Rwanda in Focus

After a good rest, make your way down for breakfast before we set off on your Rwandan experience.

This morning we will visit the Genocide Memorial in Kigali.  This poignant site commemorates the brutal loss of life in 1994, and informs visitors about Rwanda’s history from pre-colonial times up until the tragedy occurred.  The tour describes how the country came to terms with this dark episode in the nation’s history, along with the impact of genocides worldwide.  We will also visit the Nyamirambo Women’s Centre, Inema Art and a local market.

Then, after lunch, we depart for the first wildlife destination of the tour: Akagera National Park.  We anticipate the drive will take around 2.5 hours, passing through scenic countryside en route.  On arrival, you will be shown to your accommodation for the next two nights.  After settling in, you’re invited to join the afternoon game drive, followed by dinner and bed.

Akagera National Park covers an area of 1,122km² (433mi²) in the northeast of Rwanda, adjoining the Tanzanian border.  Named for the Akagera River that borders the park to the east, the park’s landscape consists of rolling woodlands, verdant grasslands and a labyrinth of swamp-fringed lakes, most notably Lake Ihema.

This morning, we’ll head into the park for a game drive.  This activity normally happens in the early morning and late afternoon, as this is when the wildlife is most active.  A consistent hit with our guests, Akagera is home to the renowned Big 5, species big game hunters regard as the most dangerous to hunt on foot.  They are lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and Cape buffalo.  This promises to be an exciting activity undertaken in a savannah terrain, which contrasts with the more mountainous central and western parts of Rwanda.

Beyond the abovementioned Big 5, the park is well-stocked with numerous other wildlife species.  To date, over 80 species of mammals and 550 species of birds have been recorded within its boundaries.  

Frequently seen large mammals include impala, common duiker, defassa waterbuck, bushbuck, oribi, tsessebe, cape eland and the rare sable antelope, giraffes, zebras, impalas and topi.  

Following the morning drive, we’ll return to the lodge for lunch.  After a short rest, we return to the park in the late afternoon for a very special sunset cruise.  This will take place on Lake Ihema, where a healthy population of hippos and crocodiles can be seen.

Returning to the camp in the evening, it’s time for dinner and bed.

After two glorious nights, it is time to leave Akagera National Park, making our way back to Kigali, where lunch will be served.  Then, it is onward to the second national park on the itinerary: Volcanoes National Park.  You will stay in accommodation near the park for two nights.  The expected total travelling time for the day is about 5 hours.

Volcanoes National Park came to the attention of the world thanks to the pioneering work of renowned primatologist Dian Fossey.  Of the area, she said, “In the heart of Central Africa, so high up that you shiver more than you sweat, are great, old volcanoes towering up almost 15,000 feet, and nearly covered with rich, green rainforest – the Virungas”.

Volcanoes National Park covers an area of 160km² (62mi²) at an altitude of between 1,881 and 4,202m (6,171-13,786ft).  The park was created in the country’s northwest to protect the steep slopes that are home to the highly endangered mountain gorilla.  The montane ecosystem is a tapestry of evergreen and bamboo forests, open grasslands and alpine heath.

The rainforest positively hums with life; innumerable birds flit through the canopy, along with a multitude of mammals, a range of reptiles and incalculable insects.  Keep a good lookout, you may even spot the park’s only two members of the Big 5, the elephant and buffalo.  Or perhaps catch a glimpse of rare primates feeding in the canopy, such as gorillas or golden monkeys.

We return for dinner and an early night in preparation for the day ahead.

Finding gorillas requires an early start, so breakfast will be served at 06h30.  We suggest wearing the appropriate clothing and hiking boots, as these are essential for navigating wet, uneven terrain.

After breakfast, we will transfer you to the park headquarters to meet your guides for the day and undergo a briefing.  Your guides devote much of their lives to gorilla conservation and have received specialist training.  This equips them with a wealth of knowledge about the forest and its most famous resident, the mountain gorilla.  We recommend using the porter service at US$10 per person/ per day/ per porter.

Setting off, it can take anything from a few minutes to several hours to locate the gorillas.  It is a fascinating experience to see the guide’s tracking skills in action.  Once located, regulations permit groups to spend no more than one hour with the troop, ensuring disturbances are kept to a minimum.

