12 Days Active Adventure in Rwanda

This adventure promises not only excitement and discovery but also a deep connection with Rwanda’s rich landscapes and vibrant heritage. Explore the Land of a Thousand Hills on the 12 days Active Adventure in Rwanda that offers the opportunity for once-in-a-lifetime wildlife encounters. You’ll drive through Akagera National Park trekking the famous African Big 5 game and walking the line tour, trek chimpanzees, and spot monkeys, baboons, and other wildlife in Nyungwe National Park.

Safari Highlights 12 days Active Adventure in Rwanda

• Kigali City Tour, colourful markets, reconciliation village
• Rwanda Wildlife Day Game Drives,
• Boat ride on Lake Ihema
• Walk the line tour in Akagera
• Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
• Golden Monkey / Dian Fossey Project
• Ibyiwacu Cultural Village / Gorilla Guardians Village
• Lake Kivu Boat Cruise / Kayaking
• Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe Forest National
• Waterfall Hike or Canopy Walk in Nyungwe Forest

Your Rwandan adventure of a lifetime is just a click away. Dive into the wild, embrace the thrill, and make memories that will last forever on the 12 Days Active Adventure in Rwanda.

Safari Itinerary of the 12 days Active Adventure in Rwanda.

Day 1: Arrival in Kigali – Rwanda

Arrival at Kigali Airport where you will be welcomed by a company representative and transferred to your place for relaxation and overnight stay at the start of the 12 Days Active Adventure in Rwanda.

Optional Activity: The Kigali city tour takes you to the major historical and cultural sites of Rwanda. You may visit Kandt House or the Museum of Natural History where Dr. Richard Kandt the first German colonial resident of Rwanda resided and is now the Natural History Museum in honor of his work.

Or visit the Kigali Memorial Center. This is a grim reminder of the 1994 senseless massacres. The museum is built on a site where over 250,000 people are buried. The exhibits in the museum powerfully tell the story of Rwanda, its history, and the unfolding genocide. Included are touch screens that have on them the testimonials of some of the survivors present during this turbulent time.

Accommodation at Hotel Des Mille Collines.

Day 2: Kigali to Nyungwe Forest

Breakfast and head to southern Rwanda to visit Nyungwe Forest. The journey to Nyungwe Forest is stunningly beautiful, through terraced hillsides passing through the dramatic landscape of the Nyungwe Forest, arriving in time for late lunch and relaxation.

You may have a stopover at the Rwanda National Museum (Ethnographic Museum). This Museum was built in 1987, and now houses one of Africa’s finest ethnographic collections.

Its seven galleries display historical, ethnographic, Artistic, and Archaeological artifacts accompanied by visual aides, giving visitors a rich insight into the culture of Rwandans.

Accommodation and meals at Nyungwe  Forest Lodge

Day 3: Nyungwe Forest – Chimpanzee trek

Breakfast and then have an early start trekking the Chimpanzees on this 12 days active adventure in rwanda. Depending on the availability you are likely to trek chimpanzees in Cyamudongo Forest, a very small, isolated ‘island’ of forest surrounded by tea estates a little over an hour’s drive from the park office at Gisakura. This group consists of about 40 individuals. Alternatively, you might be taken to see a second habituated group, the Uwinka group, which is the largest with around 65 individuals.

 The duration of your trek depends on the location of the chimps – this could take between 30 minutes to 3 hours to find them depending on how far they have moved in search of food. Once you meet the trackers and are with the chimpanzees, you’ll have an hour to observe them.

Later return to the hotel for relaxation. Accommodation and Meals at Nyungwe Forest Lodge

Day 4: Nyungwe Forest – Canopy walk or waterfall hike

After breakfast, you will have a 3-hour round-trip canopy walk along a 160m-long and 70m-high canopy walkway. Take in the scenery rewarding you with an entire forest covered with a few primate species.

OR Head out for a 4-hour round trip nature walk along the Kamiranzovu waterfall trail – Kamiranzovu is the largest wetland in the forest consisting of lush, forested mountains, and it resembles a giant caldera and drains through a dramatic gap between two peaks.

On the more elevated western side of the trail, look out for the amazing views of the whole marsh, including its outlet. Through that gap, water flows about 3 km, to form Kamiranzovu Waterfall, then onward to Lake Kivu, Lake Tanganyika, the Congo River, and finally to the Atlantic Ocean.

Accommodation and meals at Nyungwe Forest Lodge

Day 5: Nyungwe to Gisenyi

After breakfast, depart from Nyungwe heading to Gisenyi, the largest port on the Rwandan shore of Lake Kivu. As you leave Nyungwe, you’ll pass through expansive tea plantations taking in ample views of the undulating hills and valleys. You will also get glimpses into rural Rwandan life, with small villages, local markets, and roadside stalls selling fresh produce and crafts. You will arrive in time for a relaxed lunch and thereafter enjoy the view from your hotel on this 12 Days Active Adventure in Rwanda. Accommodation and Meals at Lake Kivu Serena Hotel

Day 6: Lake Kivu – Boat cruise or Jet Skiing

On this day, you will definitely take it easy and enjoy a more relaxed pace. Start your day with a leisurely breakfast and then take the opportunity to go jet skiing on the lake or head out on a boat cruise to explore the small islands and observe the rich birdlife. Following lunch, make sure to visit the local market or take a stroll through the leafy streets, admiring the charming old colonial buildings. Your accommodation and meals will be provided at the Lake Kivu Serena Hotel.

