8 Nights Kigali, Nyungwe Forest, Lake Kivu, Volcanoes and Akagera National Park
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Program at a glance
| DATE |
ACCOMMODATION |
MEAL PLAN |
ACTIVITY |
| DAY 1 |
KIGALI SERENA HOTEL |
Bed and breakfast |
Airport transfer |
| DAY 2 |
NYUNGWE FOREST LODGE |
Fullboard |
Visit to historic towns of Nyanza and Butare. |
| DAY 3 |
NYUNGWE FOREST LODGE |
Fullboard |
Morning Chimpanzee tracking, pm at leisure for optional activities |
| DAY 4 |
SABYINYO SILVERBACK LODGE |
Fullboard |
Morning excursion to Lake Kivu Afternoon drive to Volcanoes |
| DAY 5 |
SABYINYO SILVERBACK LODGE |
Fullboard |
Gorilla tracking |
| DAY 6 |
SABYINYO SILVERBACK LODGE |
Fullboard |
Gorilla tracking |
| DAY 7 |
RUZIZI TENTED LODGE, AKAGERA |
Fullboard |
Evening at leisure. |
| DAY 8 |
RUZIZI TENTED LODGE, AKAGERA |
Bed and breakfast |
Full day gamedrive. |
| DAY 9 |
DEPART |
|
Airport transfer |
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Program in detail
DAY 01:ARRIVAL – KIGALI CITY
Meet and Greet Services by our representative on arrival at the Kigali International Airport.
Introductions and a short briefing, after which you will be transferred to your Kigali hotel for check-in.
Rest of the day/afternoon and evening at leisure at your hotel, with dinner on own account.
Dinner and overnight at Kigali Serena Hotel.
DAY 02: KIGALI – NYUNGWE FOREST NATIONAL PARK
Early breakfast at your hotel, followed by check-out.
Morning depart and drive south-wards of Rwanda – to the historical towns of Nyanza and Butare (133km – 2.5hrs), for a short tour of their attractions.
Nyanza became the royal capital of the country under the reign of King Yuhi V Musinga in 1899.
The court became the home of the artistic and intellectual and was also a place for economic exchange. Today, a replica of the traditional Royal Palace sits at Rukari.
Located about 35 kilometers south of Kigali, Butare provides a rich information base on the historic heritage of Rwanda.
At the end of the tour, enjoy lunch at a Butare hotel or restaurant.
After lunch, continue on your journey further south-wards, and then westwards and through the Nyungwe Forest, to arrive at your Nyungwe Forest Lodge in the early evening. 127km – 2.5hrs
Evening at leisure at your lodge, with dinner included.
Overnight at Nyungwe Forest Lodge.
DAY 03: NYUNGWE FOREST NATIONAL PARK
Early breakfast at your hotel (or take picnic breakfast).
Depart early morning for transfer to the park office, for registration of your Chimpanzee trekking.
About 500 chimpanzees live in the Nyungwe Forest. The trekking can take anything from a few hours to full day depending on where the chimpanzees are. Take note that it is not guaranteed to see the chimps as they are unpredictable and can move long distances in one day.
At the end of the chimps trek, return to your hotel/lodge for freshening up and lunch.
Afternoon is at leisure – for optional activities, such as the Canopy Adventure Hike.
Dinner and overnight at Nyungwe Forest Lodge.
DAY 04: NYUNGWE FOREST – VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK
Breakfast at your lodge, followed by check-out.
Morning, depart Nyungwe Forest and take the scenic drive along and parallel to the shores of Lake Kivu to the central Lake Kivu town of Kibuye. 130km, 3hrs
Lake Kivu is the largest of numerous freshwater lakes that shimmer in the valleys of Rwanda.
Steep terraced hills lead down to the picturesque lake shore and the three resort towns – Gisenyi, Kibuye and Cyangugu.
Arrive in Kibuye in the mid-morning, for a brief relaxation on the lake-shore, before lunch at a Kibuye hotel.
(You may wish to undertake such optional activity as a Boat Ride or a 2-hour Boat Excursion to the Napoleon Island (Bat Island – residence of a large colony of bats)/Swimming in the Lake/Water Sports, e.t.c.)
After lunch on the shores of Lake Kivu, depart and drive eastwards and then north-eastwards, to the Volcanoes Mountains region. 150km, 3.5hrs
Arrive at your volcanoes lodge in the early evening, for check-in.
Dinner and overnight at Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge
DAY 05: VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK
Early breakfast at your lodge.
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the park headquarters for the gorilla trek registration and allocation of the particulargorilla family to visit.
Your trek starts in the cultivated foothills of the Virunga’s offering stirring views in all directions.
Trekking can take from two to six or more hours if the gorillas move before the park rangers locate them the next morning.
The guides stop frequently to allow trekkers a chance to rest and take photos along the way.
Upon sighting the gorillas, you will stay with them for a magical one-hour as they go about their daily life, feeding, playing, resting; raising their young.
Coming face to face with a giant silverback must truly be one of the greatest wildlife experiences on earth!
The Ultimate Experience!!
• A Walking Stick is provided at the start-point – to help steady your trekking.
• Porters are also available – to help carry your water bottle/hand luggage and/or even hold hand in slippery/steep sections (this is at a minimal charge of US$10 per person, payable at the end)
At the end of the trek, rejoin your driver-guide and transfer back to your lodge for freshening-up and lunch.
Afternoon is at leisure – to simply relax at your lodge, or take up one of the optional activities. Dinner and overnight at Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge.
DAY 06: VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK
Breakfast at your lodge.
Morning at leisure – one with nature under the shadows of the Volcanoes Mountains, with opportunity for a second gorilla trek or other of the optional activities available.
