Welcoming you to the 5-day Rwanda Gorilla trekking and Ballon safari that will offer you a perfect blend of mountain gorilla trekking in the misty forests of the Volcanoes National Park and classic savannah wildlife experience in the Akagera National Park. Akagera National Park is the only savannah park in Rwanda and a home to the big five wildlife and other savannah wildlife that will be encountered during the safari.
In this safari, you will engage in the city tour of Kigali city, gorilla trekking in the Volcanoes National Park, a boat cruise on Lake Ihema, balloon safaris in Akagera National Park, game viewing in the Akagera National Park, and cultural experience to the gorilla Guidan village.
This safari delivers the best of Rwanda’s beauty in the two iconic destinations and it is a perfect safari for you seeking a blend of adventure and culture.
Summary of the safari
1st Day: Arrival in Kigali
2nd Day: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
3rd Day: Gorilla trekking and transfer to Akagera National Park.
4th Day: Guided game drive and boat cruise.
5th Day: Ballon safari and transfer to Kigali.
Details of the safari.
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali.
On arrival at the Kigali International Airport, you will be transferred from the airport to your hotel in Kigali. At the hotel, you will engage in dinner and overnight.
Meal plan: Dinner.
Day 2: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park.
You will start your day with an early morning breakfast and then continue with a Kigali city tour that will take you through the learn about the evolution and history of Rwanda. In this city tour, you will visit several sites around the city like the Kigali genocide center, presidents’ museums, Belgian monuments, local markets, and many others.
After your lunch in Kigali, you will go ahead with the transfer to the volcanic national parks. Upon arrival in the park, you will start with a community visit to the Gorilla guardian village where you will engage in activities like cultural dances, banana brewing, preparation of the local cuisine, and many others.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Day 3: Gorilla trekking and transfer to Akagera National Park.
The day 3 of the 5-day Rwanda gorilla trekking and balloon safari, you will start with an early morning breakfast. Then continue with a transfer to the park headquarters in Kinigi. At the park headquarters, you will proceed with the briefing about gorilla trekking. During the briefing, you will be highlighted the dos and don’ts of the activity.
Later on, you will continue with the activity which will take about 2 to 6 hours of the day upon where you meet the gorillas. Coming across the gorillas, you will have an hour viewing maintaining a distance of 7 meters.
As you are done with the gorilla trekking, you will go ahead with a transfer to Akagera National Park which will take about 5 to 6 hours of the day.
You will arrive in the park in the park where you will continue to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Day 4: Guided game drive and boat cruise.
On the second last day of the 5-day Rwanda gorilla trekking and balloon safari, you will start the day early. Begin with a morning game drive around Akagera National Park. In this game drive , you will encounter several wildlife like lions , leopards , buffaloes , rhinos , impalas , zebras , warthogs , and many others.
These wildlife will be encountered in the several gazetted trails of the park. After the game drive, you will engage in the bush breakfast around the scenic point of the park.
In the afternoon, you will continue the transfer to Lake Ihema. There, you will begin with a game drive to encounter wildlife around the water body. Expect to see crocodiles, buffaloes, hippos, monitor lizards, and many others. After the boat cruise, you will engage in the sundowner. This will take place at a scenic point in the park.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Day 5: Balloon safari and transfer to Kigali.
You will rise early in morning before the sunrise and then drive into the park for the balloon safari . This activity will start with an orientation and later on, you continue with the activity.
This experience will offer a perfect aerial view of the Akagera National Park of its landscapes and wildlife in the air. You will have an opportunity to see the sunrise in the wildlife.
You will later engage in the breakfast at the lodge and refresh as prepare to transfer to Kigali. Later on, you will continue with a transfer to Kigali.
While in Kigali, you will visit a souvenir shop for a short shopping depending on your flight schedule. After shopping, you will continue to the airport for your outbound flights.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch.