6-Days Akagera and Volcano National Park Tour
Akagera National Park located along the eastern border of Rwanda still offers a much rewarding safari with all the Africa safari’ Big 5′ animals present. This wonderful savanna of the Great Rift Valley is a unique habitat and home to big game, primates, birds, fish and many aquatic animal and plant species. It is dominated by lakes, swamps and marshland and boasts of a huge compliment of nature and wildlife that cannot be found elsewhere in the country.
Day 1:
Pick-up from hotel in Kigali, Rwanda and transfer to Akagera National Park.
Short southern Lake Circuit Game drive
You will be received at Kigali International Airport by our guide and get a briefing of your trip. Drive to Akagera National Park passing through Rwanda’s phenomenal landscapes and living lifestyles. Check in and after a quick rest at the hotel, continue on with a southern game drive alongside the Lake Ihema circuit.
There is plenty of wildlife to view like zebra, giraffe, baboon, warthog, and half-a-dozen antelope species, all reasonably visible and less skittish than one might expect. Known as one of the most scenic savannahs in East Africa, the game drive in Akagera National Park provides you with the opportunity to view the gracious impala, the big herds of topi and the Defassa waterbuck that regularly graze around the lake.
You will sight the highest concentrations of hippos and large crocodiles on the continent which the lake supports and also view gentle hills blending beautifully with lowland swamps and water bodies. On this day (depending on time available), we offer you a choice of value-added activities including boat ride, bird watching and interaction with local pastoralists
Day 2: Northern Circuit Game drive and transfer to Kigali
Early morning game drive starts with a spectacular sunrise and early morning bird songs. Enjoy the beautiful scenery and landscape through the northern circuit where you will see hippos, crocodiles and even more wildlife than on the lake circuit.
Transfer to Volcanoes National Park.
Day 3: Volcanoes National Park, Golden Monkey Trekking, Cultural Experiences
After an early breakfast, you will visit the Volcanoes National Park and have the rare opportunity to see the famous golden monkeys. You will undertake the golden monkey trekking and observe the famous Rwandan monkeys in the Volcanoes National Park. You will spend time with them, then return to the base for lunch. You will have an afternoon of cultural experience at the Gorilla Guardians, formerly Iby’wacu Cultural Village learning all about Rwandan traditions, culture, song and dance. Return to your hotel.
Day 4: Volcanoes National Park, Gorilla Trekking
After an early breakfast, you will go to Park offices for a pre-trek briefing and choose the gorilla group you want to trek to. After the trek, we will drive you to Gisenyi, a lovely town located on the shores of Lake Kivu. Lake Kivu is one of the great lakes in Africa and the largest of the freshwater lakes that gleam in the Albertine (Western) rift of the Great Rift Valley. Lake Kivu stands at 1461m (4,790ft) above sea level and is Africa’s highest lake. The northern shore is subject to eruptions from nearby Mt Nyiragongo. Gisenyi offers excellent views of the lake and the Virunga volcanoes massif. With its waterfront and sandy beaches, Gisenyi is a wonderful place to relax, with the captivating feel of a tropical beach resort. The afternoon will be spent relaxing and re-energizing, your reward after two days of trekking!
Day 5: Culture and History, King’s palace and museum
On the fifth day, you will set off for Huye/Butare. Passing through magnificent hills and cultivated countryside, you will stop along the way and visit the famous King’s Palace in Nyanza, which offers visitors a window into pre-colonial Rwanda history. For those who are interested, you can also visit the art museum at Rwesero Nyanza. You will drive to Kigali for a night’s rest.
Day 6: Kigali City Tour
On the sixth day, you will take a tour of Kigali – a city on hills, enjoying the unique architecture, landscape and people. This clean city is characterized by orderliness that will astonish you. After this wonderful tour, you will be transferred to Kigali International Airport.