The Akagera Wildlife Adventure And The Ultimate Gorilla Experience Of Volcanoes National Park
Blessed with a beautiful landscape of endless expansive lush mountains and diverse wildlife, Rwanda is a haven for nature lovers. The game drives and boat ride in Akagera National Park offer beautiful wildlife sightings. Expect great sights of giraffes, buffalos, elephants, giraffes, gazelles, spotted hyenas, impalas, lions, baboons, warthogs, bushbucks, topi, oribis, giraffes, gazelles, spotted hyenas, impalas, lions, baboons, warthogs, bushbucks, topi, oribis, leopards, crocodiles, and hippos. The wildlife adventure is climaxed with the gorilla trekking experience in Volcanoes National Park.
Highlights
- Kigali City tour
- Boat ride on Lake Ihema
- Game Drives
- Gorilla trekking
- Visit to the twin Lakes Burera and Ruhondo
Itinerary
Day 1 – Kigali City tour, Transfer to Akagera National Park
Have breakfast early enough to be ready for pick-up at 7.00am. You shall be taken around the vibrant and green Kigali City for a tour that includes a visit to the genocide memorial sites. After the tour you drive eastwards to Akagera National Park. Check in to you lodge for lunch. At 2.30pm set out for the boat ride on Lake Ihema. Lake Ihema is host to over 500 bird species and a large number of hippos and Nile crocodiles. After the relaxing wildlife boat ride return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 2 – Game Drive, Rusumo Falls
Be up early for breakfast and start the game drive by 7.00am. It is a great opportunity to catch the early birders and hunters and nocturnal before returning to their hideouts. Expect great sightings of elephants, buffalos, giraffes, gazelles, impalas, lions, baboons, warthogs, bushbucks, topi, oribis, bush babies and leopards among others. After more than three hours of great wildlife sightings you return to the lodge for a lunch break. After lunch drive to Rusumo Falls on the Tanzania-Rwanda border to savor the beautiful scenery of the waterfalls and the lush environment. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 3 – Game Drive, Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Wake up early for breakfast for yet another early morning game drive. Expect to increase your game count. Drive around Lake Ihema to catch the hippos crazing on land. After the game drive return for lunch, check out and transfer to Volcanoes National Park. Check in to Kinigi Guest House for dinner and overnight.
Day 4 – Gorilla Trek, Twine Lakes Burera and Ruhondo
Be up as early as 6.00am, get ready in your trekking attire, have breakfast, grab your packed and transfer to the park offices. At the park offices you join up with the rest of trekking group for briefing by the ranger/guide. After briefing you transfer to the starting point and start the Gorilla trek. The trek takes you through thick forest cover, steep and slippery grounds. It is a strenuous but worthy experience. The time taken to locate the Gorillas varies from a few minutes to several hours. When you finally locate the Gorillas, you are allowed not more than one hour to observe and take pictures. Note that chances of not locating the Gorillas are very slim. In fact by the time you start the trek, the guide has an idea of where to find the Gorillas. He uses his knowledge of gorilla movements and their known location the day before. After trek return and travel to the beautiful twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo. The lakes are a wonderful place to relax and unwind after the strenuous Gorilla trek. Ride on the lakes with dugout canoes and savor the beautiful landscape, lush vegetation and birds. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 5 – Transfer back to Kigali
After breakfast you are driven back to Kigali to preferred drop-off point.
Additional Information
Inclusions
- 4 breakfast, 5 lunches and 4 dinners
- private safari vehicle
- gorilla permits
- services of an english-french speaking driver-guide
- accommodation in comfortable self-contained cottages
Equipment Required
Specialist gear required include a day pack and hiking boots
What You Carry
In your daypack you will need to carry light and heavy clothes, water bottle, camera gear.