Afternoon is at leisure – to simply relax at your lodge, or take up another one of the optional activities, such as a visit of the spectacularlybeautiful and picturesque Twin Lakes of Burera & Ruhondo.
Rest of the afternoon and evening at leisure at your lodge, with dinner included.
Overnight at Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge
DAY 07: VOLCANOES – KIGALI – AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK
Breakfast at your lodge, followed by check-out.
Morning, drive back to Kigali arriving in the early afternoon – for lunch at one of Kigali’s popular restaurants.
After lunch, depart and drive eastwards, towards the border with Tanzania, to the Akagera National Park. 150km, 2.5hrs
Akagera National Park forms Rwanda’s eastern border with neighbor, Tanzania. It is scenically dominated by a labyrinth of swamps and lakesthat follow the meandering course of the Akagera River – the most remote source of the Nile; and is representative of the African savannah landscape – tangled acacia woodland interspersed with open grassland.
The Akagera park is big game country – with herds of elephant and buffalo to be found in the woodland or converged by the lakes for water. If lucky, while on a game-drive, one may stumble across a leopard or a spotted hyena. Also found in plentiful numbers are: Giraffe, Zebra and various types of antelope, such as the chestnut-coated Impala, Oribi, the secretive Bushbuck, as well as the world’s largest antelope, the elegant Cape Eland.
• Akagera National Park is also, once again, proud to host the King of the Jungle – reintroduced in July 2015, after a 20-year absence due to genocide.
Arrive in the park in the late afternoon, for check-in at your lodge.
Dinner and overnight at Ruzizi Tented Lodge.
DAY 08: AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK
Early breakfast at your lodge, after which you depart and drive to the northern part of the park for full-day of game-viewing and wildlife photography.
Enjoy picnic/packed lunch (provided by your lodge), in-between your game-viewing.
Late afternoon, drive back to your lodge – for freshening up and a well-deserved rest.
Evening at leisure at your lodge, with dinner included.
Dinner and overnight at Ruzizi Tented Lodge.
DAY 09: AKAGERA – KIGALI – DEPART
Breakfast at your lodge, followed by check-out.
Morning, depart and drive back to Kigali – to an early lunch at the Hotel Mille Collines – depicted in the film “Hotel Rwanda”; the hotel became famous after 1,268 people took refuge inside the building during the Rwandan Genocide of 1994.
After lunch, enjoy an orientation/ sight-seeing tour of Kigali City, including the Genocide Memorial Center, and the Kadt House (Museum of Natural History).
Later in the afternoon or evening, you will be transferred to the Kigali International Airport, for your evening outbound flight.
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END OF SERVICES
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Important Tips
The Volcanoes area is located at an altitude of over 2,400 meters above sea level.It is extremely chilly in the early mornings and evenings – warm clothing is therefore necessary. While trekking, it can rain unexpectedly – it is necessary therefore to have:
• Water-proof clothing (jacket, with hood + trousers);
• Water-proof Zip-Lock bags for Cameras/Film/Passports/Money, e.t.c.;
• Hand Gloves (warm and water-proof), to keep hands off from rain and dripping vegetation; as well as protect from stinging nettles
• Hiking boots – with good mud-grip are most appropriate (shoes/boots of clothing material will certainly become wet and uncomfortable.
• Gaiters – to protect your trek trouser legs and boots against mud/wetness;
• Sun glasses not necessary during the trek;
• Any valuables (carried on the person and not necessary during the trek), may be entrusted with your driver-guide for safe-keeping for the duration of the trek.
Prices in USD
High season (June – March) –
Low season (April – May) –
GORILLA PERMIT cost NOT included in above quote.
The applicable cost is:
a) US$750 per Permit per day (Foreign Non-Resident);
b) US$450 per permit per day (Foreign Resident, in East Africa);
c) US$300per permit per day (East African Citizen).
NB: Gorilla permits are only confirmed upon payment of a deposit – Non-Refundable;
The balance is payable 60 days before trekking date
Main Quote Includes:
• Arrival + Departure Airport transfers and assistance;
• 01Night Accommodation in Kigali, on Bed & Breakfast basis;
• 02Nights Accommodation in Nyungwe Forest, on Full-Board basis;
• 01Night Accommodation at Lake Kivu – Kibuye, on Full-Board basis;
• 02Nights Accommodation at Volcanoes National Park on Full-Board basis;
• Historic Towns (Nyanza & Butare)Tour on Day 02; (inclusive of applicable fees)
• Extra Lunches on Days 02, 07 & 09;
• Park Entrance Fee at Akagera National Park;
• 02Nights in Akagera National Park, on Full—Board basis;
• Game-viewing Drives in Akagera National Park, as indicated;
• Kigali City Tour on Day 09; (inclusive of applicable fees)
• Private Transport in a 4×4 Safari-customized Landcruiser;
• Services of an English/French-Speaking Driver-Guide;
• Bottled Drinking Water during the safari (in the vehicle) and while trekking;
• All taxes on the services quoted above.
Main Quote Excludes:
• Meals and beverages, other than specified;
• Chimpanzee/Gorilla & “Other Primates” Trek Permits; (Permit costs given separately from main quote)
• Canopy Adventure Hike Permit.
• Cultural Village Visit fee.
• All other Optional activities, as outlined;
• International, regional and local Airfares + Airport taxes;
• Passport and visa fees and service charges for obtaining visas;
• Gratuities to driver/guides and other conveyance attendants;
• Laundry and other items of a personal nature such drinks, telephone calls, e.t.c.;
• Cost for anything not specifically mentioned in the listing above;