Private Guided 13 Day Safari Tours to Rwanda

Day 1: Kigali Pick up and city tour

1. Kigali City Market
   2h
   Step into the rhythmic heart of Kigali, with its vibrant energy and a mosaic of shops and local goods for sale. Whether its tourist arts and crafts, or imported foreign goods, enjoy the kaleidoscope of treasures waiting to be discovered.

Day 2: Kigali EcoPark tour

1. 5h · Admission ticket included
   Escape the city and breathe in the tranquil embrace of Kigali EcoPark. Winding trails lead you through lush wetlands, created as a sanctuary for indigenous plants and migratory birds. An array of birdlife including peacocks, herons, shoebills, ibis, kingfishers and raptors will take your breath away, as we navigate this wonderful space together. Rest assured we know the best trails and locations to maximise your enjoyment. Lunch at the park restaurant will ensure no time is wasted in experiencing this wildlife jewel.

Day 3: Transit to Kyonza, near Akagera safari park

1. 5h
   We will take a leisurely 3 hour drive to Kyonza on the outskirts of Akagera national safari park. Stopping on the way to enjoy the dramatic views and beautiful countryside, we will then stop for lunch at the Bashana restaurant, with an extensive menu, patisserie, and farm shop. You will also visit the Bashana Arts and Crafts centre, the largest in Rwanda. After settling in at Bashana guesthouse, enjoy an afternoon touring the area and enjoying drinks on Muhazi lake where kingfishers are abundant and hunt fish in front of you. Otters, whilst timid, also populate the lake and are a special sight.

Day 4: Safari in Akagera national Park

1. Akagera National Park, Rwanda
   8h · Admission ticket included
   After a 45 minute drive through the exotic Rwandan countryside, we arrive at Akagera national park for your Game Safari ! As we navigate the winding tracks, the landscape shifts from the rolling, emerald hills of the south to the vast, golden savannahs of the north. This 1,122-square-kilometer sanctuary is Central Africa’s largest protected wetland, where lakes and papyrus swamps provide a stunning backdrop to your safari.
   You can expect a true "Big Five" experience. Look for lions lounging on rocky outcrops, elephants bathing in the shallows, and both black and white rhinos grazing in the tall grass. The plains are a theatre of movement, teeming with massive herds of buffalo, topi, zebras, and Masai giraffes. For birders, it’s a paradise of over 500 species. Akagera offers an intimate, uncrowded encounter which is a truly unforgettable experience.

Day 5: Safari and Boat Safari in Akagera park

1. Akagera National Park
   8h
   Enjoy a further day within Akagera park, leisurely tracking and watching the wildlife. In the afternoon, experience a wonderful Boat Safari to see hippos, birdlife and crocodiles which populate the lakes and waterways.

Day 6: Wild Africa Local Tour

1. Kayonza
   8h
   On this day, experience the countryside life and Africa through the eyes of the locals. Your guide will take you on dirt roads off the beaten track, through local villages and marshland to enjoy a true African experience. We will visit dams where wild hippos populate, watch birds on the marshland and at sunset see herons, egrets, Grey-crowned cranes and others migrate home to roost, all the time with raptors circling overhead. Return to Kigali

Day 7: Transit to Kibuye

1. Around Kibuye Tour Activities
   4h
   Kibuye is the most scenic and beautiful location on Lake Kivu. Chosen by us for its slow pace and small numbers of tourists, you can truly relax and immerse yourself in tranquility. In the afternoon, we will explore the lakeside attractions and beauty of Lake Kivu.

Day 8: Kibuye Area Tour

1. Kibuye
   8h
   This will be a day for complete relaxation. Enjoy a spa, visit Chateau Marara and the local food and goods market. Try a Kayak and explore the shoreline
   
   Take an exclusive boat trip on Lake Kivu, across its crystal clear waters, weaving between Napoleon Island and hidden emerald inlets. Watch local fishermen in traditional three-hulled canoes singing rhythmic chants as they cast their nets. It is a serene, cinematic experience where the volcanic horizon meets the infinite, tranquil blue of Rwanda's Great Lake.

