5 Days Rwanda Gorilla Safari
5 Days Rwanda Gorilla Safari | Gorillas & Wildlife Vacation
This 5 Days Rwanda gorilla Safari is a Gorilla Trekking and and Akagera National Park wildlife safari tour that will give you the ultimate gorillas and Wildlife viewing experiences in both Volcanoes National Park and A kagera National Park. You will begin this 5 Days Rwanda Gorilla Safari with a game park safari in Akagera National Park and you will then head to Volcanoes National Park for a memorable gorilla trekking adventure in the misty jungles of the Virunga mountains. Your tour will end with drop off in Kigali where you will have an optional city tour.
Day to Day:
5 Days Rwanda Gorilla Safari
Tour Highlights:
- Day 1: Arrival and pick up in Kigali.
- Day 2: Transfer to Akagera national park
- Day 3: morning game drive and drive to Volcanoes national park.
- Day 4: Gorilla Trekking
- Day 5: drive to Kigali and departure
Detailed Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival and pick up in Kigali
You will be welcomed upon arrival at Kigali international airport and your guide will drive you to the hotel in Kigali for check in.
Accommodation Option: The Retreat Kigali / Serena Hotel Kigali / Kigali Marriott Hotel
Meal Plan: Bed and Breakfast
Day 2: Transfer to Akagera national park and Afternoon Boat Ride
Your breakfast will be served at the hotel in Kigali and after a short briefing, you will transfer to Akagera national park where you will have your lunch at the lodge and in the afternoon you will enjoy a boat ride on Lake Ihema.
During your boat ride, you will see different wildlife species by the water shores like hippos, crocodiles, elephants, buffalos among others. After the boat ride on Lake Ihema, you will drive to the lodge where you will have dinner and spend the night.
Accommodation Option: Mantis Akagera Game Lodge
Meal Plan: All Inclusive
Day 3: Morning Game Drive and Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
After having an early breakfast at the lodge, you will engage in a morning game drive in Akagera national park in search of wildlife species such as elephants, lions, giraffes, buffalos, antelopes, zebras among others.
You will embark on a journey to Volcanoes national park after the game drive and have your lunch en-route and proceed to the lodge in Ruhengeri where you will spend the night and have your dinner.
Accommodation Option: One and only Gorillas Nest / Bisate Lodge / Wilderness Sabyinyo / Farm House
Meal Plan: All Inclusive
Day 4: Gorilla Trekking Experience
After an early breakfast, you will proceed to the Kinigi park headquarters for a briefing on gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park and you will also be allocated groups and assigned ranger guides to begin your gorilla trek.
You will trek through the natural habitat of the mountain gorillas of Rwanda during the search and spend 1 hour with the gorillas. After the gorilla trek, you will return to the park headquarters and your guide will take you back to the lodge to have your dinner and spend the night.
Accommodation Option: One and only Gorillas Nest / Bisate Lodge / Wilderness Sabyinyo / Farm House
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Transfer to Kigali and departure
Your breakfast will be served at the lodge in Volcanoes national park and after check out, you will start the drive to Kigali where you will enjoy a city tour and visit the kimironko market and the Kigali genocide memorial as well as the art centers and later have lunch and proceed to Kigali international airport for your flight which will bring the tour to an end.
Accommodation Option: N/A
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch
Tour Includes:
- Exclusive Safari transport in custom made Safari 4 by 4 wheel drive Land Cruiser with air conditioner.
- Services of English-speaking driver guides.
- Pick-up and drop-off.
- Gorilla Trekking Permits and park entry fees
- Bottled water
- All Meals included
- Five nights accommodation at luxurious lodges
- All Activities listed in the itinerary
Tour Excludes:
- International and Visa entry charges to Uganda.
Personal expenses and gratuities.
Additional optional activities.
Best Time To Travel:
Although gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and wildlife viewing in Queen Elizabeth National Park is possible throughout the year, The best time for this luxury safari is during the dry seasons: June to September and December to February when trekking conditions are optimal and wildlife viewing is at its best. Forest trails are less slick during this time since they are comparatively dry. Additionally, during these months, you have a better chance of seeing gorillas in dry weather and this period is ideal for activities during safaris in Queen Elizabeth National Park such as game drives, boat safaris on the Kazinga Channel, and chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura Gorge.
How To Get There:
How to Fly from Entebbe to Queen Elizabeth National Park & Bwindi Impenetrable Forest: For luxury travelers looking to explore Uganda’s most breathtaking landscapes without the long and bumpy road journeys, flying is the best way to travel. A seamless combination of scheduled or private charter flights allows you to move effortlessly from Entebbe International Airport (EBB) to Queen Elizabeth National Park and then onward to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, maximizing your time for unforgettable wildlife encounters.
Flying from Entebbe to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Your journey begins at Entebbe International Airport (EBB), where you will board a domestic flight operated by Aerolink Uganda or Bar Aviation to Kasese or Mweya Airstrip, the two main airstrips serving Queen Elizabeth National Park. The flight takes approximately 1 hour 15 minutes and offers spectacular aerial views of Uganda’s rolling savannahs, crater lakes, and the Rwenzori Mountains.
- If you land at Kasese Airstrip, it takes about 1 hour by private transfer to reach the park’s luxury lodges.
- If you land at Mweya Airstrip, you are right in the heart of the park, just minutes away from some of the finest accommodations.
