UMURAGE ECO SAFARIS takes you from gorilla trekking in the volcanoes national parks to exploring the vibrant activities both in Rwanda, Uganda and DRC.
We offer a variety of packages that cater to your every need. Our experienced guides will take you on an adventure of a lifetime, whether you choose our classic tour company that cater to your unique interests.
We also offer packages that allow you to give back to local communities and support conservation efforts. Whatever your dream trip may be, we can make it a reality and affordable.
we also offer certain local activities such as village tours.
Akagera National Park
From Kigali: 1-Day Akagera National Park Safari
Activity provider:UMURAGE ECO-SAFARIS
Visit the Akagera National Park in Rwanda and admire beautiful savanna landscapes and diverse wildlife including rhinos, lions, buffalo, leopard, elephants, and many other animal species.
This National Park is located along the eastern border of Rwanda, where the typically hilly countryside gives way to the savannas of the Great Rift Valley. Dominated by lakes, swamps and marshland, the area boasts a huge compliment of nature and wildlife that cannot be found elsewhere in the country. We will arrive with en-route game drive for lunch at the Camp. Have lunch as you enjoy some relaxation time and the breathtaking views of the savannah just near the poolside. After lunch depart for the afternoon boat ride on L. Ihema Ihema which is very rewarding for seeing a large number of hippos, the huge Nile crocodiles and many birds. This is the most interesting part of the park, especially for birders.
About this activity
Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Reserve now & pay later
Keep your travel plans flexible — book your spot and pay nothing today.
Duration 1 day
Volcanoes National Park
From Kigali: – 1 Day Gorilla Trekking in RWANDA with UMURAGE ECO SAFARIS
Meet Majestic Mountain Gorillas Up Close In The Volcanoes National Park In Rwanda On A Guided Full-Day Trip From Kigali, With Breakfast And Lunch Included.
About this activity
- Free cancellation
- Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
- Reserve now & pay later
Keep your travel plans flexible — book your spot and pay nothing today
The 1 day Rwanda Gorilla Trekking with UMURAGE ECO SAFARIS, is an exceptional Rwanda short safari, crafted to offer you opportunity to track mountain gorillas. This is incredibly the best short Rwanda tour package for those of you with tight schedule. Your Rwanda Gorilla Trekking short tour will be conducted in Volcanoes National Park MUSANZE, North-western part of the country.
Volcanoes National Park (VNP) Ruhengeri lies in the Northern Province of Rwanda and sits on the land area of 160sq.kms, established in 1925. This is one of the 4 African parks where you can have a magical encounter with the world’s endangered mountain gorillas while in the wild.
Those of you on 1 day Rwanda Gorilla Trekking trip get a chance to track any of the 13 habituated gorilla group families of Volcanoes National Park beginning from Kinigi after briefing.
Leave your hotel room early with some packed breakfast and meet your driver guide for briefing about 1 day Rwanda Gorilla Trekking. Pick up by safari guide, head to Volcanoes National Park (VNP), Ruhengeri about 2 hours’ drive. You arrive at Kinigi early to meet other visitors for briefing on Gorilla Tracking guidelines.
UMURAGE ECO SAFARIS Will Take You To Valcanoes At 8:00am after you have been briefed about Rwanda Gorilla Trekking rules/guidelines, begin your search for a group of mountain gorillas that your park official assigned to your group of 8 visitors. The length of your Rwanda Gorilla Trek is generally unpredictable, but takes time range of 2-6 hours and this includes 1 hour which you and the rest of the visitors get to enjoy face to face encounter with the endangered mountain gorillas.
Of the existing 13 habituated gorilla families in Volcanoes National Park Rwanda, only one can be tracked by 8 visitors and they include among others; Bwenge, Susa A, Titus gorilla family, Karisimbi/Susa B, Hirwa, Ugenda, Kwitonda, Amahoro group, Umubano and Agashya. Tracking any of these Rwanda gorilla groups requires you to have a valid gorilla permit which is issued at US Dollars 1500 per person.
Your magical encounter will be accompanied by incredible sights of birds, other primates and flora. Return to meet your driver guide in the park’s headquarters at Kinigi after photography and in-depth learning about gorillas’ behaviors. The driver guide will bring you back to Kigali, marking the end of the 1 day Rwanda Gorilla Trekking.
End of Safari with Umurage eco safaris.
Nyanza Rukari
Did you know? Like humans, every cow is unique, and possesses different personality traits – some are brave, some shy, some curious and some cuddly! We are UMURAGE ECO SAFARIS !! They all have distinct likes and dislikes, and can experience emotions ranging from pain and sadness to pure happiness. A number of studies have also revealed that cows depend on each other for emotional support. For example, cows have been shown to be less stressed when handled by humans if allowed to be in physical contact with or even just see their herd mates.
