5 days Rwanda gorillas and Akagera wildlife safari
This combined 5 days Rwanda gorillas and Akagera wildlife safari is the ultimate gorilla experience and a rewarding safari experience. Rwanda is popular for the gorilla tracking adventure but not many people know that Rwanda can also give a wonderful African safari experience. This 5 day trip is a safari trip to Akagera National Park to watch lots of wild animals and enjoy beautiful scenery. You will then head to Volcanoes National Park for a memorable gorilla trekking adventure in the misty jungles of the Virunga Mountains.
DAY ONE
Meet with your Agasaro Safaris’ Guide and depart for Akagera National Park in the east of Rwanda. On arrival you will do a game drive to spot some animals before continuing to check into your lodge. Later in the afternoon you shall do the boat trip on Lake Ihema which is the biggest lake in the park. You will get to see lots of water animals and birds. Crocodiles and Hippos are a common sight.
Optional activity: Night game drive: From 6pm for about 2.5 hours you can do a night safari to see the nocturnals.
Overnight: Akagera game lodge/ Ruzizi Tented Lodge
DAY TWO
In the morning embark on a game drive and explore other parts of the park to increase on your animal sightings and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Afternoon at leisure.
Overnight: Akagera game lodge/ Ruzizi Tented Lodge
DAY THREE
After an early breakfast, set off at 6.00am with a packed lunch for a full game drive through the park. You will go through several habitats and watch a number of wildlife. The 6 hour game drive starts in the south of the park at the lodge and winds up in the north of the park in the Kilala plains which provide the best animal sightings in the beautiful open plains. You will exit the park by noon and head to Volcanoes National Park in the north of Rwanda.
Overnight: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge/Virunga Lodge.
DAY FOUR
Following breakfast at the lodge, travel to National Park Headquarters to meet your guides for the day and begin your gorilla tracking experience. Experienced guides and trackers will accompany your party on an early morning trek up the volcanoes to the forest above. The journey, through the forest and up steep climbs, is abundantly rewarded with the lifetime experience of viewing mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. You will have an opportunity to be within metres of these magnificent apes, sharing in their daily lives and experiencing their day-to-day activities. Mountain gorillas are extremely rare with only an estimated 1000 remaining in the wild. This is an experience you won’t soon forget! Following the trek, return to your accommodation to relax and reflect on your experience with the amazing mountain gorillas.
Overnight: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge/Virunga Lodge.
DAY FIVE
After breakfast – drive back to Kigali for a City Tour Drive to Gisozi and Kigali genocide memorials were remains of the victims who suffered the 1994 Rwanda genocide are preserved. Carry on driving through the Kigali central which is the major business and commercial center for the country. Later, visit the Kigali Museum and get to know more about the historical facts of Rwanda. If you still have ample time, visit the homes of the survivors of the genocide who reside in the suburbs of the city.
EXPERT TIPS:
- Wear long trousers and a long sleeved shirt over the top of a t-shirt.
- Strong, 'worn-in' hiking boots with long socks into which you tuck in your trousers.
- Day bag with waterproofs, 2-3 liters of water and your packed lunch.
- No flash photography is allowed when photographing the chimpanzees.
- Includes a boardwalk so it can be slippery if wet, sturdy footwear with a good grip is advisable.