Visit the two interesting national parks in Rwanda; Volcanoes national park where you will visit mountain gorillas and Dian Fossey grave. This park is located in the Virunga region and is home to five of eight volcanoes, with a lot to see as you visit this park in terms of animals, bird species and tree species.
On the other hand, Akagera National Park lies at the border of Rwanda and Tanzania composed of open grasslands, savannah plains, lakes and rivers, swamps among others. These areas inhabit different wildlife that will be spotted while taking a game drive and boat cruise.
Day 1: Fly to Kigali and transfer to Akagera National Park
Meet and greet the driver-guide on your arrival at the airport or you will be picked from any point of your choice and immediately transfer to Akagera national park at the border of Rwanda and Tanzania and the park is comprised of open grasslands, swamps, rivers like Kagera River where the name originates, lakes like Ihema, swamp vegetation among others. The park is home to different animals like hippos and crocodiles found in Lake Ihema, buffaloes and elephants normally located near water bodies and zebras and giraffes in the open plains.
The park is home to over twelve antelope species like elands, duikers, Topis, bushbucks among others and also predators like lions, leopards, and hyenas among others. Numerous bird species can also be spotted in Akagera national park ranging from Cattle Egret, Hamerkop, Sacred and Hadada Ibis, Augur Buzzard among others. On arrival, you will take a drive to your lodge and prepare for the next day of adventure.
Day 2: Game drive and boat cruise
A morning game drive in this savannah national park of Rwanda allows you to spot different gem while in the open roof tourist vehicle for about 2 to 3 hours. You will spot bird species like fish eagles, Hamerkops, Cattle Egrets, Augur Buzzard, Sacred and Hadada Ibis, Pied Crow, Long-crested Eagle among others and animals like elephants, giraffe, zebras, buffalos, leopards, hyenas, lions, antelopes like Klipspringers, Topis, Elands, waterbucks, Bohor Reedbuck, Duikers, Oribis, Sitatunga among others as well as primates like blue monkeys, olive baboons and bush babies can all be spotted here.
After lunch head to Lake Ihema where you will be able to sight water mammals like the hippos and crocodiles, and have a beautiful view of the lake among others. This will be a memorable day as you discover wildlife in Rwanda.
Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Drive to Volcanoes national park from Akagera National Park, a journey that will reward you with scenic landscapes, coupled with rolling hills. The park is home to different wildlife ranging from golden monkeys, mountain gorillas, forest elephants, buffaloes, bushbucks among others. Birds like Bateleur, Blue-spotted wood dove, Cinnamon-chested bee-eater, Red-backed shrike among others are also residents here. On arrival, you will check in the accommodation facility for your dinner.
Day 4: Gorilla trekking and Visit Dian Fossey grave
Gorilla trekking day begins with breakfast at the lodge and then head to park offices. You will meet and greet the park wardens and rangers who will take you through short briefing, be alerted about dos and don’ts while trekking the mountain gorillas on the foothills of Virunga volcano ranges.
The instructions given include noise making while in the forest is prohibited, feeding animals is not allowed, use of flashlights cameras is not allowed, no spitting on ground among others.
You then follow the ranger guide into the forest to trek as you meet other attractions like bird species, monkeys and on finding the gorilla family, you will be given a maximum of one hour and then trek back after that amazing moment.
The driver / guide will take you back to the lodge for lunch and after head for a hike through the forest to Dian Fossey graveyard. The hike passes through the forest and if you are lucky enough, you will meet the gorillas and golden monkeys.
Learn more about this researcher who dedicated her life to save more gorillas from poachers but later was found in her house murdered by unknown people. Return to the lodge in the evening to retire after this memorable adventure.
Day 5: Transfer back Kigali & Departure
On this last day of your 5 Days Volcanoes & Akagera NP safari, you will have a leisurely breakfast or early morning breakfast and this depends on the scheduled flight.
Head to Kigali city thereafter and maybe visit some of the attractions like local markets with beautiful fresh agricultural produce including fruits, grains among others, then to Rwanda genocide memorial center and thereafter, head to the airport where the driver guide will drop you, to mark the end of your 5 days safari.
