The 14 days Rwanda long expedition is one of the best long safaris crafted for you to have an in-depth exploration about Rwanda’s natural endowment. It covers 13 nights, 14 days and it includes exciting activities like mountain gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking, Bisoke hiking in Volcanoes National Park, chimpanzee tracking & canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest National Park, game drive and launch/boat cruise in Akagera National Park. Your long safari will begin and end in Kigali Rwanda.
Activities to do on 14 days Rwanda long expedition
- Gorilla trekking
- Golden monkey tracking
- Chimpanzee tracking
- Canopy walk
- Game drive
- Boat cruise
- Bird sighting
- Kigali city tour
Brief itinerary of your 14 days Rwanda long expedition
Day 1: Kigali city tour, travel to hotel
Day 2: Travel from Kigali to Nyungwe Forest National Park
Day 3: Chimpanzee tracking & canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest National Park
Day 4: Forest nature walk & visit to local community
Day 5: Travel from Nyungwe Forest to Lake Kivu
Day 6: Connect to Gisenyi
Day 7: Travel to Ruhengeri/Volcanoes National Park
Day 8: Mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Day 9: Golden monkey tracking
Day 10: Mount Bisoke hiking in Volcanoes National Park
Day 11: Travel to Akagera National Park via Kigali
Day 12: Game drive & boat cruise on Lake Ihema, Akagera National Park
Day 13: Guided nature walk and return to Kigali
Day 14: Fly back home
Detailed itinerary of your 14 days Rwanda long expedition
Day 1: Kigali city tour, travel to hotel
Meet your Rwanda safari guide upon your early arrival at Kigali Airport. Get briefed on 14 days Rwanda long expedition and Kigali city expedition will be your first trip activity. This will involve visiting Gisozi genocide site, museum, local markets plus other closest historical sites. Dinner and overnight stay be in a hotel in Kigali.
Accommodation in Kigali
- Luxury: Serena Hotel Kigali/Hotel des Mille Collines
- Mid-range: Golden Hills Hotel
- Budget: Hotel Chezlando
Day 2: Travel from Kigali to Nyungwe Forest National Park
Have hefty breakfast and after, drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park about 6 hours from Kigali capital city. En-route, expect to enjoy the amazing view of the countryside hills and a stop visit will be made at royal King’s palace in Nyanza. Another visit will be made at Rwesero and lunch will be offered to you in a hotel in Butare Town. Drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park to check in at your hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation in Nyungwe Forest National Park
- Luxury: Nyungwe Safari Lodge
- Mid-range: Nyungwe Top View Hotel
- Budget: Gisakura Guest House
Day 3: Chimpanzee tracking & canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest National Park
Day three of your 14 days Rwanda long expedition will start with breakfast and after, you will get to Uwinka Visitor Centre to be briefed on chimpanzee tracking rules and regulations. The park guide will take you on a search for chimpanzees at 8:00am and your trek may last for 2 to 4 hours. This also covers 1 hour which you will have face to face with chimpanzees and photo taking.
There are also other primates for you to spot especially the red colobus monkeys, L’Hoest monkeys, red tailed monkeys, baboons, vervet monkeys, pottos plus bird species. After a magical encounter, return for lunch break and get some relaxation.
At 2:00am, your next activity will be a canopy walk on a suspended walkway and this may take you approximately 2-3 hours. Expect to enjoy amazing sight of birds, primates, butterflies and magnificent tree canopy. Dinner and overnight stay will be at your lodge.
Accommodation in Nyungwe Forest National Park
- Luxury: Nyungwe Safari Lodge
- Mid-range: Nyungwe Top View Hotel
- Budget: Gisakura Guest House
Day 4: Forest nature walk & visit to local community
Have breakfast and after, participate in a forest walk. This will let you view diversity of colobus monkeys plus other primates, birds and explore different plant species. Return from your exploration to enjoy lunch and relax. In the afternoon/evening, you will have community visit in the nearby communities, visit the tea plantations. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge you booked.
Accommodation in Nyungwe Forest National Park
- Luxury: Nyungwe Safari Lodge
- Mid-range: Nyungwe Top View Hotel
- Budget: Gisakura Guest House
Day 5: Travel from Nyungwe Forest to Lake Kivu
After breakfast, check out of your lodge in Nyungwe Forest then drive to Lake Kivu, one of the magnificent and the largest freshwater lakes in Africa. En-route, expect to visit L’Esperance Orphanage in Kagarama Village. Upon early arrival, take a boat ride on Lake Kivu and have evening relaxation on the scenic shores of Lake Kivu. Dinner and overnight stay at Lake Kivu Serena Hotel.
