The 15 days Rwanda classic safari has a lot to offer to visitors who come to Rwanda for a visit. This tour will take you to various locations in Rwanda, and you will be able to explore a number of them while engaging in the activities offered at the places you will visit in the 15 days.
Safari highlights
Day 1: Arrival at Kigali Airport and transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Day 2: Gorilla trekking and nature walk
Day 3: Golden monkey trekking and hike to Dian Fossey Tomb
Day 4: Hike to Mount Bisoke and tour the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo
Day 5: Cultural tour to Iby’iwacu cultural centre and visit to Karisoke research centre
Day 6: Hike to the summit of Mount Karisimbi
Day 7: Descending Mount Karisimbi
Day 8: Transfer to Akagera National Park for a boat cruise
Day 9: Morning game drive and a cultural tour
Day 10: Transfer to Lake Kivu for a boat cruise
Day 11: Coffee tour and transfer to Nyungwe National Park
Day 12: Chimpanzee trekking
Day 13: Birding and a canopy walk
Day 14: Forest nature walk
Day 15: Depart for Kigali airport
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at Kigali Airport and transfer to Volcanoes National Park
You will be picked up by a guide from Kapo Tours on day 1 of the safari, and you will be briefed by the guide. After the briefing, you will set off to Volcanoes National Park, and it will take you about 2 hours from Kigali city to get there. You will settle into the hotel after reaching the park, and you will rest from your flight. The rest of the day will be spent at the hotel as you receive the meals of that day as per the itinerary, that is, lunch and supper
Accommodation facilities at Volcanoes National Park
Luxury: One and only gorilla’s nest
Midrange: My hill eco lodge
Budget: Sambora Kinigi Lodge
Day 2: Gorilla trekking and nature walk
At Volcanoes National Park, you will be briefed at the park office after your breakfast, and you will set off with the ranger guide to the location of the gorillas, and you will spend an hour with the gorillas after spotting them. You will have beautiful moments with these gorillas, and after the guide transfers you back to the lodge for lunch and you will embark on a nature walk around the park in the afternoon.
You will see animals and birds at close range while on a nature walk, and you will also see the amazing views of the vegetation around Volcanoes National Park. You will head to the lodge for your night’s rest and dinner.
Day 3: Golden monkey trekking and hike to Dian Fossey Tomb
On the 3rd day of the safari, you will have a golden monkey trek in the morning, and you will have an encounter with other animals as you trek to find the golden monkeys. You will also have an hour to stay with the golden monkeys after several hours of looking for them. You will head for the lodge and relax.
After relaxing, you will hike to Dian Fossey Tomb for a visit to the grave of the American primatologist Dian Fossey, and you will also see other graves of gorillas that were buried there, including that of Digit, the most loved gorilla of Dian Fossey. You will then head back to your lodge, you will have dinner and retire to bed.
Day 4: Hike to Mount Bisoke and tour the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo
After breakfast at the lodge, you will have a hike after a briefing. You will roughly take 6 hours to ascend and descend Mount Bisoke. You will meet various animals and birds along the trails as you hike Mount Bisoke to the summit, and you will be able to see the neighbouring mountains while at Mount Bisoke and the views of the park.
After the guide takes you for lunch at the lodge, you will after head for a tour to the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo, which also have several attractions to see, like the birds and also the beauty around them. You will then be taken back to the lodge, and at dinner time, you will eat and then retire to bed.
Day 5: Cultural tour to Iby’iwacu cultural centre and visit to Karisoke research centre
On day 5, you will head for a visit to Iby’iwacu cultural centre for a cultural experience, and this will give you knowledge about the Rwandese culture and traditions, and you will be taught how to prepare the local dishes of the Rwandese by the locals, plus also engage in their traditional dance that they will perform for you.
A guide will lead you to where you will have lunch, and after you will embark on a visit to Karisoke Research Centre for a visit around this place, and you will get the details about the gorillas and other wildlife that are sheltered in this park. After the visit, you will head to the lodge and rest after dinner.
Day 6: Hike to the summit of Mount Karisimbi
On day 6, you will have breakfast and head to the park headquarters for a briefing before you set off for a hike to Mount Karisimbi. You will hike to Mount Karisimbi as you encounter a number of birds and animals, and you will have a stopover for your packed lunch. After lunch and resting, you will re-embark on your hike to the camping site, where you will spend the night and have your packed dinner.
