8 Days Congo and Rwanda Safari
Our 8 Days Congo and Rwanda Safari takes you on a classic safari as you explore the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. During these 8 Days Congo and Rwanda Safari, you will track eastern lowland gorillas in Congo’s Kahuzi Biega National Park, chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe forest national park, gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park and also enjoy game drives in Akagera national park in Rwanda.
Highlights for 8 Days Congo and Rwanda Safari.
Day 1: Pick-up in Kigali and Transfer to Bukavu
Day 2: Lowland gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega NP
Day 3: Transfer to Nyungwe forest national Park for afternoon canopy walk
Day 4: Chimpanzee tracking
Day 5: Transfer to Volcanoes national park.
Day 6: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes national park
Day 7: Transfer to Akagera National Park-Game Drive
Day 8: Northern Circuit Game Drive and Transfer Back to Kigali.
Detailed Itinerary for 8 Days Congo and Rwanda Safari.
Day 1: Pick-up in Kigali and Transfer to Bukavu (Congo)
Depending on your location in Kigali, our company representative-guide/driver will pick you up and drive for about 5 hours through Nyungwe national park with amazing rolling hill in Rusizi with stopovers for lunch and refreshing. Cross through Cyangugu border to Bukavu town in Democratic Republic of Congo. On arrival at Bukavu, nearest town to Kahuzi Biega, advance to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at your hotel in Bukavu.
Note that your Rwanda Visa expires immediately you cross into Congo so you will have to reapply for another while at the border and find it ready after the tour.
Day 2: Lowland gorilla trekking in Kahuzi Biega NP
After enjoying your breakfast at the lodge, drive to the park headquarters for about 45 minutes for briefing about the Eastern lowland gorillas. You will then set off to your fascinating experience of the lowland gorillas in the valleys of Kahuzi as you encounter different mammals, birds and primates. It’s usually a 1-6 hours’ experience of the jungle, depending on their movement while watching them interact/play with each other as you take photos and videos
You will then descend back and meet up with your driver back to your hotel for dinner and overnight same as night before.
Note that your Rwanda Visa expires immediately you cross into Congo so you will have to reapply for another while at the border and find it ready after the tour.
Day 3: Transfer to Nyungwe forest national for afternoon canopy walk
In the morning after a relaxed breakfast, you will drive back to Rwanda crossing via Ruzizi 1 border. You will connect to your hotel to check in and have lunch.
After lunch, you with your driver guide will connect to the park for the 2 pm canopy walk in Nyungwe forest. The canopy walk in Nyungwe forest is a 200-metre-long bridge suspended 9 meters high to give you a view of the forest from above. Enjoy the breathtaking sounds and sights and fresh air of the untouched tropical rain forest from the bird’s view. Drive straight to your hotel in time for dinner at the hotel as the night before. Spend your first night in Nyungwe.
Day 4: Chimpanzee tracking
Enjoy breakfast and go for briefing about the endangered chimpanzees before entering the forest in search of the active and playful fellows in Nyungwe forest. The Chimpanzees are much easier to spot as they jump from one tree to another, chattering and laughing. Chimpanzee tracking usually takes about 3 hours. On finding them, spend an hour while taking pictures and videos. You will then return to your hotel to freshen up and spend the rest of the day at leisure.
You may have an optional tea plantation visit or community visit. Connect back to your hotel in time for dinner and overnight stay same as previous night.
Day 5: Transfer to Volcanoes national park.
Once breakfast has been served, you will drive to connect to Kibuye for a lunch. Drive further to arrive in Volcanoes national park for your cultural tour at the Ibyi’wacu cultural center. You will drive to check in at your hotel.
Dinner and overnight at your designated lodge.
Day 6: Gorilla Trekking Rwanda in Volcanoes national park
Breakfast will be served early and lunch will be packed. The briefing is at 7 am. Your guide will give you highlights of specific details about the way of life of the gorillas you will be tracking. The hike can take anything from one to seven hours.
Trekking through the steep, bamboo slopes and then finally coming across the gorillas camouflaged in the vegetation is an inspiring and privileged moment. Once you reach the gorillas, you are allowed to spend one hour with them as you stand 6 meters away.
Upon completion of this magical encounter, you will connect again with your driver / guide and return back to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 7: Transfer to Akagera National Park-Game Drive
On the seventh day of your 8 Days Congo and Rwanda Safari, you will have you breakfast early in the morning and then embark on about a 2-and-a-half-hour drive to Akagera national park. Upon your arrival in the park, you will embark on a game drive in the southern part of the park where you can look out for wildlife such as lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, buffaloes, giraffe and zebras to mention but a few. You will then proceed to your lodge for lunch and relax for a while.
Later in the evening, you will head out to the park for a sunset boat cruise on Lake Ihema where you will view wildlife busking or roaming at the river banks. You will also get to see a number of bird species during your boat cruise including the African finfoot, Pelicans, Cormorants, and the Kingfisher to mention but a few.
Later retire back to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 8: Northern Circuit Game Drive and Transfer Back to Kigali
On your eight and last day of your 8 Days Congo and Rwanda Safari, after you have had breakfast at your lodge, you will embark on a morning game drive in the northern part of the park where you will see a large number of wildlife animals roaming the savannah plains; look out for any wildlife that you might have missed sighting during your previous game drive in the park.
Have lunch enroute to Kigali where your driver guide will drop you off at a preferred location either at a hotel of your choice or Kigali International Airport. If your feel like doing a brief tour of Kigali city on this day, do let us know in advance so that we can arrange for this.
End of your 8 Days Congo and Rwanda Safari!
