Budget level:
Mid-Range
Country
Rwanda
When to Go
Aug to Oct
Duration
5 Nights
Safari Type
Camping, Climbing & Trekking
Location
Akagera National Park
Kids Min Age
16
Safari Rating
This unsupported Primitive Trail is a completely immersive experience. Participants carry everything they require for the duration of the five night Trail in a backpack. With no tents, no technology and no extras, it allows for an appreciation of wild space and it’s intrinsic qualities. Each night on Trail is spent under the stars with participants sharing the responsibility of ‘watch duty’.
Itinerary in Brief
East African Residents only and Min 4 participants.
Transfer to Akagera
1 Night Ruzizi Tented Camp
3 Nights Primitive Walking Trail
1 Night Karenge Bush Camp
Transfer to Kigali
Rediscover your wild nature on this 6-day all-inclusive package that has you experience raw nature, along with the masters of Trails guiding.
This Adventure expedition traverses one of Africa’s last wild spaces over a period of 5 nights. Including a 3-night unsupported Primitive Trail with a night at a fully catered tented camp, on either end. Included are return transfers from Kigali to Akagera National Park.
The three-night Guided Primitive Walking Trail component covers approximately 40 km (south to north) of Akagera’s inspiring landscape. The focus is on spending quality time exploring the Natural environment along the way and not so much on completing the distances as quickly as possible. Everything required for the duration of this walking trail must be carried in a backpack. All necessary food and equipment will be provided. There will be access to drinking water daily. In order to minimize the impact, no cooking will be allowed on an open fire. Each night on Primitive Trail is spent under the stars (no tents) with participants sharing the responsibility of ‘watch duty’.
Trail Equipment Includes:
Backpack, ground sheet, sleeping mattress, sleeping bag, sleeping bag liner, pillow, head torch, cutlery, cooking pot, bowl, mug, dry bags, water bottles, Kelly Kettles, mosquito net (& pegs), bivy bag, toilet paper & matches.
Trail Equipment Excludes:
Quick-dry towel, Personal toiletries, insect repellent, hat, sunscreen, hiking shoes, sandals, binoculars (personal equipment), light-weight poncho.
Detailed itinerary
The Experience:
Guided Primitive Trails through Africa’s wild spaces will enable ways of looking at the
Natural World and Yourself differently. Focus on needs and not wants, paring things down to their most essential so you can have an undistracted grounding experience in a wild place. Cultivate an appreciation for simplicity, silence, solitude and the opportunity for reflection that this brings.
Facilitation of the Trail de Akagera ‘journey’ is based on a framework which has been crafted in collaboration with Dr. Ian McCallum, an analytical psychologist, psychiatrist, wilderness guide, author and poet. This subtly structured approach promotes intentional engagement with wild spaces and deep ecology in a way that stimulates the rediscovery of relationships. With these valuable pieces of ‘wild advice’ participants are able to refocus on what is important in their lives and appreciate the simplicity and silence that enables self-renewal. This product will stimulate anyone seeking a fully immersive and perspective shifting experience.
A mutualistic relationship with Akagera Management Company (AMC), which is included in the African Parks Network, means participants have exclusive access to one of Africa’s most celebrated wild places. There are only 12 set-departures per year (during August, September and October), which is aligned with the best season to appreciate the intrinsic scenic and wilderness qualities of this spectacular Park in Rwanda. There is a maximum of 8 participants per Trail. The small group size allows excellent opportunities for solitude and silence as well as the reflection that this brings.
The Wildlife:
It is highly likely that the group will encounter the following; Masai Giraffe, Plains Zebra, Topi, Defassa Waterbuck, Impala, Cape Buffalo, Oribi, Bohor Reedbuck, Klipspringer, Warthog, Bush Pig, Common Duiker, Roan Antelope, Eland, Hippo, Crocodile and Olive Baboon. More than 480 bird species have also been identified in Akagera.
Other iconic large mammals such as Black Rhino, Lion, Leopard and Elephant are encountered much less frequently. A Primitive Wilderness Trail is not an efficient way of viewing all the iconic mammal species (Big 5). Therefore, these species are not the main focus of our excursion. Our focus is on purposefully engaging with wild spaces, becoming ‘participants’ (man in nature) and deep ecology which explores biological relationships as opposed to individual species.
Your Fitness:
The Trail meanders approximately 60 km (south to north) across Akagera National Park’s inspiring landscape. Participants are required to be fit (hiking with backpack) due to the undulating terrain. The primary objective is to engage with wild space and not to ‘conquer’ the Trail. Due to tourism infrastructure (public roads), thick vegetation in combination with a high density of Cape Buffalo and Hippo the Trail does NOT pass along the lakeshore. The age restriction is 16 and persons over 65 will require a Doctor’s letter which confirms that they are fit enough to undertake the Backpack Trail.
The Accommodation:
We make use very comfortable (eco) tented camps on the night before and after the Primitive Trail. Both camps run entirely off solar energy. During the 5-night unsupported Primitive Trail we sleep under the stars (on a thin roll matt) with participants taking turns to do ‘watch duty’. Participants prepare their own meals and will have access to water each day.
The Trails Season:
The Trail season in Akagera National Park is limited to August, September & October. This period is a suitable window between the fire season and the second rainy season of the year. The climate is usually moderate to warm with average temperatures being uniform throughout the year. Average minimum temperature: 14 Degrees Celsius (57 Degrees Fahrenheit)
Average maximum temperature: 27 Degrees Celsius (81 Degrees Fahrenheit)
It is however advised to take warm clothing for the nights and early morning.
August and September are drier months in Akagera National Park with October experiencing some ‘short rains’. Be sure to pack rain protection, it’s the tropics after all.
Akagera National Park is situated within a malaria zone and precautions against malaria as well as certain other vaccinations are advised.
The Package:
Fully Inclusive Package Price:
USD 5400 per person (6 days)
*Four participants secures Trail Departure
Package Includes:
- Transfer: Kigali to Akagera National Park (2.5 hrs)
- One night at Ruzizi Tented Lodge (sharing)
- Akagera National Park ‘behind the scenes’ tour
- Three-night Guided Primitive Trail
- Experienced Wilderness Trails Guide/Facilitator
- All equipment for Primitive Trail
- One night at Karenge Bush Camp (sharing)
- All meals & drinks (in Akagera National Park)
- National Park entrance fees
- National Park conservation levies
- National Park camping fees
- Emergency evacuation (satellite phone)
- Transfer: Akagera National Park to Kigali (3.5 hrs)
Package Excludes:
- Flights to/from Kigali, Rwanda
- Accommodation in Kigali (flight dependent)
When to go
| jan | feb | mar | apr | may | jun | jul | aug | sep | oct | nov | dec | |
| Akagera National Park |  | |  | | | |  | | | | | |
= Best
= Good
= Mixed
The Accommodation
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