Day 7: Descending Mount Karisimbi
On day 7, you will have a lot of amazing views while at the summit of Mount Karisimbi, and you will then trek back to the lodge after experiencing all the wonderful sites and attractions at this mountain. You will rest at the lodge for the rest of the day.
Day 8: Transfer to Akagera National Park for a boat cruise
On day 8, you will have breakfast at the lodge in Volcanoes National Park, and you will then be taken to Akagera National Park. You will have a stopover for lunch and then proceed to the park. At the park, you will check into a lodge and rest. In the afternoon, at around 3 pm. You will have a briefing and head for a one-hour boat cruise at Lake Ihema, and you will have to see a number of wildlife and other views at the lake. You will then retire to the lodge and rest till dinner is served.
Accommodation options at Akagera National Park
Luxury: Akagera Game Lodge
Midrange: Magashi safari camp
Budget: Karenge Bush Camp
Day 9: Morning game drive and a cultural tour
You will have an early morning game drive after a briefing at Akagera National Park, and you will be guided by the ranger guide through the different wildlife species that you will meet while on the game drive. You will be able to witness some animals rising from their habitats while driving through the park. This drive takes about 5 hours, and after the drive, you will have lunch and prepare for a cultural tour at Hemure refugee village, where you will interact and share information about their culture, traditions and norms. You will have to drive back to your lodge after the visit to this village, and you will stay at the lodge till you are called for dinner.
Day 10: Transfer to Lake Kivu for a boat cruise
Early in the morning, you will have breakfast and check out of the lodge before the guide transfers you to Lake Kivu. You will have lunch before you participate in the boat ride at Lake Kivu, where you will meet several birds while riding on this lake, and you will come across several islands. After the boat ride, you will head to a hotel and have dinner before you head to bed.
Accommodation options
- Gorillas lake kivu hotel
- Lake Kivu Serena
- Mara Villa Kivu Eco Resort
Day 11: Coffee tour and transfer to Nyungwe National Park
After breakfast, you will be briefed and you will set off to Nyamirundi Island for a coffee tour. While on this island, you will meet with the locals who will take you through the whole coffee-making process. And after that, you will know how coffee is made. You will then be taken back for lunch before you set off to Nyungwe National Park. You will have your night stay and supper at Nyungwe National Park
Accommodation options
Luxury: One and only Nyungwe house
Midrange: Nyungwe top-view hill hotel
Budget: Gisakura guest house
Day 12: Chimpanzee trekking
Nyungwe National Park is one of the places where chimpanzee trekking is carried out, so after having breakfast in the morning, you will set off to Nyungwe forest to conduct a chimpanzee trek with guidelines on how to behave while with these primates. You will take several hours to spot the chimpanzees, and after spotting them, you will see how they conduct themselves. And this moment will take only one hour, and after the hour, you will head back to the lodge, and you will have lunch. As per the itinerary, you will spend the remaining time of the day resting.
Day 13: Birding and a canopy walk
You will have breakfast, and a guide will drive you to the park headquarters before you go for a birding experience where you will see the various bird types at Nyungwe National Park. This activity will be taking place in the various birding trails in Nyungwe National Park, including the Bigugu Trail and many more. After the birding experience, you will head for lunch and later on have another activity.
You will head for a 2-hour canopy walk at the bridge after the briefing, and you will be able to see the beautiful views of the forest from the bridge and other wildlife in the park. You will then head to the lodge after visiting the bridge that is about 160m long and 70m high.
Day 14: Forest nature walk
You will have breakfast in the morning and set off for a briefing at the park offices at Nyungwe National Park. You will then head with the guide to Nyungwe forest for a nature walk, and this will enable you to see several animals at a closer range and the various trees that are in Nyungwe forest, not forgetting the birds that are sheltered in this park.
After the wonderful forest nature walk, you will be transferred to the lodge, and you will have lunch. After lunch, you will stay at the lodge and refresh your mind with some rest
Day 15: Depart for Kigali airport
On the last day of the 15 days Rwanda classic safari, you will have breakfast at the lodge and after you will check out. A guide will then pick you up from the lodge and transfer you to Kigali airport.
End of the 15 Days Rwanda classic safari
Trip includes
- Bottled drinking water
- Park entry fees
- English-speaking driver guide
- 4WD safari vehicle
- Accommodation
- Meals
- Gorilla trekking permit
- Golden monkey trekking permit
- Chimpanzee trekking permit
Trip excludes
- Personal needs
- Visa fees
- Air fare
- Personal insurance