Meet cows especially long horned cows in Rwanda with us as UMURAGE ECO SAFARIS.
Butare Museum
Butare Museum was initially established by local enthusiasts as the Umtali Museum Society in 1954, before becoming a National Museum in 1959 and will always be indebted for its most spectacular collection of vintage cars, motorbikes and wagons, coaches and steam engines donated to the Museum by local enthusiastic
Butare is picturesquely situated in the foothills of the Eastern Highlands sprawling up the sides of Christmas Pass. It has been known for its wide streets lined with flowering trees, three public parks, a museum (1954), and the Turner Memorial Library (1902).
Nyanza Kings palace
The King’s Palace, located in Rwanda’s Nyanza ya Butare district, was the traditional seat of Rwanda’s kingdom. This historical location was of key importance during the colonial era.
Trip to Uganda
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Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Nearly half the planet’s remaining mountain gorillas live within Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda. It’s one of only three places in the world where travelers can see this critically endangered animals in the wild. Located in Southwestern Uganda, Bwindi covers 124 square miles (320 square kilometers) of plains and mountain forest famous for its biodiversity. Besides the iconic gentle giants, some 120 species of mammals, 348 species of birds and 202 species of butterflies live amid the 200 tree and 100 fern species.
While the park is a birdwatcher’s paradise (sighting 150 species in a single day isn’t uncommon) and has more mammal species than any of Uganda’s other national parks, visitors come to this UNESCO World Heritage site to track mountain gorillas. Each morning, trekkers head out into the forest in search of one of about a dozen gorilla families (between 300 and 400 individuals).
Mukura Gishwati National Park
Rwanda’s fourth national park, Gishwati Mukura is made up of two separate forests the larger Gishwati and small Mukura, forming a total of 34 square kilometres plus a buffer zone.
The forests sit on the ridge which divides the Congo and Nile water catchment areas, along the incredibly biodiverse Albertine Rift in the west of the country. It is made up of 60 species of tree, including indigenous hardwoods and bamboo.
Gishwati is home to a group of 20 chimpanzees which live alongside golden monkeys, L’Hoest’s and Blue Monkeys. Birds are well represented too, 232 species have been seen at Gishwati and 163 at Mukura, among them Albertine Rift Endemic species and forest specialists.
Activities in the park started in 2019 and include a guided nature hike, guided chimp and monkey tracking, bird watching and a visit to the waterfalls.
Musanze Cave
Caving
There are 52 caves in the Northern Province with 15.2km of cave passages, most of which are developed from Cenozoic volcanic rocks.
The longest cave in Rwanda is called Ubuvumo Bwibihonga, a multi-level system of parallel lava tubes.
The Musanze Cave is 2km long and the most frequently visited. It is on the Innes University grounds and lies in the volcanic region dating back 65 million years, where the lava flows contributed to the Albertine Rift Valley. The cave is part of the lava basaltic layers from the Bisoke and Sabyinyo volcanoes.
The cave has 31 entrances, most being roof collapses. The main cave has an entrance the size of a cathedral and is home to a sizeable bat colony. The collapses create an incredible array of coloured shafts of light shining into the cave.
Musanze Cave has been used as a shelter during wartime for many centuries and was the site of a massacre during the genocide. It continues to hold considerable significance to local people, so visitors are requested to be respectful when exploring.
The site is formally protected and access is limited to guided tours, which last two and a half hours.
The Busasamana Cave is 1 km long and links to a system of several other caves – the Kanzeze, Mudende and Busasamana sectors, which in turn lead to the Mugongo, the Bwezi and the Kabari caves.
Mugongo Cave is ideal for caving and easily located close to Mrs Carr’s property.
Bigogwe
Activity Description
Meet at the office on the main road at the Rubavu-Nyabihu Border
Your guide will meet you at the Ibere rya Bigogwe office on the main road. The office is easily located by the arch which marks the border between Rubavu and Nyabihu Districts.
Hiking to Ibere rya Bigogwe
Your guide will start with a briefing about the day ahead. After the briefing you will start your hike towards Ibere rya Bigogwe. Ibere rya Bigogwe is a large rock formation and a famous land mark in the area. The start of the hike takes you through the villages around Bigogwe. After 20 minutes of hiking you will reach the bottom of the rock. The hike continues up the hillsides towards the top of Ibere rya Bigogwe. This part of the hike is a bit steeper and more challenging but passes through a forest. After another 1 hour of hiking you will reach the top of the rock. From here you have a splendid view over the surrounding landscape and you can see Mt. Karisimbi in Volcanoes National Park and Mt. Nyiragongo and Mikeno in DRC. If the weather is clear you will see all the way to Gisenyi town. There is also a meditation point at the top commonly used for praying by locals. Enjoy some cheese and fruit while listening to the story about how this rock got its name. Your guide will also introduce you to some local plants and their traditional uses. Return by hiking to Bigogwe town.
