Exclusive Gorilla Vacations

13-Days Exclusive African Safari To Rwanda And Burundi

13-Days Exclusive African Safari To Rwanda And Burundi

safari overview

Embark on a magical 13-day safari through Rwanda and Burundi, a journey filled with thrilling wildlife encounters, primate adventures, and rich cultural experiences. Starting at Kigali International Airport and concluding at Bujumbura International Airport, this tour promises back-to-back excitement and unforgettable moments.

Begin at Akagera National Park, home to the African Big Five: leopards, lions, elephants, rhinos, and buffaloes. Enjoy breathtaking landscapes and spot numerous African bird species.

Next, take a city tour of Kigali, then head to Volcanoes National Park for the ultimate primate experience—track majestic gorillas and playful golden monkeys in their natural habitat. Hike Mount Bisoke, visit the Ibyiwacu Cultural Village, and immerse yourself in Rwanda’s vibrant traditions. Continue to Nyungwe National Park for chimpanzee tracking and a thrilling canopy walk, followed by a community and coffee tour in Gisenyi.

Cross into Burundi for a boat cruise on the Ruzizi River, witnessing the confluence with Lake Tanganyika. Visit Gitega, the colonial capital, and explore the famous Gishora Drum Sanctuary. Conclude your adventure in Bujumbura, reflecting on an incredible journey through two captivating countries, filled with diverse wildlife, stunning scenery, and rich cultural heritage. This safari is truly the experience of a lifetime.

Detailed itinerary

On your arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by company representative who will be your professional Spanish- speaking driver guide throughout your 8 days Rwanda big five, gorilla and primate trekking safari for meet and greet and then drive to your booked hotel in Kigali for dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Step Town Hotel (Mid-range)

Meal Plan: Dinner & Breakfast

Today, you will wake up and have breakfast at your hotel and later, the first thing you’ll do is explore Kigali, which is a small city, clean and well-designed. The city has many noteworthy landmarks, but you will also visit the Gisozi genocide war memorial site, the former presidential palace, the main city market, and artisan shops. To honor thethousands of victims of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, the genocide memorial center was constructed in Kigali. You will first learn a lot about what happened during the genocide before visiting local markets, artisan stores, and the former presidential palace (now a museum). After visiting the city, you will have lunch before beginning a 3 hours e hour journey to Akagera National Park. The drive will take you through most scenic acacia woodland and open grassland, local villages and small towns while watching the indigenous people on their animal farms and carrying out other activities like laying bricks. You will be excited by their style of working as they do not use much modern of the technology but they get more yields, enjoy the beautiful sceneries of the country side and having some en- route stop to take memorial photos of the best sights which will make your drive so adventurous. On arrival at the park, enjoy a short game drive en to see different animals like elephants, buffaloes, lions and these can see route to your overnight lodge to check in, relax, dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation; Akagera Game Lodge (mid-range)

Meal plan; Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner

On this day, wake up very early in the morning (6am) to have breakfast and then leave the lodge for your early morning game drive through park to search for the wildlife species in the park. This game drive will take you through vast Savannah plains, woodlands and lake shores to look for Zebras, Elephants, Buffaloes, Giraffes, and Lions, black-tailed Mongoose, olive baboons, vervet monkeys, colobus monkeys and bush babies. After, you will return to your lodge and for lunch and a short relaxation as you prepare for boat cruise safari. After lunch later go to Lake Ihema to enjoy an afternoon boat safari where you will see several crocodiles, schools of hippos and other land mammals such as Elephant and Buffalo, Zebras as they have come to quench thirty and swimming. After this afternoon adventurous boat cruise on Lake Ihema, go for a short evening game drive to look for some wildlife species of the park such as Zebras, Giraffes, and Elephants. Akagera National Park lies in the eastern Rwanda, hugging the border with Tanzania. It’s characterized by woodland, swamps, low mountains and savannah vegetation. In case you are interested in seeing the large animals, then Akagera national park is right place meet them in big number. Later, return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight

