in their national habitat. Then you will also connect to Akagera national park. Which offers a fantastic game viewing of big game during a game drive in the Park. The tour will starts and end in Kigali Rwanda’s capital and its largest city.
Brief itinerary for 9 Days Rwanda safari
Arrival at Kigali Airport- Take a Kigali City Tour
Transfer to Nyungwe Forest national park
Chimp trekking in Nyungwe forest
Lake kivu
Transfer to Volcanoes national park
Gorilla Tracking in PNV and also Visit the twin lakes of Bulera and Rubondo.
Drive to Akagera National Park. Take a boat ride along Lake Iheema.
Big Game Drive in Akagera National Park.
Connect to Kigali, do some shopping & later transfer to the airport
Detailed itinerary for 9 Day Gorilla Tour in Rwanda
Day 1: Arrival – Kigali City Tour
Upon your arrival at Kigali international airport, you will be greeted by your Mum and Dad Uganda Tours guide. And driven to your hotel in a quiet verdant street in the heart of down-town Kigali. Arrive at your pre-booked hotel/lodge for a free drink by the hotel’s pool bar. Get briefed by your guide on the details of your upcoming memorable adventure.
9 Days Rwanda safari, Go for a city tour and explore the city on this day, visit the craft markets, memorial sites. Carvings, batik, weaving, musical instruments, leather and fabrics among others. City tour takes a couple of hours and so interesting. After Lunch, proceed to Nyungwe forest National Park with a fantastic views of the rolling hills, dinner and an overnight.
Accommodation options to choose from:
One&Only Nyungwe House – High end
Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel – Mid-range
Gisakura Guesthouse – Budget (non self-contained rooms)
Meal plan: Lunch, Dinner
Day 2: Hiking and trekking Colobus trails – Nyungwe forest N.P
Firstly on this morning after breakfast, follow the ranger guide deep into the forest to trek the Nyungwe colobus monkeys. A walk will take you in the forest to have a whole learning experience. Conducted by knowledgeable tour-guides well versed in botany, ornithology and interspecies relationship in this forest. Thereafter, return to your lodge for lunch. Dinner and overnight.
Accommodation options to choose from:
One&Only Nyungwe House – High end
Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel – Mid-range
Gisakura Guesthouse – Budget (non self-contained rooms)
Meal plan: Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Chimp trekking in Nyungwe forest
After breakfast, get briefed from the park wardens about the dos and dont’s while with the chimps. Later follow the ranger guide to venture deep into Nyungwe Forest National Park in search of the chimpanzees. During the search of Chimpanzee you have a chance to see other primates and many forest dwellers that live into the forest. Once the chimps are met are you are strictly allowed to stay with them for a period of one hour. 9 Days Rwanda safari: Watching them interact with each other and go about their daily routine of grooming, playing and foraging is an incredible experience.
Chances of meeting the chimps are high. However it’s never 100% guaranteed since they are wild animals with wills and minds of their own. Retire back to the lodge for relaxation and lunch, if the evening is free you can go for an optional activity canopy walk. Enjoying the luxurious comforts of the lodge or doing one of the complimentary activities on offer there, just let your guide know in advance.Dinner and an overnight at.
Accommodation options
budget- EAR Guesthouse
Mid-range – Nyungwe Top View Hill Lodge
Luxury- One & Only Nyungwe House – Luxury
Accommodation option: Nyungwe forest Lodge, Nyungwe Nziza Eco Lodge
Meal Plan: Full board
Day 4: To Lake Kivu
After breakfast make a transfer to the north along the shores of Lake Kivu, one of the African Great Lakes in the Albertine Rift. Creating a natural border between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. You have a chance to explore the lake which has some of the best inland beaches on the continent. You can choose to relax at the lodge today. Or you can opt to explore the shorelines and bays on a half-day kayaking tour. Dinner and an overnight stay at
Accommodation options to choose from:
Budget – Inzu Lodge
Midrange – Paradise Malahide
Upmarket – Lake Kivu Serena Hotel
Meal Plans: Breakfast, Packed Lunch & Dinner
Day 5: Volcanoes National Park
After breakfast, transfer you to Volcanoes national park in the northern part of Rwanda. Volcanoes national park contains parts of the Virunga mountain range. Its 5 volcanoes that form the border between Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The park has the most scenic sights in Africa, and not only that but also it’s known as one of the three parks in the world. Which provide a gateway to face-to-face encounters with the iconic mountain gorillas.
