Day 1: Pick up from Kigali International Airport

Day 1 one of 11 day great apes, wildlife safaris in uganda and Rwanda.Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, your destination driver guide will pick you up and take you around the city of Kigali for a tour of this clean and beautiful city. During the city tour you will visit places such as Museum Ingabo, Nyamata Church Genocide Memorial and Ntarama Genocide Memorial. The city tour will wind up with a stop at a local restaurant for a hot meal at lunch.

After lunch, proceed on a 4-hour scenic drive through the hilly terrain of Rwanda to Kibuye where you will stay the night. Dinner will be served at the lodge before you can take your night’s rest.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Spa Shallum

Day 2: Boat Cruise and Afternoon tour of Kibuye

In the morning, day 2 of 11 day great apes, wildlife safaris in uganda and Rwanda, the lodge will provide you with breakfast then your driver guide will pick you up for Lake Kivu, where you will enjoy a boat cruise taking you to one of the islands on this lake such as Amizero Island known for its scenic view and beautiful beaches. Carry a packed lunch so that you can enjoy a picnic at the beach.

In the afternoon, take a tour of Kibuye visiting the different attractions in this area such as the science museums, Bisesero Genocide Memorial, among others. Return to the lodge in the evening for dinner and an overnight stay.

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 3: Pfunda Tea Tour and drive to Amajambere Iwacu

Day 3 of 11 day great apes, wildlife safaris in uganda and Rwanda, Wake up to a nourishing breakfast at the lodge after which the driver guide will take you to the Pfund Tea Farm where you will learn how tea is planted and cared for until it’s harvested. You will also witness how tea picking is done, whereby the farmers carry the harvesting baskets on your back. Feel free to take as many photos and try it out if you would like to for a more memorable experience.

After this activity, board your safari vehicle and continue on your adventure across the border at Cyanika to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. On arrival, you will spend your evening relaxing at the lodge where dinner will be served and you will spend the night.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Accommodation: Amajambere Iwacu Camp

Day 4: Gorilla trekking

Early morning, on the fourth day of 11 day great apes, wildlife safaris in uganda and Rwanda  breakfast will be served at the lodge then your driver guide will pick you up and take you to the park headquarters for a briefing about the code of conduct and what to expect on a gorilla trekking adventure. After the briefing, you will join your group of 8 individuals and penetrate the forest in search of Mgahinga Nyakanazi gorilla family. This will take you between 2 to 8 hours and once you find the gorillas, you will be allowed 1 hour of observing them and taking photographs then you will return to the starting point where you will meet your driver guide and drive back to the lodge. Ensure to carry a packed lunch from the lodge and enough water for this activity.

Enjoy the rest of your evening relaxing and trying out the amenities at the lodge. Dinner will be served later in the evening after which you can take your night’s rest.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 5: Batwa community visit then drive to Kinigi

 Day 5 of 11 day great apes, wildlife safaris in uganda and Rwanda , after breakfast, your driver guide will take you out for a visit to the Batwa community around this national park. Here you will interact with this indigenous pygmies’ tribe, learn their way of life and hear their life stories following the gorilla conservation effort.

 In the afternoon, you will return to the lodge for lunch, then freshen up, check out and start your journey across the border back to Kinigi enjoying the sight of the crowning hills and the lush vegetation en route. Once in Kinigi, check into your lodge where you will have dinner and stay the night.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Accommodation: Kinigi Cottage

Day 6: Visit of the Ellen DeGeneres Museum and Coffee Tour by Cooprocaki

After a proper night’s rest, you will be served a nutritious breakfast at the lodge, then your driver guide will drive you out to the Ellen DeGeneres museum of Dian Fossey where will where you will learn about the story of the great primatologist, Dian Fossey and her gorilla conservation efforts.

After visiting the museum, continue on a 2-hour drive south to the Cooprocaki Coffee farmland. Here you will interact with the local coffee farmers and learn home Rwandan coffee is grown, processed, roasted as well as how it tastes like. Your driver guide will then drop you off at your lodge where you will spend the rest of your afternoon relaxing as you await dinner.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Accommodation: Forest of Hope

Day 7: Hike to the Gishwatu-Mukura waterfall then drive back to Kigali

Breakfast will be provided by the lodge in the morning. After breakfast, you will go out for an adventure into the Gishwati-Mukura forest. This adventure will take you on a challenging climb up the Gishwati-Mukura waterfall that will give you a view of exceptional beauty from the top of the waterfalls which makes every bit of the hike worthwhile.

After this, return to the lodge for a hot lunch after which you will freshen up, check out of the lodge and proceed on a 4-hour journey back to Kigali where you will have your dinner and spend the night.

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Accommodation: Five to Five Hotel

Day 8: Transfer to Akagera National Park and Orphanage visit

Having enjoyed a proper night’s rest in Kigali, settle down for a delicious breakfast at the hotel then head out for a wildlife adventure across the country to Akagera National Park. On arrival at Akagera National Park, you will visit the wildlife orphanage outside Akagera National Park and learn about the wildlife conservation efforts through rehabilitation and how these programs benefit the local community.

Proceed into park through the Southern gate and enjoy a short game drive to your accommodation.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Accommodation: Ruzizi tented lodge

Day 9: Full-day game drive

Arise very early in the morning, pick up a packed breakfast and a packed lunch and go out as early as 6:00 am for a game drive that will take you through the different trails in the park spotting different wildlife such as zebras, antelopes, buffaloes, giraffes, lions, hyenas, among others and bird species such as African fish eagle, black-headed gonolek, White-browed coucal among others.

Return to the lodge in the evening for a hot dinner then retire for the night.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 10: Game drive and boat cruise

Before dawn, the lodge will serve you breakfast then you will head out in your safari vehicle for another game drive for even more wildlife viewing. This will increase your chances of seeing all the Africa’s BIG 5 as well as spotting more wildlife. Have a short stopover within the park for lunch then proceed on this adventure. This game drive will bring you to Lake Ihema where you will meet a local boat driver who will take you on an exciting adventure on water by boat.

This will give you an opportunity to explore the rich biodiversity of this National Park and spot a number of aquatic wildlife such as crocodiles and hippos. You will then return to the lodge in the evening for dinner and rest.  

Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 11: Game drive and transfer to Kigali then departure

On the last Day of 11 day great apes, wildlife safaris in uganda and Rwanda, Early morning, arise to a tasty breakfast at the lodge then organize up, checkout of the lodge and go on a short morning game drive to the northern gate of the park and then out of the park and continue on a journey back to Kigali. In Kigali, the driver guide will drop you off at your hotel or Kigali International Airport where you will catch your flight to your next destination.

Inclusions

• Ground transportation
• Gorilla permit
• Meals
• Accommodation
• All activities
• Bottled water

Exclusions

• Laundry
• Extra activities
• Tips
• Drinks and cigarettes
• Donations
• International flights