Trip Itinerary
Kigali
Your Rwanda safari begins with a stay at the Kigali Serena Hotel in the heart of the city. Well located and offering warm hospitality, this is a comfortable stopover before your onward journey to Akagera National Park. Dining options include poolside tables for lunch overlooking the gardens, while live music brings atmosphere in the evenings. There’s an 18-metre swimming pool with a sundeck and a state-of-the-art gym for those wishing to re-energise after the flight over. Kigali itself is a vibrant, attractive city well worth exploring for its thriving creative arts scene and bustling markets. You could spend an afternoon browsing at the Inema Arts Centre or visiting the city’s independent shops and cafés. While Rwanda looks firmly toward the future, a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial is well worth incorporating, time permitting. It’s a profound experience that commemorates the 1994 genocide and provides essential context on the country’s history and resilience.
Akagera National Park
Overlooking the shores of Lake Rwanyakazinga, Wilderness Magashi Peninsula is an ultra-luxurious Big Five safari experience within Akagera National Park. You’ll spend your three nights here within the park’s only private-access area, where exclusive wildlife encounters include the chance to see re-introduced lion and black and white rhinos, alongside elephant, buffalo, and Maasai giraffe. The game-viewing experiences are diverse, including night drives when you might catch sight of a leopard on the prowl, spotted hyena, civet, mongoose, or even the odd bush baby. Since a large part of Akagera is made up of wetlands, boating provides an essential perspective. You can experience the lake all year round on a luxury pontoon to see lion, buffalo, or elephant at the water's edge. Or, take a picnic and spend a few relaxing hours catch-and-release fishing before sunset cocktails on board. With more than 500 bird species to spot, including the rare papyrus gonolek, this is also a terrific destination for ornithologists and those keen to take in the finer details of the park.
Volcanoes National Park
A scenic helicopter transfer takes you from Wilderness Magashi Peninsula to Wilderness Bisate Reserve for the last three nights of your safari. This gives you the chance to see the scenery of the ‘land of a thousand hills’ from above, while cutting a five-hour+ drive down to a mere 30 minutes! Located just outside Volcanoes National Park, this is one of Rwanda’s most luxurious bases for gorilla trekking, where you’ll hike into the forest for a life-changing hour with a habituated group. The climb can be challenging, but coming face to face with these gentle giants is indescribable! Bisate Reserve is committed to conservation, and there’s a chance to participate in their reforestation project during your stay by planting an indigenous tree from the lodge nursery. You can also take a gentle walk to see golden monkeys, hike to Dian Fossey’s grave, and visit the scenic twin lakes of Ruhondo and Burera. The newly opened spa offers a range of restorative treatments, besides yoga sessions, an indoor saltwater pool, and an energising ice bath. Whether you are contributing to reforestation, tracking gorillas, or simply unwinding at the spa, Bisate Reserve is an ultra-luxurious finale to your Rwandan adventure.