Day 7: Lake Kivu – Volcanoes National Park- Ibyiwacu Cultural Village

After early morning breakfast, drive through the hilly northern province to reach Volcanoes National Park arriving in time for lunch. After lunch, you may visit the nearby Ibyiwacu cultural village / Gorilla Guardians Village, a local community some of whom are former poachers who now share their traditional rural culture and livelihoods with visitors.

This village is located near Volcanoes National Park, this vibrant community-run village offers an immersive experience that brings the rich traditions and history of Rwanda to life.

As you arrive, you are warmly welcomed by the rhythmic beats of traditional drums and the vibrant colors of traditional Rwandan attire. The community, passionate about their heritage, guides you through an interactive tour that showcases various aspects of their daily lives and ancient customs.

You’ll have the chance to step into traditional huts, where you can observe and participate in the age-old art of basket weaving, pottery making, and other crafts that have been passed down through generations. Each demonstration is accompanied by engaging stories and explanations, providing deeper insight into the significance of these practices.

A highlight of the visit is the energetic dance performances, where skilled dancers in elaborate costumes perform the Intore dance, a warrior dance that is both mesmerizing and powerful. The music, the movement, and the enthusiasm of the performers create an electrifying atmosphere that draws you into the spirit of Rwandan celebration. You will also meet a traditional healer who will shares his knowledge about medicinal plants and ancient healing practices.

Later, return to the lodge to unwind. Your accommodation and meals will be provided at the Mountain Gorilla View Lodge.

Day 8: Gorilla Trekking

Arise early today on the 12 Days Active Adventure in Rwanda and prepare for the highlight of your safari, an unforgettable encounter with the gentle giants of Bwindi! Following breakfast, transfer to the national park offices where you will be allocated a gorilla family in groups of 8 and a gorilla tracking guide.

After a pre-tracking briefing by your guide touching on the gorillas generally, your assigned gorilla family as well as appropriate safety precautions, you drive to the trailhead for the start of a thrilling adventure – participants can expect to walk long distances in steep and sometimes muddy conditions with rain overhead, which can be challenging, however, the thrill of coming face to face with a giant Mountain Gorilla silverback far more than makes up for the effort in their quest. Granted the time taken can be quite unpredictable taking anything from 2 to 8 hrs or longer.

You will have a packed lunch from the lodge for this hike. Upon sighting the gorillas, you spend the allowed one hour with them as they go about their daily life; feeding, moving, playing,  grooming, and wrestling by the juveniles – it is a unique and unforgettable experience!

Please remember to bring your passport for registration, appropriate, waterproof hiking boots, and a light raincoat. To protect from stinging nettles, we recommend long pants and long-sleeved tops. A pair of gloves can help grab onto the vegetation while most hotels/lodges provide a walking stick that comes in very handy especially when hiking downhill. A small waterproof backpack is an excellent idea to carry a light snack, bottled water as well as protection for your camera.

Accommodation and Meals at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge

Day 9: Golden Monkey Hiking OR Dian Fossey

Breakfast and then head for the Golden Monkey Tracking: This is one of Africa’s rarest primates and can be found playing and feeding in the rich bamboo forests OR visiting Dian Fossey project.

This takes a 3 -4 hours’ activity to the graveyard where several of Dian Fossey’s favorite gorillas were buried and Dian Fossey is also buried near the graves of her beloved gorillas. The clients can have a look at the facility- labs, and research center and meet the researchers plus staff who work on the Dian Fossey project.

After any of these activities, you will see you return to your hotel for a late lunch relaxing into the evening as you enjoy the beautiful views of the backdrop of the three Volcanic mountains here.

Accommodation and Meals at Mountain Gorilla View Lodge

Day 10: Volcanoes NP to Akagera NP – Boat cruise

Start your day with a transfer to the Akagera National Park, a diverse park consisting of papyrus swamps, savannah plans, and rolling highlands. After lunch, head for a boat cruise on Lake Ihema for 2.5 hours, look out for crocodiles and hippos and over 40 water bird species.

This is also the best way to view the park’s abundant water birds including breeding colonies of noisy and cormorants and openbill storks. Accommodation and Meals at Ruzizi Tented Camp.

Day 11: Walk the Line Tour – Kigali

After breakfast, head out for the walk-the-line tour in the park.  Join the park guides and fence attendants for a walk along the security fence of Akagera Park. The security fence has helped eliminate poaching and other conflicts with humans living near the park.

The 7-kilometer walk lasts for two hours and you are rewarded with scenic views of the game park leading to the top of the hill. Later check out and head back to Kigali Town arriving in time for lunch and relaxation. Accommodation and Meals at Hotel des Mille Collines.

Day 12: Departure – Kigali

Included in the 12 days Active Adventure in Rwanda

Ground transportation in a safari customized 4WD Toyota Land cruiser with gasoline/fuel, Mineral water in the vehicle, services of an English speaking Driver/guide, Accommodation,  Meals,  all Park Entrance Fees,  Kigali City Tour, Gorilla Trekking permits, Chimpanzee Permits, Golden Monkey Hike, Canopy Walk, Waterfall hike, Dian Fossey Project, All historical and cultural activities, Boat rides where applicable, Statutory Taxes.

Excluded in the 12 Days Active Adventure in Rwanda

International Airfares; Excess baggage charges; Rwanda Entry Visa Fees USD 30 per person;   Room service, Beverages, Communications charges (telephone, fax, internet), Laundry, etc.; Postage fees, Porterage fees, Tips and Gratuities for your Driver/guide and Hotels staff,  International Airport Departure Taxes, Optional activities unless specified as included, Any other services not expressly shown in the itinerary or indicated as included.