4-Day Rwanda Gorillas and Akagera Wildlife Safari

Today, you will be met by an Africa Flash McTours representative, either at your hotel or Kigali International Airport, depending on your travel arrangements.  Then  we’ll set off for your first wildlife destination: Akagera National Park.  We expect the drive to take approximately 2.5 hours through scenic countryside.  On arrival, you will be shown to your accommodation for the next two nights.  

The 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.

Once settled, you will enjoy a game drive during which you may be lucky enough to spot all species of the Big 5 – lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo.

Later in the day, you’ll enjoy a relaxing boat cruise on Lake Ihema.  Be sure to look out for the numerous hippos and crocodiles that inhabit the lake, as well as the various birds and wild animals on the lakeshore.

We return to the lodge for dinner and bed.

Today, you’ll start your day with an early breakfast, followed by another game drive in an open safari vehicle.  Over and above the 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.  Among the larger mammal species you can hope to see are Impala, Common Duiker, Defassa Waterbuck, Bushbuck, Oribi, Tsessebe, Cape Eland and the rare Sable Antelope, giraffes, zebras, impalas and topi. 

After the game drive, we will transfer you to your accommodation near Volcanoes National Park.

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. 

Within the forest, a myriad of birds, insects, mammals and reptiles thrive in this rich environment.  Besides the gorillas, the park is also home to two members of the Big 5, elephants and buffalo.

Following an early wake-up and breakfast, we will transfer you to the park headquarters.  There, you will meet your guides for the activity, who will brief you on the protocol for gorilla encounters.  All guides have received rigorous training and are well-versed in gorilla behaviour and the workings of the forest ecosystem.  We recommend making use of the porter service at US$10 per person/per day per porter.  Furthermore, rugged clothing, hiking boots and a fair degree of fitness are recommended for this activity.  You can expect uneven, occasionally slippery terrain.

As the gorillas roam freely, you’ll appreciate the skills required in tracking them down.  This can take a few minutes or several hours.  Once located, regulations permit groups to spend no more than one hour with the troop, ensuring disturbances are kept to a minimum.  The trek can last up to eight hours.

Gorillas became endangered largely due to the activities of man.  Chief among these is habitat loss, where swathes of jungle were lost to agriculture.  Additionally, they are persecuted by poachers and are highly susceptible to human-borne diseases.  

Afterwards, we’ll take you back to the lodge where you can spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Begin the day with an early breakfast before we transfer you to the park headquarters for your next rainforest experience.  Today, you’ll be setting out in search of a habituated troop of rare golden monkeys after being briefed by your guides on the appropriate protocol for encounters with these energetic primates.  Once again, please wear the appropriate clothing for navigating difficult terrain.

The activity normally lasts about 4 hours, depending on how long it takes to locate one of the habituated troops.  As you move through the rainforest, your guide will teach you about some of the interesting plants and point out wildlife seen along the way.

Once located, permit regulations once again allow you to spend an hour enjoying the antics of the delightful primates as they go about their lives.  After gorilla trekking, this is one of the most popular activities offered at Volcanoes National Park.

Golden monkeys (Cercopithecus mitis Kandti) are a localised subspecies of the widespread  Blue (Syke’s) monkey, and are endemic to these high-altitude forests.  Playful and inquisitive, they are a delight to watch, whether swinging through the canopy or foraging on the forest floor.  The park has two habituated troops, one of which lives around the base of Mt Sabyinyo.  Each of the troops has between 80 and 100 members, so there is always a buzz of activity.

After the trek, you’ll be revitalised by a delicious lunch before checking out and transferring back to your hotel in Kigali