12 Day Exploration of Rwanda

Explore all the fascinating beauty of the country, close encounters with chimpanzees and the gorillas of the mist, wildlife safari in Akagera National Park, a new big 5 safari destination!
Explore all the fascinating beauty of the country, close encounters with chimpanzees and the gorillas of the mist, wildlife safari in Akagera National Park, a new big 5 safari destination!

Day 1: Arrival in Kigali, Rwanda

On arrival in Kigali city, your Mahanda Africa Safaris guide will pick you up and transfer you to your hotel in a quiet leafy street in the heart of down-town Kigali.
If time allows, you can explore the city today. You can take a guided city tour of Kigali city, or pay a visit to the craft markets and browse amongst the pottery, carvings, batik, weaving, musical instruments, leather and fabrics on offer. Prepare to use your haggling skills! All activities today are at your own cost.

Key Facts

Journey Time: 20 minutes
Accommodation: Heaven Boutique Hotel (Luxury 4 Star hotel locate in Kigali with delicious breakfasts, access to a solar-heated swimming pool)
Meal Plan: No meals included today


Day 2: Visit Genocide Memorial & Travel to Nyungwe Forest

Today, after an early a morning breakfast, you will set off to visit the Genocide Memorial in Kigali City. The Genocide Memorial is a place of commemoration for the 250,000 victims buried in mass graves in the area and an important memorial of the unfathomable brutality of the 1994 Rwanda genocide. The exhibit is an intensely emotional experience but also an educational one, where you will learn about the darkest hour in Rwanda’s recent history.
On your drive out west today, you will be passing through the town of Butare, about 135 km from Kigali. Here you can visit Butare National Museum displaying a range of ethnographic objects that will give you an insight into the rich traditional life and culture of the country.
At the end of the day you will reach Nyungwe Forest National Park, one of the world’s oldest rainforests and arguably Africa’s most beautiful. The forest is incredibly biodiverse with 13 known primate species in residence, from colobus monkeys, mangabeys, blue monkeys and, of course, our closest relatives, the chimpanzees.
Nyungwe Forest is also famous among the birding community who come to spot some of the 310 bird species recorded here, 26 of which are endemic to Rwanda.
You will have plenty of time to explore the interior of the forest tomorrow.

Key Facts

Journey Time: 5-6 hours
Accommodation: Top View Hill hotel (Midrange accommodation in the vicinity of Nyungwe National Park which harbors a number of tourism attractions including various primates)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and Dinner

Day 3: Chimpanzee Trekking & Canopy Walk

Today after an early morning breakfast, you will venture deep into Nyungwe Forest National Park in search of its inhabitants, the chimpanzees.
On a Chimpanzee Trekking experience in Nyungwe Forest, you follow an experienced guide into the forest to observe these fascinating creatures at a close range. Watching them interact with each other and go about their daily routine of grooming, playing and foraging is an incredible experience.
While your chances of encountering chimpanzees are high,it is never 100% guaranteed. These are, after all, wild animals with wills and minds of their own!
From the trails below the foliage, you will head up high into the forest canopy on one of East Africa’s first canopy walks. The network of suspension bridges will lead you on a 1.5 hour walk over a deep gorge, through beautiful and lush vegetation and different animal habitats.
The canopy walk is an optional activity. Should you want to spend your afternoon enjoying the luxurious comforts of the lodge or doing one of the complimentary activities on offer there, just let your guide know in advance.

Key Facts

Journey Time: 1-2 hours
Accommodation: Top View Hill Hotel (Midrange accommodation in the vicinity of Nyungwe National Park which harbors a number of tourism attractions including various primates)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner


Day 4: Transfer to Lake Kivu

Today, after an early breakfast, you will set off from the rainforests of Nyungwe travelling northwards 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.
The stunning shores of Lake Kivu contain some of the best inland beaches on the continent. In the afternoon, you can relax at the lodge or take a walk along the long stretch of beach just outside the property.


Key Facts
Journey Time: 3-4 hours
Accommodation: Rushel Kivu (Midrange a full service beach resort located on the shores of lake Kivu away from the city, between the Kinunu hills)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, packed Lunch and Dinner


Day 5: Full-day Kayaking Tour on Lake Kivu

Today, after an early morning breakfast, you will set off for a kayaking tour of Lake Kivu. A full-day kayaking tour is a fantastic way to explore Lake Kivu’s scenic coastline and its many beaches, coves and islands. Fishermen in their traditional boats ply the blue waters as they go about their livelihoods while the active Nyiragongo Volcano in DRC can be seen rising above the lush surrounding hills.
You will be paddling your way north, stopping for a packed lunch along the way, and ending at your lodge for the evening, Paradise Kivu. Your guide will already be there waiting with your luggage when you arrive.


Key Facts
Journey Time: 2,5 hours
Accommodation: Paradise Kivu (Midrange accommodation located in Gisenyi, Rwanda, provides a quietness nature on the shores of Lake Kivu
Meal Plan: Breakfast, packed Lunch and Dinner

Day 6: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park

Today, after an early morning breakfast, you will be transferred to Volcanoes National Park. The national park contains parts of the Virunga mountain range and its 5 volcanoes that form the border between Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Besides being one of the most scenic sights in Africa, the park is also the gateway to face-to-face encounters with the iconic mountain gorillas.
While the main draw of visiting Volcanoes National Park is to see the real gorillas in the mist, there are other fantastic activities to experience here like, tracking excursions to find the rare golden monkeys, spectacular volcano hikes and a visit to the Dian Fossey research centre. Speak with your Mahanda Safaris Travel Consultant if you would like to extend your stay in the park for an additional day to include one or more of these activities.


