What Rwanda Safaris To Do At Short Notice

A visit Rwanda for a safari at short notice is one of the best decisions you can make when you travel to Africa or when your make a stopover at Kigali Airport atleast for a day. Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is the ultimate adventure anybody can think of but it is restricted by the limited supply of gorilla permits open to the public. Enquire Now

To confirm a gorilla trekking safari in Rwanda, you need to purchase the permit first by first checking availability. In case you confirm gorilla permit availability, per your date of preference, purchase it as soon as possible because they sell out fast because of there high demand world over. No Rwanda gorilla permit is preserved for anybody without payment.

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Rwanda is the only country where 1 day gorilla trekking adventure can be arranged, it is a crash program. To feel the pleasure of this experience atleast 2 day gorilla trekking in Rwanda is more comfortable. From Kigali Airport, the drive to Volcanoes National Park is about 3hours. Volcanoes National Park is the only home of the mountain gorillas in Rwanda with so far about 12 gorilla families open to the public.

Visit the Akagera National Park for a game drive in Rwanda is exciting too. This is the only game park in Rwanda hosting animals like leopards, herds of elephants, waterbucks, cape buffaloes, lions, zebras, giraffes, more than 406 bird species have been recorded and much more. The distance from Kigali Airport to Akagera National Park is about 105 kilometers for about 2 hours to 3 hours. An excursion safari to Akagera National Park can be arranged at short notice.

Community visit in Rwanda is one of the engaging safari experiences where you get the opportunity to interact with the friendly locals. They are very proud of there unique culture not afraid to share it with visitors through dances, folk songs, architectural designs, Rwanda delicious cuisines and others

Kigali city tour to where the heart of Rwanda beats. How do you visit Rwanda and leave without getting around its beauties. Kigali is the business and administrative center of Rwanda with many public offices and shopping centers. There are memorials that are reminders of the genocide that hurt Rwanda so badly in the 1994.

Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park is also possible although you require at least 3 day Rwanda chimpanzee trekking. From Kigali the distance to Nyungwe National Park is about 220 kilometers for about 5 to 6 hours.  From Huye the distance to Nyungwe National Park is about 100 kilometers.

How To Book Rwanda Safari At Short Notice

Booking Rwanda safari depends on the activity you wish to book. Gorilla permits booing is top priority and you are required to purchase it from the Rwanda Development Board before proceeding to the Volcanoes National Park. At Arch Safaris and Tours, we can help you with securing your gorilla permit or chimpanzees permit depending on the status of availability per your date of preference. Note that to do Rwanda gorilla or chimpanzee trekking adventure, you need be 15 years and 12 years or over respectively. You can use the help of a tour operator to book the gorilla or chimpanzee permits for you.

Secure the means of transport to get you to Volcanoes National Park in advance because this being a rushed program, you need to get there before starting briefing. Gorilla trekking in Rwanda starts at about 0700 hours with advance briefing and verification of necessary documents. It is best to hire a 4×4 wheel vehicle in good condition because the routes in the countryside sometimes get messy.

Game drives in Akagera National Park are more rewarding with an early morning start. Most of the wild animals are still closer to there night hideouts. While driving on the tracks of Akagera National Park, you may spot zebras, waterbucks, hyenas, elephants, giraffes, rhinos, hartebeests, lions, leopards and others. it is best to hire a vehicle that can take you on a ride through the tracks of Akagera National Park. Having a professional and experienced drover guide makes this Rwanda safari  experience even more memorable

Doing the Kigali city tour is exciting anytime but an earlier start before heavy traffic time is more rewarding. At Arch Safaris and Tours, we can help you with organizing the most comfortable itinerary for your Kigali city tour putting into consideration the time factor.

What Is The Cost Of Rwanda Safari?

The cost of Rwanda safari is influenced by the activities you wish to engage in and tour package you choose. At Arch safaris and Tours, we package our Rwanda safaris according to luxury, mid-range and basic. The cost of the gorilla or chimpanzee permit or park entrance to fees is compulsory for every tourist visiting Rwanda to be part of that activity.

There are also costs on logistics that support you while on safari in Rwanda like accommodation costs, transport to mention but a few.

When Is The Best Time To Book A Rwanda Safari On Short Notice?

Rwanda is open for a visit all year however some safari activities are highly demanded in certain seasons making it hard to book them at short notice. In Rwanda, gorilla trekking and chimpanzees trekking may run out permit supply in the peak tourism season which is the dry season too that is June to October and December to January. Short notice bookings may be challenging for those interested in doing either gorilla or chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda during this season.

Other than finding the permits, even accommodation to book for the Rwanda gorilla or chimpanzee trekking options may run out in the peak season for those who wish to engage in these activities during peak season.

