Rwanda: the Full Works on a Shoestring
9 Days Starting in kigali and ending in Kigali
Visiting: Kigali, Volcanoes National Park, Lake Kivu, Nyungwe Forest National Park
Tour operator:
Tour code:
340
Recommended For:
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 12
Physical rating:
Medium
Age range:
15-99
Special diets catered:
Vegans, Kosher, Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Active, Adventure Tours, Expeditions, Luxury, Safari Tours, Small Group, Walking Hiking and Trekking
Interests:
Cultural, Eco Conscious, History, Photography, Wildlife Tours
Activities:
4WD, Art Galleries & Museums, Canoeing-Kayaking, Sightseeing, Trekking
Tour Overview
Rwanda is a roller-coaster of awe, emotion and utter amazement. We recommend spending at least two nights in Kigali to visit the genocide memorial before departing for the Volcanoes National Park. Here, you’ll track gorilla and search for endangered golden monkeys. A stop at the beautiful Lake Kivu gives you a couple of days to put your feet up before continuing to Nyugwe. The forest is one of the continent’s most important areas of biodiversity and the big drawcard is chimpanzee trekking.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrive In Kigali
Location: Kigali
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Heaven Boutique Hotel
Meals Included: Dinner
You will be met and transferred to your first lodge.
There are African cities, noisy, bustling and glorious in their own right, and then there’s Kigali. Having not only survived its turbulent political past, the capital has positively blossomed into one of Africa’s most cosmopolitan hotspots. Safe and clean (the last Saturday of every month is reserved for hedge-clipping, rubbish-collecting and other novel community activities), it’s also remarkably picturesque, surrounded by emerald-green hills and sweeping valleys.
This large, modern hotel in central Kigali lies just 10 kilometres from Kigali International Airport. The rooms are quiet, so take some downtime, enjoy the varied cuisine at the restaurants, wander around the lush gardens and laze around the pool. And do visit the blissful spa.
Day 2 : Volcanoes National Park
Location: Volcanoes National Park
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, we organise a short city tour of the capital town of Rwanda. After lunch, in the afternoon leave in the direction of Volcanoes National Park. It takes about 3 hours drive.
Day 3 : Gorilla Tracking In The Rain Tropical Forest
Location: Volcanoes National Park
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today after early breakfast you take the activity of the mountain gorilla trekking into the rain tropical forest of Volcanoes National Park. After the briefing from the rangers of the Ortpn (the Rwanda Park Authority), you reach the starting point of your trekking, according to the family you have been appointed to. It is on the park authority to decide on the distribution of the permits on arrival. You carry with you packed lunch and light rain jacket, wear trekking boots.
Day 4 : Golden Monkey Trek
Location: Volcanoes National Park
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Straddling the border of Uganda, DRC and Rwanda, the Virunga are the luscious, magical and utterly spellbinding home of 480 mountain gorillas (sadly, that’s more than half the world’s remaining population). On the Rwandan side, the Parch National Des Volcans, or Volcanoes National Park, is the place to go for face-to-face encounters with these wonderful primates — an experience worthy of every superlative in the dictionary. But don’t stop at the gorillas; the Virunga are also home to the rare golden monkey.
Mountain Gorilla View Lodge is just 10 minutes by road from the main entrance of Volcanoes National Park. Above you towers Mount Karisimbi, the highest volcanic mountain in Virunga massif. The lodge is comfortable, with roomy and comfortable accommodation (don’t expect glamour), the food is good, the staff are warm and on hand, and the views are simply splendid.
Day 5 : Transfer To Lake Kivu
Location: Lake Kivu
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Cormoran Lodge
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, depart to the beautiful Lake Kivu. You will experience the incredible scenery along the way. This lake is one of the African great lakes and it lies on the border between Rwanda and D.R Congo, located in the Albertine rift, the western branch of the East African rift valley.
Have lunch at the lake shores, dinner will be served and overnight stay at the lodge.
Day 6 : Boat Cruise On Lake Kivu
Location: Lake Kivu
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Cormoran Lodge
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, you will go for a boat cruise on Lake Kivu where you will enjoy viewing the various islands in the lake and the scenic beauty of the surrounding terraced hills.
Retreat to the lodge for lunch and spend the rest of the evening at the sand beach. Dinner and overnight will be served at the lodge.
Day 7 : Transfer To Nyungwe Forest National Park
Location: Nyungwe Forest National Park
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Transfer to Nyungwe forest national park after breakfast. The park is home to many species of chimpanzees and owl faced and colobus monkeys.
It also has a canopy walkway which is found in the Igishigishigi trail. This canopy walkway is a high suspension bridge with views over the valley and surrounding forest. This park is also a great birding destination in Rwanda. Dinner and overnight will be spent at the lodge.
Day 8 : Chimpanzee Tracking In Nyungwe Forest National Park
Location: Nyungwe Forest National Park
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe forest takes you deep in the forest to experience and appreciate nature. Chimpanzee tracking is done early morning with packed breakfast, water and snacks. You are expected to be at the briefing point as early at 7:30am from where you will receive information on the expected behaviours and possible length of your trek.
Nyungwe forest is rich botanical diversity and home to 13 species of primates like L'honest's monkeys, Rwenzori colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys and many others. Once the chimpanzees are sighted, you only allowed to spend an hour with them and after you go back to your hotel for lunch. Spend the entire evening at the lodge.
Day 9 : Back To Kigali
Location: Kigali
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today you will travel back to Kigali for your final day of your trip.
What's Included
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1 bottle of Mineral Water per person per day
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Accommodation
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Airport Transfers at Destination
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All Domestic Transportation (including internal flights)
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Drinks with Meals
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Entrance Fees
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Free Wi-Fi at Accommodation
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Fully Guided
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Game Drives on Safari
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Local Taxes
What's Not Included
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Country Entry Visas
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International Travel
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Tipping and Gratuities
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Train Tickets
Check out our Q&As
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Is the tour coach air conditioned?
Yes
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
no
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
yes
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Am I contributing to any charity by booking the tour?
yes
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
sanitising
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
nothing
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
guide
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
receipts
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will you share with us your flight details
yes
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
license
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How long has the tour company been trading?
5years
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
yes
Reviews of this Operator
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ovacado adventures requires a minimum deposit of 1000 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 14 days before departure.
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