12 Days Rwanda Classic Safari

12 Days Rwanda Classic Safari takes you to enjoy a beautiful land of a thousand hills ‘’Rwanda. This trip leads you to Rwanda’s most remarkable safari destination with thousands of tourist on their safari holiday while in Rwanda. Get started booking now!

Detailed Itinerary     

Day 1: Arrival and transfer to your hotel in Kigali

On day 1 of the 12 Days Rwanda Classic Safari, you will arrive at Kigali International Airport and be welcomed by the safari driver guide to brief you about the safari. Then, transfer to your booked hotel in Kigali. If time allows go for a short city tour where you will visit the genocide memorial site. Dinner and overnight stay at Serena Hotel Kigali (Luxury)/ Des Milles Collines Hotel (Midrange)/ Step Town Hotel (budget)

Day 2: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park (Approximately 6 hour’s drive)

On day 2 of the 12 Days Rwanda Classic Safari, have breakfast on the second day of your 12 Days Rwanda Safari, then transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park. En route, you will pass through magnificent hills and cultivated countryside. Have a stopover at the royal King’s Palace in Nyanza for stunning traditional dance. Continue and visit the cultural museum at Rwesero. Proceed to Butare town where you will have lunch and after lunch, you will visit the Rwanda National Museum for a tour around the site. Arrive at the lodge in the evening. Dinner and overnight at Nyungwe Top Hill View Hotel (Midrange)/ Gisakura Visitor Center (Budget)

Day 3: Chimpanzee trekking and Canopy Walk

On day 3 of the 12 Days Rwanda Classic Safari, after morning breakfast go and report to the park headquarters in Nyungwe forest for a briefing about chimpanzee tracking rules. The experience takes over 6 hours. While in the forest, you will not only watch chimpanzees but also other varieties of wild species such as the Rwenzori Turaco, black and white casqued horn bill, colobus monkeys many others.

After your gorilla trek, head out for another activity on a canopy walkway along a bridge that measures 50 meters in length and is suspended from large trees. This hike experience takes about 2 hours to and from the canopy walkway bridge. You will be able to watch a thrilling rainforest with a bird’s eye view, spotting wildlife moving about below you. Before nightfall, you will return to the hotel for dinner as above. Return late in the afternoon. Have dinner and overnight stay at Nyungwe Top Hill View Hotel(Midrange)/ Gisakura Visitor Center (Budget)

Day 4: Isumo Waterfalls Hike

On day 4 of the 12 Days Rwanda Classic Safari, you will head on the forest Nature Walk within the park which will enable you to explore the Park’s unique tourist features including waterfalls and orchids in the high-altitude swamps. Return to the lodge for lunch and spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure or opt to go visit a tea factory and learn about the production processes. Dinner and overnight at Nyungwe Top Hill View Hotel(Midrange)/ Gisakura Visitor Center (Budget)

Day 5: Transfer to Gisenyi and Afternoon boat ride on Livia (Approximately 6 hours drive)

On day 5 of the 12 Days Rwanda Classic Safari, having breakfast on the fifth day of your 12 Days Rwanda Safari, you will continue with your safari to Gisenyi town. This offers beautiful views of Lake Kivu and it’s an excellent place to relax while feeling its waterfront and sandy beaches. Upon arrival, you will have lunch and then in the afternoon, you will head out for a boat ride on Lake Kivu where you will have a chance to observe the surrounding islands and view a number of bird species around the area. Spend the evening at leisure at the lodge. Overnight in Gisenyi town at Serena Hotel Lake Kivu (Luxury)/ Gorilla Kivu Lodge (Midrange)/ Paradise Malahide (budget)

Day 6: Transfer to Ruhengeri and Visit Ibyi’wacu Village (About 1 hour’s drive)

On day 6 of the 12 Days Rwanda Classic Safari, breakfast will be served early, and then after, you will check out from your Hotel and later transfer to Ruhengeri. En- route a visit the Ibyi’wacu Cultural Village where you will get excited about the Rwandan traditions, culture and way of life. Have lunch at the lodge and spend the rest of your evening relaxing. Dinner and overnight at Virunga Inn Resort and Spa Hotel (Luxury)/ Tiloreza Eco Lodge (Midrange)/ Muhabura Hotel (budget)

Day 7: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park

On this day, you will have an early morning breakfast and go for a briefing at Kinigi. Then after, go for tracking Early in the morning after breakfast and a briefing from the Rwanda Development Board officials, set off for the gorilla tracking. This experience of gorilla tracking is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. The rangers will lead you deep into the forest in search of the Gorillas. You will move up and down the rugged terrain until you finally meet these harmonious creatures that will entertain you with performances for about 1 hour. The activity in Rwanda can take 3-5 hours since the gorillas move up and down.

