Akagera National Park tours from Volcanoes National Park – Akagera and Volcanoes National Parks are among the most rewarding parks to explore in Rwanda. The journey begins in Kigali, where you will participate in a town tour before heading to Volcanoes National Park.
During the Kigali tour, you will visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial Museum, where stories of the 1994 massacre will be narrated to you, highlighting the tragic events caused by tribal conflicts.
Afterward, you will be taken to the largest market in Kigali, where you can purchase all the necessities needed for your journey.
Once you connect with your driver, you will be driven to Volcanoes National Park, situated in the northeastern part of the country in a small town known as Musanze, locally referred to as “Pariki Y’Igihugu y’Ibirunga.”
The park is home to endangered species such as golden monkeys, mountain gorillas, forest hogs, and various bird species.
Upon arrival, you will first check into your lodge and freshen up while waiting for lunch or dinner, depending on your arrival time. The following day, you will drive non-stop to the Twin Lakes of Burera and Ruhondo, where you can enjoy a boat cruise or nature walk, depending on your preferences and budget.
The day usually ends with a tired body in need of rest, so you will return to your booked lodge to prepare for gorilla trekking the following day.
Gorilla trekking starts with a heavy breakfast followed by a briefing session before setting off into the jungle. During this session, it is advisable to book a porter to help you carry your hiking gear.
Trekking can take around two to seven hours, depending on the location of the mountain gorillas you are tracking.
Once you spot them, you will be given one hour to enjoy their presence. Some tourists take photos, while others ask questions about the existence and behavior of these species.
This trek typically takes a full day. The following day, before setting off to Akagera, you can visit the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village for a more exclusive adventure, where locals will showcase their culture, including traditional dances and how they milk their cattle.
Next, drive to Akagera National Park, where your journey will continue with exciting game drives. These drives are scheduled separately according to the arrival times of different tourists.
There are early morning drives, afternoon drives, and evening drives, all of which allow you to view a variety of wild species.
During the day, you can also enjoy a boat cruise on the clear waters of Lake Ihema, with an affordable fee charged for the experience.
As the sun sets, you can relax and watch birds catching fish from the water or observe giant elephants leaving the shores in search of a resting place. This is also the time when lions awaken to hunt tired herbivores. Note that lions sleep most of the day to conserve energy for their nighttime hunts.
All these experiences will give you an unforgettable journey, and by the time you return to Kigali, you will have many stories to share with the people back home. Asante!
Visit Akagera National Park in Rwanda with these recommended Rwanda tour companies or send us an inquiry below to book through us directly.
