OVERVIEW.

Rwanda is an exciting destination to visit. Besides the prominent mountain gorillas, the land of a thousand hills has much potential to offer as a tourist destination. The 10 days charming safari to discover remarkable Rwanda will not only introduce you why Rwanda is really a remarkable tourist destination in Africa but also why it is called a land of thousands of hills and thousands smiles. Within 10 days of your journey to discover remarkable Rwanda, be prepared to leave your soul here, I am sure you will love to come back again.

ITINERARY:

Day 1: ARRIVE AT KIGALI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT & TANSFER TO YOUR HOTEL IN KIGALI

Arrival of your flight at Kigali International Airport. You will be Warmly welcomed by Vazquez Tours & Travel Ltd Representative who will shortly brief you about your tour in Rwanda and immediate transfer to your hotel in Kigali.

Day 2: KIGALI CITY TOUR 

After breakfast, you will begin your day at the Kigali Genocide Memorial, paying tribute to history and campaign against genocide. then you will head to CAGA museum at parliament after you will visit kimironko market and after that you will head to One cup roaster for Lunch.

After lunch at One cup roaster, you will head to Inema art centre and finally visit Nyamirambo car free zone for evening tea and coffee.

Later you will return to your hotel.

Day 3: KIGALI CITY TOUR & TRANSFER TO AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK     

In the morning you will do a walking food tour in Nyamirambo, where you will experience traditional cuisines and other culinary delights locals love in Rwanda. so, make sure to come hungry! The walking Food Tour last between 3-4 hours.

In the afternoon, you will begin your journey to Akagera National Park, northeast of Kigali on the border with Tanzania. The journey to Rwanda’s biggest national park – which spans 1,122km² – takes about two and half hours.

Your visit to Akagera National Park starts with a sunset boat ride on Lake Ihema, the country’s second biggest freshwater lake after Lake Kivu. Lake Ihema is a birder’s paradise; here you’ll be fascinated by sightings of waterbirds such as cormorants, fish eagles, African jacana, papyrus gonolek and kingfishers. But the highlights are usually sightings of the monstrous elephants grazing by the lakeside, crocodiles enjoying the morning sun, and hippos playing in water. Enjoy a glass of champagne as the sun sets over the lake.

Distance from Kigali:2 hours 

DAY 4: GAME DRIVE IN AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK

Today you will wake up as early as 6:00 am and go on safari. The park was named after the river that runs along Rwanda’s eastern edge and it’s the country’s counterpart to the famous savannah reserves of Tanzania and Kenya farther afield. It’s a stunningly beautiful park, boasting more than 10 freshwater lakes and more than 8000 animal and 500 bird species respectively.

Today’s game drive will reward you with an authentic African Big Five safari experience in a less touristy destination where lions and rhinos returned in 2015 and 2017 respectively.

Some of the park’s most famous residents include lions, elephants, rhinos, zebras, Leopards, hyenas, buffalos, giraffes, monkeys, hippos, bush pigs, warthogs, baboons, crocodiles, leopards and antelopes.

DAY 5: RELAXATION DAY

Enjoy a leisurely day at your lodge, relaxing by the pool or indulging in a spa treatment.

Take a walk in the park and enjoy the peace and quiet.

DAY 6: TRAVEL TO MUSANZE 

After breakfast and a relaxed morning, 5-6 hours drive north of the country will lead you to Musanze, Rwanda’s second-largest city and the country’s tourism hub. You’ll be taken straight to your hotel, from where your gorilla trekking expedition will begin tomorrow.

In Musanze you will visit the Gorilla Guardian Village (formerly known as Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village), an award-winning venture that was founded in 2004 and is owned entirely by local communities. Since its inception, the Gorilla Guardian Village has significantly helped in improving the livelihoods of communities living near the Volcanoes National Park, which houses the mountain gorillas. The venture offers employment to hundreds of former poachers and potential poachers, thereby curtailing human pressure on the Volcanoes National Park.

