This 14 Days Grand Tour of Rwanda takes you to Nyungwe National Park to track Chimpanzees and to Parc Des Volcanoes for Gorilla trekking.
14 Days Grand Tour of Rwanda tour itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at Kigali:
You will arrive at the Kigali international Airport where you will meet and greet with your tour guide and transfer to your Hotel in Kigali to check in if your arrival is in the morning. In the afternoon you will go for a city tour, the Capital city offers you the chance to discover some tourism here as you drive around the busy town where you learn the history of the town from the colonial era to democracy, from slums to the suburbs.
Visit the Kigali genocide memorial at Gisozi that tells of the history of Rwanda leading up to the Genocide in 1994 and catalogues the details of the genocide using photographs, video, written accounts and art facts. Included are personal testimonies and a moving memorial to the children of the Rwandan genocide. it also has a section called wasted lives which reflects on the holocaust and genocide in Armenia, south-west Africa, Bosnia and Cambodia. The Kigali memorial center has gained a world-wide reputation for this powerful exhibition and the craft center. Return to your hotel for overnight.
Day 2: Kigali City – Nyungwe Forest National park
After an early morning breakfast, proceed to the south province enroute visit to the Royal Palace at Nyanza, and visit the National Museum known as one of the best ethnographic museums in East and Central Africa located in Huye district, if time allows, arrange a performance of Intore dance troupe, before proceeding to Nyungwe forest, a 3 hours drive from Huye district. Nyungwe forest national park extends a 1000 km². It is the largest afro-Montane forest in East and Central Africa and one of the most ancient, dating back to before the Ice Age. Arrive for dinner and overnight
Day 3: Visit Nyungwe National Park
After an early morning breakfast, we will be transferred to the national park headquarters for briefing by the park rangers before departing to hike in search for chimpanzees, and later on return for dinner and overnight
Day 4: Second visit to the Nyungwe National Park
Today go for a nature walk through well prepared trails, and visit the Kamiranzovu waterfalls, that you will enjoy the astounding array of flowers and birdlife, the day will end with dinner and overnight
Day 5: Nyungwe National Park – Kibuye Near Lake Kivu
After the breakfast drive from Nyungwe to Kibuye, detour to Murambi for a visit of the Genocide memorial center. Later drive towards Kibuye through the town of Gitarama, and then end up in Kibuye town towards the Lake to enjoy the excellent beach and water sports facilities. If time allows, in the afternoon take a relaxing boat trip to one of the island on Lake Kivu, you will return for dinner and overnight at a hotel in Kibuye.
Day 6 Kibuye near Lake Kivu – Gisenyi near Lake Kivu
After the breakfast drive for five hours towards the northern part of Rwanda along a good winding road takes us through the thousand hills, along mountain summits, and through tea plantations to Gisenyi. Dinner and overnight at a hotel in Gisenyi on the shore of Lake Kivu
Day 7 : Gisenyi near Lake Kivu – Ruhengeri Near gorilla Park
After the break fast spend a leisurely morning in Gisenyi. Then after lunch head through lush numerous small villages, making a slight detour to see the local hot springs, before arriving at Musanze town. Dinner and overnight at a hotel in Kinigi
Day 8: Visit to Dian Fossey grave at parc de Volcanoes
Today try a hike to Dian Fossey grave that was buried among the gorilla graves on the mountain tops. Overnight at a hotel in Kinigi
Day 9: Trek Golden Monkey at parc de Volcanoes
After early breakfast, you will proceed to the national park Headquarter for briefing by the park rangers before departing for trekking to the famous Golden monkey. After lunch take a scenic drive to view the two twin lakes Burera and Ruhondo, returning later for dinner and overnight at a Hotel in Kinigi.
Day 10: Hike of Bisoke Mountain
After early morning breakfast, you will be transferred to the national park headquarters for being briefed by the park rangers before departing for the hike of Bisoke Mountain, dinner and overnight; at a Hotel in Kinigi.
Day 11: Gorilla trekking at Parc de Volcanoes
After an early morning breakfast, transfer to the Volcanoes national park headquarters for a briefing by the park rangers before; trek through the tropical Virunga rainforest in search of the rare mountain gorilla. Carry your lots of water, study walking shoes, water-proof warm clothing, sun-screen, insect-repellant and a hat. A no-flush camera is recommended because you will come up close with these gentle giants. The park ranger guides will make your 3 – 6 hour trek both educative and enjoyable. The excursion in a thick rain forest and the interaction with the mountain ape, gives a wonderful experience in life. After the visit have lunch in Musanze then drive to Kigali and overnight at a hotel in Kingali.
Day 12: Transfer to Akagera National Park
After an early morning breakfast, proceed to Akagera National Park which lies in the east, where the countryside gives way to a savannah, with clusters of acacia mingled with open grassland. The scenery is dominated by a labyrinth of swamps and lakes that follow the meandering course of the Akagera River, believed to be the most remote source of the Nile.
The park boasts of a unique ‘spring like climate’ which makes safaris to this area exceptionally pleasant. Once in the park, drive to the national park headquarters for a briefing by the park rangers before starting the game drive. The National Park is a better place for safaris with its Complex mix of terrains, marshlands, lakes, vegetation, animal life, and the conducive; spring like climate and offers an enchanting, adventures and environment. You can meet big mammals such as zebras, buffaloes, antelope, Giraffes or elephants. Overnight; at a Hotel in Akagera
Day 13: Activities at Akagera National Park
After the breakfast, drive towards Rusomo, and then detour to the village of Nyakarambi. The local cooperative produces a distinctively Rwandan craft of cow dung paintings; dominated by black, brown, and white whorls and other geometric abstraction, these unique and earthy works make a wonderful souvenir. It is also is interesting to see how the paintings are reflected in the local house decorations. If time allows and the weather favours you, you will be transferred to the national park headquarters and also does a boat cruise on Lake Ihema. After the cruise drive back to Kigali and overnight at a hotel in Kigali
Day 14: Kigali-Departure
After a leisurely breakfast, go for a tour down town and do any last- minute shopping; transfer to the Airport, in the afternoon, to catch the flight. This will mark the end of your 14 Days Grand Tour of Rwanda.
