Remarkable Rwanda Tour

HIGHLIGHTS

Starts/Ends: Kigali, Uganda

Country Visited: Rwanda

Main Activities: Genocide Memorial, Gorilla Trekking, Chimp Tracking, Hiking, Bird Watching, Boat Rides and city excursions.

Strength Demand: Highly Demanding

20 Day Remarkable Rwanda Tour

Route: Kigali – Akagera – Kigali – Nyungwe – Gisenyi – Volcanoes – Kigali

Tour Highlights

• Start the 20 Day Remarkable Rwanda Tour with a visit to the Rwanda National Museum in Butare that chronicles the cultural history of the region through displays of photos and traditional artifacts and its entrance into the modern world.
• Tracking the famous chimpanzees, experiencing the canopy walk and witnessing beautiful birds in the Nyungwe Forest National Park.
• Taking a guided nature walk in the forest to see a variety of animals and primates found in Nyungwe Forest.
• The thrill and awesome sensation of looking into the eyes of the world’s largest living primates – gorilla trekking – (mountain gorillas) in their natural habitat.
• Enjoying the dramatic landscape of the Virunga Mountains by climbing the thrilling Karisimbi and Bisoke volcanoes and touring the beautiful crater lakes and caves in the Volcanoes National Park
• Enjoying water sports, island excursions, bird watching, and hiking at Lake Kivu all in peace and tranquility as you discover one of Rwanda’s hot tourist spots.
• Visiting the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre, a sobering and yet touching museum dedicated to the nearly one million people who lost their lives in the conflict and is now an educational site with museums and exhibits dedicated to preventing genocides around the world.
• End the 20 Day Remarkable Rwanda Tour package with a visit to the Nyanza palace to see and learn about the historical regalia of the former Rwandan Kingdom.

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1: arrival at Kigali international airport

Curious Tours Africa Company representative will pick you from the airport on arrival after checkup. The guide will take you to a Forex Bureau at the airport or in city so that you change your money after which he will take you to your hotel and brief you about tomorrow’s the 20 Day Rwanda complete tour itinerary.

Meal Plan: Dinner only

Day 2: Kigali city Excursion

You will after breakfast set off for an excursion in the city of Kigali. You will visit the Gisozi Genocide Memorial site to learn about how this unfortunate catastrophe started and was perpetrated leading into the death of thousands and thousands of people. You will thereafter proceed to Kimilonko Market to see what goes on in one of the busiest and biggest markets in the city.

You will also visit the Nyarutarama Golf club and the Belgium memorial site as well as the Richard Kandt historical museum that marks the place where Kigali as a city was first located by a Germany Colonial Administrator in 1907. You will return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 3: Rusumo Waterfalls and Akagera National Park

From Kigali you will head to Rusumo Water Falls on the Akagera River, said to be the mother source of River Nile at the Rwanda-Tanzania boarder. Here you will marvel at the beautiful cascading waterfalls and breathtaking scenery. You will have a picnic lunch and later drive to Akagera National Park.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 4: Game drive in Southern part of Akagera National Park

You will have an early breakfast and assemble at the park’s reception centre to be allocated a guide for your game drive through the southern sector of this beautiful savannah area. You will be able to see the wonderful savannah inhabitants among which will be herds of Elephants, African Buffaloes, Giraffes, impala, Zebras, antelopes and many more.

Your 20 Day Rwanda complete tour next takes you to view Lake Ihama and Lake Hugo and take a boat cruise on Lake Ihema which harbors lots of hippopotami and crocodiles. And if you are interested in birds you will visit Nyarabiyoro Island to see the incredible collection of bird species in this area. You will return to your hotel in the evening for dinner and overnight.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 5: Game drive in Northern part of Akagera National Park and Lake Muhazi

You will set off from your hotel to continue the 20 Day Rwanda complete tour after an early breakfast and head for the Northern part of the Akagera Park to see wildlife in the typical savannah grassland. You will drive to the top of Mt Mutumba to have a breathtaking panoramic view of the safari park extending into the Tanzanian plains. You proceed to visit Lake Muhazi and later have a relaxation at Jambo beach.

You will return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner

Day 6: Gahini-Kayonza-Rwamagana-Kigali

You will have an early breakfast and set off for Kigali City. You will on the way make brief stopovers to interact with the local communities, visit orphanage centers and enjoy some sightseeing. You will have lunch in Rwamagana town after which you will proceed to Kigali arriving late in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight will be at the hotel of your booking.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 7: Nyanza – Butare – Nyungwe National Park

You will set off after breakfast to visit the Nyanza Kings Palace to learn about the ancient Rwandan Kingship. The main attraction will be the magnificent grass thatched house where the Kings used to live.

You will proceed to Butare town to visit the National Archeological Museum to learn about the history of Rwanda. You will break off for lunch and later return to the National Archeological Museum for entertainment by a Rwanda traditional dancing troupe (Itore) till late afternoon.

Dinner and overnight will be at the lodge of your booking.

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 8: Butare –Kanyaru-coffee plantation- Nyungwe National Park

You will after breakfast drive to Kanyuru border post between Rwanda and Burundi Boarder to visit the Kanyuru tea plantation. You will have several stopovers to admire the beautiful scenery along the route and to interact with local communities.

You will return to Butare for lunch and thereafter drive to Nyungwe National Park arriving in the evening.

Dinner and overnight will be at the lodge of your booking.

Accommodation options:
Up-market: Nyungwe Lodge
Midrange: Top Hill View Lodge
Budget: Gisakura Guest House
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 9: Chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest

You will wake up very early in the morning (5.30am) and report at the Nyungwe Park headquarters for the 6.00am briefing on the chimpanzee tracking rules. You will after the briefing start the trek in search of the chimpanzees in the verdant rain forest. During the trek you will have the chance to see other primates such as the Rwenzori colobus, Silver monkey, the Grey cheeked Mangabey, L’hoests monkey and the Owl faced monkey. You will return to your Hotel for a late lunch and later visit a tea factory to see how the finest tea in Africa is made.

