See the absolute best of Rwanda’s wealth of wildlife with a day of chimpanzee trekking, a day with the mountain gorillas, a day with the golden monkeys, two days on safari in Akagera National Park, and more!
Your seven day itinerary packs in some of the most memorable animal experiences you’ll ever have, and complements them with some fascinating cultural experiences as well.
Your Journey Mapped Out
Ready to set out? Your adventure awaits!
- DAY ONE – KIGALI – AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK
- DAY TWO – AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK
- DAY THREE – AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK – KIGALI – VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK
- DAY FOUR – GORILLA TREKKING
- DAY FIVE – VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK – LAKE KIVU
- DAY SIX – LAKE KIVU – NYUNGWE NATIONAL PARK
- DAY SEVEN – CHIMPANZEE TREKKING – KIGALI
While Akagera does not boast the sheer volume of animals you might find in the Serengeti or Maasai Mara, Rwanda's only safari park can still boast four of the Big Five and plenty of opportunities to spot animals in the wild.
You'll start your safari adventure with a boat ride on Lake Ihema to see crocodiles, hippos, and various birds.
After your cruise, you'll enjoy an afternoon game drive in the park in search of elephants, antelope, giraffes, zebras, leopards, primates, buffaloes, and the park's latest addition - a pride of lions!
You'll then overnight within the park.
You'll take a picnic lunch with you and dine out amongst the animals to maximize your time in the park. Throughout the course of the day you'll see vast herds of buffalo and zebras as you head north.
You'll again overnight within the park.
Your time in Kigali will include a city tour that takes you to the Natural History Museum, the haunting Genocide Memorial, and a bustling local craft market. You'll also have the opportunity to enjoy lunch at the historic Mille Collines Hotel - more commonly known as 'Hotel Rwanda'.
After lunch, you'll continue on to Volcanoes National Park to overnight in Musanze, Rwanda's second largest city.
There is no guarantee how long or difficult your tracking experience will be as it depends on where the family of gorillas is and on weather conditions, It can take anywhere from two up to six hours of trekking through the mountain forest at relatively high altitudes. Fitness is definitely recommended for those wishing to undertake the excursion.
One of the most memorable experiences you're likely to ever have, you'll be allowed an hour of close contact with the gorillas once you've found them. You'll be privileged enough to come within mere metres of a family of these rare and beautiful animals, observing their family dynamics and getting to learn a bit about each gorilla's distinct personality in serene silence.
Once your time with the gorillas is done, you'll return to your hotel for lunch.
In the afternoon, you'll pay a visit to the Iby Iwacu Cultural Village to learn about Rwanda's pre-colonial history through a series of demonstrations including cooking, warfare, and more.
After lunch, you'll drive down to to Korongi on the shores of Lake Kivu to overnight.
Along the way, you'll stop off in Nyungwe Forest National Park for your choice of afternoon activities such as a canopy walk, guided hikes, or a waterfall walk.
You'll then overnight in town ahead of tomorrow's chimpanzee trekking experience.
In the afternoon, you'll make the drive back to Kigali.
Along the way, you may have time to visit the National Museum in Butare or the former King's Palace in Nyanza
The Trip Cost Includes
- Pick-up or Drop-off service from and to Airport(in our own vehicle)
- Transportation to and from!!
- Food all along the trip(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and a cup of coffee or tea) and accommodations during the trip in hotels with family environment
- Transportation, food, accommodation and insurance of Guide during the trip
- Down jacket, all-season sleeping bag, duffel bag and trekking map(in case if you don’t have your own. Down jacket, sleeping bag and duffel bag must be returned after completion of the trip)
- First Aid Medical Kit(Your guide will carry the Medical Kit but we also advise to bring yourself for your own use, as far as possible)
- All the required permits and paperwork
The Trip Cost Excludes
- International Airfare
- Visa Charges
- Hotel Expenses(In Kathmandu, some packages do include hotel expenses)
- Your travel and medical insurance
- Personal Expenses such as shopping, bar bills, hot shower, telephone, laundry, titbits etc
- Food and accommodations in Kathmandu
- Services not mentioned or not promised by the agent/agency
- Emergency expenses such as expenses on chartered helicopter.
Annapurna Base Camp is a Grade B or a moderately difficult trekking route. So any fit person can do this trek, even if you do not have any previous experience. You should be aware of what to expect and mentally prepare for it. Then, as long as you will to, you can.
On average, you walk about 4 to 6 hours per day. One or two days can be as less as 3hrs and one or two days can be as long as 7hrs.
The highest altitude reached is 4190m. This is the elevation of Annapurna Base Camp. ABC is the highest we will climb in this trek.
Yes, you can charge batteries en route. Charger should be brought. There are hot shower facilities as well. You may have to pay certain amount for both ($1-$2). Negotiate. Also, hot water facility could be free at lower elevation.
No. There are no ATMs on this trek route. You will have to draw enough cash in Pokhara or Kathmandu. There are a number of ATMs in these cities. Everything is paid in Nepali rupees. So money should be exchanged before the start of the trek.
Yes. Internet can be accessed in most places. Sometimes, there might be some technical problems. Internet in Nepal is not as fast as you are used to and at times you can just lose connection.
Not really. It depends on you. If you want, ABC trekking can be done independently. You could hire a guide and a porter by yourself instead of going through an agency or not hire a guide at all. Although, not having a guide can be a little problematic during off season.
It really depends on you. Is it your first time in Nepal? How confident are you of being able to find your way around? How pressed on time are you? If you go through an agency, it will be costlier but everything will be planned. You will only have to come, trek and return.
For Annapurna region, pay for guides range from $20 to $30 per day and porters take $15 to $25 per day.