Set in a replica of the traditional Rwandan palace, here you’ll be regaled by Rwandan Intore dancers and drummers, Batwa pygmies will showcase their bow and arrow skills, while a little village walk will introduce you to the local community’s way of life.

Enjoy a special dinner and cultural show at the village before returning to your hotel for an early evening.

Distance from Akagera to Musanze: 5 hours

DAY 7: MOUNTAIN GORILLA TREKKING AND LAKE KIVU

Today is the day! It will begin at 6:00 am as gorilla trekkers are required to be at the park headquarters by 7:00 am. Critically endangered and currently numbering about 1,000 individuals (according to the 2018 census results), the mountain gorillas can only be found in two places in the world: the Virunga Massif, a volcanic range that straddles Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda.

After equipping yourselves with the essential gorilla trekking gear (hiking boots, long trousers, gloves, etc.), the park’s head ranger will divide you and other trekkers into different groups basing on your fitness. Usually, the more physically fit track gorilla groups that require a shorter, less strenuous trek while the fit ones can scour the forest for a longer time, and at a relatively higher altitude.

The mountain gorillas you’ll be allowed to view are families that have been habituated. As the excursion progresses deeper into the forest, your guide will point out signs of previous gorilla activity – dung, nests, chewed bamboo shoots, etc. Once you find them, you’ll be allowed to stay with them for one hour. And despite their intimidating, massive size, don’t fret! Habituated gorillas are not aggressive; they’ll just stare at you blankly.

After gorilla trekking, you’ll head back to your hotel for lunch and later on embark on a one hour journey to the scenic Lake Kivu in Kibuye, one of Africa’s Great Lakes that spans Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

You’ll spend the afternoon on the Rwandan shore of the lake. Enjoy a sunset cruise on the lake as the Singing Fishermen of Lake Kivu head out in their three-hulled fishing boats. With characteristic long poles attached to their bows and sterns, these fascinating boats become slowly silhouetted against the darkening sky. In small groups, they seek the deep water a few kilometres out into the lake from where they cast their nets and fish throughout the night.

Distance from Musanze to Kibuye: 3 hours 

DAY 8: NYUNGWE NATIONAL PARK CHIMPANZEE TRACKING & CANOPY WALK

After breakfast, a two-hour drive will lead you to the Nyungwe National Park. Today you will have an up-close encounter with Nyungwe National park’s most famous residents: chimpanzees! As you set off for the memorable trek, you’ll hear them before you see them, hooting somewhere deep in the forest. During trekking you might spot primates like the colobus monkeys plus viewing other inhabitants of the forest like birds.

Later in the afternoon, you will drive to Uwinka visitor centre for the canopy tour, the 2 hours walk on top of the forest offers you impressive view of Nyungwe forest and the wide variety of species that thrive there, including primates and birds

After the memorable chimp trekking& canopy walk, you will check in to the hotel for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

DAY 9: VISIT KING’S PALACE MUSEUM (NYANZA)

Breakfast at your hotel, you will drive to newly built king’s palace at Nyanza, the journey to this historic museum takes 2 hours from Nyungwe National Park. The king’s palace museum is based in Nyanza district, Mutata III Rudahigwa’s palace offers detailed into Rwanda Monarchical system and its abolition in early 1960s due to colonialism. The palace was restored to its 19th century state as a replica and was made entirely with traditional materials.

The visit will take 1 hour, and then after visiting king’s palace Museum at Nyanza, you will take you lunch in Huye city and proceed to Kigali city

DAY 10: KIGALI  

Enjoy a leisurely day at your hotel, relaxing by the pool or indulging in a spa treatment.

Take a walk in the city, shop at your convenience as you enjoy the beauty of Kigali.

Day 11: KIGALI

Breakfast at the hotel, after the breakfast you will check out of the hotel and begin your journey back Travel to Kigali International Airport for your flight back home.