7 Days Rwanda gorilla , wildlife and bisoke hike safari
7 Days Rwanda gorilla , wildlife and Bisoke hike safari
This 7 Days Rwanda gorilla , wildlife and Bisoke hike safari encompasses a wide spectrum of activities carried out while on Rwanda safari , the first being wildlife encounter at Akagera national park , followed by gorilla trekking at volcanoes national park, late hiking to mount bisoke and finalizing relaxation at lake Kivu before departing for Kigali.
Day 1: Kigali City tour and transfer to Akagera national park
Depending on your location in Kigali city or after your arrival at Kigali International airport, you will be met by our company representative who at the same time will be your safari guide. He will introduce himself and brief you about the trip. Spend your morning hours on a city tour visiting the Kigali genocide memorial, the Kandt National Museum, and craft centres. Have lunch in one of the best restaurants in Kigali then later afternoon embark on your to Akagera national park. This is a 2-3 hours’ drive with beautiful sights of the countryside. Arrive in the park and proceed to check-in your lodge. Relax and later connect for an evening game drive. Animals are usually active in the evening. Search for animals like; the buffaloes, Elephants, Leopards, lions and Rhinos. Other animals to expect include giraffes, hippos, Kobs, Zebras, Bushbucks, and waterbucks. Bird species can be spotted in places including the woodland, swamps, lakes and Savannah. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation and meals;
- Ruzizi Tented Camp for luxury option
- Akagera game lodge for Mid-range option
- Dereva Hotel for budget option
Day 2: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise
Wake up early morning, enjoy your breakfast, and then meet your driver and ranger guide for an early morning game drive when the animals are very active. The game drive exposes you to a number of animals including; the buffaloes, Elephants, Leopards, lions and Rhinos. Other animals to expect include giraffes, hippos, Kobs, Zebras, Bushbucks, and waterbucks. Bird species can be spotted in places including the woodland, swamps, lakes and Savannah. This will last about 4 hours. Return to the lodge for lunch.
Later afternoon, drive to the meeting point for the boat trip on Lake Ihema. The boat is refreshing with stunning views of both water and land animals that come to drink and bath from the lake like the elephants, buffaloes, and antelopes. Expect to encounter the hippos, crocodiles and some water birds. Return to your lodge, refresh, have dinner and spend another night.
Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes national park
Wake up early, have your breakfast and embark on your journey to Volcanoes national park. It’s approximately 4-5 hours’ drive with en-route stop for the scenery and lunch in Kigali in one of the best restaurants in Kigali. Connect to Musanze where you will find some of the remaining mountain gorillas, proceed to your booked lodge to refresh, have dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation and meals
- 5 Volcanoes Gorilla lodge for luxury
- Le Bambou Gorilla lodge for Mid-range
- Hotel Muhabura for Budget option
Day 4: Gorilla trekking experience – community tour
After breakfast, meet your guide and connect at 7 am for a briefing about the gorilla trekking experience at the park headquarters where you will be briefed about gorilla trekking expectations. Expect hiking on slippery and muddy volcano slopes is quite challenging and the search can take 2 to 8 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas. However, they are adventurous as you will encounter the incredible mountain gorillas playing and jumping on tree branches. You will be allowed to stay with these primates for 1 hour as you study their behavior and taking photographs. Return to the starting point, meet your safari guide and drive back to the lodge.
After refreshing, spend your afternoon on a community tour visiting the Ibyiwacu community village and learn more of the Rwanda culture and traditions. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 5: Bisoke hike – Volcanoes national park
After your early morning breakfast, your safari guide will transfer to the park headquarters by 7 am with your trekking gears to start with the briefing session from the RDB officers. After the briefing on expectations required and other necessary information, you will be driven to the starting point which is about 30 minutes’ drive with other visitors joining the group to Mount Bisoke. Along with your porters, start the hike however the hike is quite steepy and slippery. Mount Bisoke is 3,711m hiking and depending on your hiking experience, it make take 2 to 5 hours to reach the beautiful crater. While at the top, you will enjoy the views of the Crater Lake and also sight the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, take pictures and eat your snacks before you descend. Meet your guide at the starting point and drive back to your lodge.
Day 6: Relaxation at Lake Kivu
After your breakfast your lodge, meet with your safari guide and transfer to Lake Kivu which is the largest fresh water lake in Rwanda located close the Democratic Republic of Congo. Arrive in Gisenyi town and explore the town on a tour then connect to the lake for an excursion to visit some of the islands and fishing grounds. Spend the rest of the evening chilling at lake shores.
Accommodation and meals
- Lake Kivu Serena lodge for Luxury
- Paradise Malahide Hotel for Mid-range or Budget
Day 7: Transfer to Kigali/Departure
Wake up, have breakfast then meet your guide to drive back to Kigali. Depending on your departure schedule, you either drive straight to the airport for your flight or enjoy a community tour or any other activities around the park before you drive back to Kigali. You will be dropped off at a location you will advise within Kigali or better still, advise us of your flight details so that your safari guide drops you off to the airport for your check-in flight. End of trip
