21-DAYS RWANDA 360° EXPERIENCE

Proposed itinerary

DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN KIGALI-RWANDA

Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be met by a Palast Tours & Travel representative. You will be transferred to Lemigo hotel for overnight.
Balance of the evening spent at leisure with dinner under own arrangements.

LEMIGO HOTEL –BB

DAY 2: KIGALI CITY TOUR EXPERIENCE

Today you will have a city tour of Kigali, learn more about the history of Rwanda, visit the Genocide Memorial and the Liberation Museum in the parliament.
In the afternoon you will get time to rest getting ready for the adventure out of the capital. Lunch and dinner are at a local restaurant on own account.
Today you will have a city tour of Kigali, learn more about the history of Rwanda, visit the Genocide Memorial and the Liberation Museum in the parliament.
In the afternoon you will get time to rest getting ready for the adventure out of the capital. Lunch and dinner are at a local restaurant on own account.

LEMIGO HOTEL-BB

DAY 3: KIGALI/NYUNGWE

NATIONAL PARK

After breakfast, you will drive south to Nyungwe National Park (6hrs).
Lunch is enroute on your own account .

Nyungwe rain-forest National Park in southern RWANDA is one of the most beautiful and the largest remaining stretch of montane forests in East Africa. It is home to a wide variety of mammals and 13 species of primates including Chimpanzees and large troops of Angola Colobus Monkeys that inhabit her fairy tale world of ancient trees, bushes and shrubs species some dating back to the ice ages; all grown over steep and fertile green valleys and ridges surrounded by beautiful tea plantations. Amidst her well–maintained hiking trails, guests enjoy regular guided Forest Hikes down to stunning valleys with beautiful waterfalls; Track the semi-habituated family of Chimpanzees at dawn as they de-nest, or track large troops of Black & White Angola Colobus Monkeys in Gisakura or down in the valleys below. Nyungwe is also a bird lovers’ paradise with numerous species including many endemics recorded. A guidedbBird walk from Uwinka will return many species ticked. The adrenaline pumping Nyungwe Canopy Walk, a foot-wide suspension bridge hanging over huge pylons across two ridges at 80m above a deep valley’s ground is the only one of its kind in East and Central Africa. With your specialist guide, enjoy stunning views over the forest canopy extending as far as the Virunga volcanoes; and learn about unique canopy species of plants, mammals, birds and butterflies as the bridge sways in the breeze and your heart threatens to pop-out, still amazing anyway. At the adjacent tea plantations, we offer cultural encounters meeting and mingling with local peasant farmers as they harvest tea, an activity they eagerly welcome our guests to participate in as they share their stories. In the evening, you may partake of the tea tasting ceremony offered at Nyungwe Forest Lodge. There is so much to do and love in Nyungwe forest National Park, one of Rwanda’s best kept secrets.

You arrive at Emeraude Kivu Resort in time for dinner and overnight.

EMERAUDE– BLD

DAY 4: CHIMPANZEES TRACKING & CANOPY WALK EXPERIENCE

Arise at dawn with coffee/tea and cookies then at 04.30hrs: transfer to Cyamudongo forest (35kms/1½hrs) with your specialist park/guide for a morning Chimpanzee Tracking.

Our object is to catch the 35member habituated family as they de-nest at day break. Chimpanzee tracking entails hiking in steep and sometimes wet and muddy conditions in the thick vegetation of cyamudongo. Participants are advised to pace themselves and follow the guide’s advice.

Upon sighting the chimpanzees (60% chance), you will spend time observing them as they go about daily life; up in the trees or down on the ground, feeding, or grooming, mating, spurring, trammel beating or just howling and screeching as they do so powerfully.

At the ready, you will hike back to base where your driver/guide will be waiting to transfer you back to lodge. Usually, guests get back at around 11.00am for a late breakfast.

In the afternoon, you will return to the Park office for the Nyungwe Canopy Walk experience

On arrival at the park offices, you will be met by your specialist park guide for a briefing, then hike down the steep slope to the beginning of the canopy walkwaywhere you climb the massive pylons by stairs onto the bridge.Elevated across a valley and over the forest canopy (over 70m at the valley’s lowest point), this single file, foot only 200m long swaying bridge, the only one of its kind in east and central Africa, allows you to observe and learn about unique forest canopy features and creatures including flowers, shrubs, insects, monkeys, other small mammals as well as birds and butterflies. From its vantage point on a clear day, one can enjoy splendid and extensive views across most of the forest even to Lake Kivu and the Virunga volcanoes.

