Rwanda Unveiled

Today, your adventure begins!  A representative from African FlashMc Tours will meet you at either Kigali International Airport or your hotel.  Once booked into your designated hotel, you will receive a briefing regarding the in’s and out’s of the tour and what to expect.

Rwanda is a small East African country that neighbours Uganda to the north, Tanzania to the east, Burundi to the south and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the west.  

Dubbed the “Land of a Thousand Hills”, Rwanda is one of the most compelling places to visit in Africa.  Small, safe and remarkably clean, the country has made a miraculous recovery since the 1994 genocide.  

Today, it stands as a model of stability, reconciliation and economic growth.  The country boasts modern infrastructure, an excellent road network and a vibrant tourism sector.  

Among its many attractions, visitors come to Rwanda to see the Big 5 in Akagera National Park, the rare mountain gorillas of Volcanoes National Park and the biodiverse abundance of Nyungwe National Park.  All three of these parks feature in this itinerary.  

Rwanda is home to three main ethnic groups, namely the Hutu, Tutsi and Twa, now living in unity under a progressive government.  English, French and Kinyarwanda are widely spoken.  Inspiring, warm and welcoming, Rwanda offers a memorable cultural and wildlife experience in a beautifully lush setting

On waking up, make your way down for breakfast and fuel yourself for the day ahead.

The tour begins on a poignant note, with a visit to the Genocide Memorial in Kigali.  The site commemorates the brutal loss of life in 1994.  Here you will learn more about Rwanda’s history, dating back from the pre-colonial period until the tragedy occurred.  The experience emphasises the impact of genocides worldwide, as well as how Rwanda came to terms with this dark chapter in its history.  We will also visit the Nyamirambo Women’s Centre, Inema Art and a local market.

After lunch, 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.  Once settled, you will enjoy an evening game drive.

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.

This morning we’ll head into the park for another game drive.  These activities typically occur in the early morning and late afternoon, as this is when the wildlife is most active.  Ever popular with our guests, the park is home to the renowned Big 5, species considered the most dangerous to hunt on foot.  They are lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and Cape buffalo.  The reserve promises an exciting experience in terrain contrasting the more mountainous west and central parts of the country.

Over and above the aforementioned 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 morning game drive, you will return to your lodge for lunch.  Then in the late afternoon, we’ll return to the park for a boat trip on Lake Ihema, home to a healthy population of hippos and crocodiles.

As night falls, you’ll return to your lodge for dinner and a well-earned rest.

This morning, we’ll depart Akagera National Park and make our way back to Kigali for lunch.  Later, you will be transferred to your home for the next two nights near the renowned Volcanoes National Park.  The expected total travelling time today is about 5 hours.  

This park was brought to the world’s attention by the renowned primatologist, Dian Fossey, who pioneered the study of mountain gorillas at this location.  Of it, 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.  

Within the dappled light of the forest, a myriad of birds, insects, mammals and reptiles bring the forest to life.  Besides the gorillas, the park is also home to two members of the Big 5, elephants and buffalo.  Additionally, you might catch a glimpse of rare golden monkeys feeding in the forest canopy.

After dinner, retire for the night in anticipation of an exciting adventure deep in the rainforest.

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

After breakfast, you’ll be transported to the park headquarters, where your guides for the day will brief you on the do’s and don’t’s of gorilla trekking.  Devoted to gorilla conservation, your guides have received specialised training and boast a profound understanding of the apes and the forest they call home.  We recommend making use of the porter service, at US$10 per person/per day per porter

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.

Gorillas became endangered largely due to a variety of human-induced causes.  Primary 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.  

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, we’ll wake early for breakfast before checking out and 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.

As we approach Nyungwe, you’ll be blown away by the endless views over layers of steep jungle-clad mountains.  Nyungwe National Park is renowned for protecting he largest highland rainforest in East Africa.

Lying in the southwest of 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 hotspots, 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.

The park is most famous for its primates, of which there are 13 species.  Along with the chimpanzees, there is also a troop of some 400 habituated Ruwenzori Black & White Colobus monkeys.  Keen birdwatchers might also be lucky enough to see some of the 16 endemic birds, including the  Albertine owlet, red-collared babbler and Rockefeller’s sunbird.

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.

Get an early start and fuel up with breakfast.  This morning, we’ll set off for Nyungwe to meet your chimpanzee trek guides at the park office.  After a short 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 a reasonable degree of fitness, are essential.

Roughly 500 chimps inhabit the Nyungwe Forest.  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.  

Chimps are social primates, living in large groups that may number as many as 150 individuals.  Troops are led by an alpha male.  However, within the group, a fascinating array of sub-hierarchies exists to maintain social cohesion. This makes for fascinating observations of their complex social lives and behaviour.

In addition to the chimps, keep a lookout for olive baboon, 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.