Rwanda is a small but wonderful country with a total area of about 26,338 sq km, slightly smaller than Merryland State in the USA. It is about 9 times smaller than its counterpart in its north – Uganda. It is a land of green undulating landscape of hills, gardens, plantations and amazing culture. Located in the heart of Central and East Africa, Rwanda is bordered by Uganda in the North, DR Congo in the West, Burundi in the South and Tanzania in the East.

This land of “Thousand Hills” offers tourists one of the memorable journeys because among the key attractions include but not limited to being home to one third of the world’s remaining Mountain Gorillas, one third of Africa’s birds species, several species of primates, volcanoes, game reserves, resorts and islands on the expansive lakes like Kivu, graceful cultural performances, artistic crafts and friendly people.

Rwanda became independent on July 1 1962 from Belgium, is known for the genocide of 1994, but it has recovered from those years of turmoil that pre-occupied the nation in the period between 1950 and1994. Today, Rwanda is a thriving, safe country with one of the lowest crime rates in Africa.

The country has three (3) national parks –Nyungwe Forest Park known for the moderate army of chimps and monkeys; Akagera National park for different species of birds and game, including zebra, giraffe, antelope, buffalo, lion, leopard, elephants and rhino; and Parc Nationale des Volcans where Dian Fossey dedicated her life researching the celebrated gorillas.

All major attractions are located within 1 to 3 hours’ drive from the capital, Kigali and in a short vacation; a tourist can reach national parks, volcanoes, rainforests, savannah, lakes and the beautiful cities

French and Kinyarwanda are the official and widely spoken languages; English is also used in offices and schools. Kiswahili is also spoken by a few people especially the security forces.

This itinerary shall take you from the capital, Kigali to traverse the beautiful country as you explore the nature, culture and people

Day 01 :

Arrival at the Airport and briefing

Arrive at Kigali International airport and you will be picked up by our professional guide who will be waiting for you. Transfer to the hotel and get the general briefing of the entire safari and about the country. You will be taken into the session of the expectation management and the dos and donts of the country.

Day 02 :

Kigali city tour. Transfer to Volcanoes National Park

This day, after early morning breakfast, Visit Nyamata Genocide Memorial which is the epicentre of genocide, drive to Kigali Genocide Memorial (KGM). This is a catchword for Rwanda. At this place, there is a collection of all the artifacts of thousands of people who died in 1994 when the majority Hutus attacked the minority Tutsis in a historical tribal war. At this place, you may shade tears after seeing the thousand skulls, listening to the stories of the survivors, watching videos of the killings and/or looking at the photos of the infants and other people who were mercilessly killed.

Visit the presidential palace where former president Habyarimana was shot.

Visit Kimironko Market and see how the vendors sell the products from a pin-to-a-tank; ranging from foodstuffs, textiles to different accessories.

From here, visit Inema Art Gallery. Here you will see magnificent art pieces. Here, there are many youths and young people who design, mould, paint and decorate different pieces. They are made from wood, textiles and metal. You may buy one or two pieces as a way of supporting them and at the same time take that piece to beautify your living room or office.

Settle for lunch and thereafter transfer to the northern part of the country on a well paved road for about 2 to 3 hours to Ruhengeri town in Musanze district. Drive to Volcanoes National Park and check-in at the lodge of our choice. There are a number of lodges in this area ranging from basic, midrange to upmarket. A good rest after dinner shall restore the energy for hiking the mountainous forest as we trek the gorillas!

Day 03 :

Trekking the Greatest Apes – the Mountain Gorillas

This is the most thrilling and captivating tourism activity in the world! Getting a full hour face-to-face with these greatest apes of the world in indeed a memorable activity in everyone’s life term. You will wake up and get the requirements for gorilla trekking as you will be briefed by your professional driver-guide. Enjoy breakfast at the lodge and get your packed lunch and drinking water ready, in addition to other requirements as you will be briefed by your guide or in the subsequent mails with our company representatives. Proceed to the park headquarters for briefing with your tracking gears. You are required to put on long trousers because there are stinging grasses in the forest. You will later be briefed by the RDB ranger-guide who will lead you into the forest to penetrate the impenetrable forest and as you trek searching for the world’s greatest apes.
The time you take to find these apes is very unpredictable but you will be entertained by other primates like baboons, vervet monkeys, red tailed monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey, black and white colobus monkeys and so many others. As Wildlife Adventure Safaris – we recommend that you take a porter with you to support the community and have a fruitful tracking.

After tracking the gorillas, return to the lodge and relax a little bit. Time and energy permitting, take a walk to the Dian Fossey’s museum. This is located in the heart of ruhengeri town. You will take a self-guided tour free-of-charge. You will learn more about the stories of this paleontologist who dedicated her life to conserve and preserve these greatest apes for generations. You may leave a donation for the wonderful work done to preserve the artifacts of the great work done by Dian Fossey. After this experience return to the lodge for dinner and overnight. Dinner and overnight at the lodge of your choice.

Day 04 :

Tracking the Golden Monkeys

Golden monkeys are only found in this Virunga Conservation Area (VCA) which comprises of Mgahinga National Park in Uganda, Virunga National Park in DR Congo and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda in the whole world.

Tracking these rare species of primates is another awesome and captivating adventure that will add a meaning to your adventure and safari in Rwanda.

