The 5 Day Akagera and Nyungwe Safari takes you on a wildlife adventure through two of Rwanda’s most stunning and magnificent national parks, which are teeming with a variety of wildlife. These national parks include Akagera National Park and Nyungwe Forest National Park. During the 5 Days Rwanda Safari Tour, you will embark on a game drive and boat cruise in Akagera National Park and track chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Highlights for 5 days Akagera and Nyungwe Safari
Day 1: Pick up from Kigali and transfer to Akagera National Park-Game Drive
Day 2: Game drive and Ihema boat trip
Day 3: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Day 4: Chimpanzee Trek and Canopy Walk
Day 5: Waterfall Hike and transfer back to Kigali
Detailed Itinerary for 5 days Akagera and Nyungwe Safari
Day 1: Pick up from Kigali and transfer to Akagera National Park-Game Drive
Get in touch with your driver to connect for the start of this 5-day tour. Your driver guide will pick you up from your hotel and your will embark on a brief city tour where you will be visiting Kigali Genocide memorial center.
You will then drive north of Rwanda for about 2 and a half hours until you reach the southern gate of the park. You will be welcomed by the pure air of the park. Connect to check in to your lodge and freshen up, have lunch.
After lunch set out for an afternoon game drive which gives you the opportunity to view the wildlife of Akagera that is the lions, rhinos, giraffes, elephants and also the several different antelope species. You will spend a maximum of 3 hours on this drive before you set out back to your accommodation before dinner. Have dinner and overnight at your designated lodge.
Day 2: Game drive and Ihema boat trip
This day gives you a second chance to look out for the animals you may have not been able to see the previous evening in the park. After breakfast, meet your driver guide and be at the starting point by 9am to enjoy the drive in the several trails of the park.
You will meet the early raisers and hunters looking for their day’s meal. Have lunch and connect for the boat trip on Lake Ihema. This boat trip lasts 1 hour with a maximum of 11 people on board. You will get to see more of the park on the lake like the aquatic animals like the crocodiles, hippopotami enjoying the waters and the several birds like the African fish eagle and cattle egret.
Find your way back to your accommodation with your driver guide and spend the evening at leisure as you await the last dinner in the park as night before.
Day 3: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Wake up to a very long but eventful day. Have breakfast and connect to Nyungwe national park with a stopover for lunch enroute to the park. It’s about a 7 hours’ drive to the park and you will arrive in the late afternoon. Check into your hotel and relax. Dinner and overnight will be at your designated hotel.
Day 4: Chimpanzee Trek and Canopy Walk
Enjoy breakfast and go for a briefing about the endangered chimpanzees before entering the forest in search of the active and playful fellows in Nyungwe forest. These chimpanzees are much easier to spot as they jump from one tree to another, chattering and laughing. Chimpanzee tracking usually takes about 3-6 hours depending on their location. On finding them, spend an hour taking pictures and videos. You will then return to your accommodation for lunch.
After lunch, you will embark on a 2 hours hike to and from the Canopy walkway. Take time to do the canopy walk- a swing bridge 50 meters in length that is suspended from large trees. You will be able to see the amazing rainforest with a bird’s eye view, spotting wildlife moving about below you. (Please note that chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe NP has an age limit of 15 years and above)
Later drive to your lodge/ hotel for dinner and overnight at your hotel. Meal Plan: (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner)
Day 5: Waterfall Hike and transfer back to Kigali
After breakfast, set out to the park’s briefing point. You will be heading out for a guided hike in Nyungwe forest. During your hike, you will view a number of wildlife and bird species before reaching the beautiful Isumo waterfalls. Later head back to base where you will find your driver guide waiting for your. Have lunch and connect back to Kigali and if you have more time you may visit the Kimironko market to purchase some local souvenirs for the people back home and also get to interact with the community.
You will be dropped off at your agreed location in Kigali which will mark the end of your trip.
