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Exploring Akagera National Park in Rwanda over four days provides an opportunity to discover its rich wildlife, stunning landscapes, and diverse ecosystems. On these 8 days of Exploring Rwanda’s Cultural tour, this combines the rich cultural heritage of Rwanda with an immersion into its beautiful nature and communities. You will have to experience many different aspects of the Land of a thousand hills, enjoying its diversity nature-wise and cultural. The tour package includes various community-based activities that give you exciting insights about traditions and lifestyle in Rwanda of today and in the past.
This 4-day exploration of Akagera National Park allows you to experience its abundant wildlife, diverse landscapes, and picturesque lakes. Game drives and a boat safari provide ample opportunities to observe the park’s wildlife and scenic beauty.
Please Note that this itinerary can be customised, and the actual activities and destinations can be experienced  based on your preferences and the availability of permits. Additionally, the order of activities may vary depending on specific arrangements and the time of year you visit.  Â
Included/Excluded
- Accommodation
- 4×4 safari vehicle with fuel and Driver
- Full Board Meals Plan
- Local English/French speaking Guide
- All park entry fees-Game drives, ranger
- Wi-fi and Bottle of Water
- All local taxes
- Entry Visa Fees
- All Air fares
- Meals where not provided
- Alcoholic drinks
- Porter fees while trekking/hiking
- Items of personal nature
- Personal shopping bills
- Personal Insurance
Day 1: Airport Pick Up and Exploring Kigali City
On you first day of this tour, you will explore with us one of the safest and cleanest cities in Africa. In the morning, your trip will start with a warm welcome by our tour driver/guides, who will be ready to show you around, just according to your wishes. The driver/guide will lead you to a must-see places and real insider spots. After some delicious snacks, your driver/guide will transfer you to Gizosi to visit the Genocide Memorial, a grim reminder of a senseless massacre of innocents lives in 1994. Learn about Rwanda’s history from pre-colonial times to the 1994 genocide and how Rwanda has dealt with that past. We shall proceed with our tour and see the new developments in Rwanda. After lunch at one of the best restaurants in town, you can explore vibrant market scenes, some boutiques of the up-coming Kigali fashion scene, or an Art Gallery. On this first day you will already familiarize yourself with the diversity of this thriving country. After the day depending on your flexibility for Kigali night tour, our driver/guide will lead you back to your hotel or lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2: Transfer to Twin Lakes and Nyabingi Heritage Center
After breakfast, your driver/guide will pick you up from your hotel and you will leave Kigali in the morning heading to the north side of the county. First stop will be at the magnificent twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo. It is a scenic place, where blue water is surrounded by verdant hills. In the midst of beautiful nature, you will enjoy a lake cruise in a traditional canoe as well as you will be introduced to traditional sustainable farming methods. Next stop will be at the community based Nyabingi Heritage Center, where you can participate in various activities such as traditional bow shooting, or handcrafts weaving. You will learn about the cultural heritage like traditional ways of healing, or the ancient art of cooking, before you will enjoy a delicious Rwandan food and as well as the traditional banana beer and their traditional dances. Thereafter your driver/guide will lead you back at the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park Visit Iby’iwacu Community Village and Hike
After a relaxing morning and breakfast, your driver/guide will pick you up from your lodge to start a community visit and Nature Hike, that will lead you to some of the beautiful sceneries and landscapes of Rwanda’s Northern Province, with the opportunity to see the mighty Virunga volcanoes. The hike leads over to unpaved roads between small villages, while our guide brings you closer to traditional life in rural Rwanda. Later you will have a guided tour to visit Ibyiwacu Cultural Village, where you might meet with local people, getting a taste of Rwanda’s culture and traditions. Be genuinely welcomed by the community as a special visitor while they proudly present to your aspects of their daily living activities, traditions and beliefs. Afterwards you will be transferred to Gisenyi, where you catch your Dinner and stay for overnight.
Day 4: Explorer Hot Springs and Pottery Experience
On this day after breakfast, you will first enjoy a small city tour to get to know Gisenyi, the biggest city on the Rwandan side of Lake Kivu. Later you will visit and experience the local hot springs, a natural phenomenon that impressively demonstrates the volcanic activity in the region. The water is enriched with quartzite and reaches temperatures between 70 and 75 ° C. In the afternoon you will get to know the lives of Rwanda’s first inhabitants, the historical marginalized people (Batwa), Some Batwa now make a living with their traditional skills as potters and performing artists. You will experience the Batwa’s hospitality by learning about their pottery skills as well as witnessing their traditions and cultural heritage. Thereafter you shall return back to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 5: Coffee Experience and Night Fishing at Lake Kivu
After you enjoyed your rich breakfast in the lodge you make yourself ready to discover the beauty of the surrounding nature. First, we change perspectives from land to water! A boat excursion leads you past the small lakeside villages that offer a rewarding glimpse of rural life or brings you from island to island, enjoying the beauty of the peaceful lake. Specially featured in this lake cruise is a visit of Nyamirunda Island. You will visit the Ingoboka Cooperative and learn about Coffee growing and processing while interacting with local farmers. You see how the coffee is washed, sorted, pulped, fermented and graded, before you will take part in an open fire coffee roasting before you can finally taste your most freshly made coffee! Back on mainland you will enjoy lunch and some time to rest, before the next highlight is waiting for you! You will enjoy a part of Rwanda’s cultural heritage in the most magical way, joining local fisherman on their nightly ritual of fishing sambaza (a little fish, similar to sardines). This fishing experience is truly unique, with melodic songs and lit Lanters that create a captivating atmosphere. Thereafter you shall return back to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 6: Spending One Day with The Gorillas (Habituation)
Early in the morning you will enjoy your breakfast and then proceed to the park headquarters at Kinigi for the briefing by the park warden. At 8:30 am the tour guide will transfer you to the starting point of the gorilla trek where you will be led into the forest by a park ranger to track the primates. The trek may last from 1-6 hours, depending on the movements of the Gorillas, that live in ten groups in the national park, but mostly the experienced rangers know where to find the gentle giants relatively quickly. However, once located, you will spend an entire hour with them, having the possibility to take as many pictures as you want or just to fully enjoy your encounter with our close relatives. After this once in a lifetime experience, you’ll hike back through the pristine nature of the mountainous rainforest. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 7: Transfer to Nyungwe National Park Visit of Kings Palace and Canopy Walk
On this Morning, after a tasty breakfast, you get ready to meet the Chimpanzees! A briefing covers topic about the history of the forest, wildlife to be found, what to expect, and how to prepare. Once starting the walk through the dense rainforest, the tracking is expected to last around 2-3 hours and you will be escorted by very experienced Park-Rangers, who will explain everything about the forest and the different species of wildlife. You will head back at the lodge for lunch break and latter proceed to canopy walk. Upon arrival at the National Park and after your break at Uwinka Visitors center, you will pick the walking/hiking sticks to start your forest adventure with a nature hike and later the spectacular Canopy Walk. The afternoon activities are likely to take you about 2 hours. Thereafter later, you shall enjoy your dinner and overnight stay at the lodge.
Day 8: Transfer Back to Kigali City or To the Airport
After your breakfast, you will leave Nyungwe Forest, heading to the shores of Lake Kivu, the largest freshwater body in Rwanda. We drive along the Lake Kivu shores with beautiful views, having lunch in Kibuye, before returning to Kigali. In Kibuye, a boat tour and island hopping can be booked optionally. Later on, you shall proceed and return back to Kigali City or get dropped off at your residence.