DESCRIPTION

This 14 days’ trip in Rwanda will allow to explore the country by visiting 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-east of the country). It will also allow you to taste the Rwandan culture by visiting cultural villages, as well as its history through visit of museums.

14 Days highlights Exploring Rwanda  

Day 1: Arrival in Kigali

DAY 2: City Tour (Kigali Genocide + Kandt museum and campaign Against Genocide)

Day 3: City tour (Visit Nyamirambo Women’s center) + Transfer to Akagera

Day 4: Game drive and boat cruise

Day 5: full day game drive in Akagera National Park

Day 6: Transfer to Musanze 

Day 7: Mountain Gorilla Trekking + guardian  

Day 8: Golden Monkey trekking + transfer to Kibuye  

Day 9: Boat cruise in Kivu lake + transfer to Nyungwe 

Day 10: Chimpanzees trekking

DAY 11: Tea Plantation and water fall

Day 12: Coffee plantation tour and visit Ethnographic Museum

Day 13: Visit King Palace Museum + Transfer to Kigali

Day 14: Departure to Airport 

Detailed 14 days Exploring Rwanda

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 / Mille Collines Hotel / Kigali Serena Hotel

Day 2 – Kigali City Tour

Breakfast and start the tour inside the kigali (Kigali city Tour) which includes the following:
• Visit the 1994 Kigali Genocide Memorial
• Kandt house Museum  (learn the history of Rwanda during pre-colonial and colonial period as well after colonial period)
•Visit Campaign against genocide museum to learn on how the genocide was stopped.

Accommodation: Chez Lando Hotel / Mille Collines Hotel / Kigali Serena Hotel

DAY 3 – Kigali City Tour + Transfer to Akagera National Park

After the breakfast at the hotel you will visit Nyamirambo women’s center for experiencing Rwandan culture and their food, Hand crafting. After lunch you will embark on the journey to Akagera National Park located in the Eastern part of Rwanda. The distance from Kigali is around 2.5 hours driving.

Accommodation: Akagera Rhino Lodge or Transit lodge / Akagera Game Lodge

Day 4 – Game drive and boat cruise

After the breakfast our driver guide will pick you up from the hotel heading to the reception of the park for registration and briefing before starting the game drive.

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.

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.

At 4:30 PM a sunset boat ride on Lake Ihema will be done, the country’s second-biggest fresh water lake after Lake Kivu.

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.

Accommodation: Akagera Rhino lodge or Transit lodge / Akagera Game Lodge

Day 5 – Full Day Game Drive

Breakfast at hotel and start the game drive with an opportunity of spotting 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. It will be an opportunity of enjoying the nice view to lakes through the park hills.

Overnight at Karenge Bush camp.

Day 6 – Travel to Musanze + Visit of Liberation Museum 

After breakfastast from Karenge bush camp, you will have around six hours drive 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.

A packed lunch will be taken at this Rwanda king historical and magical site and after lunching there.

After lunching there, you continue to Mulindi Liberation museum. This museum tells stories of Rwandans struggle that brought an end of Genocide against Tutsi. This visit will be followed by a drive to Musanze through beautiful sceneries of Rwanda tea plantation and your driver guide will be sharing with you about tea experience on the way to Musanze and you will stay at your hotel for early morning gorillas trekking.

Accommodation: Best View Hotel / Fatima Hotel / Five Volcanoes Hotel

Day 7 – Mountain Gorilla trekking 

Today is the day! It will begin at 6:30 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. Afternoon you will visit Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village to experience Local culture, such as milking, dancing, meeting the local people, etc.

Overnight stay at Best View Hotel / Fatima Hotel / Five Volcanoes Hotel 

Day 8 – 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. Tour takes about 3 – 4 hrs depending on how often you stop. After this memorable experience you will go for lunch and visit Twin Lakes (Burera and Ruhondo lakes) plus boat cruise in Ruhondo lake.

Overnight at My Hill Eco Park.