Accommodation; Akagera Game Lodge (mid-range)

Meal plan; Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner

Today rise up early morning to have breakfast, check out of your room and slowly drive through the park as you are viewing some wildlife species then drive to volcanoes National Park through Kigali city to have lunch to check and where possible do some shopping. After a mini stopover in Kigali city, you will continue to proceed with your safari to Volcanoes National Park in northwestern parts of Rwanda, covering 160 km² of rainforest and encompasses five of the eight volcanoes in the Virunga Mountains, namely Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhabura, Gahinga and Sabyinyo. Situated in the far northwest of Rwanda, Volcanoes National Park protects the steep slopes of this magnificent mountain range – home of the endangered mountain gorilla and a rich mosaic of montane ecosystems, which embrace evergreen and bamboo forest, open grassland, swamp and heath. It was named after the chain of dormant volcanoes making up the Virunga Massif: these include Karisimbi-the highest at 4,507m, Bisoke with its verdant Crater Lake, Sabinyo, Gahinga and Muhabura and part of Virunga. You will arrive the park late in the evening to check into your hotel for the overnight stay

Accommodation: Da vinci Gorilla Lodge (Mid-range)

Meal plan: Breakfast /Lunch/Dinner

Today is the moment when you will encounter the endangered mountain gorillas. Get up extremely early, eat breakfast, and then proceed to the briefing at the park’s administrative center in Musanze. The head park guide conducts the briefing on gorilla tracking at 7:00 a.m. The briefing includes information about the park’s history, the gorilla groups, Dian Fossey, and the guidelines and prerequisites for gorilla trekking. On how to behave around the gorilla family of your choice, you will also receive advice. After signing up and being assigned a gorilla group, you will have the option to hire a porter (optional). One of the ten gorilla groups or families that have been habituated has been chosen for a gorilla safari in Rwanda. The allocation is now

determined by your fitness. This is due to the fact that some gorilla families move farther into the bush, which makes hiking more difficult. It is amazing to observe a family of gorillas. Simply watching the kids play and roll around could take up the entire day. Then, there is the formidable silverback, young children, and nursing mothers. Observe the mountain gorillas and heed your guide’s recommendations. Even when a family member gets close to you, maintain your composure and avoid making unexpected moves. You will return to the starting point, where your safari guide will be waiting for you, after your hour with the gorilla group has passed. As you wait for the following activity, the driver will drive you back to the hotel where you will eat lunch and relax till afternoon where you will go for the cultural experience at Ibyiwacu. You will go to Musanze-based Iby’iwacu cultural community (near the volcanoes national park). The Gorilla Guardian cultural village is well known for combining all of Rwanda’s known cultural traditions, people and history into one place for display and a personal experience. This is will get you to see what life was in a typical African society setting such as the lifestyle, houses, traditional dances, dressing code, food, herbs and how the ancient kingdoms were generally organized. Also, you will have an opportunity to learn African ancient hunting skills, try weaving baskets/mats, carpentry that provides a unique experience and it is a great place for relaxation and purchasing some locally handmade craft souvenirs to keep your memories. Enjoy the traditional dances while learning more about Rwandan culture. One of Rwanda’s top cultural institutions, the Center is currently known as the Gorilla Guardians Village where you will learn more about the Rwanda culture and her people and after you will return to the lodge for dinner and evening stay.

Accommodation; Davinci Gorilla Lodge (Mid-range)

Meal plan; breakfast, lunch and overnight stay

Wake up very early in the morning to have breakfast and transfer to the park information offices for the pre-trekking briefings for the guidelines to follow during golden monkey tracking and then start the forest hike to search for the beautiful golden monkeys. Golden monkeys are species of the Old-World monkey only found in the Virunga volcanic mountains of Central Africa, including four national parks: Mgahinga gorilla national park, in south-west Uganda; Volcanoes national park, in north-west Rwanda; and Virunga national park and Kahuzi-Biéga, in the eastern  Democratic Republic of Congo. Compared with other monkey species, the golden monkeys are gorgeous in appearance, they have bright colored fur with long golden hair mixed with orange. The overall estimate currently stands between 2000 and 4000 individuals and since they are only found in the Virungas conservation area, they have been classified as endangered species. After the golden monkey trekking safari, have lunch, freshen up your and then in the afternoon, you will return to hotel, have some lunch and later visit the Diane fossey museum to get your own account about how it was working with her. After you will return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay,

