BEST OF RWANDA PHOTOGRAPHIC SAFARI
Max no. of guests:
6
Duration:
11 Days/10 Nights
Port of Arrival/ Departure:
Kigali
Dates:
All year
Price:
Dependent on pax
Overview
Rwanda is a small and beautiful landlocked country located in the heart of Africa. It lies in the Great Rift Valley, where the African Great Lakes region and East Africa converge. Despite being dwarfed by its neighbours Uganda, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, ‘The Land of a Thousand Hills’ is one of the Africa’s most biodiverse nation’s due to its numerous different biomes.
Of all glorious species that call Rwanda home, it is the endangered mountain gorillas that most wildlife lovers flock to see. Only about 1000 of them remain in the wild and they cannot be found in any zoo or animal sanctuary anywhere in the world. In fact, Rwanda is one of only three countries that the mountain gorillas call home. Other primate species can also be found in Rwanda including chimpanzees, golden monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, blue monkeys, colobus monkeys and nine others. Rwanda is also often referred to as a birdwatcher’s paradise with 703 recorded species including 29 Albertine Rift endemics, diverse habitats and the best montane birding in Africa. The government has put a lot of effort into conservation in recent years, not only pumping funds into the protection of its precious primates but also reintroducing lions and black rhino into Akagera National Park, which has restored its status as a Big 5 destination. Other notable species that can be found include elephant, giraffe, hippo, zebra, buffalo, antelopes, Nile crocodile, and for birders, the prehistoric-looking shoebill stork!
Dive deep into Rwanda’s incredible areas of outstanding natural beauty where you will experience unique and intimate encounters with wildlife whilst learning how to capture incredible pictures under the guidance of an experienced tour leader.
ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrival at Kigali International Airport
Our driver will be waiting for you at the airport to transfer you to the Kigali Marriott Hotel (5*). After having some time to relax and freshen up, your tour leader will meet you upon arrival to give you the briefing on all the necessary information regarding your tour and answer all the questions that you might have. In the afternoon, you will take a short evening tour of the capital before enjoying traditional Rwandan cuisine at one of the best restaurants in the city.
Days 2 & 3: Akagera National Park
On your first full day of the tour you will set out in the early morning to the beautiful Akagera National Park. The park is home to Africa’s ‘Big 5’ which includes lion, leopard, elephant, rhinoceros, and buffalo. You’ll begin with a half-day game drive where you’ll have the chance to photograph a wide array of flora and fauna before enjoying lunch at one of the park’s beautiful lakes. In the afternoon, you will take a boat ride with strong chances of seeing hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and many water birds including the famous shoebill stork. You’ll then have some time to relax before enjoying a delicious meal around a campfire. The first day in Akagera will end with a night drive where you’ll have the chance to see some of Africa’s nocturnal species including leopard, aardvark, and bushbabies. The second day in the park will be made up of a full day of game drives and you’ll be accompanied by your expert guide and photographic instructor throughout.
Days 4, 5 & 6: Musanze - Volcanoes National Park
Following an early breakfast, you will depart Akagera and make your way in a luxury SUV to Gisenyi. Upon arrival, you will enjoy lunch on the shores of Lake Kivu before checking into the beautiful Palm Beach Resort. You’ll spend the afternoon and early evening having one-on-one time with your photographic instructor, who will review your images taken on during the safari through Akagera and provide you with tips for the upcoming wildlife encounters. The next morning you will set off to Volcanoes National Park where you will have the privilege of trekking one of the world’s most endangered animals - the majestic mountain gorilla. You’ll then spend the afternoon on a Rwandan culture tour in Kinigi. The next day, you will rise early again to trek another of the nation’s elusive primates - golden monkeys.
Day 7: Gisenyi - Lake Kivu - Congo Nile Trail
In the morning you will take a hike along the Congo Nile trail where you’ll have the chance to spot some of Rwanda’s most glorious birdlife. You’ll then take a boat ride to the Kinunu coffee plantation to enjoy some of the local roasts and learn about one of the nation’s largest exports. The day will end with a delicious feast at Paradise Island before heading back to your hotel for the night.
