In Search of Rwanda’s Big Five
Overview
To give an insight into the types of luxury travel experiences we create, please view the sample itinerary below. It can either be treated as a standalone program, incorporated into a longer itinerary, or modified to match your particular interests and budget. Alternatively, you may wish for us to start with a blank canvas, to handcraft a personalised itinerary based on what you want and nothing more. Prices will fluctuate based on the time of year, length of stay, accommodation choices, number of participants and inclusions.
We pride ourselves in our ability to plan and execute every trip to perfection.
Contact us to request the itinerary in PDF format.
Itinerary
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Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, meet your Travulous guide and transfer to your accommodation in Kigali.
Spend the rest of the day at leisure enjoying your accommodation's facilities or head out and explore Kigali, either on your own or on a guided city tour.
Some sites to consider visiting are the Kigali Genocide Memorial, Inema Arts Centre, 1000 Hills Distillery, Nyamirambo Women’s Center, Caplaki Craft Village, and Umusambi Village, to name a few.
In the evening, there are many charming restaurants in Kigali to choose from for dinner, many featuring panoramic views over the city.
Meals: All meals at own arrangement.
Overnight: Accommodation options
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After breakfast, meet your Travulous guide and transfer to Akagera National Park. Hugging the border of Tanzania, the savannah and woodlands are dominated by a labyrinth of swamps and lakes that follow the meandering course of the Akagera River.
Akagera is the largest protected wetland in Central Africa and the only place to spot the Big Five in Rwanda. Since 2010, African Parks has managed Akagera in partnership with the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), transforming the park into a thriving ecosystem for African wildlife with over 13,000 animals living there.
Spend the rest of the day enjoying your accommodation’s facilities. Time permitting, explore the park on an afternoon game drive.
Meals: Dinner included, breakfast and lunch at own arrangement.
Overnight: Accommodation options
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After breakfast, depart on a full day of game drives. Go in search of elephant, buffalo, rhino, lion, leopard, hippo, antelope, zebra, giraffe, baboons, monkeys, and the continent's largest concentration of waterbirds, including the papyrus gonolek and shoebill stork.
By practically eliminating poaching, wildlife populations in Akagera have risen by almost 50%, with no losses of key species since 2010. Lions were reintroduced in 2015, followed by black rhinos in 2017 and white rhinos in 2021.
Enjoy an optional boat trip on Lake Ihema in the afternoon. Whilst drifting along the water surrounded by hippos and crocodiles, keep a lookout for more than 482 documented bird species.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Overnight: Accommodation options
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Take to the skies on an optional early morning hot air balloon safari before returning to your accommodation in time for breakfast and heading out on a game drive. In addition to its wildlife, Akagera offers spectacular scenery and diverse habitats including, mountains, savannah, woodland, lakes and marshes.
After lunch, we will visit the park's headquarters for a behind-the-scenes tour and meet some key team members while learning more about the conservation success story of Akagera.
In the evening, we depart on a guided night drive. Starting as the sun sets, a night drive offers a unique opportunity to spot nocturnal wildlife, from elusive leopards to magnificent lions.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Overnight: Accommodation options
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After breakfast, we depart for Kigali airport and your homebound flight. Time permitting, consider stopping at Umusambi Village: a beautiful wetland sanctuary for endangered grey crowned cranes.
Meals: Breakfast included, lunch and dinner at own arrangement.
Alternatively, consider extending this trip by adding one of our Extension Ideas (see below) to this program.
General Info
Highlights
BIG 5 GAME DRIVES
Enjoy game drives spotting the Big Five, antelope, zebra, giraffe, baboons and monkeys
AKAGERA BOAT CRUISE
Cruise along Akagera’s Lake Ihema in search of large pods of hippos and Nile crocodiles
BEHIND THE SCENES
Take a behind the scenes tour of Akagera’s HQ to learn about its conservation success story
BIRDING
Discover the largest concentration of waterbirds in Africa, including the shoebill stork
Accommodation Options
Click on each photo to learn more about the featured property, or click here to discover additional accommodations.
Map
Extension Ideas
SAFARI HIGHLIGHTS
Visit world famous safari highlights including the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and the Gorillas
BEHIND THE SCENES
Gain unique insights into Wildlife Conservation, Educational Experiences and History & Traditions
BEACH DESTINATIONS
Round-off your safari in East Africa with a great choice of world-class Indian Ocean beach destinations
WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES
Visit a wildlife sanctuary and learn about the increadibe work they do to safeguard Africa’s wildlife
Climate
Rwanda has a year-round tropical highland climate. Temperatures vary by location and altitude, with little variation throughout the year. Rain is commonplace in Rwanda. The driest months are June to mid-September and the wettest from mid-February to May and mid-September to mid-December.
The dry season sees cloud cover and light rainfall. Roads and paths tend to be easier to navigate during this period.
Visas
All foreign nationals require a visa for entry to Rwanda. Please check with your local Rwandan Embassy or our travel team for further information. Tourist visas can be obtained, on arrival, for all travellers at all ports of entry. Visitors from the African Union, the Commonwealth of Nations and Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie are waived visa fees for visits up to 30 days.
For travellers of other nationalities, a visa fee is payable. The Rwandan government has introduced an online ‘e-visa’ application system for obtaining tourist visas in advance of travel. Travellers who choose to arrange their visa prior to arrival should carry a printed copy of their visa to present to immigration officials.
Language & Currency
The official languages of Rwanda are Kinyarwanda, French, English and Swahili. Generally all Rwandans speak Kinyarwanda. French, English and Swahili is widely spoken in tourist areas, with varying degrees of fluency.
The local currency is the Rwandan franc, which divides into 100 centimes. US dollars are widely accepted; local currency is best for tipping and small purchases. Very few places accept credit cards outside of the major hotels in Kigali.
Access to cash machines is available in most major towns, and exchanging currency can be done in banks and foreign exchange bureaus.
Health
At least 6-8 weeks before departure, please visit your local health care provider or travel clinic for any vaccination requirements and to discuss any other potential health risks, such as malaria (where applicable). All travellers should ensure they have a comprehensive travel insurance policy in place.
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“After practically eliminating poaching in just five years, lions were reintroduced in 2015, followed by black rhinos in 2017 and again in 2019 from European zoos. Wildlife numbers have grown from less than 5,000 in 2010 to over 13,000 and counting”