12 Days Rwanda Adventure Safari Experience.

Trip Overview

This 12 days epic Rwanda safari adventure will give you a great memory of Rwandan tour and you explore and wrap up Rwandan attractions in just 12 days. You will be able to visit all the 3 Rwandan parks thus Nyungwe, Akagera and Volcanoes National Park, adding in a visit to Lake Kivu to spice up your stay. You will as well be able to interact with the locals as you go by your day activities.  You will well be able to do chimpanzee trekking which is of the primate adventure in Rwanda. This will be a great road adventure moment, discovering the beautiful attractions that Rwanda offers.

12 Days Rwanda Adventure Safari Experience.

Detailed itinerary.

Upon arrival at Kigali international airport, you will go through customs and immigration, a Covid test and you will be met by your driver who will warmly welcome you to the Land of a thousand hills that Rwanda is known for, and later drive to your booked hotel accommodation for dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

 Rwanda’s capital and biggest city stretch across undulating lush hills surrounded by towering mountains, the largest of which is Mount Kigali, rising 1850 meters above sea level. Kigali is the country’s financial, commercial and cultural hub, served by an international airport and featuring a wide range of accommodation options, restaurants, and points of interest, including the Kigali Genocide Centre, an atmospheric market, and numerous craft shops.

With its interesting architecture, busy streets, meandering boulevards, and green hillsides, Kigali is said to be one of the most attractive cities in Africa and is definitely worth a visit.

Activities

Evening

Arrival and Airport Transfer

Overnight:

Luxury Accommodation: Kigali Radisson Blu Hotel

Today, after your relaxed morning breakfast at your hotel, you will be picked up by your safari guide, and leave for Akagera national park, the journey to Akagera national park takes about 2.3 hours depending on the stopovers along the way, with the beautiful unwinding landscape en route to the park, feel free to ask the guide for stopovers to capture some photos.

On arrival at the park, we shall register at the park offices and later proceed to our accommodation with a short game drive and check-in for lunch.

We order lunch and after lunch, you opt to relax at your lodge or opt to head for a brief game drive for game viewing. You will later return in the evening for relaxation. In the evening, you will go for a night game drive, explore the park and try to sight some nocturnal, search for some wildlife for roughly 2 – 3 hours. Later return to the lodge for dinner and an evening stay.

Bordering Tanzania in eastern Rwanda, Akagera National Park is central Africa’s largest protected wetland and the last refuge for savannah-adapted species in the country. Stretching across a vast expanse of low-lying mountains and savannah plains, the park takes in the rolling highlands woodlands, swamp-fringed lakes, and wetlands of the Kagera River along the way. Crocodiles and hippos wallow in the park’s watery basins, predators prowl through its acacia groves, and elephant, zebra, giraffe, buffalo, and other animals roam across its grassy plains. Bursting with rich biodiversity, the park features a variety of rare species, as well as a plentitude of mammals and hundreds of bird species.

Activities

Transfer to Akagera National Park

Day and Night Game drive

Overnight:

Luxury Accommodation: Ruzizi Tented Lodge:

Akagera National Park offers a truly exceptional wildlife experience. It is the only Big-5 reserve in Rwanda and is also home to the rare swamp-dwelling Sitatunga. Guests also have the opportunity to see an abundance of birdlife, including the rare Shoebill stork, the endangered papyrus Gonolex and the much sought-after Red-faced Barbet. With over 500 recorded species, Akagera is one of the best birding environs in the world with the highest recorded number of species per unit area.

The Park has a unique diversity of habitats, including lakes, marshes, savannah, mountains, and woodland, and is the largest protected wetland in central Africa.

Mantis Akagera Game Lodge stands on a hill at the southern tip of the Akagera National Park elevated above the savannah, with exceptional views of Lake Ihema. With 59 rooms, a conference venue, a restaurant, and bar, and a spectacular pool deck, the Lodge is the perfect home base while conferencing or exploring the conservation treasures of Akagera National Park.

Basis

Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast, and Lunch.

Day Itinerary

After an early morning breakfast at 6:00 am and leave for an early morning game drive in Akagera national park to catch up with late hunters and early risers. We will be searching for big mammals like Elephants, Giraffes, Buffaloes, several Antelope species, and recently the re-introduced Lions and Rhinos.

The park is a varied habitat for wildlife and a number of bird species with over 500 bird species in the park making it a birding paradise. You will later return to the lodge for lunch. After lunch, we head for a boat trip on Lake Ihema watch Hippos and crocodiles in the water or by the shores and meet the buffaloes and elephants wallowing by the water banks.

