This 6 Days Rwanda Camping Safari & Tented Tour is one of our most magical and most preferred safari tours as it gives a great encounter of mountain gorillas and chimpanzees in the land of the a thousand hills.
The Rwanda camping safaris’ itinerary will give you a great chance to undertake a game drive in Akagera National Park, canopy walk Nyungwe Forest National Park, cultural tours in Butare and Kigali cities as you sum up your safari with us. Some of the camps you’ll sleep at include Ruzizi Tented Camp, Karenga Bush Camp and Magashi Camp among the rest.
6 Days Rwanda Camping Safari Itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Akagera National Park
This tour begins in Kigali by 7:00 am, ready to begin your transfer to Akagera national park; this is the only savannah national park in Rwanda. On the way, you will visit the Nyakarambi village and learn how the Imigongo cow dung paintings are put up by the Kakira Women Co-operative.
You will also come across the art crafted by Prince Kakira that ise being put to use by decorating various houses through the use of cow dung. This dung is sometimes dried and further mixed with several colors that are made the organic materials like the plants to create white and red paints. These paintings are very attractive and sparkling in their distinct colors.
Arrive at your place of accommodation, check in and have lunch. In the afternoon, you will take a boat trip on Lake Ihema where you will spot various water birds that include rare shoebill stork. You can also get chance to spot big reptiles including hippos, Nile crocodiles, and many other land animals like antelopes, buffaloes, elephants and so much more. After this excursion, return to your booked lodge, enjoy a sun downer on the balcony of your room, a comforting bonfire and admire the soothing sounds of the African wild.
Day 2: Morning Game Drive & Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
After an early morning breakfast at 6:00 am and leave for an early morning game drive in Akagera national park to catch up with nocturnal hunters and early risers. Begin your search for the big mammals like Elephants, Buffaloes, Giraffes, several Antelope species, and recently the re-introduced Lions and eastern black rhinos.
The park is a varied habitat for wildlife and a number of bird species comprising up to 500 bird species in the park making it a vibrant birding paradise. You will later return to lodge to check out, and take packed lunch with you. Begin a transfer to north – western based gorilla destination, Volcanoes National Park. Arrive in the evening, check in at the lodge and overnight stay.
Day 3: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes NP
After having your breakfast, you will go to the national park headquarters to receive a briefing from the park officials about the dos and don’ts while with the gorillas as well as get allocated to the ranger guide and the mountain gorilla family you’ll track. Head off to the jungles and start the search for mountain gorillas. It’s an amazing moment to be among 8 persons allowed to visit a specific gorilla family. Once you meet them, you are only given one hour to be stay with them, as you watch their behaviors and way of life. There after return to the lodge by 2:00pm. Have refreshment and lunch at the lodge.
In the evening, visit the famous Ib’yiwachu Village, one of the few places to be immersed in the culture of the three tribes of Rwanda; Hutu, Tutsi and Twa. While here, you will a get an insight into the lifestyle, activities, artifacts and unique ways of life of Rwandan people through their traditional performances, cuisine and other cultural experiences.
Day 4: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park
Wake up to a delicious breakfast in Volcanoes National park. Check out and leave for Nyungwe forest national park. Along the way, branch off to Lake Kivu for a thrilling boat cruise and an Enroute lunch on white sand beaches of Rwanda’s biggest lake. After the boat cruise, depart Lake Kivu to further southwards in Rusizi, the home of Nyungwe forest national park. Nyungwe forest is home of chimpanzees in Rwanda and also home of the only canopy walking experience in East Africa. Spend the entire evening relaxing at the lodge.
Day 5: Chimpanzee Trekking & Canopy Walk
Today you will have an early breakfast before taking on a thrilling hike to search for resident chimpanzee troops. The Rwandan chimpanzee population is thought to be approximately 400-500 individuals, permanently residing in the Nyungwe National Park, including a small troop in the Cyamudongo Forest.
Prepare to hear the chuckles of such amazing primates even before seeing them, as their pant-hoots pass through the impenetrable forest. During your trek you can also sight migratory birds including the grey-cheeked hornbill, Ross’ turaco, regal sunbird and red-breasted sparrow hawk. After lunch, spend your afternoon on the canopy walk where you can view elusive animals, primates and birdlife resident in Nyungwe forest. Retire back to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 6: Transfer back to Kigali
Enjoy your breakfast early morning and leave Nyungwe to central province in Kigali city, a journey of up to 5 hours’ drive. On the way visit the Royal Palace Museum and Ethnographic Museum in Nyanza Southern Province. After lunch, you head straight to Kigali.