7 Days Deluxe Primate safaris

DETAILED ITINERARY:

 

DAY 1: PICK UP AND DEPART FOR AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK
You will be picked up by your driver |guide from your hotel in Kigali and depart for Akagera National Park located along the eastern border of Rwanda, where the typically hilly countryside gives way to the savannas of the Great Rift Valley. Dominated by lakes, swamps and marshland, the area boasts a huge compliment of nature and wildlife that cannot be found elsewhere in the country. We will arrive before lunch at our lodge. Have lunch then start your exploration with a game drive by visiting the giraffe valley. Akagera NP allows you not only to visit this beautiful Park but also to enjoy the camp and its astonishing views over Lake Ihema. Later dinner and overnight at Akagera Lodge. 

​

OVERNIGHT: AKAGERA GAME LODGE

MEALS: B/L/D

​

DAY 2: AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK
After an Early breakfast your exploration starts with a boat trip on Lake Ihema which is a very rewarding for seeing the large number of hippos, the huge Nile crocodiles and many birds. They are the most interesting part of the park especially for birders. You will break for your lunch then in the late afternoon you will return to the giraffe valley which is usually full of surprises. Later return for dinner and overnight at Akagera Game lodge. 

​

OVERNIGHT: AKAGERA GAME LODGE

MEALS: B/L/D

​

DAY 3: DEPART FOR VOLCANOES NAT PARK
After breakfast you take an early morning game drive then continue to Volcanoes ant park enroute Kigali for lunch then continue for a 2 hours’ drive to Ruhengeri area the second largest town in Rwanda, with its stunning backdrop of five volcanic mountains – The Virungas. Arrive late in the afternoon and check in to our lodge for dinner and overnight. 

​​

OVERNIGHT: MOUNTAIN GORILLA VIEW LODGE

MEALS: B/L/D

​

DAY 4: GORILLA TREKKING
After an early breakfast, you will proceed to the National Park headquarters – Kinigi to meet your guides for the day. After completing our park formalities, we are embark on a once in a life time experience of tracking mountain gorillas. Once you spot them you are allowed to spend an hour watching your closest long lost cousin. This is perhaps one of the most breath-taking wildlife experiences on earth!!! You get so close to these awesome giant primates. You stare at each other blankly not knowing who to break the long silence first. Tracking the gorillas through the light mountain forest on the slopes of the Virunga is a magical experience. These massive primates are extremely rare, with less than 700 living today. You will get within meters of the family, and be privileged to spend an hour amongst them. The trekking may be fairly strenuous; up to six hours or longer at a relatively high altitude. We encourage for your own enjoyment to make sure that you are perfectly fit and healthy. (We’ve had people as old as 70 years old do gorilla tracking so this should not be a problem; all you need is to ask your driver guide to request a shorter group for you if cannot you trek far)It is important to bring good hiking boots, long trousers, gloves for protection against stinging nettles, some snacks & sweets (for you, not the gorillas) as well as sufficient water as the rain forest gets hot and humid during the day. You will spend one hour with the gorillas, but it is an hour you will never forget. Evening visit to the Kagano community village as you get to know why the community left the park and when was that. Return to your lodge for lunch and later dinner and overnight.

​

OVERNIGHT: MOUNTAIN GORILLA VIEW LODGE

MEALS: B/L/D

​

DAY 5: GOLDEN MONKEY TREKKING AND DEPART FOR LAKE KIVU

This day is set out for Golden Monkey tracking in the Volcanoes National Park. Entering dense stands of bamboo interspersed with open glades; you will make your way deep into golden monkey territory. Guides lead visitors to the habitat of groups of ‘habituated’ golden monkeys – monkeys that have become accustomed to human presence. Though viewing is kept to a maximum of one hour, travellers can get an up-close look at the golden monkey in its natural habitat. Adult monkeys frolic in plain view, feeding on bamboo leaves and leaping from perch to perch. Females carry their young, completely comfortable among onlookers. Later depart for Gisenyi arriving for check in at your hotel. The afternoon at leisure.

​​

OVERNIGHT: HILL VIEW HOTEL

MEALS: B/L/D

​

DAY 6: LAKE KIVU

Today we spent in this largest port on the Rwandan shore of Lake Kivu (You will be in the company of our guide to show you around). Enjoy a boat ride to one of the islands in Lake Kivu. Simply explore the town, enjoying the hustle and bustle of the local market or wander through the leafy streets admiring the old colonial buildings.afternoon have a swim at the lake or hotel swimming pool. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

​​

OVERNIGHT: HILL VIEW HOTEL

MEALS: B/L/D

​

DAY 7: LAKE KIVU - KIGALI

After breakfast the early part of the day is spent on the Rwandan shore of Lake Kivu.depending on the flight departure timing, we start our journey and drive back to Kigali for last minute shopping. Later transfer to the airport for your onward flight. 

​​

​

End of service

 

Inclusions

Transport in 4x4 safari landcruiser

Boat Ride to an island at Kivu.
Swimming, and visit Hot springs at Lake Kivu.
Gorilla Tracking Permit (1500$)

Golden Monkey trekking

Boat ride in Lake Ihema

Park entry fees for Akagera Nat Park

A professional driver / guide.
Park Fees.
Accommodation and Meals.
All activities as per the itinerary.  

 

DON'T FORGET:

Pairs of Sunglasses, Prescription Glasses, Sunscreen, Closed Toe Shoes, Light Weight Scarf, Binoculars, Camera, A note on cell phones: Insect Repellant,  Hat, 10-Jacket or Coat

OUR TIPS:

Africa is home to dozens  national parks, game reserves and other safari destinations. Each one of them has something to different to offer, whether  large mammals dominated by the Big Five, the opportunity to trekk gorillas or chimpanzees, or more subtle pleasures such as looking for rare birds or colourful butterflies. But for first-time visitors wondering exactly where to go, the highlights below stand out as perhaps the ten best places to visit in Africa.