12 Days Kahuzi Biega and Rwanda Safari
This 12 Days Kahuzi Biega and Rwanda Safari combines a visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda where you will get an opportunity to track eastern lowland gorillas in Congo’s Kahuzi Biega national Park, explore the canopy walkway and Isumo waterfalls in Nyungwe Forest National Park, enjoy game drives in Akagera National Park and finally track golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park. Do take time to read the detailed itinerary for more information on this interesting safari.
Highlights for 12 Days Kahuzi Biega and Rwanda Safari
Day 1: Airport pick up – Hotel
Day 2: Full day Kigali city tour
Day 3: Transfer to cross D.R. Congo – Bukavu
Day 4: Lowland Gorilla tracking tour in Kahuzi Biega – DR Congo
Day 5: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest national park – Canopy walkway
Day 6: Isumo waterfalls trail nature walk and transfer to back to Kigali
Day 7: Transfer to Akagera national Park and Afternoon Boat Cruise on L. Ihema
Day 8: Full Day Game Drive
Day 9: Transfer to Volcanoes national park-visit Karisoke Centre
Day 10: Golden Monkey tracking – Ibyi’wacu Cultural tour
Day 11: Hike Mount Bisoke – Visit twin lakes of Ruhondo and Burera
Day 12: Transfer Back to Kigali.
Detailed Itinerary for 12 Days Kahuzi Biega and Rwanda Safari
Day 1: Airport pick up – Hotel
Upon arrival at Kigali international airport with your confirmed booked flight, you will be meet your safari driver for a meet and greet, pack your luggage in the safari vehicle and drive to your booked accommodation in Kigali city. Dinner and overnight stay at your hotel.
Day 2: Full day Kigali city tour
After breakfast, meet your driver for a Kigali city tour. Visit some of the interesting places in Kigali including the Kigali genocide memorial, Kandt museum, Inema Art gallery with en-route lunch. Drive to one of the hills in Kigali for a city view and a Kimironko market tour. Return in the evening to your Hotel for dinner and overnight stay at hotel as above
Day 3: Transfer to cross D.R. Congo – Bukavu
After breakfast, safari driver to transfer to Bukavu. It’s about 7-8 hours’ drive through the Nyungwe forest national park with amazing views of the rolling hill in Rusizi with stopovers for lunch and refreshments. Cross through Cyangugu border after finalizing with the immigration process and proceed to Bukavu town, which is the nearest town to Kahuzi Biega national park in Democratic Republic of Congo. Upon arrival at Bukavu town, connect to your accommodation for dinner and overnight stay.
Please note that your Rwanda Visa will expire after crossing into Congo so you will apply for another immediately and you will find it ready on return.
Day 4: Lowland Gorilla tracking tour in Kahuzi Biega – DR Congo
In the morning, you will head for the memorable adventure of tracking the lowland gorillas in Kahuzi Biega National park. Tracking lowland Gorillas is very amazing, lowland Gorillas differ from mountain gorillas, the lowland gorillas are bigger in size, usually takes 1-4 hours to track the lowland Gorillas. The lowland Gorillas stay in bigger families as compared to mountain gorillas; you will not regret the safari effort once you meet the amazing Gorillas! Later in the afternoon, drive back to your hotel. Dinner and overnight at hotel as above
Day 5: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest national park – Canopy walkway
After breakfast at your hotel, check-out and cross back to Rwanda. It’s about 3 hours’ drive from Bukavu to Nyungwe forest national park. Connect to first check-in at your lodge for lunch. Later afternoon, connect for the 2 pm canopy walk experience. You will go on a walking trail that will take you to the Canopy Walk-a swing bridge 50 meters in length that is suspended from large trees; you will be able to see the amazing rainforest with a bird’s eye view, spotting wildlife moving below you. Proceed to check-in your booked lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 6: Isumo waterfalls trail nature walk and transfer to back to Kigali
Enjoy breakfast and Connect to visit Nyungwe’s biggest waterfalls on Isumo trail. This is one of the most refreshing experience with sights of different birds and some primates. The walk is approximately 4 hours walking up and down the Nyungwe forest with sights of primates and different bird species. After lunch, you will drive back to Kigali and have dinner at your hotel.
Day 7: Transfer to Akagera national Park and Afternoon Boat Cruise on L. Ihema
After breakfast, check-out of the lodge and transfer to Akagera national park. It’s a 2-hour drive and on the way you will enjoy great views of the countryside, beautiful scenery among others. Upon arrival in the park you will check into the lodge for lunch where after you will go for an afternoon boat cruise on Lake Ihema which will offer you great views of the surrounding areas; hills and swamps. Expect to see Hippos, crocodiles and more bird species. Dinner and overnight stay at your lodge.
Day 8: Full Day Game Drive
Wake up early, enjoy breakfast and go for a game drive in search of animals like Elephants, Giraffes, Buffaloes, lions and several antelope species and introduced Rhinos. Return for lunch at the lodge then later afternoon, you will go for an evening game drive in search of some of the animals that you might have missed during the morning game drive. Dinner and overnight as above.
Day 9: Transfer to Volcanoes national park-visit Karisoke Centre
After breakfast, check out of the lodge and meet your driver to go transfer to Volcanoes national park which takes about 5-6 hours’ drive. On the way you will have en-route lunch and enjoy great views of the landscape. Upon arrival, you will visit the Karisoke Centre and later drive to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 10: Golden Monkey tracking – Ibyi’wacu Cultural tour
After early morning breakfast, transfer to the park headquarters for briefing from the park warden about the endangered golden monkeys. After, connect to the tracking starting point and enter the forest to search for the rare golden monkey. This activity can take about 1-5 hours and is done a closer view of the other primates in the park-like the red-tailed monkeys, Vervet monkeys among others. After viewing the rare golden monkeys for an hour while taking pictures and studying their behaviors.
Later afternoon/evening, connect to visit Iby’wacu Cultural Village-a Non-Profit umbrella organization that aims at improving the lives of reformed poachers and communities around Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park through the provision of conservation incentives, supporting community enterprise development and livelihood based projects. It’s a rewarding place where you will be guided around the place as you enjoy the Kinyarwanda traditions including the Intore dance, traditional ceremonies, and a guided community walk. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at booked lodge as above
Day 11: Hike Mount Bisoke – Visit twin lakes of Ruhondo and Burera
After breakfast, you will report to the park headquarters for a briefing about Mount Bisoke hike with your hiking gears, set off for the hike. It’s a day hike through the steep slopes of the mountain. On reaching the summit, you will discover a beautiful crater lake and the whole experience is overwhelming! Return to meet your driver after the hike, visit the twin lakes of Ruhindo and Burera located at the back of Volcano Muhabura before you drive back to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above.
Day 12: Transfer Back to Kigali.
Unfortunately, this is the last day of your tour with us! Wake up in time to have breakfast at your lodge and then check-out in time. You will embark on your journey to Kigali city arriving in time to have lunch at a local restaurant and then your driver guide will drop you off at a hotel of your choice or airport as you will advise.
End of 12 Days Kahuzi Biega and Rwanda Safari!