The rest of the afternoon you will spend it at leisure enjoying the breathtaking view of the hills and mountains. Dinner is at the lodge.

EMERAUDE– BLD

DAY 5: VISIT A WATERFALL

This morning you will visit the waterfall deep inside the forest, an experience not to miss.
Afterwards, you will have a deserved lunch and rest in the lost paradise.
In the afternoon, you will enjoy the facilities of the lodge, where you can have a massage, sauna, gym, etc. Dinner is at the lodge

EMERAUDE – BLD

DAY 6: COLOBUS MONKEYS

This morning you have an early morning again to go for the search of colobus monkeys.
Afterwards, you will have lunch at your hotel.
In the afternoon, you will visit a tea plantation in Gisakura where you will interact with farmers on the tea process from the crop to the cup.
Dinner will be served at your Hotel

EMERAUDE – BLD

DAY 7 : NYUNGWE FOREST NATIONAL PARK-KIBUYE

After breakfast, check out and drive to Kibuye (4hrs), located along the shores of Lake Kivu.

Kibuye is a typical Rwandan town; totally clean and spotless, well organized, great weather, stunning views, hospitable people; and relaxing. Sitting on shores of Lake Kivu, Africa’s 6th largest and one of her most gorgeous lakes.

With lunch en-route, you will arrive at Moriah Hill Resort in the afternoon. You may explore the beauty of the lake. Dinner will be at the resort and overnight.

MORIAH HILL RESORT–BLD

DAY 8: CONGO NILE TRAIL HIKING EXPERIENCE

Early in the Morning you will start hiking the congo nile trail with packed lunches. You will be back in the afternoon, for the time to relax and enjoy the relaxing air. Dinner and overnight at your resort

M0RIAH HILL RESORT –BLD

DAY 9: LAKE KIVU BOATING EXPERIENCE

Today you will spend a day in the beautiful lake Kivu where you will take a boat house from Kibuye to Gisenyi.
Lunch and snacks will be served by your chef aboard the boat.
You will arrive in the afternoon and your guide will be waiting for you
You will be transferred to your Hotel
Dinner is at your hotel

PARADIS KIVU –BLD

DAY 10: LAKE KIVU EXPERIENCE

You will spend the day relaxing on the shores of the lake (at your preference, you can have fishing, swimming, canoeing and all water sports at your own cost)
Lunch and dinner is at your hotel

PARADIS KIVU –BLD

DAY 11: VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK

In the morning, you will be drive to Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda encompasses the Rwanda section of the Virunga Volcanoes, a series of eight volcanic mountains which sit astride the border triangle between Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo and include the still active Nyiragongo and Nyakagezi located in DR Congo. Situated 115kms/2½hrs drive north-west of Kigali and encompassing five of the volcanoes, the park’s 160km² of bamboo montane forest are habitat for the rare and critically endangered Mountain Gorillas of which only approx. 800 members remain in the world! Immortalized in the movie “Gorillas-In-The-Mist” depicting the life and times of American zoologist Dian Fossey who spent almost 20yrs in the 60s to the 80s studying the gorillas, they inspire great human curiosity owing to their being massive wild animals that genetically, socially and physically so closely resemble humans. Other mammals include the beautiful Golden Monkeys, a variety of antelopes, hyenas, bushbucks, and some buffaloes and forest elephants, as well as over 170 species of birds. Of the many gorilla families, 10 have been habituated and opened for controlled Gorilla Tracking, one of the most popular tourist activities. Other activities in and around the park include Golden Monkeys Tracking, guided Hikes up several of the Volcanoes as well as scenic tours and cultural tours in the outlying areas.

Lunch en-route on your own account
You will arrive at Volcanoes National Park Late in the afternoon
Dinner and overnight at the Lodge

Mountain Gorilla View Lodge is 3* Bush Lodge situated in Kinigi at the foothills of Volcanoes National Park’s Mount Karisimbi, in northern Rwanda. At barely a 10mins drive from the National Park offices where gorilla tracking starts, the lodge’s accommodation facilities comprise 30 spacious and en-suite chalets made from local materials scattered across the beautiful natural grounds. Each chalet comes complete with 1x King size Bed or 2x Twin Beds, a sitting area, fireplace as well as tea/coffee making machine. They are complimented by a spacious dining room with a centre-piece hearth and expansive lounge areas from where to enjoy great Rwandan hospitality for which the lodge is renowned.