Day 9 – 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 / Nyungwe Top hill view hotel

Day 10 – Chimpanzees trekking

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, you will return to your room for relaxation, lunch and dinner.

Accommodation: Chimpanzee Lodge / Nyungwe hill top view hotel

Day 11- Tea plantation and water fall

Breakfast and start tour for tea plantation where you will learn how tea is grown, harvested and processed in the tea factory. After lunch you will continue the trip towards the reception of Gisakura for briefing before starting natural walk heading to the beautiful Kamiranzovu water falls in forest. From there you will have chance of meeting some bird species, and monkeys.

Accommodation: Chimpanzee Lodge / Nyungwe hill top view hotel

Day 12- Coffee Plantation tour and visit of Ethnographic Museum 

At 9 AM you will embark on the journey towards South of Rwanda for Coffee Plantation tour where you will learn the origin of coffee, how Rwanda coffee is grown, processed and roasted. After lunch at Huye you will visit Ethnographic Museum known as the National Museum, which is the gift from Belgium’s King Bedouin in the late 1980s. Here seven galleries display historical, ethnographic, artistic and archaeological artefacts accompanied by visual aids, which give visitors a rich insight into the Rwandan culture.

Accommodation: Mater Boni Consilii Hotel

Day 13– Visit King Palace museum and Transfer to Kigali

After breakfast at the hotel, you will drive towards Nyanza for visiting the King’s Palace Museum and Kwigira museum. Distance from Huye to Nyanza: around one hour driving.

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

Accommodation:  Chez Lando Hotel / Mille Collines Hotel / Kigali Serena Hotel

Day 14 – 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- Rav 4	Transport – Land  Cruiser Prado (4×4)	Transport -Safari car (4×4)
Accommodation: Chez Lando Hotel in Kigali; Rhino Lodge or Transit lodge and Karenge Bush Camp in Akagera National Park; Best View Hotel in Musanze; My Hill Eco Lodge (twin lakes); Chimpanzee Lodge in Nyungwe	Accommodation: Mille Collines Hotel in Kigali; Rhino Lodge or Transit lodge and Karenge Bush Camp in Akagera National Park; Fatima hotel in Musanze; My Hill Eco Lodge (twin lakes); Chimpanzee Lodge in Nyungwe	Accommodation: Kigali Serena Hotel in Kigali; Akagera Game Lodge and Karenge Bush Camp in Akagera National Park; Five Volcanoes Hotel in Musanze; My Hill Eco Lodge (twin lakes); Nyungwe Top View Hill hotel
Parks entry fee	Parks entry fee	Parks 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 permit	Gorilla permit	Gorilla permit
Golden monkeys permit	Golden monkeys permit	Golden monkeys permit
Chimpanzee permit	Chimpanzee permit	Chimpanzee permit
Water fall	Water fall	Water fall
Guiding	Guiding	Guiding
Iby’iwacu cultural tour	Iby’iwacu cultural tour	Iby’iwacu cultural tour
Tea plantation tour	Tea plantation tour	Tea plantation tour
Coffee plantation tour	Coffee plantation tour	Coffee plantation tour
Visit 7 museums	Visit 7 museums	Visit 7 museums
Cultural tour by Nyamirambo Women Center	Cultural tour by Nyamirambo Women Center	Cultural tour by Nyamirambo Women Center
Meals and soft drinks	Meals and soft drink	Meals and soft drinks
PRICE: 9,789 USD Per Person	PRICE: 10,696 USD Per Person	PRICE: 11,885 USD Per Person

EXCLUSIVE: covid tests (where required), alcohols, buy souvenirs, tips and donations, personal expenses.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

Payment Policy

• 100% payment for the gorilla trek permits is required upon confirmation (US$ 1,500. – each);
• For the other servicers, 80% (at least) is also required at the time of booking. 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;
• In case payment is done by debit / credit card, additional fee of 3% is required;
• 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.