Later return to the lodge for dinner and an evening stay.

Activities

Morning Game drive and Afternoon Boat cruise at Lake Ihema

Luxury Accommodation: Ruzizi Tented Lodge:

Basis

Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast, and Lunch.

Day Itinerary

After an early morning breakfast at 6:00 am and leave for an early morning game drive in Akagera national park to catch up with late hunters and early risers.

We will be searching for big mammals like Elephants, Giraffes, Buffaloes, several Antelope species, and recently the re-introduced Lions and Rhinos. The park is a varied habitat for wildlife and a number of bird species with over 500 bird species in the park making it a birding paradise.

You will have a picnic lunch. After lunch, proceed with your game drive for more search of abundant wildlife within this great park in the northern part of the park. Later drive back to the lodge, for relaxation and dinner

Activities

Full Day Game drive in Akagera National Park

Luxury Accommodation: Ruzizi Tented Lodge:

Basis

Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast, and Lunch.

Day Itinerary

After your relaxed breakfast, you will jump into your jeep and find your way to Volcanoes national park via Kigali, for a Covid test, and later have lunch before visiting Kigali genocide memorial ground to learn about the 1994, Rwandan genocide incident. You will later proceed to Musanze with a beautiful countryside view of the rolling hills, to your booked accommodation.

Bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo in Rwanda, the Volcanoes National Park is best known as a sanctuary for the region’s rare mountain gorillas. Visitors flock here to experience a face-to-face encounter with these intriguing creatures. The park is set high on the jungle-covered slopes of the volcanic Virunga Mountains. Highly regulated treks through the reserve allow visitors to spend an hour at a time with these incredible primates in their natural habitat.

While the gorillas are without a doubt the main drawcard, visitors can also look forward to exploring a network of scenic hiking trails, visiting the tomb of the world-famous Dian Fossey and the Karisoke Research Centre, and enjoying a beautiful day hike to the crater lake on Mount Bisoke.

Activities

Morning

Transfer to Volcanoes National Park in Musanze via Kigali

Take Covid test in Kigali

Have Lunch and visit Kigali Genocide Memorial Grounds

Overnight:

Luxury Accommodation: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel

Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel in Musanze (Ruhengeri) located on the road going to Kinigi is a convenient starting point to go for different activities that the Volcanoes National Park is offering. Each of the rooms features hairdryers, flat-screen TVs, private bathrooms, and mini-bars. The hotel guests will find a restaurant, a pool, and a beautiful garden. 24-hour front desk service is also available as well as a massage service.

Basis

Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast, and Lunch
Tea and Coffee Included

Day Itinerary

After an early morning breakfast, you will be transferred to the park headquarters. You will meet with your ranger who will brief you about the code of conduct while with the gorillas. You will then enter the forest in search of the gorillas.

The trekking may take 2-6 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas in the jungle and your group’s speed as well. Meet and stay with the gorillas for a maximum of one hour.  

After a great experience, you will walk back to the starting point and be transferred to your lodge for lunch, and after lunch, you can decide to relax at your lodge at your leisure or head for a cultural encounter with a community walk to a different site to get an insight of Rwandan culture .

You will later descend back. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge

Activities

Gorilla trekking

Community walk

Luxury Accommodation: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel

Basis

Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch

Day Itinerary

Today after you warm early morning breakfast, you will be picked by our safari driver guide who will transfer you to the park headquarters for briefing with your packed lunch and start off you day golden monkey trekking in search for these primates in the jungle. Just like the gorilla trekking experience, the same applies to golden monkey trekking though no so hectic like gorilla trekking. You will later return to the lodge for lunch and later transfer to Lake Kivu, in the evening you will enjoy the night fishermen experience. Later back to hotel for diner and overnight.

Situated at Lake Kivu’s northeast corner and neighbouring the Congolese city of Goma, Gisenyi is a scenic Rwandan town at the foot of fertile hills. The town offers an excellent variety of activities, including fantastic coffee shops and restaurants, an array of watersports on the lake, and some delightful beaches. The Calafia Cafe is a not-to-be-missed spot which serves delicious pastries (the banana cake is famous) and other cuisine, alongside wonderful ethically produced local coffee. Visitors can kayak, boat, take hikes to see gorillas, or go on historical and cultural tours. The Gisenyi Public Beach offers a charming location for swimming and picnicking. Don’t miss the opportunity to meander through the atmospheric Main Market, go beer tasting at the brewery, or visit the local youth cultural center to see kids practice dance, music, and gymnastics.