Day 6: Connect to Gisenyi
Enjoy your cup of tea or coffee and after, drive to Gisenyi Town while getting the best view of the Lake Kivu. Dine and spend a night at Lake Kivu Serena Hotel.
Day 7: Travel to Ruhengeri/Volcanoes National Park
Have breakfast early in the morning and after, drive to Volcanoes National Park. In the evening, you will pay a visit to Iby’Iwacu cultural village for an amazing cultural experience, get to learn about the traditions, lifestyles and also enjoy the unique dances and music performances. Dinner and overnight stay at the gorilla safari lodge in Volcanoes National Park.
Accommodation in Volcanoes National Park
- Luxury: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge/Five Volcanoes
- Mid-range: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge/Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
- Budget: Muhabura Lodge/Kinigi Guesthouse
Day 8: Mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Get up early for breakfast and later, report to Kinigi reception for briefing on gorilla trekking rules and regulations. A trek to view the endangered mountain gorillas in the wild is undoubtedly the most memorable experience. It starts early in the morning at 8:00am with each gorilla group tracked by 8 visitors and the park guide will accompany you. It may take you 2 or 6 hours to make a complete gorilla trek and this also includes 1 hour of magical encounter. Return to the lodge to relax, dine and spend a night.
Accommodation in Volcanoes National Park
- Luxury: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge/Five Volcanoes
- Mid-range: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge/Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
- Budget: Muhabura Lodge/Kinigi Guesthouse
Day 9: Golden monkey tracking in Volcanoes National Park
After breakfast, assemble for briefing on guidelines to be observed on a trek to see golden monkeys. At 8:00am, start the 2-4 hours of golden monkey trekking experience in the jungles of Volcanoes National Park. Dinner and overnight stay will be at your preferred lodge.
Accommodation in Volcanoes National Park
- Luxury: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge/Five Volcanoes
- Mid-range: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge/Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
- Budget: Muhabura Lodge/Kinigi Guesthouse
Day 10: Mount Bisoke hiking in Volcanoes National Park
After breakfast, you will embark on a volcano hike to the scenic Mount Bisoke. Enjoy the magnificent view of Crater Lake, surrounding areas and a lot more. Return thereafter to relax, dine and spend a night at your lodge.
Accommodation in Volcanoes National Park
- Luxury: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge/Five Volcanoes
- Mid-range: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge/Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
- Budget: Muhabura Lodge/Kinigi Guesthouse
Day 11: Travel to Akagera National Park via Kigali
After a cup of tea or coffee, leave Volcanoes National Park for Akagera National Park in eastern Rwanda. Check in at the wildlife safari lodge for dinner and a night stay. You may have a quick game drive in the evening for you to spot some of the park’s elephants, buffaloes, rhinos, lions, birds, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, warthogs and others.
Accommodation in Akagera National Park
- Luxury: Rusizi Tented Camp/Magashi Tented Camp
- Mid-range: Akagera Game Lodge
- Budget: Dereva Hotel
Day 12: Game drive & boat cruise on Lake Ihema, Akagera National Park
After breakfasts, start your morning game drive in Akagera National Park and this can take about 2 to 3 hours. Expect to see diversity of wildlife species including among others giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, elephants, rhinos, birds, leopards, antelopes, hyenas, jackals, lions and others.
Retreat from your wildlife viewing experience for lunch and relax. At 2:00pm, go for an afternoon boat cruise via Lake Ihema. This offers you opportunity to enjoy sight of hippos, crocodiles, water birds and many more. Return to relax, dine and overnight stay.
Accommodation in Akagera National Park
- Luxury: Rusizi Tented Camp/Magashi Tented Camp
- Mid-range: Akagera Game Lodge
- Budget: Dereva Hotel
Day 13: Guided nature walk and return to Kigali
After breakfast, you will embark on a guided nature walk. You will enjoy good sight of different wildlife species, birds and many more. Later, return to check out of the lodge then drive back to Kigali capital city. Dinner and overnight stay in Kigali.
Accommodation in Kigali
- Luxury: Serena Hotel Kigali/Hotel des Mille Collines
- Mid-range: Golden Hills Hotel
- Budget: Hotel Chezlando
Day 14: Fly back home
After breakfast, connect to Kigali Airport to catch up with your flight back home. This marks the end of your 14 days Rwanda long expedition.
End of your 14 days Rwanda long expedition
The safari includes
- Launch trip
- Game drives
- Park entrance fees
- Accommodation for 13 nights and meals
- Bottled drinking water on Rwanda safari
- Travel in a 4×4 Land Cruiser roof top
- An English-speaking safari guide
The safari excludes
- Visas
- Laundry services
- Other drinks
- Tipping
- International flight
- Cigarettes
- Telephone bills
- Personal insurance
- The optional activities