Accommodation: Da vinci Gorilla Lodge (Mid-range)

Meal plan: Breakfast /Lunch/Dinner

You will set off by 7:30am for the briefing at the volcanoes national park offices after breakfast at your hotel. It takes between 4 to 6 hours to hike mount Bisoke. The actual hike starts at 8:00am. After the briefing, you will be taken by car to the starting point. This is because the Bisoke head trail is some distance away from the park offices. The park authorities will provide you with a hiking stick. On reaching the summit, expect to view the magnificent Crater Lake on top of the volcano. Apart from the Crater Lake at the summit, the other thing to look forward to is the surrounding landscape. From the summit, you will also spot beautiful views of the other Virunga ranges of mountains, the volcanoes national park, Virunga National Park, Mgahinga National Park and the Rwenzori mountains. Once done with enjoying the beautiful views from

the mountain top, you will descend down and head back to the starting point where you will meet your safari guide ready to take you to Nyungwe Forest National Park.

Accommodation: Emeraude Kivu Resort (Mid-range)

Meal plan: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

After your early morning breakfast, you will head to the park information center for chimpanzee trekking. Chimpanzee trekking begins with briefing at 5:00am. The briefing takes place in either Uwinka, Gisakura or Kitabi. You need to wake up as early as 4:30am so that you take breakfasts and prepare to start the activity. As already mentioned above, the forest is large. The only way to find the chimps is to try and reach them before they head out for the day. A group of trackers go

ahead of the team to find the location of the chimps before communicating to the lead Ranger /Guide about where to find them. The trackers and rangers are very experienced and knowledgeable about the chimp communities and where to find them. Chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe forest can take between 2 to 6 hours or longer. After following/chasing the chimps for a while, they may settle down and allow you to observe them more closely or take photos. While with the chimps you will notice that they behave just like we humans. You will watch them groom each other, mate, breastfeed, play and start fights. Some members of the group are quiet while others are more vocal. Like humans, they have their group dynamics and internal politics. Although chimps are curious about humans, they will tend to keep their distance. After the experience, you will return to lodge, have lunch. After drive back to the park for the canopy walk. This walk is part of the Igishigishigi trail the  high suspension bridge with views over the valley and surrounding forests. A trail runs to the Kamiranzovu Marsh, with its birdlife, orchids and waterfall. The canopy walk is about 2 hours walk, these include a 30-minute walk to the bridge, 1 hour on the bridge and a walk back. The forest canopy walk experience is an ideal opportunity to enjoy the canopy views of the forest and you may have a chance to spot several wildlife species like some primate and birdlife and its central point, reaches a height of around 90 meters. Thereafter the canopy walk safari, you will go for the Gisakura tea estates for the tea experience tour and to learn the art of picking tea leaves and trying it out on your own. Don’t miss the interactive and visual presentation revealing the process of growing and processing African tea leaves. No demonstration would be complete without a taste, so you will have the chance to sample some beautiful black tea grown in the local area of Gisakura. After the tea experience, you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Emeraude Kivu Resort ( Mid-range)

Meal plan: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Today, you will wakeup at your convenient time have breakfast and thereafter start the journey to Akanyaru Border between Burundi and Rwanda. Once you reach at the border, you will pass through formalities and border clearance procedures and thereafter, you will you will continue to Kitega town where you will stay for evening, dinner and overnight stay

Accommodation: Tropitel Gitega Hotel (Mid-range)

Meal plan: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Wake up at your convenient time to be served breakfast and last visit the famous drum sanctuary site of Gishora -Gishora in Burundi. The site also houses two ritual drums that were never beaten. The Ruciteme and Murimirwa respectively. These two names are intimately linked to the farming vocation and also refer to fertility in the local language, the king’s characteristic. You will after visit the drum sanctuary of Gishora to explore the cultural tradition of Burundi and enjoy the culture performance at Gishora Drum Sanctuary to have a story about the Kingdom of Burundi, go for shopping souvenirs for your loved one back home. After the cultural show, have lunch and later get in your safari car, say bye to Gitega and driveto Bujumbura to check in at your booked hotel and spend the evening at your leisure till time to have lunch and an overnight.