Day 9: Transit to Nyungwe Rainforest Reserve

1. Nyungwe Forest National Park
   5h
   After a leisurely breakfast, we will travel to Nyungwe Forest National Park. After settling in at the accommodation and taking lunch, join us as we wind through the rainforest reserve. Towering mahoganies and ancient tree ferns create a dense, misty canopy that cloaks the Albertine Rift mountains. Watch out for L'Hoest monkeys scampering along the roadside and olive baboons lounging in the sun. You'll likely spot the elegant black-fronted duiker (a small forest deer) darting through the undergrowth, while the flashes of blue turacos turn the drive into a living safari. Mid-afternoon enjoy drinks and food at the Rangers Station

Day 10: Nyungwe Tea Plantation excursion and Forest Canopy Walk

1. Nyungwe Canopy Walk
   2h · Admission ticket included
   Enjoy a leisurely stroll through the forest trails of Nyungwe park with an expert guide before walking over a suspension bridge 70m above one of Africa's oldest and largest montane rainforests. The walk puts you at eye-level with the upper strata of the rainforest, accompanied by the sounds of the forest below.
   
   More adventurous travellers will love trying one of the longest zip-lines of Africa, almost 2km in length and split into 3 sections. This exhilarating experience zips you 20-50m above the forest floor, and often allows you to visually engage with birds and primates in the upper canopy !
2. 3h · Admission ticket included
   Visit the Gisakura Tea Plantation on the western edge of Nyungwe Rainforest, where the Afro-montane rainforest meets the perfectly manicured, bright green tea bushes. Due to the climate, these are often shrouded in mist creating an ethereal effect which makes for beautiful photographs. Learn how to pick tea by local farmers and end the excursion visiting the factory to experience the earthy aromas of the tea making process.

Day 11: Transit to Volcanoes National Park

1. MASHA (Musanze Arts Studio Hub Adventure)
   2h
   MASHA is a creative sanctuary which blends contemporary art with hospitality. Founded by a local artist, it serves as an inclusive space supporting talented youth, providing them with the skills and empowerment to transition to professional artists. Immerse yourself in the Gallery and Cultural Workshops
2. Musanze District
   3h
   Allow us to drive you around this beautiful Volcanoe national park, stopping at various art studios and coffee shops to enjoy a relaxing afternoon after the transit drive from Nyungwe.

Day 12: Volcano Climbing and Cave Exploration

1. Volcanoes National Park
   6h · Admission ticket included
   Take a challenging trek up Mt Bisoke Volcanoe, and experience the 400m wide crater lake at the summit. On your way walk farmlands, bamboo forests, and alpine meadows, and on a clear day see neighbouring volcanoes like Mounts Karisimbi and Mikeno in the DR Congo.
2. Volcanoes National Park
   2h · Admission ticket included
   The experience at Musanze Caves is a unique blend of geological wonder and profound Rwandan history. Located at the foothills of Volcanoes National Park, these 2 kilometre-long lava tubes were formed some 65 million years ago.
   
   You will navigate through large Oval chambers, often described as Cathedral-like, connected by lava tunnels. Dramatic light pierces the caves illuminating green moss and ferns that spill over from the surface. The silence of this quiet ethereal world is only broken by the sound of dripping water, fluttering bats and the sound of your own footsteps.

Day 13: Transit to Kigali

1. 4h · Admission ticket included
   Return to the Kigali EcoPark for your final wildlife and photographic fix. Enjoy the tranquility, rest under the trees by the water's edge and view the array of bird and animal life.
2. Kigali Genocide Memorial
   2h · Admission ticket included
   A visit to the genocide museum is a profound experience which leads visitors through a journey of grief, learning and eventual hope. The Memorial serves as a sacred burial site, a museum of remembrance, and a global centre for peace education.

Pickup details

We can pick you up at the airport, any hotel or other location that suits you.

• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels