The 12 Days Rwanda Congo Primate and Wildlife Adventure Safari is an extensive package involving Mountain Gorilla trekking in Rwanda, Eastern Lowland Gorilla trekking in Congo, Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park, extensive wild game viewing in Akagera National Park, Nyiragongo Volcano Climbing, boat cruise on Lake Ihema, adventurous Nyungwe Canopy walk, heritage tour to the National Museum of Rwanda in Butare and eventually a free relaxing day at Gisenyi in the sandy beaches of Lake Kivu. It features a blend of primate, wildlife and Adventure.
Day 1 of the 12 Days Rwanda Congo Primate & Wildlife Adventure Safari: Visit the Gisozi genocide memorial and transfer to Akagera National Park
Day 2 of the 12 Days Rwanda Congo Primate & Wildlife Adventure Safari: Do morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise on Lake Ihema
Day 3 of the 12 Days Rwanda Congo Primate & Wildlife Adventure Safari: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park. Visit the National Museum of Rwanda in Butare
Day 4 of the 12 Days Rwanda Congo Primate & Wildlife Adventure Safari: Do Chimpanzee trekking in the morning and afternoon Nyungwe Canopy walk
Day 5 of the 12 Days Rwanda Congo Primate & Wildlife Adventure Safari: Transfer to Bukavu – Kahuzi Biega National Park
Day 6 of the 12 Days Rwanda Congo Primate & Wildlife Adventure Safari: Do lowland gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega National Park
Day 7 of the 12 Days Rwanda Congo Primate & Wildlife Adventure Safari: Cross back to Rwanda and relax at the lodge
Day 8 of the 12 Days Rwanda Congo Primate & Wildlife Adventure Safari: Relaxation at Gisenyi
Day 9 of the 12 Days Rwanda Congo Primate & Wildlife Adventure Safari: Transfer to Congo’s Virunga National Park and undertake Nyiragongo Volcano climbing
Day 10 of the 12 Days Rwanda Congo Primate & Wildlife Adventure Safari: Descend from Nyiragongo Volcano and drive Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park
Day 11 of the 12 Days Rwanda Congo Primate & Wildlife Adventure Safari: Do Mountain Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park and relax at the lodge
Day 12 of the 12 Days Rwanda Congo Primate & Wildlife Adventure Safari: Transfer back to Kigali & relax
After breakfast, embark on the tour of the Gisozi genocide memorial tour exploring this historical site that demonstrates the tragic genocide that befell the destination Rwanda in the year 1994. The collection of human remains, the writings about genocide and audio presentations give a detailed picture of what exactly transpired during the Rwanda’s 1994 infamous ethnic conflict. Retire from the museum tour; settle for lunch after which you drive to Akagera National Park 135km about 2 ½ hour’s drive enjoying the remarkable views of Rwandan countryside. Arrive in the evening and retire for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Ruzizi Tented Camp, Midrange / Standard: Akagera Game Lodge, Budget / Basic: Dereva Hotel
Connect to the extensive savannah landscapes of Akagera National Park enjoying the magical views of the wild game including lions, the elephants, Buffalos, Defassa waterbucks, elands, Topis, leopards, Maasai Giraffe, Impalas, Zebras among others. The activity can last 3 – 4 hours. In the afternoon, the boat cruise at Lake Ihema – the Rwanda’s second largest lake is arranged to enable you explore aquatic species like Nile crocodiles and hippos, the birds like papyrus gonoleks and if lucky the Shoebill stork. The view of the extensive wetland system is also rewarding to explore. Retire for overnight.
Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Ruzizi Tented Camp, Midrange / Standard: Akagera Game Lodge, Budget / Basic: Dereva Hotel
After breakfast, drive to Nyungwe National Park to the south west of Rwanda. The 403km drive takes about 8 hours. You drive through Kigali city and a lunch stop will be made in Butare in the southern province of Rwanda. In Butare, you also visit the National Museum of Rwanda one of the largest museums in East Africa featuring over 100,000 artifacts detailing the Rwanda’s past. From this experience, you proceed on the drive to Nyungwe forest for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Nyungwe Forest Lodge, Midrange / Standard: Nyugwe Hill Top View Hotel, Budget / Basic: Gisakura Guesthouse
An early transfer to Kyamudongo Forest sets off at 5pm in order to catch up with the briefing time. The activity commences at 8am in full control of Rwanda Development Board park rangers exploring the verdant montane forest of Nyungwe with 13 primate species including the Chimpanzees and the largest grouping of Black and White colobus Monkeys in Africa. The activity lasts about 2 – 5 hours with one full hour of chimpanzee viewing. You retreat from the encounter for relaxation and lunch. At 2pm, you gather at Uwinka visitor center for the canopy walking experience. Considered to be the first of its kind in East Africa and the third in Africa, Nyungwe canopy walk offers remarkable views of the forest, panoramic view of the deep forested valleys, birds and primates that thrive in the habitat. The activity normally lasts a maximum of 2 hours. Retire for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Nyungwe Forest Lodge, Midrange / Standard: Nyugwe Hill Top View Hotel, Budget / Basic: Gisakura Guesthouse
After a relaxed breakfast, you transfer via Cyangungu crossing the border to Democratic Republic of Congo settling in Bukavu – the main town near Kahuzi Biega National Park. Spend the rest of the day relaxing as you prepare for the next day’s trek.
Accommodation: Luxury / Midrange: Orchid Safari Lodge, Budget: Hotel Horizon
Set off for the Eastern low land gorilla trekking adventure in Kahuzi Biega National Park. It is a historical journey to the search of the one of the great Ape sub species in one of the most remote places in the world. These gorillas are fond of thriving in extended groups and they are themselves larger in size compared to the Mountain gorillas. The low land gorilla trek lasts about 1 – 4 hours inclusive of one full viewing hour. From the gorillas, you can take a nature walk visiting the Tshibati falls for sightseeing experience. Retreat back to the hotel for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Luxury / Midrange: Orchid Safari Lodge, Budget: Hotel Horizon
Following a relaxed breakfast, you drive back to Rwanda and drive along the beautiful shores of Lake Kivu – the largest lake in Rwanda and one of the Africa’s great lakes.
Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel, Midrange / Budget: Paladis Malahide
This is dedicated for your relaxation and recreation on the sandy beaches of Gisenyi. You can opt for a boat cruise, swimming, beach sport, wind surfing, catamaran or just sun bathing.
Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel, Midrange / Budget: Paladis Malahide
Wake up early enough to transfer to Congo (Goma) about 1 hour drive to catch up with the Nyiragongo Volcano hiking. Gather at Kibati Patrol post from where you will begin the hike from in the company of the Virunga National Park rangers. Enjoy the amazing views and environment of Nyiragongo Volcano noted to feature the largest lava lake in the world. The lava lake is very violent and noted to have had a significant impact on the surrounding environment following its last subsequent eruptions including the 2002 eruption that destroyed half of Goma town 20km away. The accommodation is presented in the mountain shelter and you enjoy the glowing views of the lava lake at night. Nyiragongo Volcano hike lasts between 4 – 6 hours.
Accommodation: Mountain Shelter
This is the second day on the mountain and you enjoy the mountain scenery as you trek back to the starting point. From Kibati, you embark on the drive to Gisenyi where you will connect to Volcanoes National Park 110km about 2 hours drive for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge / Virunga Lodge, Midrange / Standard: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge / Hotel La Palme, Budget / Basic: Muhabura Hotel
Volcanoes National Park is the only habitat in the destination Rwanda where the critically endangered Mountain Gorillas can be explored. Gorilla trekking commences at 8am at the park headquarters Kinigi with briefing though an earlier arrival offers the opportunity to view the traditional performances of the native Banyarwanda while enjoying the taste of Rwandan coffee. After the allocation of gorilla groups and briefing, the RDB rangers lead you to the gorilla highlands traversing the steep landscapes while enjoying the beauty of the scenery and the sound of the forest. The moment with the Mountain Gorillas is limited to one hour listening to the themed interpretation of the ranger guides and taking photos after which you return to the starting point and connect to the lodge for afternoon relaxation.
Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge / Virunga Lodge, Midrange / Standard: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge / Hotel La Palme, Budget / Basic: Muhabura Hotel
After breakfast, drive back to Kigali 116km about 3 hours’ drive enjoying the beautiful views of Rwandan hillsides. You can then connect to Kigali International Airport for flight departure if you have a flight that day.
End of the 12 Days Rwanda Congo Primate & Wildlife Adventure Safari
Cate
Samuel
Robert
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