Activities

Morning

Golden Monkey trek

Afternoon

Transfer to Gisenyi for evening fishermen experience

Overnight:

Luxury Accommodation: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotelhttp://www.fivevolcanoesrwanda.com/

Serenely sited on the white sandy shores of Lake Kivu, the sixth largest lake in Africa, and surrounded by extensive tropical gardens, the tastefully open-plan Lake Kivu Serena Hotel offers the ideal weekend escape.

Basis

Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch

Day Itinerary

Have your breakfast at leisure and later go for a covid test, return to the lodge for lunch and leisure.

Activities

Morning

Leisure and Relaxation at Lake Kivu plus take Covid test

Evening

Fishermen Experience

 

Luxury Accommodation: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel.

Basis

Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch

Day Itinerary

After your relaxed breakfast, jump into your jeep and find your way to Nyungwe, with a beautiful en route view of the Congo side, and Lake Kivu. You will head for a boat ride in Kibuye, on Lake Kivu, where you will visit numerous island, have great chance to watch a number of bird species on the lake as it a birding paradise. Later return and head to your booked hotel for lunch and afternoon at leisure.

 

Formerly known as Shangugu, the town of Cyangugu rests at the southernmost tip of Lake Kivu overlooking the DRC’s town of Bukavu with which it is contiguous. The town serves as a popular gateway to both the lake and the nearby Nyungwe National Park, a beautiful forested area which is home to chimpanzees as well as a number of other primate species.

Activities

Transfer to Nyungwe with enroute Boat trip in Kibuye

Overnight:

 Luxury Accommodation: Lake Kivu Marina Bayhttps://www.mantiscollection.com/hotel/mantis-kivu-marina-bay-hotel/

Mantis Kivu Marina Bay Hotel invites you to experience a resort lifestyle in the Rusizi District of the Western Province of Rwanda. This luxury hotel is located in close proximity of Lake Kivu and Nyungwe National Park in the western region of Rwanda. Located just 1km from Kamembe Airport in Cyangugu, Rwanda.

It’s designed to accommodate a convention centre, lake view swimming pool, parking area and a luxurious health spa. The hotel compromises an upscale lobby, restaurant and bar, spa and gym. The appealing look of the Kivu Marina Bay creates an inviting atmosphere to visitors coming from all parts of the world and Rwanda. It has a beautiful view of the southern lake and surrounding islands.

Basis

Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch.

Day Itinerary

Have your breakfast at leisure and later go for a covid test, return to the lodge for lunch and leisure.

Activities

Morning

Leisure and Relaxation at Lake Kivu plus take the Covid test

Evening

Fishermen Experience

Luxury Accommodation: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel

Basis

Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch

Day Itinerary

Today, after your early morning cap of African coffee, you will leave your hotel to experience the natural forest of Nyungwe well known for having 13 species of primates, and transferred to the park for briefing and chimpanzee trekking. You will be entitled to one hour on finding the chimpanzees. After doing the chimpanzee trek, head for lunch before heading for a tea plantation visit to explore the beautiful Gisakura tea plantations, and learn about how tea is grown and harvested for the production process, later return in the afternoon for departure Covid test, dinner, and overnight stay. 

Activities

Chimpanzee Trekking

Tea Plantation Visit

Take departure Covid test

Luxury Accommodation: Lake Kivu Marina Bay

Basis

Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch

Day Itinerary

Today, you will head off to visit the forest for a waterfall hike, where you have chances to talk a cool forest breath hike, and visit a number of waterfalls in the park. Along you can sight some primates and bird species. You will later return for lunch before heading for a canopy walk. This 90 meters suspended metallic bridge will give you a great overview of Nyungwe forest and on a luck day spot one or two more primates in the forest as you take a walk on this bridge and later return in the afternoon for dinner and overnight stay. 

Activities

Morning

Nyungwe Forest Isumo Waterfalls Hike

Afternoon

Canopy Walk

Nyungwe Forest Isumo Waterfalls Hike

The impressive Isumo Waterfall Trail starts off winding its way through green tea fields with grassy verges maintained by goats and is full of sun-loving wildflowers and butterflies. After this, the trail moves into the dense vegetation of Nyungwe Forest where a variety of fauna and flora can be seen. The main attraction of the hike is the Isumo Waterfall, roughly 17 metres in height. Many species of primate and birds can be seen near the waterfall. There are two main vantage points for taking in the beauty of the waterfall.