Dinner and overnight will be as above.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 10: Guided nature walk in Nyungwe Forest

Hafway through your 20 Day Rwanda complete tour, you will have breakfast and go for a guided nature walk in the forest to see a variety of animals and various species of birds. This forest habours about three hundred bird species including the rare Rwenzori turaco and the black and white casqued hornbill. You will return to you hotel for lunch and have the rest of the day to yourself resting.

Dinner and overnight will be as above.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 11: Colobus hiking in Nyungwe Forest

You will have breakfast and set off with your guide to search for the Colobus monkeys in Nyungwe Forest. The forest is said to be home to the biggest troops of Angola Colobuses in the world; numbering over 400 troops. The hike to where these primates stay is a thrilling experience as the guides explain the behaviour, activities and intelligence gimmicks of the primates. A walk in the forest is a whole learning experience about the botany, ornithology and ecology of the forest.

Accommodation options:
Up-market: Nyungwe Lodge
Midrange: Top Hill View Lodge
Budget: Gisakura Guest House
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 12: Tracking Mona monkeys in Nyungwe National Park

After breakfast you will set off for the Karaba area of Nyungwe National Park to track Mona monkeys and other primate species. You will thereafter drive to Kibuye town arriving in time for lunch. You will later pay a visit to the Genocide Memorial Church to learn about how the genocide was perpetrated in this area.

Dinner and overnight will be at Bethenie Lodge.

Day 13: Kibuye to Gisenyi

After breakfast you have the option of a boat cruise on Lake Kivu to Gisenyi or to drive there by road. Driving will take you through the gorgeous scenery of tea plantations and glimpses of Lake Kivu. You will arrive in Gisenyi at lunch time and have lunch at Lake Kivu Serena Hotel. You will spend the rest of the evening in Gisenyi with the option of either going for an excursion of the city or to swim and sand bath.

You will have dinner and overnight at the Hotel of your booking.

Day 14: Gorilla Tracking in Volcanoes National Park

You will have an early breakfast and report at the Park Headquarters for a briefing on the rules to be observed during Gorilla trekking. You will be allocated a Gorilla family to track and guides to lead you to the Gorillas. The Gorilla tracking will take 2-5 hours. Once found, you will spend a maximum of one hour observing the gorillas in their natural setting. After the tracking you will return to your hotel for lunch. You will later visit the Ibyiwacu community village to interact and be entertained by local people before returning to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation options:
Up-market: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Midrange: Le Bambou Gorillas Lodge / La Palme Hotel
Budget: Kinigi Guest House / Muhavura Lodge.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 15: Second Gorilla Tracking (Option)

You will after breakfast report to the park headquarters to be allocated a Gorilla Trekking guide and Gorilla family to track for your second encounter. After tracking you will return to your hotel for lunch and relaxation the rest of the day.

Accommodation options:
Up-market: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Midrange: Le Bambou Gorillas Lodge / La Palme Hotel
Budget: Kinigi Guest House / Muhavura Lodge.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 16: Golden Monkey trekking in Volcanoes National Park

You will have an early morning breakfast and drive to Volcanoes National Park for Golden monkey trekking for the whole morning. You will have lunch at the hotel of your booking and later go for an excursion trip to visit the pretty twin lakes of Burera & Ruhondo. You will return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation options:
Up-market: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Midrange: Le Bambou Gorillas Lodge / La Palme Hotel
Budget: Kinigi Guest House / Muhavura Lodge.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 17: Hiking Mt Bisoke and visit Crater Lake on the top

You will have an early breakfast (6.30am) and drive with your guide to Parc Nationale des Volcanoes from where you will start hiking Mt Bisoke. Hiking this mountain takes 1-2 hours depending on your physical fitness.

Besides enjoying the beautiful scenery, the cool breeze and marveling at the beautiful Crater Lake the guide will explain to you the cultural significance of this Mountain to the local people. Climbing down the Mountain takes 1-1½ hours. You will return to the Hotel for lunch and later drive to Kigali.

Meal Plan: Breakfast and lunch

Accommodation options:
Up-market: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Midrange: Le Bambou Gorillas Lodge / La Palme Hotel
Budget: Kinigi Guest House / Muhavura Lodge.

Day 18: Hiking to Dian Fossey Memorial

You will after breakfast hike to Karisoke Research Centre established by Dian Fossey, an American primatologist who dedicated all her life conserving the primates. You will after being taken around this remarkable centre return to your hotel for lunch and later drive to Kigali. Dinner and overnight will be at the hotel of your booking.

Accommodation options:
Up-market: Kigali Serena Hotel / Milles des Collins Hotel
Midrange: Flame Tree Village Hotel
Budget: Step Town Hotel
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 19: Kigali City Excursion

You will after breakfast set off for an excursion in the city of Kigali. You will visit the Gisozi Genocide Memorial site to learn about how this unfortunate catastrophe started and was perpetrated leading into the death of thousands and thousands of people. You will thereafter proceed to Kimilonko Market to see what goes on in one of the busiest and biggest markets in the city. You will also visit the Nyarutarama Golf club and the Belgium memorial site as well as the Richard Kandt historical museum that marks the place where Kigali as a city was first located by a Germany Colonial Administrator in 1907. You will return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation options:
Up-market: Kigali Serena Hotel / Milles des Collins Hotel
Midrange: Flame Tree Village Hotel
Budget: Step Town Hotel
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 20: Transfer to the Airport

You will have breakfast and prepare transfer to the airport for your outbound departure flight.

END OF SAFARI!