Day 1:   Rwanda Cultural Experience

Today is your arrival day for the 8 days Rwanda cultural and gorilla safari. You will be welcomed by our driver guide from the airport and transferred to your hotel in Kigali depending on time of arrival. If your flight is early morning, you will take a Kigali city tour before traveling to Akagera national park.  If in the late afternoon, you will over night in Kigali.

Day 2: Game drive in Akagera national park

We shall start with a morning game drive in the northern part of the park where we lookout for some of the large mammals in this area. They include Elephants, Giraffes, Zebras, Buffaloes and the recently re-introduce lions. There was human-wildlife conflict in this area which was solved by fencing one side of the park near communities.

In the afternoon, we shall do a boat ride on Lake Ihema or you can choose to relax at the lodge. We will overnight in the park eager to experience the community the next day.

Day 3:Visit a homestead for a Rwandan cultural experience

Eastern Rwanda is relatively flatter than most of the country and preferred by the pastoralists. We will visit a homestead of cattle keepers and engage in the different activities. We start early morning with milking cows with hands as opposed to machines. The herdsman will guide you on how to soothe the cow and milk it. After the session, you set the cows for the days grazing. You also have lessons on how milk is converted traditionally into different products like ghee and yoghurt.

Day4: Transfer to Volcanoes national park

After breakfast, we relieve the cultural experiences in the homestead and transfer to the volcanoes national park where the massive gentle giants inhabit. Volcanoes national park is located in northern Rwanda about 2 hours from Kigali in Kinigi, Musanze. You have several photography opportunities as you travel north to the volcanoes. We will arrive to the lodge later that evening ready for the gorilla hike the next day..

Day 5: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park

Have an early breakfast and transfer to the gorilla briefings area at the park headquarters in Kinigi. After the briefing, we drive to the start of the gorilla trekking into the jungles of the Virunga. This experience in the wild is like no other and certainly one you will remember the rest of your life when you come face to face with the mountain gorilla family. You can only spend one hour with them after locating them after which you will start the trek back.

Day 6: Gorilla Guardians Village Experience

Today we will transfer to the gorilla guardians village which was formerly known as Iby’iwacu cultural village. Part of the day will be spent here learning about how the Rwandan people lived in their community traditionally which is climaxed by the experience of having a King and Queen. Enjoy a traditional dance performed by the group, and learn about how they made traditional beer and local cuisines.

The other part of the day will be spent in the community where you will visit a village home and be part of their daily life. You will prepare a meal together with them and after enjoy eating this same meal.

Day 7: Lake Kivu – Fishing Village tour

After a relaxed breakfast, we transfer to Gisenyi on the shores of Lake Kivu for relaxation and activities on the lake. Lake Kivu is a beautiful lake bordered between Rwanda and Congo in western Rwanda. On the menu today is taking a boat ride to the Napoleon island, take a visit to the hot springs or simply relax at the beach or by your hotel.

Today we spend the day exploring the Gisenyi area especially the fishing village. You learn and participate in the traditional fishing methods and fish preservation by the fishermen plying the waters of Lake Kivu.

Day 8: End of the Rwanda Cultural Experience Safari

We hope its been worthwhile exploring Rwandan cultural heritage and community experiences with an addition of game drive and mountain gorillas in Rwanda. After a late breakfast, we shall transfer to your hotel in Kigali or the airport for your flight back home..