5 Days Gorilla Tracking and Wildlife Safari Rwanda

Overview

This 5 Days Gorilla Tracking and Wildlife Safari Rwanda leads you to Akagera National Park which is Central Africa’s largest protected wetland, as well as the only remaining home for savannah-adapted species in Rwanda. Akagera is the only savannah National Park and the only place in Rwanda to sight large mammals. Found in eastern Rwanda, the 2500 sq km national park has all the famous big five (lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino, and elephant) and is mainly composed of Savannah land that’s dotted with acacia, bush, swampy lakes, and open grassland. The park is named after the Kagera River that flows along the country’s eastern boundary, feeding into Lake Ihema and other smaller lakes. While within this park, you will do game drives and have boat cruises on Lake Ihema, which is home to over 500 bird species, a large number of hippos as well as a significant number of Nile crocodiles. You will have scenic views of a plethora of wildlife and nature. Such wildlife includes animals like giraffes, oribis, gazelles, warthogs, topis, impalas, spotted hyenas among others.

From Kagera, you will have a popular mountain gorilla trek in Volcanoes National Park. The park, also known as Parc National des Volcans offers Gorilla Trekking, which is the most popular tour in Rwanda. There are only three countries that offer the gorilla trekking experience but Rwanda is by far the best country for gorilla trekking adventures, all of which take place in Volcanoes National Park. The park is home to a population of over 400 mountain gorillas that includes the 10 families that are habituated for tourism. Each of these gorilla families can be tracked every day within the forests. For bird enthusiasts, Volcanoes National park is an Important Bird Area and hosts an estimated 200 species of birds with 12 endemics.

This 5-day Gorilla tracking and Akagera wildlife safari Rwanda is ideal for those who wish to spend more days in Rwanda to get the best out of nature. The park combines all the most interesting activities of a Rwanda safari and sets them perfectly for you.

Safari Summary

  • Day 1: Transfer to Akagera National Park, short game drive
  • Day 2: Game drive and boat safari
  • Day 3: Game drive through Akagera National Park and transfer to Volcanoes National Park
  • Day 4: Gorilla tracking in Volcanoes National Park
  • Day 5: Optional activity and transfer to Kigali

Itinerary

We pick you up from Kigali after your breakfast and head to Akagera National Park in the east of Rwanda. On your way, you will pass through the country's scenic landscape which will give you views of the country's spectacular hills and the lifestyle of its people. In the afternoon we shall do a short game drive to see some wildlife and enjoy the scenery. Please look out for different species of animals that include zebras, hippos, buffaloes, elephants among others.
Dinner and overnight.

Our Accommodation options for this 5 Day safari depend on your package type preference, We are happy to recommend top-notch lodge/ Camp options upon inquiry

We shall set out for an early morning game drive in the southern part of the park and expect to see few animals because of the thick vegetation. The time is however perfect to view animals and birds before they go back to their hideouts. The Rhinos live in this part of the park. Other animals you may see include baboons, zebras, oribi among others.
In the afternoon we shall do the boat ride on Lake Ihema to see crocodiles, hippos, and much other wildlife along the lake. You will also have scenic views of swamps, hills, etc.
You will drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Today we set out for a game drive to the north of the park which has the plains and thus more animals. Expect to see lions, buffaloes, elephants, zebras, and many species of antelopes. Exit the park through the north and drive to Volcanoes National Park in the north of Rwanda.

Early this morning you will drive to the park headquarters with your packed lunch for gorilla tracking at Kinigi in Musanze district by 7:00 am. While here, you will carry out registration and be briefed about the trekking rules, after which you will be allocated to groups and park guides. You will then transfer to the starting point and set out for the trek head into the forest for the tracking experience to see the gorillas. Gorilla tracking can be physically demanding and you are likely to walk for about three to seven hours through thick jungles depending upon the gorilla's movements. The chances of missing the gorillas are very few since the guides always have an idea of where to find the gorillas, using his knowledge of their movement patterns and their known location the day before. The experience of observing these mountain gorillas in their natural habitat is memorable. You will be allowed to spend one hour with these phenomenal mountain gorillas, a time during which you will take photos and see them play, eat and groom each other.

This morning we will do an extra activity in the park or Musanze before departing to Kigali.
Options include hiking the Dian Fossey tomb trails, tracking the golden monkeys, cultural experience at the Gorilla Guardians Village

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