This is once a lifetime experience. En- route there are a lot of chimpanzees and other primates to see including monkeys, birds and so more. Return for lunch at the Lodge and in the afternoon, visit the Karisoke research center and the graves of Diane Fossey a woman who put a lot of effort into protecting these endangered mountain Gorillas. Return for dinner and overnight stay at Virunga Inn Resort and Spa Hotel (Luxury)/ Tiloreza Eco Lodge (Midrange)/Muhabura Hotel (budget)

Day 8: Golden Monkey tracking

After breakfast on the eighth day of your 12 Days Rwanda Classic Safari, go for golden monkey tracking. This activity can last 2 to 4 hours depending on their location in the forest. After, hiking back to the Centre to meet your driver guide to return you back to the lodge for lunch and rest. Dinner and overnight stay at Virunga Inn Resort and Spa Hotel (Luxury)/ Tiloreza Eco Lodge (Midrange)/Muhabura Hotel (budget)

Day 9: Hiking Mountain Bisoke

Today, after breakfast at your Lodge, you will head out for a one-day hike on Mount Bisoke. This will give you an impressive view of the beautiful slopes and also get a chance to view the forest while on the mountain. Return for dinner and overnight stay at Virunga Inn Resort and Spa Hotel (Luxury)/ Tiloreza Eco Lodge (Midrange)/Muhabura Hotel (budget)

Day 10: Transfer back to Kigali and to Akagera National Park- Evening Game Drive (Approximately 4-5 hours)

After breakfast on the tenth day of your 12 Days Rwanda Classic Safari then, depart for Kigali for lunch and also a short city tour to the Gisozi Genocide Memorial site. Later transfer to Akagera National Park en route through the country’s phenomenal landscape which will give you views of the country’s beauty and the amazing lifestyle of its people.

Arrive at the park and go for a short southern Lake Ihema game drive. You will search for animals like elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, hippos, and crocodiles among others like Antelopes. Dinner and overnight at Ruzizi Tented Camp (Luxury)/ Akagera Game Lodge (Midrange)/ Karenge Bush Camp (budget)

Day 11: Morning game drive and Boat ride on Lake Ihema

The eleventh day of this 12 Days Rwanda Safari highlights more activities in Akagera National Park. You will have an excellent breakfast and thereafter, go for a Northern circuit game drive to search for animals that you may have missed out on in the previous game drive.

There are early risers which can only be seen in the morning. Return back to the lodge for a small relationship as you wait for lunch. After lunch, you will go for a boat ride excursion on Lake Ihema which will offer you an amazing view of hills and swamps. Expect to see Hippos, crocodiles, and various bird species. Return back to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay at Ruzizi Tented Camp (Luxury)/ Akagera Game Lodge (Midrange)/ Karenge Bush Camp (Budget) as above.

Day 12: Transfer back to Kigali city (Approximately 2 Hour’s drive)

Have a relaxed breakfast, on the last morning after breakfast on the last day of your 12 Days Rwanda Safari. You will drive back to Kigali city. Depending on your time of departure, you will be transferred to the Kigali Airport for your flight back home or your hotel in Kigali as you will be advised. That marks the end of the safari.

Safari quotation Includes:

• Airport Pick up and drop off in Kigali
• Gorilla tracking permit
• Golden monkey permit
• Bisoke Hike
• Chimpanzee tracking permit
• Park entrance fees
• Boat cruise
• Vehicle entrance fees
• Game viewing in 4X4 Safari vehicle.
• Full-time English-speaking Professional Safari Guide/Driver.
• All accommodation as indicated in the itinerary
• All meals are as indicated in the itinerary.
• Bottled drinking water while on safari.

Not included:

• International airfares and Visa fees
• Optional Activities
• PCR and Rapid Tests
• Personal expenses such as telephone calls, email, laundry, beverages or meals not indicated in the itinerary, Portage, and wait staff gratuity.