Rwanda’s Great Apes and Wildlife: Luxury Safari and Gorilla Viewing

After landing at Kigali International Airport, please make your way to the airport entrance where you will be met by an Akagera Aviation Representative who will assist you with customs and immigration.

After immigration, please proceed to the VIP lounge and enjoy refreshments while your luggage is being collected for you. Once all luggage collected, you will be escorted to arrivals hall and be introduced to your driver/guide who will give you your private transfer to The Retreat Hotel and check in your room. Overnight: The Retreat by Heaven

Town & Country and The New York Times call The Retreat in Rwanda one of the top new hotels in the world in 2019. The American owners of Heaven Restaurant created The Retreat, an 11-room luxury boutique hotel located on a tree-lined street steps from Kigali City Center and 20 minutes from the airport. It is Kigali’s first eco-friendly resort and features solar electricity, organic toiletries, locally-crafted furniture from a Tanzanian sustainable teak farm, outdoor showers, private terraces, a yoga and meditation room, spa, large heated saltwater swimming pool with jacuzzi and diving rocks, and an open-air fitness center. Fusion Restaurant and its Swahili-inspired bar, located at The Retreat, offer delicious farm-to-table international cuisine, while Heaven Restaurant (reached through the Retreat’s “Stairway to Heaven”) offers an innovative modern African menu.

The Retreat is the perfect choice to host guests for 1 night or several days as it offers innovative, curated cultural experiences and exciting activities in and around Kigali.

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Included

Breakfast, complimentary high speed WI-FI internet, 24 hour reception and security, water as well as coffee/tea in common areas, complimentary turndown every evening

Kigali

Rwanda’s capital and biggest city stretches across undulating lush hills surrounded by towering mountains, the largest of which is Mount Kigali, rising 1850 metres above sea level. Kigali is the country’s financial, commercial and cultural hub, served by an international airport and featuring a wide range of accommodation options, restaurants and points of interest, including the Kigali Genocide Centre, an atmospheric market and numerous craft shops. With its interesting architecture, busy streets, meandering boulevards, and green hillsides, Kigali is said to be one of the most attractive cities in Africa and is definitely worth a visit.

After breakfast at your hotel, at 7AM, your driver/guide will pick you up from hotel and take you to Kigali Serena Hotel for your Scheduled Shuttle transfer to Magashi departing at 7:30AM (3 hours).

The shuttle takes you to the Akagera North Gate where you will be met by a camp vehicle. You will game drive on your way to camp.

Check into your luxury tented rooms upon arrival at Magashi. At 13h00 enjoy your first lunch at Magashi.

This afternoon around 15h00 you will be taken for a private boat cruise and do some fishing (catch & release basis). Enjoy a sundowner this evening after your excursions. (activities subject to weather)

Enjoy dinner this evening and your first night at Magashi.

Overnight: Magashi View iBrochure

Magashi Camp is situated in the productive and phenomenally diverse north-eastern corner of Akagera National Park, overlooking scenic Lake Rwanyakazinga. Akagera comprises some of the most scenic savannah in East Africa – open plains, woodlands, lakes, swamp, and grassy low mountains – and is home to one of Africa’s highest hippo densities, large crocodiles as well as the rare sitatunga and more than 520 bird species. Teeming with plains game, Akagera also boasts a healthy population of lion which were introduced by African Parks in 2015 after a 20-year absence; black rhino were reintroduced in 2017. Magashi – the only exclusive-use area in Akagera – also harbours a good density of leopard.

Six spacious and airy tented guest rooms offer uninterrupted views over Lake Rwanyakazinga while Magashi’s main area comprises a luxurious lounge and dining area, bar and pool, as well as an expansive viewing deck with convivial fire pit. The architecture and interiors pay homage to traditional Rwandan culture.

INSIDER’S TIP: Our core Purpose in Akagera is to help conserve Rwanda’s last protected savannah ecosystem, and species like black rhino and the rare and elusive shoebill; furthermore, our presence here will contribute towards enabling it to become economically self-sufficient for the first time.

Included

All meals, all local drinks (excludes premium imported brands and champagne), transfer from the entrance gate of Akagera National Park to the lodge, all lodge activities (guided game drives, boat cruises, walking safaris), park fees, laundry, local Government taxes. In the event of a change in local taxes or the introduction of additional taxes, these rates will be adjusted accordingly.

Today enjoy a full day of Magashi activities on private basis (your private guide will brief you on the day’s program depending on game to sight and weather)

Akagera National Park

Bordering Tanzania in eastern Rwanda, Akagera National Park is central Africa’s largest protected wetland and the last refuge for savannah-adapted species in the country.