During the low tourism season, there are more chances of finding availability of Rwanda gorilla or chimpanzee permits and even chances of securing other logistics are more open are short notice. For short notice bookings on these Rwanda primates tours, you are quite sure to find either the rare gorilla or chimpanzee trekking permits. in case of a big group Rwanda safari booking, the low season is the real deal.

For other Rwanda safaris like game safaris, cultural tours, they are open for a visit any time you are in Rwanda

You may also get the opportunity to have the park or any other Rwanda destinations to yourself without spending extra to close the activity from other tourists for the day. The low tourism season in Rwanda is normally March, April, May, November when the demand for Rwanda safari activities is generally lower. If you have a limited budget for the Rwanda safari, the low season may provide this opportunity to even upgrade since some service providers are looking forward to breaking even.

Game safaris in Rwanda are open at the time no matter the season and even at short notice, you can go for a game drive in Akagera National Park but its gets more complicated in the peak season for those wishing to overnight in the Park. Accommodations options for Akagera National Park may run out in the peak season.

How safe is Rwanda for a safari Holiday?

Even though most of the Rwanda safari destinations are in the wilderness, the country is safe to visit. The safari destinations of Rwanda are under the watch and care of well trained Rwanda Development Board ranger guides. The ranger guides often monitor and supervise these wildlife sanctuaries to protect them from unlawful intruders. On ground are guidelines set to protect these attractions and visitors too. It is mandatory for everybody to abide by these rules while in ground.

For Rwanda safari activities that require the company of a ranger guide, donot walk without him or her especially in the wilderness. Even though some of the animals in the wilderness are habituated, there are other forest dwellers too that may not be friendly so you need extra protection.

For Rwanda safari activities in the forest like gorilla trekking or chimpanzee trekking attending briefing is compulsory because you get to learn about what to expect while in the jungle. In case gorillas or chimpanzees charge, you need to stay calm and wait for the ranger guides to establish the route cause of the matter.

After estimating why the gorillas or chimpanzees are acting abnormally, the ranger guide uses his experience to give you new instructions on how not to escalade the situation.

Donot get out of your vehicle during a game safari in Akagera National Park, as there predators in this park that may launch an abrupt attack on you unless backed up by an armed ranger guide.

Can I Do A Rwanda Safari With Children?

Rwanda is open for children to visit and be part of all its available safari activities expect those with age limit clauses that is Rwanda gorilla trekking age limit is 15 year and chimpanzee trekking is 12 years. In case the children are eligible for these Rwanda primate safari activities, do brief them about what may happen during this adventure.

For other Rwanda safari activities like game safaris, cultural experiences, children are free to join no matter the age.

How Much Time Do You Take On A Gorilla Trekking Or Chimpanzee Trekking Safari In Rwanda

If you are time conscious but wish to do gorilla or chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda, note that time to spend in the forest is quite hard to determine.  From the starting point of the trek finding either the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees may take about 2 hours or more depending on factors prevailing in the wilderness.

Finding the chimpanzees or mountain gorillas may depend in factors like food location, weather condition of the day, mood of the troop, pace of fellow tourists and others. Some patience and being open minded gets to faster to where the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees in Rwanda may be. The nature of the terrain of Rwanda is jagged because of serious volcanic action in most parts of the country including the Volcanoes Mountains.

Finally when you find the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees enjoy there presence, take photos for memories while the moment lasts. Only one hour is allowed with these primates as they are habituated to be in front of humans for just that time so as to reduce on the chances of agitating them or allow them go about there daily activities.

In case your outbound flight from Rwanda is on the day of the gorilla or chimpanzee trekking tour, ensure you book atleast the late evening flight out of Kigali Airport

What Rules To Follow on Rwanda safari

Rwanda is a pro-eco tourism country so you must be mindful of the guidelines and rules of all safari destinations you meet.

No feeding the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees when you locate them because they are wild animals that must search for there own food, the forest must be there sole provider and not depend on humans.

In case you have a communicable infection like flue, covid-19 and others, volunteer to stay behind. Mountain gorillas or chimpanzees are highly susceptible to human infections.

Keep a distance of about 7 meters from the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees when you locate them to avoid chances of passing an infection to them.

Donot dump garbage in the forest when you are searching for the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees because this changes the nature of there environment. The wilderness is the main source of food for the primates so when the environment is altered some of these supplies are cut off.

Only one hour is allowed with the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees during this Rwanda primate experience so that they can be left alone to carry on with there day today activities.

Maximum 8 tourists are allowed to do gorilla or chimpanzee safari experience per day per family.

Donot provoke or mimic the mountain gorillas or chimpanzees or them as you may not know what you are communicating. During the game drives, donot prop out your head through the window of your safari vehicle as you may not know what you is watching

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