Once in Queen Elizabeth National Park, indulge in exclusive game drives, a private boat safari on the Kazinga Channel, and unforgettable wildlife encounters, including the famous tree-climbing lions of Ishasha.
Flying from Queen Elizabeth to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
After exploring Queen Elizabeth National Park, the next stop is Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, home to half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. The fastest and most comfortable way to travel is by taking a domestic flight from Mweya or Kasese Airstrip to Kihihi or Kisoro Airstrip, the two gateways to Bwindi.
- The flight from Mweya to Kihihi takes about 45 minutes, followed by a 1.5-hour drive to the northern sector of Bwindi (Buhoma).
- The flight from Kasese to Kisoro takes about 1 hour, followed by a 2-hour drive to the southern sector of Bwindi (Rushaga or Nkuringo).
Upon arrival, your luxury 4×4 vehicle will be waiting for a smooth transfer to your exclusive lodge, where you can unwind before the once-in-a-lifetime gorilla trekking adventure.
About Volcanoes National Park
Home to the endangered Primates including mountain Gorillas and Golden Monkeys, Volcanoes national park is the most popular tourist destination in Rwanda. Volcanoes National Park is located in the northwest of Rwanda along the borders with Uganda and DR Congo and it is one of the 3 national parks that make up the Virunga Mountains alongside Virunga national park in Congo and Mghainga gorilla national park in Uganda. Volcanoes National Park is home to over 370 mountain gorillas which are visited every day by trekkers in their corresponding habituated groups.
The Gorilla Habituated groups at Volcanoes National park include Sabyinyo, Susa, Karisimbi, Umubano, Amahoro, Kwitonda, Hirwa, Bwenge, Agashya and Ugyenda. Each gorilla family is visited once par day by a group of 8 trekkers who are permitted to spend an hour in their presence. In addition to mountain gorillas visitors can also see the endangered golden monkeys which are visited on a separate trip. Other wildlife species in Volcanoes national park include black-fronted duiker, Africa buffalo, forest elephant as well as 178 bird species.
The park is also home to 5 of the 8 Volcanoes of the Virunga Mountains including Sabyinyo, Karisimbi, Bisoke, Gahinga and Muhabura and the tomb of American primatologist Dian Fossey who started the work of protecting gorillas in the park in the mid 1960s. The tomb is also regularly visited by trekkers who come to pay tribute to the incredible conservation work she undertook amidst strong resistance from the poachers and other wild animals.
About Akagera National Park
Regarded as the only Savannah National Park in Rwanda, Akagera national park is the second-most visited destination in the country after Volcanoes national park. Akagera National Park is located in eastern Rwanda along the border with Tanzania. The Park is characterized by woodland, swamps, low mountains and savannah in which a variety of amazing wildlife species such as zebras, giraffes, elephants, lions and hundreds of bird species including the rare shoebill stork.
In addition to seeing wildlife, a boat cruise on Lake Ihema located in the middle of park is another thrilling and relaxing experiences where visitors can see variety of aquatic species such as crocs, hippos, and abundant water birds while on the cruise.
General Information For This 5 Days Rwanda gorilla safari
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:
On this 1 Day Rwanda Gorilla Tour , all visitors to Uganda must have a valid passport with at least 4 consecutive blanks pages. Any applicable visa and/or relevant documentation are the responsibility of the traveler. For further information on Visa requirements visitors are advised to contact their nearest Uganda Embassy or Consulate. Apply online here
LANGUAGE: English
TIME: GMT +3
VOLTAGE:
220 Volts/AC50Hz. Sockets are UK style, 3 pin square plugs. Power is from the UMEME in the city/major towns and generator with inverter back up in the Safari Lodges and Camps.
DIETARY REQUIREMENTS:
For those guests with specific dietary requirement, please ensure we are notified prior to travel.
CURRENCY:
Foreign currency must be changed at the Bank, Bureau de Change, and Hotel/Safari lodge/Camp/Resort. Major Credit Cards, Master card, Visa, American Express, are usually accepted throughout the country. Where credit cards are accepted, the payment will normally be recorded in US$ regardless of the card’s default currency.
CLOTHING:
Dress is mainly informal and should be comfortable as well as practical. Something warm should be brought along for early morning and evenings. Safari clothes are available from hotels/lodges/camps.
PHOTOGRAPHY:
Please be careful when photographing public buildings, airports, bridges, the national flag and people in uniform. Ensure that you have sought permission before photographing local people and their villages. If in doubt, please check with your guide.
BAGGAGE:
Where possible, travel light. Baggage space on safari is limited to medium suitcase or soft bag per person plus reasonable amount of hand luggage. There is 15 Kilogram per person limit on all flights to the wildlife sanctuaries. Excess luggage must be stored in your arrival hotel.
WATER:
You will find many different of opinion of what is safe and what is not. We recommend for peace of mind, to drink local Bottled Mineral water. It is important to drink plenty of water especially during the hotter months. We would recommend that guests drink at least 2 to 3 liters of water per day to limit the effects of dehydration.
GRATUITIES:
As a guideline and dependent on how happy you are, we would suggest the following: The General Hotel/Lodge/Camp Staff – Approximately U$ 10.00 per person per day, Driver Guides – Approximately US$ 15.00 to US$ 20.00 per person per day
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