12 Days Rwanda tour

12 Days Rwanda Tour from Kigali; Best Gorilla Trek & Big 5 Combo

Overview

The 12 days Rwanda tour allows you to explore the best of what Rwanda- The Land of a Thousand Hills has to offer the world. Rwanda is a compact country but rewards nature lovers with the most captivating adventure experiences. On this special 12 days best of Rwanda safari, you will be visiting all 4 Rwanda National Parks; Nyungwe Forest National Park, Gishwati-Mukura, Akagera National Park and Volcanoes National Park. En route to the main destinations, there will be stopovers to be made including at Butare.

The main highlights of this remarkable 12 days Rwanda tour include gorilla trekking to see the massive family of mountain gorillas, chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest, game drives to see the big 5 game in Akagera. It also includes Kigali city tour to explore the Gisozi genocide memorial and other sites, cultural tour in Iby’Iwacu/Gorilla guardian village.

Detailed Itinerary – 12 Days Rwanda Tour

Day 1: Pick up at the airport & drive to a hotel –Kigali

You will land at the Kigali International Airport –KGL and you will meet Maranatha tours and a travel driver guide for a warm welcome into Rwanda. Our representative may take you through a quick briefing about Rwanda and this 12-day tour to Akagera National Park, Nyungwe Forest National Park, and Volcanoes National Park. In case of early arrivals, undertake a city tour – visit Kigali genocide memorial center.

Day 2: Akagera National Park – wildlife trip

Akagera National Park is a rich savanna wildlife park, located in the far Eastern Province of Rwanda. Created in 1934, Akagera stretches covering 1122sq.km and supports the world’s most sought big game; rhinos, buffaloes, elephants, lions and leopards. You will get there early, check in at the lodge for lunch and relaxation then embark on a late afternoon game drive or boat cruise on Lake Ihema. Connecting from Kigali to Akagera National Game Park takes 2 hours and a half for you to drive.

Day 3: Get on a game drive & launch cruise –Akagera National Park

Embark on a normal game drive 2-3 hours with an experienced guide. Animal sightings to take note of today include elephants, rhinos, lions, leopards, buffaloes, roan antelopes, zebras, Masai giraffes, birds, and more.

After a delicious meal, proceed to Lake Ihema for a boat cruise. Aquatic species will be viewed on this special afternoon launch trip including basking crocodiles, hippos, birds, and other wildlife.

Day 4: Akagera National Park to Nyungwe Forest for primate tour

Breakfast early morning, after which, start your long journey to Nyungwe Forest National Park. Nyungwe Forest National Park is home to 500 chimpanzees, 400 colobus monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, baboons, and more. En route visits will be at Butare to explore the national museum.

Day 5: Chimpanzee trekking Nyungwe & canopy walk

Nyungwe Forest National Park supports up to 13 primate species and includes an estimate of over 500 chimpanzees, 400 colobus monkeys, olive baboons, and more than 310 bird species. A chimp trek starts with a briefing session at Uwinka or Cyamudongo reception; get to know the set rules to be followed while tracking chimpanzees. Once chimpanzee a chimpanzee community is located, you will spend a maximum of one hour face-to-face with chimpanzees taking photos and observing their daily behaviors.

Get back and enjoy lunch in the afternoon and after, relax at the lodge. Leave for an afternoon canopy walk experience on a suspended walkway 50 m from the ground. This comes with incredible views of primates, birds, and flora.

Day 6: Colobus walk & Tea estate tour

After early morning breakfast, you will meet the park guide for a briefing about your next primate trekking experience- colobus tracking. The colobus monkey tracking allows you to keep an eye on the diversity of primates like black and white colobus monkeys, plus other primates such as owl-faced monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, blue monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, Dent’s Mona monkeys, vervet monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, olive baboons and more.

In the afternoon, you will explore the Gisakura Tea Estates and this is a perfect tour for guests with interest in farm tours. You will have a deep learning on tea farming from planting till it is ready for consumption.

Day 7: Transfer to Gishwati-Mukura

Transfer from Nyungwe Forest National Park to Gishwati-Mukura National Park, about 3-4 hours’ drive. Gishwati Mukura NP is gifted with more than primates; chimpanzees, blue monkeys, golden monkeys, olive baboons, l’hoest monkeys, vervet monkeys, black & white colobus monkeys.

Birds in Gishwati-Mukura Park: purple-breasted sunbird, strange weavers, Rwenzori batis, mountain yellow warblers, grauer’s swamp warblers, red-throated alethe, regal sunbird and more.

Day 8: Primate tracking & visit Volcanoes National Park

Enjoy an early breakfast and after, set off for a guided primate tracking experience. Explore Gishwati-Mukura NP primates including black and white colobus monkeys, chimpanzees, baboons, and birds. Return and lunch will be provided in the lodge preferably Gishwati Lodge. Check out and drive to Volcanoes National Park for evening relaxation and an overnight stay.

Day 9: Gorilla trekking & Iby’Iwacu village tour

Wake you early in the morning and enjoy breakfast, after, connect to Kinigi offices to be briefed about gorilla trekking rules. You will start tracking gorillas at 8:00 am with park guide assigned to your group. 12 gorilla families are open for tourism in Volcanoes N. P and the park official will allocate you only one to track in a group of 8 people. When you return, lunch will be provided and an evening cultural tour in Iby’Iwacu cultural village will follow after relaxation.

Day 10: Dian Fossey trek & twin Lakes/relax at the lodge

Start your Dian Fossey trek at Kinigi offices after the briefing. This trek offers insight into Dian Fossey and gorilla conservation legacy. You will take 2-3 hours to the burial site where she was buried next to Digit her lovely silverback gorilla. A relaxed stay in the lodge or consider visiting the Twin Lakes- Burera and Ruhondo.

Day 11: Lake Kivu

Lake Kivu tour starts in the early morning after breakfast. Arrive early in Western Rwanda to explore Lake Kivu on a boat ride. Lake Kivu has a surface area coverage of 2700sq.km and it is one of Africa’s freshwater lakes.

Day 12: Departure

After breakfast, set off for Kigali for departure at Kigali International Airport or get dropped off at a hotel. This marks the end of 12 days Rwanda tour.

End of 12 Days Rwanda Tour from Kigali

12 Days Rwanda Tour Inclusions

  • Park entry fees
  • Chimp & gorilla permit
  • Game drive
  • Boat cruise
  • Bottled water
  • Transportation & accommodation

12 Days Rwanda Tour Exclusions

  • Visas
  • Passports
  • Cigarettes
  • Telephone