Take the best Rwanda has to offer from the endangered mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, breathtaking natural sceneries, and big five game, to birds during our 8 days Rwanda Helicopter Safari. Visit the Gorilla Sanctuary- Volcanoes National Park in the Northern Province to trek the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat and enjoy game drives as well as boat rides in Akagera National Park. This is typically a wildlife viewing tour that takes you to two of Rwanda’s four National Parks.
Highlights
- Experience traditional Rwandan rural life in Gorilla Guardian Village.
- Trek the endangered mountain gorillas through Volcanoes National Park.
- Golden monkey tracking.
- Game drives.
- Walking safaris.
- Boat ride on Lake Ihema.
- Tour the Twin Lakes of Bulera and Ruhondo.
Brief Itinerary
Arrive in Kigali and drive to the Hotel.
Travel from Kigali to Akagera National Park by Helicopter
Full Day Akagera National Park- Game Drive & Boat ride
Walking safari & Evening Game Drive
Akagera to Volcanoes National Park by Helicopter.
Full-day Volcanoes National Park- Gorilla Trek & visit Gorilla Guardian Village
Another Volcanoes National Park day- Golden Monkey Trekking & visit to Twin Lakes
Volcanoes National Park to Kigali by Helicopter– Departure
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Kigali and drive to the Hotel
Be prepared to kick-start your Helicopter Safari in Rwanda. On arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be welcomed and transferred to your Hotel in Kigali City. Unwind for the rest of the day, to acclimatize to the Hotel surrounding or undertake a City tour. Visit the Genocide Memorial centers, Art Centers, and the local market where you will exercise your bargaining skills. Dinner and overnight will be at the Hotel.
Accommodation:
- The Retreat by Heaven (luxury).
- Kigali Marriott Hotel or Onomo Hotel Kigali (midrange)
Meal plan: Dinner.
Day 2: Travel from Kigali to Akagera National Park by Helicopter
Your adventure will begin in Kigali City with a short tour of the Kigali genocide center. After this short tour, get transferred to Kigali International Airport for the scenic helicopter flight to Akagera National Park. Your private driver will meet and transfer you to your lodge for check in. Get treated to a sumptuous lunch at the lodge, unwind and in the evening head for a game drive.
Accommodation:
- Magashi Camp (luxury).
- Ruzizi Tented Camp (midrange)
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Full Day Akagera National Park- Game Drive & Boat ride
Departing from your accommodation after breakfast, you will drive through the stunning Akagera National park for its rich diversity of wildlife that includes Defassa waterbucks, bushbucks, Topis, Masai giraffes, African bush elephants, Black and white Rhinos, Cape buffaloes, Oribis, Impalas, warthogs, duikers, Olive baboons, leopards, spotted hyenas and lions. This is also a great chance to admire beautiful landscapes and photography.
After lunch, you will continue for a boat ride on Lake Ihema where Hippos, Nile Crocodiles, Elephants, and bird species are spotted. A Hot meal and overnight stay at the Lodge.
Accommodation:
- Magashi Camp (luxury).
- Ruzizi Tented Camp (midrange)
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 4: Walking safari & Evening Game Drive
Early in the morning, you will have a hearty breakfast at your Safari Camp and enjoy the guided walking safari, where you will explore the beautiful Park on foot. Along the way, watch more animals and birds, beautiful scenery, and photography during this walking safari.
Settle for a hot lunch at the Safari Camp and later enjoy an evening game drive in the Park where the lions, leopards, spotted hyenas, serval cats, and other nocturnal wildlife species that call Akagera National Park home. Relax and have dinner, before retiring for overnight.
Accommodation:
- Magashi Camp (luxury).
- Ruzizi Tented Camp (midrange)
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 5: Akagera to Volcanoes National Park by Helicopter
After a hearty breakfast at the Lodge in Akagera National Park, you will be driven to the Airstrip to take your helicopter flight to Volcanoes National Park. Your safari driver will be waiting to drive you to your lodge. Spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing or undertake a guided nature walk
Accommodation:
- One and Only Gorillas Nest or Singita Kwitonda Lodge (luxury).
- Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel (midrange).
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
Day 6: Full-day Volcanoes National Park- Gorilla Trek & visit Gorilla Guardian Village
Early breakfast at the lodge before briefing at Kinigi Park headquarters on the guidelines to be followed during the adventure of the day. You will be trekking the mountain gorillas deep in the jungle of Volcanoes National Park, following trails established by the park Rangers. After the briefing, drive to the trailheads for the gorilla trek.
Trekking mountain gorillas involves exploring the Virunga Mountains slopes, rugged terrains, verdant Valleys, and sometimes crossing streams and this takes between 2 and 6 hours. Volcanoes National Park alone has 12 habituated families of Mountain Gorillas hence only 96 permits are issued each day. Therefore, the experience of meeting face-to-face with the Great Apes is simply magical. You will have one hour to watch the habituated family going about their normal day foraging, resting, and playing, to mention but a few.
On returning from your trek, you will have lunch at the Lodge and spend the rest of the day with the local community at Gorilla Guardian Village. Watch how banana beer is brewed, what local herbs are made and from what plants, get entertained in traditional dances, and so much more.
Accommodation:
- One and Only Gorillas Nest or Singita Kwitonda Lodge (luxury).
- Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel (midrange)
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
Day 7: Another Volcanoes National Park day- Golden Monkey Trekking & visit to Twin Lakes
This morning, after breakfast and briefing at the Park Headquarters, you will embark on the 1-4 hour trek for Golden monkeys in their natural habitat. On encountering the habituated troop, you will spend an hour with them as they go about their daily lifestyle of eating, playing, grooming and others. These primates are frisky and inquisitive by nature hence spend most of their day leaping from bamboo branches. After this informative trek, you will get back to the Lodge to have a hot lunch and spend the afternoon at the remarkable Twin Lakes of Bulera and Ruhondo. You will have a canoe ride through these stunning Lakes.
Accommodation:
- One and Only Gorillas Nest or Singita Kwitonda Lodge (luxury).
- Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel (midrange)
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
Day 8: Volcanoes National Park to Kigali by Helicopter– Departure
After breakfast at the lodge and r checking out, transfer to Kigali International Airport by helicopter flight and bid farewell to Rwanda, the land of a thousand hills. Safe travels!
Meal plan: Breakfast
Inclusions for the 8 Days Rwanda Helicopter safari.
- Gorilla permits $1,500 per person
- Golden monkey tracking permit at $100 per person.
- Park entry fees.
- Park Ranger fees.
- 7 nights’ accommodation with meals as stipulated in the program.
- Boat ride on Lake Ihema
- Game drives
- Walking safaris.
- Services of a full-time and professional English-speaking guide.
- Transportation in a 4WD Land cruiser.
- Rwanda Government taxes.
- Helicopter flights as indicated on the itinerary.
Exclusions
- International flights
- Rwandan Visa.
- Tips to the Guide, Rangers, Lodge staff and others.
- Medical and travel Insurance
- Optional activities that aren’t part of the itinerary.
- Porter fees.
- Drinks, except if provided as part of accommodation.
- Laundry fees.