We spent 14 days on a safari through self-drive Kigali. During those fourteen days we visited Akagera National Park, Butare, Nyungwe Forest National Park, Kibuye, Lake Kivu and the Volcanoes National Park a few weeks before. If you are interested in rooftop tent car we do offer them but these are always stationed at our main office in Uganda and still can be delivered to you in Kigali but you need to be on 02 weeks and above rental.
More so we can offer you our best Rwanda fleets and then we help you arrange the very suitable and affordable lodges, guest houses and motels to stay while on your self-drive road trip in Rwanda and you can enjoy the wildlife, culture, primates and the agro-tourism experiences.
We spent the first and enough days in Akagera National Park. Our car had enough roof which is great for spotting and photographing animals. Akagera National Park is highly monitored and protected by local authorities against poachers. I was also told a percentage of the park fees are administered to neighboring communities so as to provide some economic income and deter poaching.
I know every game drive is different, and a lot depends on what and how many animals you see. However, my game drive in Akagera was really good, plains animals are plentiful, including zebra and Masai giraffe. Akagera is also home to 11 antelope species. The most common is the gracious impala, but of particular interest are the big herds of Topi. Defassa water buck is regularly seen around the lakes, and bush buck is a widespread resident in the woodland areas.
I recommend visiting Akagera from June to September is the best time for wildlife viewing in Akagera. Wildlife is easier to spot because vegetation is thinner and animals gather around the lakes, which are a big feature of the park. Mid-December to mid-February, which is a drier spell between the short and long rains of the Wet season, is also a good time.
The company recommended a great camp for us (Karenga Bush Camp), a seasonal bush camp. The site is fantastic! The view of the savanna forest is a must see! The tents are extra clean, the shower and toilets are unique. You get to use them with a fantastic view of the savanna forest. The staff is very friendly and helpful and professional from the minute you arrive. The restaurant terrace is great and the food is excellent.
Thereafter we drove towards Nyungwe Forest National Park via the Kigali city and on this day we too stopover in Butare and here we found another historical Ibis Butare Guest House for an overnight. Then in the next day we visited to the Butare museum and we enjoyed the Intore dance staged at the museum and more cultural aspects here. After in the evening we took around drive the Butare town and we enjoyed the vicinity of the city.
After we had to continue to Nyungwe Forest National Park where we went chimpanzee trekking and canopy walk in the tropical rain forest and therefore both activities are recommendable. Still, we enjoyed the tea plantation nature walk and from garden to the factory where the tea leaves are turned into the drinking production.
On this tea experience we interacted with so many locals that work with the Gisakura tea association and we indeed participated in the daily activity of peaking the leaves and correction to the point where measurements are done.
Thereafter, we visited Kibuye and here we enjoy the scenic view of lake Kivu and then after to the Gisenyi Lake Kivu and here we took an overnight at the historical Discover Youth Guest House. Next day we took leisure walk at the shores of the Lake and around the town. Evening we took a local boat ride from the Paradise Guest House along the shores of the Lake and to the hot springs. After return to the guest house for an overnight and dinner we enjoyed it from Lake Kivu Serena Hotel and from you enjoy the closer view of the Lake.
Next, we embarked our journey to the north western Rwanda heading to the Volcanoes National Park, home to the mighty mountain gorillas. Tracking mountain gorillas is one of Africa’s top bucket-list thrilling experiences in Africa. People often ask whether it is worth the money (US$1,500 for a permit in Rwanda)? My answer is YES. Being close to these gentle giants in their wild habitat is something you’ll never forget.
Such a unique experience is priceless. Nothing prepares you for being stared at by a gorilla. And that is exactly what they do: they seem to be looking at us as much as we are looking at them. I was privileged to track gorillas in Volcanoes National Park more than a dozen times, and each experience has been totally different from any other.
This activity starts very early in the morning where tourists assemble at the park headquarters in Kinigi for a short briefing about the do’s and don’ts of this forest. After that, tourists are divided into groups of 8 people and allocated different gorilla families. Park rangers head each group to the starting and each person is given a walking stick and in case a person wants a porter to help him or her, you have to pay for that porter.
Each porter costs 12US$. Rangers have small radio calls where communication is done with others rangers to see that the mountain gorillas are found. Once the gorillas are allocated, each group is given only one to spend with them while you take photos and videos of and watch them live there everyday lifestyle. After the experience, you decend back to the starting point to get the gorilla tracking certificate.
Budget-permitting, I recommend booking two gorilla tracking permits on consecutive days. Just one hour spent with these fascinating primates might just feel too short.
Aside from gorilla tracking, there is lots more to do in Volcanoes National Park. Most popular is spending an hour with a troop of habituated golden monkeys. If you haven’t spent much time at altitude, this is a great one to acclimatize before your gorilla trek. The hike to Dian Fossey’s Research Station is quite easy and especially worthwhile if you’re familiar with the famous primatologist’s heartbreaking story. As a keen hiker, I also climbed Bisoke Volcano and the views of the Crater Lake are more than worth the strenuous ascent.
After tracking we went to Lake Kivu. The lake is impressive, but as our only activity there was a short boat ride and the transfer takes very long, that’s the part I would skip the next time. Generally, you have to be aware of the fact that transfers in Rwanda take extremely long because the country is mountainous.
All in all, I can recommend renting a 4×4 one-way rental from Self-drive Kigali. Their choice of hotels is good. However, I would recommend combing your road trip holiday with Uganda nearest safari parks like Mgahinga, Bwindi, Queen, Kibale, Murchison, Lake Bunyonyi among others.