Key Facts

Journey Time: 4 hours
Accommodation: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (Midrange accommodation located just 1 km away from the Volcano National Park, amidst real wilderness with panoramic views of Rwanda’s volcano mountains, making it the desired location for Gorilla trekking enthusiast)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 7: Gorilla Trekking

Today, you will be woken up by the sounds of the jungle, and served an early morning breakfast. Your Mahanda Africa Safaris guide will pick you up from your lodge and transfer you to the tracking point, where you will be briefed about the day's trekking activit. Encountering the rare and endangered mountain gorillas is an experience of a lifetime.
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.
Your gorilla tracking experience will be an exciting, yet challenging, journey along forested (sometimes muddy and slippery) slopes, tangled vines, thick vegetation and bamboo forests before you reach the territory of these gentle giants.
En-route, your ranger will point out tell-tale signs of previous gorilla activity like dung, nests and chewed bamboo shoots. Depending on the location of the gorillas on any given day, the walk can take anything from 1 to 7 hours. Once the family of gorillas have been located, settle into the environment and enjoy the hour you have to quietly observe these fascinating primates whose habits and mannerisms remind us so much of our own.
Encountering the mountain gorillas in the wild is a truly humbling and emotional experience, one that you are sure to remember for the rest of your life.

Key Facts

Journey Time: 15-30 minutes each way
Accommodation: Mountain Gorilla view lodge (Midrange accommodation located just 1 km away from the Volcano National Park, amidst real wilderness with panoramic views of Rwanda’s volcano mountains, making it the desired location for Gorilla trekking enthusiast)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, packed Lunch and Dinner


Day 8: Golden Monkey Trekking & Canoe Trip

Today, after a leisurely breakfast, you will have another day to explore Volcanoes National Park, starting with Golden Monkey Trekking in the early morning.
Golden Monkeys are endemic to the volcanic mountains of the Virunga Range and typically live in the bamboo vegetation zones near the base of the volcanoes. You will be tracking them with an experienced ranger and once you find them, will have one hour to spend watching these lovely creatures.
In the afternoon you will head out on a canoeing trip on the Twin Lakes – Bulera and Ruhondo, which are located at the base of the volcano, Mount Muhabura. In modern canoes, you will glide across the dark blue waters of these stunning lakes, which are surrounded by rolling hills and scenic views of the Virunga volcanoes.

Key Facts

Journey Time: 30-40 minutes each way
Accommodation: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge (Midrange accommodation located just 1 km away from the Volcano National Park, amidst real wilderness with panoramic views of Rwanda’s volcano mountains, making it the desired location for Gorilla trekking enthusiast)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, packed lunch and Dinner


Day 9: Transfer to Akagera National Park & Game Drive

Today, after an early breakfast, you and your guide will head out to Akagera National park. Not many people know that you can actually go on a game drive safari in Rwanda. Akagera national park is located in north-eastern Rwanda and spans 2500 km² of savannah plains. The park has a variety of wildlife and is a habitat for over 500 different species of birds.
You will arrive at the park in time for an evening game drive, if you are up for it. On a game drive in the park, you may see herds of elephant and buffalo emerge from the woodland to drink at the lakes, and if you are lucky, maybe even leopard, spotted hyena or lions. Over the past couple of years several black rhinos have been reintroduced to the park after having been made extinct in 2007. That officially makes Rwanda a Big 5 country again!

Key Facts

Journey Time: 5-6 hours
Accommodation: Akagera Transit Lodge (Midrange accommodation located south entrance of Akagera National Park, the only savannah environment and big five park in Rwanda)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner


Day 10: Full-day game drive in Akagera NP

Today, you will have all day to explore the park and its numerous inhabitants. A knowledgeable ranger will join you in your vehicle to guide you around the park and hopefully help you spot all the big 5!


Key Facts

Journey Time: N/A
Accommodation: Akagera Transit Lodge (Midrange accommodation located south entrance of Akagera National Park, the only savannah environment and big five park in Rwanda)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 11: Private boat safari on Lake Ihema & Drive to Kigali

Today, after an early morning breakfast, your final game excursion in Akagera National Park will be a private boat cruise on Lake Ihema. From your boat you will see the park and its inhabitants from a different vantage point as you cruise along the shoreline. Crocodiles bask on the banks of the lake which is also home to numerous hippos and bird species. You may even see elephants and buffalo at close range as they come down to the shoreline for a drink.
Afterwards, for the rest of the day, you will get to enjoy some downtime at your lodge and perhaps treat yourself to some spa treatment after a long safari.


Key Facts

Journey Time: 3 hours
Accommodation: Heaven Boutique- Residence Queen Room(Luxury hotel located in Kigali with delicious breakfasts, access to a solar-heated swimming pool)
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 12: Return to Kigali Airport

Today, after a leisurely breakfast, you and your guide set off for Kigali city. If you have time before your international flight departure, you can ask your guide to take you on a city tour of Kigali before dropping you off at the airport in good time for your flight. Should you have a late departure and require a day-room for today please let your travel consultant know and we will be happy to book a hotel in Kigali city for you at an additional cost.

Key Facts

Journey Time: 20 minutes
Accommodation: Not included
Meal Plan: Breakfast

لضمان التوفر، احجز في أقرب وقت ممكن. الحجز المبكر يستحق النظر خاصة إذا كنت تخطط للرحلة خلال موسم الذروة مثل العطلات العامة أو عطلات نهاية الأسبوع.

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