Rwanda: 5-Day Safari to Akagera and Volcanoes National Park
ID: GYG704596-1153755
Category:
Country: Rwanda
Duration:
5 days
Description
Discover the diverse wildlife of Rwanda on a 5-day safari to Akagera and Volcanoes National Park. Go on game drives, a boat ride, and a gorilla trek, and visit the Genocide Memorial Site in Kigali.
Embark on a 5-day safari from Kigali to Akagera National Park, Volcanoes National Park, and Kigali. See a variety of wildlife, including the highly sought-after Shoebill, and go gorilla trekking.
Day 1: Move from the airport to Akagera National Park.
Upon arrival at Kigali International airport, your driver-guide will pick you and drive to Akagera National Park, which is located about 3 hours east of Kigali. The Akagera River, which runs along the park’s eastern border and feeds into a maze of reservoirs, the largest of which is Lake Ihema, is named after it. For dinner and the night, check into your lodge.
Day 2: Game drive in Akagera in the morning and a boat ride on Lake Ihema in the afternoon.
Early risers such as the leopard, hyena, and striped Jackal can be seen on the morning game drive. Join your guide and ranger on a half-day game drive to see topi, zebras, and bushbucks, among other wildlife. After the trip, you’ll go back to the lodge for lunch.
Take a boat ride on L. Ihema, the park’s largest pool. The cruise will get you up close to marine animals in the area, such as hippos, crocodiles, and several birdlife (525 species registered in the park), such as African fish Eagles, African Jacanas, and Kingfishers.
Day 3: Move to the National Park of Volcanoes and a nature walk in the afternoon.
Link from Akagera National Park to Volcanoes National Park (216km). Five of the Virunga range’s volcanoes are included in Volcanoes National Park, which is regarded as a sanctuary for mountain gorillas. Zoologist Diane Forsey made her home in the park. Check-in at your lodge for a drink and a meal when you arrive. After lunch, go for a stroll through the surrounding woods to nearby crater lakes for scenic views, bird watching, and volcano photography.
Day 4: Gorilla trekking.
Early breakfast at the cabin, then move to the park headquarters, where a park ranger can brief you about how to conduct gorilla monitoring. Hiking with nettles on the slick and muddy Volcanoes slopes is difficult.
The meeting with mountain gorillas, on the other hand, erases many of the hike’s difficulties. You would be able to spend an hour with these gentle giants to observe and capture them. (Flashlights are not permitted during photography.
Visit the panoramic twin volcanic lakes of Burera and Ruhondo in the evening. Dinner and folk tales by the flames await you as you return to your lodge.
Day 5: Travel to Kigali and take a half-day city tour before departing.
Breakfast at the lodge in the morning, then travel to Kigali for around 2 hours and 30 minutes. In Kigali, you can take a city tour. Visit Mt. Kigali for views of the city and farmland, then visit the neighborhood market before concluding with a trip to the Genocide Memorial Site.
The driver guide will drop you off at the airport for your flight after lunch. This will bring your 5-day safari to a close.
Highlights
- Discover the diverse wildlife of Akagera National Park on a game drive
- See the Big Five and other animals on a boat ride on Lake Ihema
- Go on a gorilla trek in Volcanoes National Park and see the twin lakes
- Visit the Genocide Memorial Site and the neighborhood market in Kigali
- Enjoy a city tour in Kigali and see the city from the top of Mt. Kigali
Guiding languages
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Gorilla trekking permits are required and should be arranged in advance.
The trek to see the gorillas can be strenuous; participants should be in good physical condition.
Weather in the parks can be unpredictable; pack accordingly.
Photography is allowed, but flash photography is not permitted with the gorillas.
Participants should follow the guide's instructions at all times for safety.
Visitors are advised to have their own travel insurance.
When should I book?
To guarantee availability book as soon as possible. Early booking is worth consideration especially if you planning the trip during high season like public holidays or weekends.
Cancellations
This excursion you can cancel with no cost up to 24 hours before the start of the trip. If you cancel it after 24 hours or not show up on the excursion you will still be charged the full price of the activity. Being late on pick-up or departure will be considered as not showing up.