Accommodation: Hotel Club Du Lac Tanganyika (Mid-range)

Meal plan: Breakfast / Lunch /Dinner

Rise up early morning to have to be served breakfast, meet your safari guide at the hotel lobby and then drive to River Ruzizi national park for a morning walking safari to explore the jungle on fee with your park ranger guide. With no doubt walking safaris are one of the best ways to explore and feel part of nature since it does not cause any inconveniences to nature. Walking safaris in the park are done in the guidance of an armed ranger guide in addition to your safari guide. During your walking safari, you will able to explore the park and see a number of flora and fauna in the park like antelopes, sitatungas, various monkey species as well as birds among so much more in the park. After the walking safari, have a short break to relax, have lunch and then go for an afternoon boat cruise safari done on River Rusizi where you will spot high concentration of hippos as well as the Nile crocodiles plus several aquatic birds as well as other park animals at the shores as they come for water to quench their thirst and swimming. You will then continue with your trip to the south; driving at the shores of Lake Tanganyika. After the boat cruise, visit Livingstone memorial. Then drive to Rumonge to visit of the local villages of fishermen of Rumonge port. Check in at your booked lodge to refresh yourself and spend the evening at your leisure till time to be served dinner and an overnight.

Accommodation: Sunstone Beach Hotel (Mid-range)

Meal plan: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

This is another day of interesting activities; So, you will wake up early morning to have all your travel bags packed, be served breakfast, check out of your hotel and then start the drive to visit the Source of Nile, and then Karera waterfalls on your way, you will enjoy seeing the magnificent tea plantations and landscapes that will make you and your camera busy taking interesting photos to keep your great memories of visiting this beautiful country. After visiting the source of the River Nile and Karera waterfalls, you will proceed with the drive back to Bujumbura town for dinner and overnight stay

Accommodation: Hotel Club Du Lac Tanganyika (Mid-range)

Meal plan: Breakfast / Lunch /Dinner

Today in the morning, you will have breakfast and later be driven to airport for your flight to Tanzania and this will mark the end of your 13 days Rwanda and Burundi safari experience

Package price includes:

• Return airport transfers (Pick up and drop off)

• Private transport for 13 days using a well-modified safari Land-cruiser which is 4WD, airconditioned and pop-up safari land-cruiser

• Fuel for 13 days

• Private English speaking safari guide for 14 days

• Private mid-accommodation for 12 nights on full board (Breakfast /Lunch/ Dinner)

• All en-route meals and bottled mineral water throughout your tour

• All park entrance and activities fees

• All government applicable taxes

• I chimpanzee tracking permit

• 1mountain gorilla permit

• 1 golden monkey tracking permit per person

• Nature /jungle walking safari at River Ruzizi national park

• Afternoon boat cruise on the river Ruzizi

• Visiting the source of the river Nile

• Visiting Karera falls

• Visiting Gishora Drum Sanctuary (Gitega)

gorilla tracking experience

• Canopy walking experience safari at Nyungwe national park Rwanda

Golden monkey tracking safari at Volcanoes national park Rwanda

• Mountain bisoke hiking

• Visting Ibyiwacu guardian village and Diane Fossey tomb

• Kigali city tour

• Game drive experience in Akagera and Boat cruise

The package price excludes:

• Country entry visas

• Domestic and international flights

• Personal travel insurance

• Items of personal nature/ laundry/telephone charges

• Extra meals and activities

• Tips

• Alcoholic and other soft drinks (Sodas, special juice order at the lodge and wines)

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