Not only gorilla trekking but the park has a lot to offer including , tracking trips to find the rare golden monkeys, spectacular volcano hikes. And a visit to the Dian Fossey research center. If you are interested in one of the above activities, you can speak with your Travel Consultant. 9 Days Rwanda safari: If you would like to extend your stay in the park for an additional day to include one or more of these activities. Arrive at your pre-booked accommodation for lunch and if the evening is free you can go for cultural tour. Dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation options to choose from:
Budget – La Locanda
Mid-range – Le Bamboo Gorilla Lodge
Upmarket – Five Volcanoes Lodge/TheBishop’s House
Luxury – Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge/Virunga Lodge
Meal Plan: Full board (Breakfast, Packed Lunch & Dinner)
Day 6: Gorilla Tracking
On this day of lifetime experience, first report to the park headquarters. To receive short briefings about the dos and don’ts also gets you allocated to the ranger guide. In the company of an experienced park ranger you will be tracking the whereabouts of one of the habituated family groups. Who live in the park and can tolerate the presence of humans for a brief period every day. Gorilla trekking is challenging yet exciting. It involves passing through muddy and slippery slopes, tangled vines, thick vegetation and bamboo forests. Before you reach the territory of these gentle giants.
The search for these gentle giants takes about 1-7 hours, your ranger will point out telltale signs of previous gorilla activity like dung, nests and chewed bamboo shoots. Once the family of gorillas have been located, settle in to the environment. And enjoy the one hour allowed to stray with the gorillas, observe these charming primates whose habits and gestures remind us so much of our own. After this wonderful experience retire back to the lodge for relaxation dinner and an overnight at;9 Days Rwanda safari
Accommodation options to choose from:
Budget – La Locanda
Mid-range – Le Bamboo Gorilla Lodge
Upmarket – Five Volcanoes Lodge/TheBishop’s House
Luxury – Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge/Virunga Lodge
Meal Plan: Full board (Breakfast, Packed Lunch & Dinner)
Day 7: PNV to Akagera National Park: Boat trip
With breakfast done, transfer you to Akagera national park which is located in the north-eastern part of Rwanda. Covering an area of about 2500km2 of savannah plains. The park has a wide variety of wildlife including the big five mammals. It’s a home for over 500 different species of birds some of which can’t be seen elsewhere in the world.
Arrive in time at the lodge check in for lunch. Later you will go for After lunch, proceed for a boat trip on Lake Ihema. Where you will have a closer look at marine animals for instance Crocodiles and Hippos, coupled with large concentration of birdlife, with over 525 species identified. Unique species such as Shoe billed stocks and papyrus gonolek are part of the list. Endemics include the jacanas, ibis, sand pipers and herons. Dinner and an overnight.
Accommodation options:
Upmarket: Ruzizi Tented Lodge
Mid-range: Akagera Game Lodge
Luxury Akagera Game Lodge
Meal Plan: Full board (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
Day 8: Big game drive
On this 8 day Rwanda gorilla safari and holiday, You will have all day to explore the park and its inhabitants today. A knowledgeable ranger will join you in your vehicle. To guide you around the park and hopefully help you spot all the big 5 including the elephant, buffaloes, lion, leopard and rhino, others include Maasai giraffe, gazelles, impala, baboons, oribi, Butchel’s zebra, topi, bush baby, leopard and bushbuck Dinner, 9 Days Rwanda safari
Accommodation options:
Upmarket: Ruzizi Tented Lodge
Mid-range: Akagera Game Lodge
Luxury Akagera Game Lodge
Meal Plan: full board (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
Day 9: Final day in Rwanda
This is your last day in Rwanda, after breakfast, say farewell to your fellow travelers, guide and to a country that has been your home for a short while. You will connect to Kigali, If time allows do some shopping. Later transfer to the airport to meet your departure flight back home and catch your flight back home.9 Days Rwanda safari
Best of 9 Day Gorilla Safari in Rwanda
Tour includes for 9 Days Rwanda safari
- 4×4 safari car with an experienced driver/guide
- All meals as stated in the itinerary
- Accommodation
- Gorilla tracking permit (each at $1500)
- Chimpanzee tracking permit
- Drinking water
Tour excludes for 9 Days Rwanda safari:
- Optional activities
- Visa fees
- Personal insurance
- Airfares
- Tips All personal expenses such as laundry, phone bills, curio purchases
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