Gorilla safari Rwanda goes to the 3 major National Parks in Rwanda. On this African safari tour in Rwanda you will go to Akagera, Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Parks.

This is an 11 day gorilla safari Rwanda that has you trek the gorillas. This is an African gorilla safari in Rwanda. You will enjoy the best of gorilla and wildlife safari on this Rwanda gorilla safari.

About The 11 day Gorilla Safari Rwanda

This is an 11 day gorilla safari Rwanda that has you trek the gorillas. The gorilla safari Rwanda is an African gorilla safari in Rwanda. You will enjoy the best of gorilla and wildlife safari on this Rwanda gorilla safari.

This 11 day gorilla safari Rwanda goes to Akagera National Park. This is home to big game in Rwanda. Expect to see the elephants, lions, hyenas and warthog among other animals.

The gorilla safari Rwanda then visits Volcanoes National Park.  Here you will trek the famous Rwanda mountain gorillas. Dian Fossey spent some twenty years studying the Mountain Gorillas.

The unique Golden monkey trekking experience is unmatched. You will finish your gorilla safari Rwanda with a tour to Nyungwe. This is home to the Chimpanzees. Trekking gorillas in Rwanda is quite an experience.

Highlights of the The 11 day Gorilla Safari Rwanda

The highlights of the 11 day Gorilla Safari Rwanda includes:

• Kigali city tour
• Kigali Genocide Memorial Center tour
• Big game safaris in Akagera
• Boat ride on lake Iheme
• Big five tracking
• Gorilla trekking in Rwanda’s Volcanoes national park
• Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest
• Visit Iby’Iwacu cultural village
• Photography
• Great Scenery
• Beautiful Landscape

Detailed 11 Days Gorilla Safari Rwanda Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival Kigali Airport

You will be met on arrival at the Kigali International Airport. After the immigration formalities, enjoy a transfer into Kigali City. You will be checked in at your Kigali hotel for the night.

It is here that our Rwanda safari rep will brief you on the 11-day gorilla safari Rwanda.  You will have your overnight at Gorilla Hotel in Kigali.

Day 2: Kigali – Akagera National Park

Start your 11 Day gorilla safari Rwanda with a no rush breakfast. This will be at 0730hrs at your hotel in Kigali. This will be followed by departure from Kigali. The drive takes you to Akagera National Park. Your arrival will be in time for lunch.

Relaxation in the afternoon will help you prepare for the next events. You will embark on an afternoon game drive within the park. Be on the lookout for Giraffes, Buffaloes, and Spotted Hyenas. There are also Elephants, Crocodiles, Hippos and plenty of bird life. Your dinner and overnight will be at Akagera Game Lodge.

Akagera National Park

Akagera National Park is a famous Savanna reserve. It lies in the eastern part of the Republic Rwanda along the border with Tanzania. The Akagera name derives from the river that runs along its eastern boundary. It lies at a low altitude on the border with Tanzania.

Akagera National Park covers an area of 1,122 sq km. It is warm and low-lying. The plains support a cover of dense, broad-leafed woodland with lighter acacia woodland. It has patches of rolling grassland studded with stands of the cactus-like Euphorbia candelabra. This shrub which is quite a remarkable eco-system.

Akagera National Park is resident of wildlife species. They include buffalo, elephant, topi, Giraffe, zebra, waterbuck, roan antelope and eland. Other antelope are duiker, oribi, bohor reedbuck, klipspringer, bushbuck and impala. Other primates which you see during the day include olive baboons. There are vervets and the secretive blue monkey.

Akagera National Park gives you best ever opportunity to spot rare bird species. This includes Shoebill, Caruthers Cisticola, White-winged Warbler and Papyrus Canary. Others are Red-faced Barbet, Bennett’s Woodpecker and White-winged Warbler. We also have Broad-tailed Warbler, Miombo Wren-Warbler, and White-collared Olive back.

It has a large number of water birds across East Africa. This makes it the great opportunity to bird lover with over 520 bird species are within the Park.

Day 3: Akagera National Park

Start your 11 Day gorilla safari Rwanda with an early breakfast. This will be followed by a transfer to Rusumo waterfall. You will pass via the Imigongo traditional handcraft makers. It is time to sample Mother Nature’s wonderful scene.

This beauty of the waterfall is worth the visit. You will return to your lodge for lunch and a short rest. In the afternoon you have a boat riding in Ihema Lake. You will visit Nyirabiyoro historical island. This is home to many crocodiles, hippos and other species of rare birds. Your dinner and overnight will be at Akagera Game Lodge.

Day 4: Akagera – Parc Nationale des Volcans

An early morning breakfast will make the start of your gorilla safari Rwanda day. This will be followed by departure. Today you are heading to Parc Nationale des Volcanoes. This park is also known as the Volcanoes National Park. You will have a lunch break en route. Your arrival will be in the evening for check in at your Volcanoes accommodation.  Your dinner and overnight will be at Le’ Bambou Gorilla Safari Lodge.

Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda is also home to five volcanoes. This form part of the nearby Virunga Mountains. This is famous as the location where zoologist Dian Fossey based herself. It is the oldest park in Africa. It and covers a small area, only around 160km².

The park is covered by a range of different forest types, with bamboo covering a third of it. The forest is set in the mountains and change at different altitudes. The highest points, around 4500m. There are grasslands, marshes, swamps as well as some small lakes here.

The biggest attraction in the park are the incredible mountain gorillas. They roam the bamboo forests. This population forms part of only 700 such primates found in Africa today. It is hoped that through extensive conservation efforts, these numbers are increasing. These peaceful animals are three times the size of a human. They can be encountered on your Rwanda gorilla trekking expedition.