Canopy Walk

Suspended above ravine amidst the lush vegetation and montane forest of the Ngungwe National Park, Canopy Walk offers participants an exhilarating perspective atop the ancient treetops and wildlife. The 160 meters long suspended bridge is accessible as apart of a guided hike along the Igishigishigi trail or those hiking the Imbaraga and Umuyove trails.

  Luxury Accommodation: Lake Kivu Marina Bayhttps://www.mantiscollection.com/hotel/mantis-kivu-marina-bay-hotel/

Basis

Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch

Day Itinerary

Early morning enjoy your buffer breakfast and checkout of the hotel and drive heading to the Kigali, on your way visit the Royal Palace Museum in Southern Province, this will give you a great history of traditional ways of living among Rwandans and their past way of leadership of Kingship with an en route lunch.  You will reach in the afternoon in Kigali and head for some shopping, if time allows, visit local market, and art shop, before dropped off at the airport, for your flight back home in the evening.

Activities

Morning

Transfer back to Kigali

 Enroute visit to Royal Kings palace Museum

 Airport drop off for departure flight

 Basis

Bed, Breakfast, and Lunch

The End of the Expedition.

Cost of the safari Per Peron in USD

 

Accommodation options

2 Pax

4 Pax

6 Pax

SSR

LUXURY

$ 7470

$ 6645

$ 6370

$ 1440

SSR – Single Supplement Rate

This safari package includes.

  • Transportation in a 4×4 safari vehicle with a pop up roof
  • Accommodation and meals as per itinerary
  • 1 Gorilla permits ($ 1500), per person
  • 1 Golden Monkey permit, per person
  • 1 chimpanzee permit, per person
  • Canopy walk
  • Museums visits
  • Coffee Tour
  • Twin lakes visit
  • Diane Fossey Institute center visit
  • En-route lunches
  • Game drives
  • Boat ride at Lake Ihema
  • Boat ride on Lake Kivu
  • Park fees
  • Kigali city tour
  • Services of English speaking driver/guide
  • 1 liter bottle of mineral water per day per person during safari

The package excludes expenses of personal nature like: Covid tests fees, day room, Air fare, Visa, drinks, laundry, tips to local guides, telephone, porter fee while trekking, personal insurance, personal shopping bills and cigars.

 

WHAT IS INCLUDED

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED .

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Excellent
Based on 139 reviews
Jorge Madrid
Jorge Madrid
2022-03-04
Verified
Amazing safari Super experience, everybody helpful and super nice. It feels like a family going into the wild. The driver knows where are the animals and he can spot them while driving safe. Good team and the places where we slept were wonderful, camping in ngorongoro and Serengeti is definitly something else. Even though it is a 5 Days tour It goes super fast. I recomend It 100% Asante sana!
Mya Z
Mya Z
2022-03-02
Verified
Great experience Focus in Africa est une agence sérieuse pour effectuer son safari. Nelson est très professionnel et m'a donné tous les détails pour que le safari se passe au mieux. Prise en charge dès l'arrivée à Arusha, j'ai dormi dans l'hostel de Nelson au Lionsgate avant d'entamer le safari le lendemain. Habib notre guide est très professionnel avec de bons yeux pour observer certains big divers cachés au loin. Notre cuisiner était également au top. Je recommande Focus in Africa pour vos safaris.
Esra C
Esra C
2022-02-27
Verified
Amazing safari experience! Onze safari was werkelijk geweldig! Nelson heeft alls voor ons geregeld naar onze wensen. Wij zijn keurig op tijd opgehaald van het vliegveld en zijn eerst gebracht naar het hostel. Een warme welkom en aardige kok die voor ons ook een gids heeft geregeld om het cetrum van Arusha te bezoeken, bezoek de mooie kleurrijke lokale markten en tanzanite museum bijvoorbeeld. Niet te vergeten de gegrilde mais met lime en chilipoeder? Wij hebben een 4 daagse safari geboekt, waarbij we eerst naar Tarangire zijn geweest, daarna Serengeti 2 dagen en tot slot Ngorogoro krater, onze gids Mozes was zeer ervaren en vertelde veel over de dieren als natuurgebieden. Hij had ‘eagle eyes’ waardoor we uiteindelijk meer dan de big 5 hebben gezien?. Onze groep (7 personen) was ook zeer divers waardoor het heel gezellig was. Onze wens was onder andere dat we ipv tenten in lodges wilde blijven. Nelson heeft het perfect geregeld, we voelden ons net in een 4 sterren verblijf midden in de prachtige natuurgebieden! Vooral Seronera en Rhino lodges waren onze favorieten ? Onze lunches waren lekker en goed vullend gemaakt door kok van onze safari. Het avondeten in de lodges waren van hotelkwaliteit??Het was ook fijn dat er altijd (gekoelde) water aanwezig was in onze auto. We willen Nelson en zijn crew nogmaals bedanken voor alles. Maak je dus geen zorgen als je via Focus on Africa boekt, regel alleen je vlucht naar Arusha en Nelson haalt je op en brengt je ook weer naar het vliegveld. Hakuna Matata, zero stress??
Claire B
Claire B
2022-02-23
Verified
Unforgettable safzri The safari with Focus in Africa was the highlight of my trip in Tanzania. Everything was perfectly planned and very well organized. I did a 4 days safari, exploring Tarangire, Serengeti and Ngorongoro and we made the most of every single day from sunrise to sunset. The driver, Ariel, knows a lot of African wildlife and we saw many animals thanks to his knowledges. All the team, Nelson and his family are very friendly, reliable and serious so that we can have a memorable trip. can only recommend to travel with Focus in Africa. Asante Sana !
Johannes von Simons
Johannes von Simons
2022-02-17
Verified
Great Kili 7 day hike with super team, excellent food and very friendly & helpful guides We did a Kilimanjaro tour with Focus in Africa, and our guide was Emanuel, assistant guide Gadil, and cook Peter. We (Claire and Johannes) really liked everything, from the preparatory talk with Emanuel on the day before the tour, the fact that they also had women porters, the excellent level of service everybody in the team was providing, the outstanding cuisine of Peter (how did he do it?!? Secret miracle cooking device or what? ;-), the flora and fauna explanations of both Emanuel and Gadil during the hiking, the willingness to regularly sit down with us and explain, plan and organize the next steps and days, the help-when-needed-but-also-let-us-explore-our-borders-ourselves... so we were really happy to have booked with Focus in Africa! And we would recommend other tourists to also do seven days, not six. You pay a little more obviously, but it was the perfect mix for us between experiencing the nature, having a demanding-but-not-exhausting physical effort every day, and being proud of ourselves at the end. 6 out of 5 stars ;-)
Shubham Goyal
Shubham Goyal
2022-01-30
Verified
Wonderful Experience I went to Tarangire and Ngorongoro with Focus in Africa and had a really wonderful trip. The whole trip was professionally organised with everything and I didn't face any issues. My safari guides were very friendly and helpful and the vehicle was great as well. Their camp site is beautiful and have good food. I would definitely recommend Focus in Africa and would not think twice before booking with them
Fa
Fa
2022-01-28
Verified
4 Days Safari Great experience! We went on a 4 day Safari trip, organized by Nelson and Ayubu was our super fun Guide. Peta, also called the food engineer made our breakfast, lunches and Diner. Everything was well planned and the food was just the best. Especially the fresh bread and the different flavors of soup. The tents where also an adventure. I loved this experience! Thank you all for making it possible.
sonia
sonia
2022-01-23
Verified
Big 5 seen. Big experience lived! All was incredible. Super nice experience. Nelson organised all perfectly. The driver Abby and the chef Pita did their best to make us have the best experience we could.
melou2811
melou2811
2022-01-21
Verified
Amazing experience I've made the a 4 days safari with Focus in Africa. The experience was amazing, we saw a lot of animals during the four days. We went to Ngorongonro crater, serengeti and also tarangire. Bryson my guide was very good, we saw a lot of animals thanks to him. We had also a cooker during the trip. It was a very good safari. I've made also the kilimandjaro climbing with focus in africa with the guide Babalu. Babalu was amazing with us. Always taking care of us and asking if we were doing well. We made the marangu road. We had porters and cooker during the trip. Everybody was very very nice with us. I highly recommend FOCUS IN AFRICA. Also the prices are very correct. I compared with a lot of different companies here in Arusha and they were the less expensive ! So for the price and also the experience I highly recommend them. Thank you again
sandyrom7
sandyrom7
2022-01-11
Verified
Cool atmosphere and guide 4 days Safari with Focus in Africa was an interesting adventure for us . Especially cool and big thanks for meeting us from the airport and accommodation in the hostel the day before and day after . Big thanks to our guide George for all this 4 days -he did his best, tried to show as much as possible. But the other side of the trip - food. All meals were included in our safari , so we didn’t take any snacks with us and it was not possible to take smth from the restaurant, we tried it the first day in Arusha( not camp dinner) and got stomach poisoning.. First day we had good , balanced meals , but ijtger 3 days was always rice and meat for lunch and dinner . If the cuisine had been more thoughtful, I’d put all stars