DESCRIPTION

This 10 days’ trip wildlife adventure in Rwanda will allow you to visit the three national parks with their specific animals (big 5 in Akagera National Park located in eastern part of Rwanda, gorillas and golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park located in northern part of Rwanda, and chimpanzees in Nyungwe National Park which is in the south-ouest of the Country).

10 Days highlights Rwanda Wildlife Adventure

Day 1: Arrival in Kigali

Day 2: Transfer to Akagera National Park + boat cruise and night game drive

Day 3: full day game drive in Akagera National Park

Day 4: Transfer to Musanze

Day 5: Mountain Gorilla Trekking

Day 6: Golden Monkey trekking and Twin Lakes

Day 7:  Transfer to Nyungwe

Day 8: Chimpanzees trekking and Canopy

Day 9: Transfer to Kigali

Day 10: Departure

Day 1 – Welcome to Rwanda! 

You will be picked up by our guide/driver when you arrive at the Kigali International Airport who will transfer you to your hotel where you’ll spend the night. Distance from airport to hotel: 20 minutes

Hotel options: Chez Lando Hotel / Hotel des Milles Collines

Day 2 – Transfer to Akagera National Park – Boat Cruise and Night Game Drive

Breakfast at the hotel and begin your journey at 9 am to Akagera National Park, eastern part of Rwanda, on the border with Tanzania. The journey to Rwanda’s biggest national park – which spans 1,122km² – takes 2.5 hrs drive, from Kigali.  Assist check-in at Akagera National

Park and Akagera Game Lodge.

The park was named after the river that runs along Rwanda’s eastern edge and it’s the country’s counterpart to the famous savannah reserves of Tanzania and Kenya farther afield. It’s a stunningly beautiful park, boasting more than 10 fresh water lakes and more than 8000 animals and 500 bird species respectively.

After lunch at Akagera Game Lodge restaurant, drive to Ihema Lake for boat ride which starts at 3 pm.

Lake Ihema is a birder’s paradise; here you’ll be fascinated by sightings of waterbirds such as cormorants, fish eagles, African jacana, papyrus gonolek and kingfishers. But the highlights are usually sightings of the monstrous elephants grazing by the lakeside, crocodiles enjoying the sun, and hippos playing in water. The symbiotic relationship of these creatures will give you a great experience of animal harmony.

At 5:30 pm the park guide will meet at the hotel reception for briefing before starting the night game drive for 2 hours. During this game drive, there is a chance of spotting nocturnal animals like lions, leopards and hyenas.

Accommodation: Akagera Game Lodge

Day 3 – Full Day Game Drive

Today’s game drive will reward you with an authentic African Big Five safari experience in a less touristy destination where lions and rhinos returned in 2015 and 2017 respectively.

Some of the park’s most famous residents include lions, elephants, rhinos, zebras, leopards, hyenas, buffalos, giraffes, monkeys, hippos, bush pigs, warthogs, baboons, crocodiles, leopards and antelopes.

Overnight at Akagera Game Lodge

Day 4 – Travel to Musanze

After breakfastast at the hotel, you will have around seven hours drive to north of the country via Ngarama Rock and this will lead you to Musanze, Rwanda’s second-largest city and the country’s tourism hub.

On the way a visit to Ngarama Rock will be done. This rock is beautiful historical site that sits on an area of about 3 hectares and is attributed to Umwami Rudahigwa Ndoli, comprising several footprints. This magical rock is able to make an echo when hit by metal or stone.

Accommodation: Fatima hotel / Classic Lodge  

Day 5 – Mountain Gorilla trekking

Today is the day! It will begin at 6:00 am as gorilla trekkers are required to be at the park headquarters by 7:00 am. Critically endangered and currently numbering about 1,000 individuals (according to the 2018 census results), the mountain gorillas can only be found in two places in the world: the Virunga Massif, a volcanic range that straddles Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda.

After equipping yourselves with the essential gorilla trekking gear (hiking boots, long trousers, gloves, etc.), the park’s head ranger will divide you and other trekkers into different groups basing on your fitness. Usually, the more physically fit track gorilla groups that require a shorter, less strenuous trek while the fit ones can scour the forest for a longer time, and at a relatively higher altitude.

The mountain gorillas you’ll be allowed to view are families that have been habituated. As the excursion progresses deeper into the forest, your guide will point out signs of previous gorilla activity – dung, nests, chewed bamboo shoots, etc. Once you find them, you’ll be allowed to stay with them for one hour. And despite their intimidating, massive size, don’t fret! Habituated gorillas are not aggressive; they’ll just stare at you blankly.

After gorilla trekking you’ll head back to your hotel for lunch and overnight stay at Fatima hotel or Classic Lodge

Day 6 – Golden Monkey Trekking

Early breakfast precedes the day, before heading to the park headquarters for the golden monkey’s trek briefing. You will then transfer you to the starting point of your guided walk, ready to begin this amazing adventure. The tour takes about 3 – 4 hrs as a round trip (depending on how often you stop). After this memorable experience, you will go for lunch and visit Twin Lakes (Burera and Ruhondo lakes).

Overnight at My Hill Eco Lodge.

Day 7 – Transfer to Nyungwe

After breakfast you will leave My Hill Eco Lodge at 9 AM heading to the office of Nyungwe National Park located at Gisakura for registration and other formalities, with a stopover at Karongi for lunch. Distance: around 6h 30min driving.

Accommodation: Chimpanzee Lodge (Gisakura) or Nyungwe Top hill view hotel 

Day 8 – Chimpanzees Trekking and Canopy Walk Way

After packing breakfast early morning, you will lead to the Park reception for briefing and begin chimpanzee trekking journey.

The Nyungwe National Park is home to more than 80 chimpanzees and four small types of prosimian and small nocturnal primates. Chimp trekking will be interspersed with other activities where the moist air, the enlivening sounds of birds, tree frogs and insects will make you fete a real return to nature.

After the memorable chimp trekking expedition, your will have a lunch at the park restaurant located at Uwinka. After lunch you will have canopy activity which is a suspended bridge above a ravine in the lush montane rainforest of Nyungwe National Park. The canopy walkway provides an exhilarating perspective on the ancient treetops and wildlife.  After this memorable experience you turn to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Chimpanzee Lodge or Nyungwe Hill Top View Hotel

Day 9– Transfer to Kigali

After breakfast, you will start a trip towards Kigali with opportunity of shopping (depending on the arrival time).

Accommodation: Chez Lando Hotel / Mille Collines 

Day 10 – Transfer to the airport- departure

Travel to Kigali International Airport for your flight back home.

PRICING

OPTION 1 – INCLUSION	OPTION 2 – INCLUSION	OPTION 3 – INCLUSION
Transport – Land  Cruiser Prado (4×4)	Transport – Land  Cruiser Prado (4×4)	Transport – Land  Cruiser Prado (4×4)
Accommodation: Chez Lando Hotel in Kigali; Ruzizi Tented Lodge and Karenge Bush Camp in Akagera National Park; Best View Hotel in Musanze; My Hill Eco Lodge; Chimpanzee Lodge in Nyungwe	Accommodation: Mille Collines Hotel in Kigali; Ruzizi Tented Lodge and Karenge Bush Camp in Akagera National Park; Fatima Hotel in Musanze; My Hill Eco Lodge; Chimpanzee Lodge in Nyungwe	Accommodation: Serena Hotel in Kigali; Ruzizi Tented Lodge and Karenge Bush Camp in Akagera National Park; Five Volcanoes Hotel in Musanze; My Hill Eco Lodge; Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel
Park entry fee	Park entry fee	Park entry fee
Boat cruise in Ihema lake and Ruhondo lake	Boat cruise in Ihema lake and Ruhondo lake	Boat cruise in Ihema lake and Ruhondo lake
Gorilla and Chimpanzees permits	Gorilla and Chimpanzees permits	Gorilla and Chimpanzees permits
Golden monkeys permit	Golden monkeys permit	Golden monkeys permit
Guiding	Guiding	Guiding
Meals and soft drinks	Meals and soft drink	Meals and soft drinks
PRICE: 8,986 USD PER PERSON	PRICE: 9,208 USD PER PERSON	PRICE: 10,405 USD PER PERSON

 

EXCLUSIVE: alcohol drinks; tips and donations; buy souvenirs; other personal expenses.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

Payment Policy

• Deposit of 80% of total cost for booking confirmation (through bank transfer or DirectPay Online “DPO);
• The balance or final payment of 20% is due at arrival in Kigali after checking in at the hotel;
• If the reservation is made within 45 days prior to the arrival date, full payment is required at the time of booking;
• The copy of proof of payment required and sent to the company’s business email (info@thinkotours.com) in order to confirm the booking.

Cancellation Policy

In the event that you decide to cancel a trip after booking it, certain cancellation charges will be payable to our supplier as your payments are immediately used to obtain lodging, tours and services at the best rates.

You understand and accept when booking through us that you are bound by our supplier’s terms and conditions and accordingly any policies they may have on cancellation charges.

• Cancellation fee of 25% if the trip is cancelled less than 90 days prior to the arrival;
• Cancellation fee of 50% if the trip is cancelled less than 60 days prior to the arrival;
• Cancellation fee of 100% if the trip is cancelled less than 45 days prior to the arrival;

Payment for Gorilla Permits is nonrefundable.