The park is also home to golden monkeys. Others include spotted hyena, bushbuck, black fronted duiker and elephants. Over 178 types of birds call the park home. We also have with 13 species and 16 subspecies only found in the region around the Virunga Mountains.

Day 5: Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda

Your gorilla safari Rwanda day will start early. This will be with an early breakfast. After getting your picnic lunch boxes you will proceed to the head office. This is in time for the briefing at 0800 hrs.

You will meet your armed ranger and guide. If you need porters, you can get one or two to help you. This is at a cost of course. It is time to tackle the day’s activity. You will venture into the forest trails in search of the apes.

Your trek follows the path of the mountain gorillas assigned to you.  The trek can be quite tough due to terrain and time taken. You can take approximately 2-8 hours to undertake the trekking.

Return to your lodge in time for dinner and overnight. This will be at Le’ Bambou Gorilla Safari Lodge.

Day 6: Visit Dian Fossey Grave

Start the day on gorilla safari Rwanda with an early breakfast. This will be followed by a visit to the grave of Dian Fossey. This is at the former Karisoke Research Center. It is here that Dian spent some twenty years studying the Mountain Gorillas.

The trek to the site is quite spectacular. You will be passing through bamboo forest and afro-montane habitats. You may spot other wildlife during the trek. Later return to your lodge for lunch. The afternoon will be spent at leisure. Your dinner and overnight will be at Le’ Bambou Gorilla Safari Lodge.

Day 7: Golden Monkey Trekking

Start your 11-day gorilla safari Rwanda early. You will have your breakfast before 0700hrs. Transfer to the park headquarters for briefing. In much smaller groups, you will set off to the forest. This is to track the rare and endangered Golden monkeys. You will encounter other primate species as vervet monkeys and baboons. There are so many bird species and butterflies available in this forest. Your guide will help you to identify whatever animal, bird or insect you will meet. The guide will be ready to answer your questions about fauna and flora. Return to your lodge in the afternoon. Your evening in Volcanoes will be at leisure. Your dinner and overnight will be at Le’ Bambou Gorilla Safari Lodge.

Day 8: Volcanoes – Nyungwe Forest National Park

Today your gorilla safari Rwanda starts with an early breakfast. You should be out of Volcanoes by 0800hrs. You will be driving to Nyungwe Forest National Park. The drive is long as it goes through Kigali. Here you will stop for an early lunch before proceeding. The drive takes you through Nyanza and Butare. You will arrive in Nyungwe in the evening. If time allows you may plan an evening walk in the nearby tea plantations. Your dinner and overnight will be at Top Hill View Lodge.

Nyungwe National Park

Nyungwe National Park is one of the largest tropical montane rainforests. This is not only in central Africa but in East Africa and the continent. It is Rwanda’s biggest water catchment feeding the longest River Nile. This river has its source in Uganda and River Congo in DR Congo with water and its home 2/3 of all Rwanda’s water.

This park inhabits a range of wildlife among these are the famous habituated chimpanzees. There are 12 other primate species in Nyungwe National Park. There is 400 habituated Black and white Rwenzori colobus monkeys.

There have been sightings of Golden monkeys and 75 different mammal species. The park has a variety of butterflies and as a birders’ paradise with over 300 bird species of which 16 are endemic.

Nyungwe National Park tour is always combining with Rwanda Gorilla Trekking experience.

Day 9: Chimpanzee Tracking in Rwanda

The day on gorilla safari Rwanda will start much earlier. This will be with a breakfast before 0430hrs. You will head to the park office. This is where you will be briefed on chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda. In smaller groups you will enter the Nyungwe Rain forest in search of man’s close relative. It is important to note that we share about 98% genetic makeup. You should be on the lookout for other primate species. They include Colobus monkeys, l’hoest among other primates.  There are also forest birds to watch out for. After sighting your chimp group, you will head to the lodge for lunch. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure. Your Dinner and overnight will be at Top Hill View Lodge.

Day 10: Nyungwe - Kigali

Start your 11-day gorilla safari Rwanda with a no pressure breakfast. After checking out of the lodge you will proceed to Kigali. This is a scenic drive to be enjoyed all the way to Kigali. You will have a stop in Nyanza to visit the King’s palace. You may also visit the Marambi Genocide centre if time allows. You will proceed to Kigali to be dropped off at Gorilla Hotel in Kigali.

Day 11: Kigali City Tour and Departure

Start your Rwanda gorilla safari with an early breakfast. This will be followed by a Kigali City tour. This goes to Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre. You will also be able to visit the colorful markets and craft center. You will conclude your Rwanda gorilla holiday with a transfer. This is to the airport in time for your departure flight.

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11 Days Gorilla Safari Rwanda Costs

The 11 Day Gorilla Safari Rwanda cost includes

• Accommodation with meals as per program
• Bottled water
• Customized safari-vehicle
• An English speaking guide
• All park entry fees
• Boat Ride on Lake Iheme
• 1 X Rwanda gorilla permit
• 1 X golden Monkey tracking permit
• 1 X Chimpanzee Permit
• Government taxes
• Lots of fun and African sunshine

The 11 Day Gorilla Safari Rwanda cost does not include

• Items of personal use
• All drinks, beverages and alcohol other than what is served at breakfast
• Deviation from the Itinerary
• Visa
• Tips and porterage
• Insurance

What you carry for your 9 Day Rwanda Gorilla Safari Tour:

• Sun glasses
• Camera gear
• Heavy and light clothes
• Sturdy hiking boots