Days 8, 9 & 10: Nyungwe National Park
It’s now time to head to the final destination on the tour - the spectacularly beautiful Nyungwe National Park which is famous for its rich biodiversity. The park contains 13 primate species (25% of Africa's total), 275 bird species, 1068 plant species, 85 mammal species, 32 amphibian species, and 38 reptile species. Many of these animals are restricted-range species that are only found in the Albertine Rift montane forests ecoregion in Africa. The first day will be spent travelling from Gisenyi to Nyungwe National Park and there will be many opportunities to stop for pictures along the scenic route. You’ll then spend the evening with your photographic instructor for image review and tips. The next day you will wake up early to trek with chimpanzees and visit the famous waterfall. On the final day in Nyungwe, you’ll experience the incredible views from the park’s canopy walk and visit the Murambi Genocide memorial before the long drive back to Kigali.
Day 11: Departure
Unfortunately, your trip has come to an end. You will have some free time to explore the capital city before being transferred from your hotel to Kigali International Airport in time to make your flight back home.
Accommodation
We have selected some of Rwanda’s finest hotels and lodges to ensure your trip will leave you with memories that will last a lifetime. The price of the trip remains the same for solo travelers, who will have their own room.
Kigali - Kigali Marriott Hotel
Akagera National Park - Ruzizi Tented Lodge
Ginseyi - Palm Beach Resort
Nyungwe National Park - Kivu Marina Bay Hotel
Is this safari for you?
This tour is suited to beginner and mid-level photographers, but all levels are welcome. Our tour leader has excellent experience guiding across East and Southern Africa as well as in photographic instruction. You will visit the best spots for photographing wildlife and every tour offers a low client-leader ratio which allows for increased personal attention and customized guidance to help you enhance your photography skills.
Throughout the trip, you will be taught all the ingredients that contribute toward the highest level of wildlife photography. Our experienced tour leader will show you the creative techniques that will help set your images apart from the rest. Furthermore, we’ll also cover traditional techniques like focussing, action, portraits, and composition.
Following our wildlife encounters, you will also learn about post-processing and take part in image review sessions. The purpose of our tours is to maximize your experience and ensure you leave us with the pictures you’ve always wanted.
What’s Included?
Included
Airport transfers
Luxury SUV/4WD safari vehicle and driver (includes open roof top, window seat, A/C, WiFi, power outlets, and fuel for the duration of the trip)
Photographic guide and tuition
Accommodation
Meals (breakfast/lunch/dinner)
Soft drinks (coffee, tea, water, juice)
All fees (park entrances and permits)
Field guide books
Pre-trip brief and post-trip debrief
Lightroom presets
Not Included
International flights to/from Rwanda
Visa fee upon arrival
Personal medical insurance
Telephone bills
Laundry service
Items of personal nature
Souvenirs
Alcoholic beverages
COVID tests/vaccinations
Tips
Our Values
While our tour leader also takes pictures during the trip, the photography of our guests always comes first, and we will always ensure that you have the right of way.
As a responsible tour operator, we respect the natural environment, and the welfare of wildlife will always come first. We abide by guidelines that make sure the animals are not disturbed or impeded by our presence.
Reservations and payments
The reservation is considered formalised with the deposit payment of 30% of the tour price. Final payment must be made 30 days before the departure date of the trip.
We accept the following pay method: Bank transfer
Travel contract
When the reservation is considered formalised (payment in deposit), we will send a travel contract for you to return signed.
Cancellation policy
A deposit of 30% of the total cost is applied if the booking is made more than 30 days before the trip. For the bookings made less than 30 days before the trip, the price is charged in full amount.
The following penalties will be applied if the trip is canceled by the traveler:
30 days or more before the trip: Loss of deposit
15-29 days before the trip: 50%* of total trip cost
7-14 days before the trip: 75%* of the total trip cost
Less than 7 days before the trip: 100%* of the total trip cost
If the cancellation is made by the company, all payments will be refunded.
*Gorilla and Chimpanzee trekking permits are excluded from the percentages above and are 100%-non-refundable
Financial Protection
The payment for this tour is made through Go Discover Africa meaning you have the financial protection of booking through a registered tour operator. Please download our terms and conditions here.
Covid-19 Guarantee
We understand the global pandemic scenario, that's why we want to bring security to all our guests when booking a trip. If there is any COVID related cancellation Go Discover Africa compromises to do their best to refund all the payments made. Even if we can't guarantee a 100% refund due to the cancelation policies of some hotels and other suppliers, we will return all payments that are not compromised with cancelation fees made by third parties. Also, when possible, we will actively work for rescheduling trips with the least costs possible for our customers. We highly recommend our guests to upgrade their travel insurance in order to cover all COVID related cancellations.
Bookings
Our tour groups are small, allowing for a maximum of 6 participants so space is very limited.
To reserve your spot on this incredible journey, please fill out the contact form below.