Gorillas are an endangered species, their numbers slashed by mostly human-induced causes.  These include loss of habitat, as swathes of jungle were sacrificed to agriculture.  Additionally, they are persecuted by poachers and are highly susceptible to human-borne diseases.  

After the trek, we’ll return to the lodge for lunch.  In the afternoon, you have the option of visiting the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village before returning for dinner and bed.

Once again, it is an early morning start, with breakfast served before we transfer you to park headquarters for your next rainforest adventure.  This morning, you’ll be heading off in search of rare golden monkeys, after a briefing by your guides.  This activity usually lasts for about two hours.  As with the gorillas, once located, you will spend a precious hour with the enigmatic primates, witnessing them going about their daily lives.

After gorilla trekking, this activity is one of the most popular offered in Volcanoes National Park.  Endemic to these high-altitude forests, the golden monkey (Cercopithecus Mitis Kandti) is a local subspecies of the widespread Sykes Monkey, also known as the “Blue Monkey”.  They are playful, curious and a delight to watch as they cavort in the bamboo branches and forage on the forest floor.  Within the park, there are two habituated groups, the more frequently seen of which is often found at the base of Mt Sabyinyo.  Troops sizes average 80 – 100 animals, so their is always lots going on.

After the trek, you’ll be revitalised by a delicious lunch.  Next you’ll visit the Dian Fossey Museum to learn more about primate conservation.  And then it is time to transfer to your next destination: the town of Gisenyi, on the shores of beautiful Lake Kivu.

Lake Kivu is one of the African Great Lakes, situated within the Albertine Rift.  The lake forms part of the border between Rwanda and the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.  The lake is the sixth largest in Africa, and largest in Rwanda.

After breakfast this morning, you’ll have the opportunity to explore parts of the lake by kayak or join a city tour of Gisenyi.  Depending on your preferences, you could also spend some time relaxing on the Lake Kivu shore.

The kayaking activity generally lasts for one hour, depending on the client.  The experience starts with a safety briefing and instructions about kayaking, whereafter you will be given the necessary equipment.  Groups are required to stay together and will focus their kayaking time in a local sheltered bay in the care of professional kayaking guides.

Gisenyi is Rwanda’s second largest city, sitting right on the border with the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.  The city is a popular destination for both local and international tourists.  A city tour typically incorporates such highlights as Mount Rubavu, a cultural centre, traditional dance performances and a visit to a bat cave.

Waking early this morning, we’ll enjoy our last breakfast at the lake before departing for the final wildlife destination of the tour: Nyungwe National Park.  We anticipate the scenic journey should take in the region of 5 hours to complete.

Nyungwe is situated in southwest Rwanda.  The park covers an area of 1,015km² (392mi²) at altitudes ranging between 1,629 and 2,870m (5,344-9,416ft).  The rainforest is a major biodiversity hotspot, with 1,068 plant species, 275-320 bird species, and 85 mammal species.  The forest is thought to be one of the oldest on the African continent, even staying green through the last Ice Age, a major contributor to its biodiversity.

Nyungwe is most famous for its primates, of which there are 13 species.  Along with the chimpanzees, there is also a troop of about 400 habituated Ruwenzori Black & White Colobus monkeys.  In the afternoon, you will go for the canopy walk, offering a splendid view over the lush forest.  Dinner and bed round off the day.

After an early wakeup call, fuel yourself with breakfast before we set off for Nyungwe to meet your chimpanzee trek guides at the park office.  After a briefing, you’ll be led deep into the rainforest in search of free-roaming chimpanzees.  The park is home to several habituated troops, and it may take some time to find them in the dense vegetation.  Please note that appropriate clothing and footwear, as well as reasonable fitness, are essential.

The Nyungwe Forest has an estimated population of around 500 chimpanzees.  An endangered species, chimp numbers plummeted due to poaching, habitat loss and conflict with humans.  As such, to minimise impact, your time with the troop is limited to one precious hour.  

In addition to the chimps, keep a lookout for olive baboons, L’Hoest’s monkey, grey-cheeked mangabey, Ruwenzori colobus, blue monkey and owl-faced monkey.

After an action-packed adventure, it is time to leave Nyungwe National Park and make our way back to Kigali.  The expected travelling time will be 6 hours.  Depending on your onward travel plans, we will drop you off either at your hotel or Kigali International Airport.  Here, we will say our goodbyes, extending an open invitation to join Africa FlashMc Tours on another of our fabulous African adventures.