12 Days Jewels of Rwanda

Day Itinerary

After breakfast you will depart for Butare the second largest city of Rwanda and is regarded as the intellectual city of Rwanda. It hosts the National Museum, several academic (University) and research institutions. On your way to Butare you will visit Nyanza (currently Nyabisindu) the former Omwami’s palace (King’s palace) and the seat of the feudal monarchy. The palace has been reconstructed to its 19th century state and shows a traditional dome that can be compared with the Kabaka’s palace of Buganda. You will visit the National Museum which is one the well set-up if not the finest ethnographic museum of East Africa. It’s a good source of information on the cultural history of Rwanda and the region.

Lunch at Butare and later we will drive to Nyungwe Forest NP. Your driver-guide will stop at the Uwinka offices to have the last update on the presence of the semi-habituated groups of chimps and colobus monkeys. This will help you to prepare your activities of the next day.

Day Itinerary

Chimp tracking experience in Nyungwe (included in cost) or you may choose to have another guided primate walk ($60pp) or have one of the hikes in the well-maintained trails (only one activity is allowed per day). There are a large host of primates and blue monkeys present and often observed around Uwinka, requiring less strenuous hiking.

There is also an orchid garden at Uwinka and for those who would like a challenging hike we recommend the trail ”the Bigugu Mountain”, the highest peak in Nyungwe Forest at nearly 3000m. Bird watchers will certainly be interested to know that Nyungwe has also some Albertine rift endemic species that can only be seen here! Birding is very rewarding on one of the special designed trails.

Day Itinerary

In Nyungwe Forest NP on payment of extra: guided nature walk ($60) or primate treks for colobus monkeys ($75). Of a particular interest are the large social groups of Angolan Colobus (Colobus angolensis), which may be over 300 individuals. These are the largest troops of this species known in the world!  Nyungwe forest counts 25% of the African Primates!  Or Birding ($55pp); or Canopy Walk ($70pp)

Day Itinerary

You will be picked up, take the long drive to detour to Parc National des Volcans. Lunch en route, arrive Ruhengeri and Kinigi for an overnight at your hotel.

Day itinerary          

After breakfast you will report at the ORTPN headquarters where your driver-guide will accomplish the necessary formalities for you. You will meet your ranger guide(s) for a briefing about the greatest animal experience ever.  Then we will drive you to the slopes of one of the Virunga volcanoes for your trekking. After the trekking, lunch at your hotel or at Ruhengeri and in the afternoon, if time allows, an excursion to explore the beautiful lakes in the region: Lake Bulera & Ruhondo. An excellent view of the Virunga chain of Volcanoes can be seen while there depending on weather conditions.

Day Itinerary

Second gorilla tracking (subject to availability and payment of $750 gorilla permit supplement)

Other activities/options, on payment of extra:
– An excursion to the top of the Bisoke volcano (3.711 m) of which the distinctive feature is a beautiful crater lake! Fantastic views in all directions, lushly forested slopes, shady bamboo forest and an exhilarating climb!

– An excursion to the grave of Dian Fossey and the former Karisoke Research Centre. The excursion will provide excellent background information and this is a wonderful site to see!

– A visit to the Golden Monkeys: the little-known Golden Monkey (cercopithecus mitis kandti) is listed as endangered; the newly habituated groups of about 40 individuals are the only ones in Africa. The Kabatwa troop is located not so far from the Park Headquarters and the Musanga troop lives near the Karisimbi volcano and has a much longer walking distance.

– Or other optional activities at the gorilla park: either climb Visoke volcano ($105), climb Mount Muhabura ($70), Musanze caves visit ($60pp), visit a local Women’s project ($40pp), do a nature walk in the park ($50pp), or simply stroll around the local communities, local markets and relax at the lodge without pay.

Day Itinerary

After breakfast you will leave for Gisenyi, passing through the green fields of tea plantations before exploring the shores of Lake Kivu. Gisenyi which is one of the three resort towns on Lake Kivu is the most beautiful. Arrival at Gisenyi in time for lunch. After Nyungwe and the gorilla park, most participants will welcome that relaxing moments on the shores of Lake Kivu, which is Bilharzia free. Rest of the day at leisure.

Second day of relaxation by the beach, staying in the very beautiful Waterfront Resort.

Day Itinerary

You will drive for 2 hours to Kigali for a cultural tour of the city.

The half day Kigali City trip (optional) includes a visit to the Genocide Memorial Centre at Gisozi, which takes a few hours. It’s a touching visit! And visit the local general goods market and the craft centre. In Rwanda you will find all over the country Memorials to remember the genocide of 1994. The most important Genocide Memorials are those of Kigali (Gisozi) and Murambi (Gikongoro) in Kigali where the history of the genocide is explained.Note that a visit to the genocide memorial is for most visitors an emotional event.

After lunch, drive 3 hours to Akagera NP, via Kayonza to the Eastern part of Rwanda. We will arrive this evening at the beautiful Akagera Game Lodge which has a swimming pool. Take a swim if you so wish.

Day Itinerary

After an Early breakfast your exploration starts with a boat trip on Lake Ihema which is a very rewarding experience for seeing the large number of hippos, the huge Nile crocodiles and many birds. After the boat trip you will continue your exploration along the lakes Kivumba, Hago; Mihindi and Rwanyakizinga. They are the most interesting part of the park especially for birders. You will return for your lunch and enjoy a fresh swim at the Lodge. In the late afternoon you will return to the giraffe valley which is usually full of surprises.

Day Itinerary

You will wake up early in the morning and leave after breakfast for another day of exploration. This time you will start with a visit to the height of Mutumba, the highest point of the park. You will have a view of all the Akagera lakes and the Karangwe mountains in Tanzania, with Lake Tanganyika visible at a distance. Descend to the Lake area where you will have a picnic lunch on edge of one of the beautiful lakes. In the afternoon you will drive back to the lodge before returning to Kigali where we will drop you to the Airport for departure.