Your 6-Day Rwanda Safari with Lake Kivu Fishing begins in Kigali. Your Tarec Gorilla Safaris guide will meet you at Kigali International Airport or your hotel. After a short briefing, begin your Kigali city experience.

Visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial to learn about Rwanda's history and the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Continue through Kigali's neighborhoods and local areas, with time for photography, shopping or a visit to a local market depending on your interests. Kigali is also a good place to experience Rwanda's modern side before heading into the country's national parks.

In the evening, return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Wake up early for breakfast before driving east toward Akagera National Park. Akagera contains savannah, woodland, wetlands and numerous lakes, with restored populations of major wildlife including lions and rhinos, giving visitors opportunities to see the Big Five.

After entering the park, begin a game drive. Look out for elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, hippos, warthogs, lions and other savannah wildlife.

After lunch, continue toward Lake Ihema. Enjoy a Lake Ihema boat cruise, where you can observe hippos, crocodiles and waterbirds from the water. The boat experience adds a different perspective to the traditional game drive. Return to your lodge in the evening.

Start the morning with an early breakfast before heading out for another game drive. The cooler morning hours can be productive for wildlife viewing as you explore different sections of Akagera. Your guide will look for wildlife along the savannah plains, woodland areas and around water sources.

After lunch, continue your safari through another part of the park. The afternoon drive provides another opportunity for wildlife photography and landscape viewing. Akagera's combination of wetlands, lakes, savannah and woodland is one of the reasons it offers a different safari experience from Rwanda's forest destinations.

Return to your lodge for dinner.

After breakfast, leave Akagera and begin your journey toward Nyungwe National Park. This is a longer travel day, but it allows you to experience the changing landscapes of Rwanda. The scenery gradually changes from Akagera's eastern savannah and wetlands to the greener hills and rainforest landscapes of southwestern Rwanda.

Stop for lunch along the way. Continue toward Nyungwe and check into your accommodation. Depending on your arrival time, take a short nature walk or visit a tea-growing area around the forest.

Nyungwe is one of Rwanda's most important rainforest destinations and is known for forest walks, primates, birdlife and the famous canopy walkway.

After breakfast, head into Nyungwe Forest for the Nyungwe Canopy Walkway experience. The walkway takes you high above the forest floor and provides panoramic views across the rainforest canopy and surrounding hills. The experience is suitable for travelers who want adventure without committing to a demanding multi-hour forest trek.

After the canopy experience, continue toward Lake Kivu. The drive takes you through Rwanda's famous rolling hills and rural landscapes. Arrive at Lake Kivu in the afternoon. Check into your hotel and relax beside the lake. In the evening, enjoy the sunset over the water.

Lake Kivu is Rwanda's largest lake and is surrounded by mountains, beaches and small islands, with kayaking, hiking and cycling among the available activities.

Today is the special feature of your Rwanda safari. Wake early and prepare for a Lake Kivu fishing experience. The exact fishing method will depend on the location, local conditions and the experience available on your travel date. Your guide can arrange an experience with local fishermen where available, giving you an opportunity to learn about traditional fishing practices and life around Lake Kivu.

Depending on local arrangements, the experience can include: introduction to local fishing traditions · fishing from a traditional boat or suitable local vessel · learning about fishing techniques · time on the lake · interaction with local fishermen · photography · viewing the surrounding mountains and islands · learning about the role of fishing in lakeside communities.

The fishing experience is intended as a cultural and recreational activity rather than a guaranteed sport-fishing expedition. After the experience, return to your hotel for breakfast. If time permits, enjoy a short boat ride or lakeside walk before beginning your journey back to Kigali.

Arrive in Kigali in the afternoon or evening depending on your departure flight. Your guide will transfer you to Kigali International Airport or your preferred Kigali hotel.