8 Days Rwanda Budget Safari
This 8 Days Rwanda Budget Safari offers you the perfect opportunity to explore Rwanda’s top three national parks on a budget. Get a chance to embark on the canopy walk experience and chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park; enjoy a boat ride on Lake Kivu and track mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park which is one of the only three places in the world where you will find these species in their natural habitat. During this 8 days Rwanda safari, you will also visit Akagera National Park for exquisite game drives in Rwanda’s only savannah national park.
Highlights for 8 Days Rwanda Budget Safari
Day 1: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest national park
Day 2: Chimpanzee tracking – Canopy walkway experience
Day 3: Transfer to Gisenyi – Lake Kivu boat trip
Day 4: Transfer to Volcanoes national park – Visit the Dian Fossey museum and Ibyi’wacu Cultural Village
Day 5: Gorilla Trekking experience
Day 6: Transfer back to Akagera National Park
Day 7: Full Day Game Drive in Northern Akagera.
Day 8: Morning Game Drive and Drive Back to Kigali.
Detailed Itinerary for 8 Days Rwanda Budget Safari
Day 1: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest national park
Depending on your location in Kigali, you will be met by our safari guide and embark on your journey to Nyungwe forest national park which is a 6-7 hours’ drive from Kigali. Upon arrival in Nyungwe, proceed to check-in your booked lodge for relaxation, dinner, and overnight stay.
Day 2: Chimpanzee tracking – Canopy walkway experience
Enjoy breakfast and go for briefing about the endangered chimpanzees before entering the forest in search of the active and playful fellows in Nyungwe forest. The Chimpanzees are much easier to spot as they jump from one tree to another, chattering and laughing. Chimpanzee tracking usually takes about 3 hours. On finding them, spend an hour while taking pictures and videos. You will then return to your accommodation for lunch.
After lunch, you will go on a walking trail that will take you to 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. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 3: Transfer to Gisenyi – Lake Kivu boat trip
After breakfast, check-out of the lodge and transfer to Gisenyi. It takes about 5 hours’ drive there with en-route sightseeing of coffee plantations, lake Kivu and the countryside of the rolling hills. Upon arrival, have your lunch and later afternoon, explore Lake Kivu on a boat trip. Visit some of the islands. Dinner and overnight stay at your selected lodge/resort.
Day 4: Transfer to Volcanoes national park – Visit the Dian Fossey museum and Ibyi’wacu Cultural Village
After your breakfast, check-out of the lodge and transfer to Volcanoes national park, which is about 1-2 hours’ drive. Upon arrival in Musanze, drive to visit the Dian Fossey museum and Ellen DeGeneres Gorilla Campus. Enjoy your lunch and later afternoon, visit the visit Ibyi’wacu Cultural Village-a Non-Profit umbrella organization that aims at improving the lives of reformed poachers and communities around Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park through provision of conservation incentives, supporting community enterprise development and livelihood based projects. It’s a rewarding place where you will be guided around the place as you enjoy the Kinyarwanda traditions including the Intore dance, traditional ceremonies and a guided community walk.
Dinner and overnight stay at your selected lodge.
Day 5: Gorilla Trekking experience
You will enjoy early morning breakfast and transfer to the park headquarters with your packed lunch and bottled drinking water for briefing by the park ranger guides at 7:00am. After briefing, you will start your gorilla trekking journey accompanied by the ranger guides in search of the mountain gorillas; this takes 2 to 5 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas. You will spend 1 hour with these gentle giants and later return to your lodge to refresh and relax. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 6: Transfer to Akagera National Park- Boat Cruise on Lake Ihema.
After early morning breakfast, you will drive to Akagera National Park with lunch enroute. Upon your arrival in Akagera, you will embark on a launch cruise on Lake Ihema where you will get a chance to view wildlife along the lake’s banks such as elephants, buffalos, waterbucks, hippos and crocodiles among others. You will also get to view some bird species such as the Papyrus Gonolek, African openbills and cormorants among others.
After your boat cruise, drive to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 7: Full Day Game Drive in Northern Akagera.
Following an early breakfast at your lodge, you will head out for a full day game drive in the northern circuit of Akagera national park. Look out for a variety of wildlife in the park including lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, giraffes, buffalos and so many more. You will have both lunch and dinner will be served at your lodge.
Day 8: Morning Game Drive and Drive Back to Kigali.
On the last day of your 8 Days Rwanda Budget safari, you will have breakfast early in the morning and head out for a morning game drive in the northern part of the park. Do look out for any wildlife animals that you might not have seen in your previous game drive in the park. You will then exit the park and head back to Kigali with a stopover for lunch. Drop off will be in Kigali at any location of your choice as you will advise your driver guide.
End of the 8 Days Rwanda Budget Safari
