Day1:

Arrive in Kigali and be met by your tour guide then take a city tour around Kigali the capital city of Rwanda. You will get to see the genocide memorial, museum, the pottery markets and arts and crafts markets and also get to buy yourselves some souveniors. Dinner and overnight at the preferred hotel.

Day2:

Following breakfast, drive to Ruhengeri in the north, the “Land of a Thousand Hills” and tour around the lively and friendly town centre of Ruhengeri and visit the clay fields of a group of brick makers. Have lunch and then relax while watching a cultural performance of a local dance group and in the evening, you will have a traditional dinner.

Day3:

Wake up early morning and go trekking in the bamboo forests of Volcanoes National Park and visit one of the last mountain gorilla families in the world, one of the supreme highlights in the lives of many nature lovers, you will then have an optional visit to a group of local beekeepers and return for lunch.

Day4:

You will take a visit to the beautiful region of the twin Lakes Burera and Ruhondo after having breakfast, you will be introduced to traditional sustainable farming methods with African vegetables and fruits, visit the local fishermen and get to see the fishing competition with children from the adjacent villages then take a boat cruise in one of the shaky traditional canoes and visit the convent “Foyer de Charité” then get to see the local witch doctors and the “snake man”.

Day5:

Drive to Gisenyi at the northern shores of Lake Kivu and visit the tea plantations, do some shopping at a farmers’ market and cook your lunch in hot springs at the shore of Lake Kivu. In the afternoon, you will go swimming and relax at sandy beaches and a palm-shaded beach promenade.

Day6:

Take a boat trip to Gishamwana Island; visit the coffee plantation and enjoy life at the lake which is surrounded by breathtaking scenery with banana plantations and terraced hill. You will then have a romantic evening at the lake.

Day7:

Wake up early morning and take a trip across the border to Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo and have a tour of the city which repeatedly gained tragic publicity in the past decade because of enormous refugee camps, hunger, epidemics and, recently, a devastating volcanic eruption that reminded of the fate of the historic town of Pompeii. Return and take a boat trip to Kibuye at the eastern shores of Lake Kivu.

Day8:

Tour of the town centre of Kibuye and visit to a large church which serves as a peaceful reminder of the genocide, if possible you will encounter with survivors of the genocide. You will have a discovery tour on the lake with exploration of the lake’s flora and fauna and visit to the islands “Napoleon’s Hat” and “Amahoro” (Island of Peace)

Day9:

Boat trip to Cyangugu at the southern shores of Lake Kivu; visit the famous bridge to Bukavu in the Democratic Republic of Congo which was a symbol of hope for hundreds of thousands of refugees and drive to Nyungwe National Park in the south-west of Rwanda. This park has got 13 primate species and chimpanzees; you will have a primate tour and have a chance to see the Colobus monkey, L Hoest monkeys. Return in the evening for dinner and overnight.

Day10:

Following breakfast, you will go hiking in Nyungwe National Park again, the largest mountainous forest in the whole region of Central and East Africa with impressive flora and fauna then drive to Butare, Rwanda’s cultural centre and visit the National Museum then see the performance of a local dance group.

Day 11:

Drive to Nyanza after breakfast in the morning, the historical seat of the ancient Rwandan kings and visit the Palace and narration of some village elders then drive to Kigali and have a tour of the city. You will have lunch enroute and then return to your hotel and spend the afternoon relaxing.

Day12:

Drive to Akagera National Park in the east of Rwanda, the safari takes you to the most complex savannah ecosystem of East Africa with impressive landscape, extraordinary birdlife and the occasional big game animals. You will have a chance to participate in the activities that take place on the lake. E.g. canoeing, fishing e.t.c.

Day13:

Drive to Rwamagana, visit the local handicraft production project that is supported by international development agencies (e.g. the German DED), then drive to Kigali and return in the afternoon at your own convenience and in the early evening, you will see a performance of members of Batwa Pottery Project with an introduction to the life of the first Rwandans, there art of pottery as well as singing, drumming and dancing.

Day14:

End of tour, travel back to Kigali to catch your flight back home.

END OF THE TOUR