Rwanda and DR Congo combined gorilla tour, wild game viewing, primates tracking and Canopy walking adventure.

ITINERARY - 10 DAYS RWANDA AND CONGO TOUR.
This 10 days safari will take you to the parks of Rwanda and Congo where you will be able to see different wildlife in the national parks.

Day 1: Arrival in Kigali.
On arrival at Kigali International airport, you will be received by our drive/guide, and transfer to Kigali, where you will be briefed about your safari. A city tour will be taken if it is still early. Dinner and overnight.

Day 2 : Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
In the morning, you will leave for Ruhengeri, north of Rwanda near the Volcanoes national park, a scenic journey that will give you beautiful view of the rolling hills and steep valleys as well as the five peaks of the Virunga mountains. You will check in Kinigi guest house or Gorilla’s net lodge. After lunch, you may have a cultural walk, where you will meet the locals and get entertained by the Banyarwanda.

Day 3: Gorilla tracking
In the morning, you will move to the park headquarters for briefing by the ranger guides before proceeding for the exciting gorilla tracking adventure. You will need necessary trekking gear as trekking is though steep and slippery slopes and thick forest, as well as parked lunch. Tracking is abit tiresome, and may take 2-6 hours depending on the movements of the gorillas in their natural environment. One hour will be spent with the giants. The guides will be in position to answer all your questions on flora and fauna in the forest. Retreat to the lodge after the unregretable exercise. Dinner and overnight.

Day 4 – Golden Monkeys trekking/ Dian Fossey grave.
In the morning, you will have an option of visiting the Karisoke research center, where the grave of Dian Fossey, an American primatologist who dedicated her life to preserve the life of the endangered mountain gorillas before she was killed, where you will learn much about the gorillas. Or you may go for the second primate tracking of the golden monkeys, only found in this park. In the after noon, transfer to Gisenyi, a pretty town located on the shores of Lake Kivu, the main water body of Rwanda, and settle at Kivu Serena hotel or Malahide hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 5: Transfer to Nyungwe forest National park.
You will embark on the journey to Nyungwe in the morning, southwestwards. You will have a stop over lunch in the beautiful Kibuye town. Proceed to Nyungwe, going through scenic view of tea fields and slopes. You will check in Nyungwe forest Lodge or Gisakura guest house for dinner and overnight.

Day 6 – Primate tracking.
Early in the morning, you will enter the forest in search of the Chimpanzees, and other primates like the colobus monkeys.13 primate species are found in this vast forest, like the Rwenzori colobus, L’Hoest Monkey, the silver monkey, owl faced monkey, red tailed monkey, vervet monkey and olive baboon, so be sure to encounter a good number. Different bird species will also be experienced. In the afternoon, you may take a nature walk after your picnic lunch.
Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 7 – Canopy walk and transfer to Bukavu
In the morning, you will go for canopy walk, a 50meter high and 90meter long platform that is on top of the forest, giving you an eye to eye contact with the birds as well as primates which inhabit the upper scale of the forest. This canopy walk, the only in East Africa and third in Africa, will give you a spectacular view of the forest. In the afternoon, proceed to the border with Democratic republic of Congo. Dinner and over night in Bukavu on the shores of Lake Kivu at Orchids Safari club.

Day 8 – Transfer to Kahuzi Biega National Park.
After you morning breakfast, drive to Kahuzi Biega National park to track the Eastern Lowland gorillas. This park of 600sq km is where the gorilla tourism started. There are 3 habituated gorilla families in the jungle. This will be a strenuous activity, so necessary tracking gear and packed lunch from the hotel will be necessary. In the afternoon, you drive back to Bukavu and relax at the port and visit the local markets. Dinner and overnight.

Day 9 : Transfer from Bukavu to Kigali.
In the morning, you will drive back to Rwanda, having enroute lunch in Butare town. A stop over visit to the King’s palace in Nyanza, the museum, and the Murambi genocide memorial will spice up your journey. Dinner and overnight in Kigali.

Day 10: Departure.
This day is reserved for departure, but in case it is scheduled in the afternoon, a city tour will be of great experience where you will be able to do shopping of Rwanda craft. You will then be transferred to the airport for your flight back home.

End of safari