MOUNTAIN GORILLA VIEW LODGE – BLD

DAY 12: GORILLAS TRACKING EXPERIENCE

In the morning, you will be drive to Volcanoes National Park

Lunch en-route on your own account
You will arrive at Volcanoes National Park Late in the afternoon
Dinner and overnight at the Lodge

MOUNTAIN GORILLA VIEW LODGE – BLD

DAY 13: GOLDEN MONKEYS TRACKING EXPERIENCE

After breakfast transfer back to the Park HQs for a Golden Monkeys Tracking experience.

The beautiful Golden Monkeys are considered the little sisters of the Mountain Gorillas with whom they share the Virunga Volcanoes; suffering the same threats ranging from human encroachment, habitat loss, poaching and snares as well as wars and together are listed on the IUCN Red List of endangered species. A primate species of the Old World Monkeys and endemic to the Virunga Volcanoes and KahuziBiega in eastern DRC, they are a relatively big monkey, similar to the blue monkey but with a beautiful Golden-Orange flowing cape on the back and rear as well as contrasting black limbs and face more reminiscent of the Colobus Monkeys. They live in social groups of up to 30 or 40 members feeding on fresh bamboo shoots, leaves, fruits, branches and insects and tend to sleep in the same location high up the bamboo trees day in and day out.

After registration and briefing by your guide, 0700hrs, you will proceed to the trailhead where the trekking into the forest begins. Our guests visit/ track one of the two habituated families, in groups of maximum 8 persons; Your guide is always at hand to tell all the amazing stories about the monkeys – they know some of them by features and name – their place in the eco-system, their proclivity to being poached as well as why should be conserved.

Upon sighting the Golden Monkeys, you will spend a fascinating hour in their presence as they go about their daily life. They are ample fun to see, and also excellent to photograph although it can be a little difficult even as they jump from tree to tree.

After the hour is over, you will hike back to base where your guide will be waiting to transfer you back to the lodge for a shower and lunch; the excursion normally last 3 to 4hrs round trip.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES:

(At an extra cost) you may proceed on optional activities of your choice, including:

Visiting Buhanga Eco park,
Musanze Caves,
Ex-poacher’s village,
Kayaking/canoeing on Mukungwa River, etc.
Dinner and overnight at the lodge

MOUNTAIN GORILLA VIEW LODGE – BLD

DAY 14: VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK/MT. BISOKE EXPERIENCE

This morning you will hike the Bisoke volcano where on the top you see the breathtaking crater lake.
Afterwards, you will have a deserved lunch and shower
In the afternoon, you will go for canoeing in Mukungwa River, another way to explore better the beauty of Volcanoes, where you see from the waters the five Volcanoes
Dinner is at the Lodge

MOUNTAIN GORILLA VIEW LODGE-BLD

DAY 15: VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK/ COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE

Today you have a day you will live as a Rwandan. You will visit the community where you will explore the daily life of a Rwandan. They will show how to cook, their farming activities including milking cows, and how they take care of their kids.
Your guide will organize a good lunch for you
Late in the afternoon, you will return to your hotel
Dinner is served at your lodge

MOUNTAIN GORILLA VIEW LODGE-BLD

DAY 16: VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK / KIGALI

In the morning, you will drive to Kigali (3hrs), arriving in time for lunch.
You will have to relax in the afternoon and if needed to do some shopping around
Dinner is at your Hotel

LEMIGO HOTEL – BLD

DAY 17: KIGALI / AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK

In the morning, you will check out of your hotel and drive to Akagera National Park (2hr drive)
Check in at Rusizi Tented Camp. You will still have time to relax before dinner
Dinner and overnight

RUZIZI TENTED LODGE- D

DAY 18&19: AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK WILDLIFE EXPERIENCE

Full day spent in Akagera with morning and afternoon game viewing and bird watching drives in search of lions, rhinos, elephants, buffalo, hippos, crocodiles, many species of antelopes, hyenas, giraffe, zebra and even leopard although it is quite elusive.

Optional activities:

Guided nature/bush walks and boat rides on Lake Ihema

RUZIZI TENTED LODGE-BLD

DAY 20: DRIVE TO KIGALI /SHOPPING EXPERIENCE

After a short game drive, you will drive back to Kigali, arriving in time for lunch.
You can spend the afternoon shopping and relaxing.
Dinner will be served at any local restaurant/ at your hotel.

LEMIGO HOTEL-BLD

DAY 21: DEPARTURE

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the Kigali International Airport depending on your departure flight.

END OF TOUR