Travel by moto to the farms (by car if you have your own)
After the hiking to Ibere rya Bigogwe it is time to set off for the farms. The same way as locals in the area, you will travel on the back of a motorbike to the farms. The views of the landscape are breathtaking as you leave the main road behind and travel up the hills. A photo stop is usually made at one of the best view points. The trip takes around 30 minutes. Helmet is provided.
Explore the green hills of the farmlands
Once you reach the farms, your guide will introduce you to the cows and cowboys. You will dress in a colorful shuka or rumbiya, the traditional attire of cattle keepers and get a Inkoni, a stick carried by all cattle keepers. Learn about the history of the green hills of Bigogwe, stories about cows and the traditional Rwandan life connected to cows. The hills at the farms are some of most lush and green hills in Africa.
Lunch
A traditional lunch is served outside on the hillside of the farms at Bigogwe. Milking the cows and tasting of fresh milk
Milking in Bigogwe is done by hands in traditional cans or ibyansi like inkongoro in wood, and Ingare made in bamboo. Get a lesson in milking by hand by the cowboys and try milking on your own. After milking you will taste the special “Bigogwe Cappuccino” as fresh as it gets straight from the cows.
Take the cows to drink water
The cows need lots of water. Twice daily they make their way to the river for a drink. Join the cowboys and use your inkoni (stick) and gentle whistles to move the cows down to the river for a drink. Watch the cowboys as the sing and whistle for the cows as they drink.
Cowboy games
The cowboys spend their life watching the cows. While the cows graze the cowboys have lots of free time. Many games and traditions have been invented by the cowboys. The most common games are URUKIRAMENDE or high jump, Kunyobanwa or stick fighting and Igisoro, a traditional game played with dried seeds on a wooden board. Watch the cowboys master these games and try on your own.
Traditional songs for the cows
When the cows rest after eating and milking, the cowboys sing to them. These traditional songs are called Kwivugira inka and have been passed on for generations. The songs repeat the names of the cows and include stories from legendary cows.
Making of traditional ghee
Leave the farms by motobike (or car if you have your own). Watch the traditional way women make Ikimuri or ghee by hand. Ikimuri is traditionally made by moving a large calabash or Igisabo back and forth. Learn how it is done and try making your own Ikimuri.
Return to main road and departure
It is time to say goodbye for now. Before you depart you may visit the shop and café where traditional crafts souvenirs and snacks are available.
Lake Kivu & Kibuye
Part of Africa’s Great Rift Valley, Lake Kivu in the west of Rwanda is surrounded by magnificent mountains and has deep emerald green waters covering a surface area of 2,700 km2. It is Rwanda’s largest lake and the sixth largest in Africa.
Rubavu – previously known as Gisenyi – is a large town on the northern edge of Lake Kivu, an hour’s drive from Volcanoes National Park and the perfect place to relax after gorilla trekking. Once a colonial beach resort of note, Rubavu’s waterfront is lined with fading old mansions, hotels and trendy bars on the lakeshore, ideal for sundowner cocktails.
Karongi, half way along the lake, is a popular beach resort with hillsides covered in pines and eucalyptus serve as a backdrop to the sparkling lake. At dawn and dusk, the sound of local fisherman singing carries across the water as they paddle in unison.
From Rubavu in the north, the Congo Nile Trail extends 227 kilometres of breathtaking landscapes all the way to Rusizi in the south of Lake Kivu. The trail gently curves back and forth as it weaves through hills and mountains beside the lake with eucalyptus trees lining the road and every inch of the hills seemingly terraced with bananas.
Kibuye
For adventurous travellers, an exciting way to explore Rwanda is a kayaking tour on Lake Kivu, or mountain biking or hiking one of the 6 off-the-beaten path stages of the spectacular Congo Nile Trail.
Lake Kivu is one of the African Great Lakes that is divided between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. On this private tour, explore the Rwandan side and experience the peacefulness of the area. The lake is home to several islands and this boat tour takes you to three, including Peace Island where you can enjoy a swim in the calm waters. Visit Napoleon, Mbababar, and Peace islands See where coffee and macadamia nuts grow Learn about the importance of this lake to the area A private tour means a personalized experience
Kigali City Tour
A day starts with a tour of the city. Named in 1907 by Dr. Richard Kandt, the first colonial resident governor of Rwanda; Kigali city is surrounded by lush hills of green and is referred to as the land of a thousand hills. Get to visit interesting spots which may include; the craft market, Gisozi genocide memorial site & Kigali museum. Have a walk at the city center visiting exciting spots of the city. We shall also visit Mt.Kigali for the very best views of the city.Get to also visit the Kimironko Market. Return to the hotel for overnight.
