5 Days Gorillas, Safari
& Community

As you arrive in Kigali, you are picked up at the airport by your Driver Guide and you receive a briefing about your itinerary. You then check in at Heaven Boutique Hotel where you enjoy dinner and rest until the following day. Suggested option: Kigali City Tour

(Travel time 2:30 hours) After breakfast at Heaven Boutique Hotel, you head out to Akagera National Park. Upon arrival, you stop by Akagera Rhino Lodge to check in and enjoy coffee with snacks. Local Market and Cuisine (Duration: 3 hours) Immerse yourself in the flavors and colors of a local market. Shop with a Rwandan family, prepare and taste traditional cuisine. A great way to spice up your journey! Traditional Canoeing (Duration: 1-2 hours) Cool down with an afternoon on Lake Gishanda, located just outside Akagera. Hop on a traditional canoe and learn local fishing techniques. Unwind and take in the beautiful views at Akagera Rhino Lodge’s open air restaurant.

(Duration: 5 hours) A day visit to the park awaits. Binoculars in hand, you witness nature’s astonishing recovery. Indeed, once depleted by poachers and grazing cattle, the park is now alive with topi, zebras, giraffes and impalas. Not to mention of course the presence of the ‘Big Five’ -buffalo, rhino, lion, leopard and elephant- populating the rolling hills dotted with emerald green bushes and the golden extense of the savannah. Still relatively unknown to the public, the Park allows for an intimate experience of wilderness. Enjoy a packed lunch on the go. Boat Tour on Lake Ihema (Duration: 1hour) Embark on a one-hour boat tour of Lake Ihema. Enjoy a unique perspective on this African wetland ecosystem composed of a dozen lakes, of which Lake Ihema is the largest. Catch sight of the imposing hippos and Nile crocodiles. Keep your camera at hand for some of the nearly 500 bird species, among which the African Fish Eagle, and the remarkable Shoebill. Or, simply enjoy this serenity of the lake as you listen to the sounds of wildlife and the light breeze in the papyrus. Afternoon transfer to Kigali (2.5 hours) Check in at Heaven Boutique Hotel Treat yourself to dinner at Rooftop Rendez-Vous Bar & Grill while enjoying a panoramic view of Kigali by night.

(2+ hours) During the two hour drive from Kigali to Musanze, you enjoy the gradual change of landscape, from Kigali’s gentle hills, to the mountainous views over misty valleys, terraced fields, wrapped in the fragrance of eucalyptus trees. Stop half-way through your journey in Nyirangarama to shop for popular local products including dumplings, brochettes, and Akabanga, Rwanda’s favorite hot sauce. Check in and enjoy the warm welcome at Isange Paradise Hotel. Visit the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund (Duration: 1 hour) Brush up your expertise on Mountain Gorillas ahead of tomorrow's trek and be inspired by the story Dian Fossey. Lunch: Discover Isange Paradise Resort‘s fresh menu made with locally grown ingredients. Bike visit to Lakes Burera and Ruhondo Stretch your legs and enjoy a bike ride along the shores of the picturesque Lakes Burera and Ruhondo, with Volcanoes National Park in the backdrop.

(Duration: 1+ hours) Now is the time for the great encounter. Wake up early to meet your Guide and receive a briefing at the Volcanoes National Park headquarters in Kinigi at 7AM. Depending on your fitness level and the Gorillas’ location, you are assigned to track one of the twelve habituated Mountain Gorilla families. You will undoubtedly be moved by these impressive, yet gentle and curious creatures. Well worth the climb! Visit Umuzabibu Mwiza / Handspun Hope (Duration: 60 min) From shearing to spinning, knitting and dyeing with local plants, watch how this group of more than 200 women produces organic yarn from their own merino sheep and rabbits. Do not miss this chance to shop for a charming hand knitted hat, blanket or baby gorilla! Afternoon transfer to Kigali