6 Days Rwanda Double Gorilla Trekking & Hot Air Balloon Safari
This 6-day double gorilla trekking in Rwanda and hot air balloon safari will give you the chance to explore two of the most notable national parks in Rwanda, Volcanoes national park and akagera national park where you will have a memorable Rwanda safari as you participate in gorilla trekking in Rwanda, which will give you access to the mountain gorillas in Africa that can be seen when you participate in gorilla trekking in volcanoes national park which will lead you to the Virunga mountains in Rwanda.
With gorilla trekking experience in Rwanda, you will get to spend an hour with the species, observing their behaviour in the wild. In Akagera National Park, you will participate in the hot air balloon safari, which will give you aerial views of the park, which will give you access to a number of attractions, like the different animal species grazing within the plains, get ready to watch numerous bird species as you enjoy the flights. Interesting about the safari is the fact that you will also participate in the game drives in Akagera National Park which will give you the chance to track the big five animals in Rwanda.
Highlights of your safari
Day 1: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Rwanda
Day 3: 2nd gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park and Dian Fossey Museum visit
Day 4: Transfer to Akagera National Park and Lake Ihema boat cruise
Day 5: Full-day game drive in Akagera National Park
Day 6: Hot air balloon safari and departure
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
You will be met by your driver guide at your agreed location in Kigali city to transfer to Volcanoes National Park where you will arrive in time to participate in the Ibyi’wacu cultural village tour. Have a guided walk around the village at the different sites that exhibit the different aspects of the people of the village to have an insight about the interesting features of the culture of the people of Rwanda. By visiting ibyiwacu cultural village get to see a medicine man that is mixing a number of herbs that were used to cure a number of diseases like barrenness and impotence, stomach upsets, fever and many more. If you’re interested, you can also get involved in mixing the herbs, which will give you an authentic experience. After the experience, head to your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay. Tiloreza (mid-range) Amikus hotel (budget)
Day 2: Gorilla trekking in Rwanda
After an early morning breakfast at your hotel, you will be picked up from your hotel. our guide will meet you after having your breakfast and your lunches packed and he will take you to Kinigi Headquarters, where you are expected to be given a brief before starting the gorilla trek. This brief is done at 7am. You are given guidelines during this brief before you are allowed to start the trek. This gorilla trek can take from about 2 hours to half a day, as it’s unpredictable. When you finally find the gorillas, you will have to maintain a 7 meters’ distance and you are allowed one hour to admire and take photos of the gorillas.
During the time you spend with the gorillas, you will get the opportunity to understand a number of their rewarding features, like how they co-exist with one another, you will get to watch the duty of the dominant silverback, whose role is to mate with the adult females to increase the members of the family and raid other gorilla families for their members, you will watch the juveniles grooming one another for a rewarding safari experience. After the trek, you will then make your way back to your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay as the night before.
Day 3: 2nd gorilla trekking experience in Volcanoes National Park and Dian Fossey Museum visit
After an early morning breakfast and with your packed lunch, you will participate in your second gorilla trekking experience. Get ready to watch the gentle giants for the second time, visiting a different gorilla family, which will give you an insight into the different gorilla families, and get to spend another hour with the species, understanding their rewarding features.
After the safari experience, you will visit the Dian Fossey museum, where you will spend about 2 hours learning about the famous gorilla lady with artefacts that belonged to her, along with an impression of the Virunga ranges. This is a thrilling walk through the museum. Head back to your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay as on the night before.
Day 4: Transfer to Akagera National Park and Lake Ihema boat cruise
After an early morning breakfast at your hotel, you will connect with your guide to transfer you to Akagera National Park. On reaching the park, you will take part in a short game drive which will give you the chance to watch a number of animal species, like the early risers grazing and enjoying the morning sun. After the morning game drive, you will head to your hotel for relaxation and lunch, and you will take part in the boat cruise of Lake Ihema, which will give you access to a number of rewarding views and attractions like the endangered shoebill stork.
You will have access to a number of carnivores like the lions, leopards and many more species or stay at your hotel to participate in a night game drive which will give you the chance to watch how the park comes to life when the sun sets. During the safari experience, you will get to watch carnivores like the lions and leopards hunting, which is quite a memorable safari experience you should not miss out on. After the experience, head to your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 5: Full-day game drive in Akagera National Park
Rise up early in the morning have breakfast and go for a morning game drive with great anticipation of seeing the different animals which rise early to graze and predators looking for their early morning kill, especially the big cats like the leopard, lions and many other carnivores. You will get to watch a number of herbivores like the rhinos grazing within the plains, elephants, gazelles, oribis and many other rewarding game animals.
After the morning game drives, you will head back to your hotel for refreshments and later in the afternoon transfer to take part in the evening game drive. Get ready to watch how the park comes to life as the sun sets with a number of predators coming from their hiding spots to catch prey, the herbivores catching their last bite for the day, the crocodiles can be seen sunbathing, and elephants quenching their thirst from the riverbanks, which will make your safari quite memorable. After an amazing safari experience, you will make your way back to Akagera Game Lodge (mid-range) or Karenge Bush Camp (budget) for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 6: Hot air balloon safari and departure
After an early morning breakfast at your hotel, you will set off to the Kayitaba point in Akagera National Park where the hot air balloon safaris take off from. The activity starts as early as 5am but it’s adjustable depending on the sunrise time. At that point you will be taken through the rules and regulations for the activity and the instructions to follow as you prepare for the safari. After the preparations, embark on the experience as you enter the basket and begin your flight.
During the experience, enjoy the aerial view of the park, watching a number of rewarding attractions like the different herbivores grazing within the plains, you will enjoy the calmness of the park as you enjoy the beautiful views of the sunrise over lake Ihema.
The experience is finished with popping a bottle of champagne after landing, where you will also receive a certificate of participation signed by the pilot, which is quite rewarding. After the rewarding encounter, your driver/guide will drive back to Kigali, having lunch en-route and later you will be dropped off at a hotel of your choice in Kigali City or Kigali international airport in case you have a flight to catch back home.
End of 6 Days Rwanda Double Gorilla Trekking & Hot Air Balloon Safari
Safari Includes;
4×4 Safari Land Cruiser & Fuel
Full-time English-speaking driver/guide
Meals as indicated
Park entrance fees
Boat cruise fees
Vehicle entrance fees
Bottled mineral water while on safari
Hot air balloon permit ($450)
Gorilla trekking permit ($1500)
Safari Excludes:
Tips
All items of a personal nature like tents, sleeping bags, bedding, laundry, phone calls, beer, etc.
Anything else not included in the itinerary