It is an African conservation success story and stretches across a vast expanse of low-lying mountains and savannah plains, the park takes in the rolling highlands woodlands, swamp-fringed lakes, and wetlands of the Kagera River along the way.

Crocodiles and hippos wallow in the park’s watery basins, predators prowl through its acacia groves, and elephant, zebra, giraffe, buffalo and other animals roam across its grassy plains. Bursting with a rich biodiversity, the park features a variety of rare species, as well as top predators, many other mammals and hundreds of bird species.

Again a full day of Magashi safari activities on a private basis (your private guide will brief you depending on the weather and game viewings)

This morning please hand your luggage to Magashi staff for its transfer to Bisate Lodge on today’s 11h30 shuttle to Kigali. (You will find your luggage at Bisate Lodge next day).

After a morning game drive at Magashi and lunch, you will have a private helicopter from Magashi to Bisate departing 1PM. Please check in your rooms upon arrival at Bisate and enjoy your afternoon at leisure. Enjoy your first night at Bisate Lodge.

Overnight: Bisate Lodge

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Bisate Lodge is located in the natural amphitheatre of an eroded volcanic cone and has dramatic views of the peaks of the volcanoes Bisoke and Karisimbi rearing up through the Afro-alpine forests of nearby Volcanoes National Park.

Six luxurious en-suite villas maximise comfort and views while retaining environmental principles and reflecting the culture of rural Rwanda.

Each guest contributes to Bisate’s biodiversity conservation and local community projects – making a far-reaching impact on an iconic Critically Endangered species: the mountain gorilla.

Aside from tracking one of the several habituated gorilla groups, activities include visiting nearby natural attractions, hiking to Dian Fossey’s grave, and observing the Park’s group of endangered endemic golden monkeys. Walks on Bisate’s property offer birding and participation in the reforestation programme.

Included

All meals, all local drinks (excludes premium imported brands and champagne)

lodge activities on property (guided nature / birding walks in forest on property

guided nursery visit and indigenous tree planting

guided walk and vegetable picking at organic fields

guided walk to pyrethrum fields

guided visit to the community beehive project

self-guided running trail

lodge activities off property accessed by walking (guided visits to Bisate reforestation site

guided visits to nursery school in Bisate village

guided walks of the surrounding communities to meet with our neighbors)

enjoy sundowner drinks on the lodge balcony or the private balcony of your villa

Laundry

Gym in a bag concept per guest

Wireless internet connection in villa only

local Government taxes – in the event of a change in local taxes or the introduction of additional taxes, these rates will be adjusted accordingly.

Check in: 14h00 Check out: 10h30

INSIDER’S TIP: Bisate is within easy driving distance of Volcanoes National Park Headquarters, from where gorilla treks depart daily.

Today is The Day, Gorilla trekking!

After an early breakfast, your driver/guide will pick you up from Bisate at 06h30 and take you to Park office for briefing prior to your gorilla trekking venture(30 min drive)

At the park office you will be assigned a gorilla family to trek and a park guide to take you.(You will trek together with other 6 visitors)

After the briefing you will drive to starting point (drive time depending on gorilla family location, 10 to 40 mins).

You will hike in the Volcanoes National Park to find the famous Mountain Gorillas, once found you will spend one hour with the gentle giants.

You will then trek back to your driver/guide and you will be taken back to Bisate for a well-deserved shower and lunch.

Rest of the day can be spent at the lodge at leisure or doing activities the lodge offers(ex.planting a tree)

Volcanoes National Park

Bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo in Rwanda, the Volcanoes National Park is best known as a sanctuary for the region’s rare mountain gorillas. Visitors flock here to experience a face to face encounter with these intriguing creatures. The park is set high on the jungle-covered slopes of the volcanic Virunga Mountains. Highly regulated treks through the reserve allow visitors to spend an hour at a time with these incredible primates in their natural habitat. While the gorilla’s are without a doubt the main drawcard, visitors can also look forward to exploring a network of scenic hiking trails, visiting the tomb of the world-famous Dian Fossey and the Karisoke Research Centre, and enjoying a beautiful day hike to the crater lake on Mount Bisoke.

Note: Gorilla Trekking permit must be purchased and paid for at the time of booking to ensure availability

After an early breakfast, your driver/guide will pick you up from Bisate at 06h30 and take you to Park office for briefing prior to your Golden Monkey Trek. you will trek with 14 other guests.

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Kigali by Helicopter (road transfer also possible). Arriving at Kigali International Airport for your flight departure.