You assemble at the visitor information centre for briefing by the ranger guide. Thereafter you will start a less strenuous hike to go and look for these rare primates. In addition to this activity, you may encounter some other fauna like the forest buffaloes, tree hyrax, red-tailed monkeys and much more bird species like the beautiful sunbird, dusky turtle – dove, cape robin – chat, brown – crowned Tchagra, Bronze sun bird, Rwenzori Turaco, shelly’s crimson- wing, Kivu ground-thrush, black – headed waxbill, and streaky seedeater and others as you enter the bamboo zone. Carry your packed lunch because we can’t predict the time it will last. Return to your lodge for relaxation

Day 05 :

Hike Mt. Karisoke

This is a strenuous hike that will cost you some energy but so captivating as you plan for the whole day. Mt. Karisoke is shared by 3 countries. Getting to the top of this mountain is costly in terms of energy and time but so rewarding as you will be able to stand or lie in 3 countries of DR Congo, Uganda and Rwanda at once! Be prepared as it takes the physically fit people to get to the top.

Remember to carry parked lunch and enough drinking water in addition to the first aid kit.

Day 06 :

Hiking Bisoke

It is a rewarding hike as it gets you to see the tomb of the paleontologist Dian Fossey

Day 07 :

Hiking Mt. Karisimbi

Day 08 :

Transfer to Gisenyi

Leave at 11 AM. About 1.5 hrs. have lunch. Afternoon relax by the swimming pool. Take a walk around the beach of L.Kivu

You may get involved in sambaaza experience at night.

Accom: Gorilla Highland Resort, Serena, Malahide, Palm View, Kivu Paradise.

Day 9: Transfer to the Border. Hike Nyiragongo

Leave at 6 and reach at 7.

Clear with the border. Get a guide from the border. Guide stays here. Hands over to the guide of virunga NP. Hike Nyiragongo and stay overnight.

Day 09 :

Transfer to the Border. Hike Nyiragongo

Leave at 6 and reach at 7.

Clear with the border. Get a guide from the border. Guide stays here. Hands over to the guide of virunga NP. Hike Nyiragongo and stay overnight.

Day 10 :

Return from Nyiragongo. Goma town tour. Transfer to Bukavu.

You may choose to do a Goma town tour, visit the market. Have lunch at Kivu Resort. pick a boat, along L.kivu and go to Bukavu. Cross to Rwanda. Koko lodge (DRC). Reach at around 6pm. The boat is about 4 hrs. Do lowland gorillas on day 11. There are guides at DRC side to take them to Eastern Lowland gorillas.

Note: the guide will pick them from the boat and take them to the lodge.

Driver will drive to Rusizi. To stay there or stay at Gisenyi and drive the following day

Or cross to Rwanda then transfer to Rusizi.

Day 11 :

Lowland gorillas.

Return late evening. Do border clearance with immigration and get in touch with our guide.

Transfer to Nyungwe. (2.5hrs)

Stay at Gisakura (Basic), Top view (mid-range) one and Only (luxury)

Day 12 :

Chimp tracking

Start so early. It depends. May be at 4am or 6am depending on the advice of the RDB

Relax at the lodge.

Day 13 :

Colobus Monkeys in the morning

You may check out at once. Do colobus monkey tracking in the morning and have lunch at Uwinka restaurant. Do canopy walk in the afternoon. There is also a trail walk for 3 hours.

Transfer to Butare (2.5hrs) Stay at Butare.

Day 14 :

Wake up and have breakfast at leisure. At around 0900HRS. Genocide memorial Murambi. Go to ethnographic museum. Transfer to Nyanza (1.5hr) for lunch. Do Nyanza King’s palace in the afternoon. Transfer to Kigali (4hrs max.)

Day 15 :

Drive to Akagera National Park

Drive from Kigali City to Akagera National Park in the north east of Rwanda. This drive, may take between 2.5 to 3.5 hours to get to this stunning national park where a tourist can see “Africa’s big five” in one protected area. Drive on a paved meandering road through rural areas of the countryside where you will enjoy views of the rolling terraced hills to flat areas. Enter through Kayonza Gate and start a game drive through the marsh area of the national park as you proceed to Lake Ihema for the boat cruise. The boat cruise starts at 1600hrs; therefore the clients must be at the venue before 15H30 to avoid any inconveniences. There are a number of birds and animal species including the hippos, crocodiles,

After the boat cruise, you will transfer to the lodge for accommodation. As Wildlife Adventure Safaris, we recommend the following Lodges: Akagera Game Lodge, Rhino Lodge, Ruzizi Tented camp and Tangita Lodge. They offer different options ranging from basic, midrange to luxury.

Day 16 :

Full day game drive

After an early morning game drive, go for the game drive to explore the national park more. This gamed rive shall take the whole day and we strongly recommend to carry packed lunch with you as it shall be enjoyed as a bush meal.

After enjoying our packed lunch, continue with the game drive as we proceed northwards of the national park.

There are a number of options to do as you may choose. You may decide to drive back to Kigali city for your flight, stay at one of the lodges in the northern sector of Akagera National Park, exit through Nyungwe gate and proceed to Uganda through Mirama border, or you may choose to exit through Rwamagana (Kayonza district) to the border of Tanzania.

This will be the exclusive exploration of Rwanda – the land of thousand hills!