8 Day Best of Rwanda Safari

Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, your professional driver-guide will warmly welcome you and provide a detailed briefing about your safari. You will then begin your drive east toward Akagera National Park, a journey of approximately 2.5 to 3 hours.

As you leave Kigali, you’ll notice a gradual transformation in landscape—from organized urban hills to expansive savannah plains dotted with acacia trees and seasonal wetlands. Your guide will share insights into Rwanda’s culture, agriculture, and conservation efforts along the way.

Arriving at the park around midday, you’ll check into your lodge and enjoy lunch while overlooking the surrounding wilderness. In the afternoon, head out for a boat safari on Lake Ihema, one of Rwanda’s most wildlife-rich water bodies. Here, you will observe hippos in large pods, crocodiles basking on the banks, and a wide range of birdlife including African fish eagles, cormorants, and kingfishers.

Later, continue with a sunset game drive, when wildlife becomes more active. This is your first opportunity to spot giraffes browsing, buffaloes grazing, elephants moving toward water sources, and antelopes scattered across the plains.

Return to your lodge just after sunset for dinner and overnight.

Today is dedicated to an in-depth wildlife safari in Akagera National Park, offering a true African game viewing experience.

You’ll depart early at sunrise, when the park is at its most active. This is the best time to search for predators such as lions and hyenas, which are often still active after nighttime hunting. Your guide will take you through different sectors of the park, including the northern plains—known for higher concentrations of wildlife.

Expect to see elephants moving in herds, giraffes feeding on acacia trees, buffaloes grazing in large groups, and possibly rhinos and leopards with some luck. Along the way, your guide will interpret animal behavior, tracks, and birdlife, adding depth to your experience.

Mid-morning, enjoy a picnic breakfast at a scenic viewpoint, followed by continued exploration. After lunch, proceed with an afternoon game drive focusing on water sources where animals gather.

By late afternoon, begin your return drive to Kigali (2.5–3 hours), arriving in the evening for overnight.

After breakfast, enjoy a guided Kigali city tour. Begin with a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial, where you’ll gain meaningful insight into Rwanda’s history and remarkable journey of recovery.

Continue to local markets such as Kimironko Market, where you can interact with vendors and explore locally made crafts, fabrics, and fresh produce.

After lunch in Kigali, depart for Volcanoes National Park, a scenic 2.5-hour drive through Rwanda’s terraced hills and rural landscapes.

Arrive in Musanze in the late afternoon, check into your lodge, and relax in the cool mountain climate as you prepare for your gorilla trekking experience.

After an early breakfast, you will transfer to the Kinigi park headquarters by around 7:00 AM for registration and a detailed briefing by experienced park rangers. During this session, you’ll learn about gorilla behavior, conservation guidelines, and what to expect during your trek.

You will then be assigned to a habituated gorilla family and grouped with a small number of trekkers (maximum of 8 people), before heading into the forest with expert guides and trackers.

The gorilla trekking experience can take anywhere between 1 to 6 hours, depending on the gorillas’ location. The trek takes you through bamboo forests, dense vegetation, and sometimes steep or muddy terrain, but it is paced to match your ability and guided throughout.

Once the gorillas are located, you will spend one unforgettable hour in their presence. During this time, you’ll observe them up close as they feed, groom, and interact naturally. Watching a silverback lead his group, juveniles play, and mothers care for their young is a powerful and humbling wildlife encounter.

After the trek, you will return to the starting point where your driver-guide will meet you and transfer you back to the lodge for lunch and relaxation. In the afternoon, you may opt for a cultural visit to learn more about local traditions and community life.

After breakfast, return to the park headquarters for your golden monkey tracking experience. Following a short briefing, you will be assigned to a habituated troop and guided into the bamboo forests at the base of the Virunga Mountains.

The trek to locate the monkeys typically takes 1 to 2 hours, depending on their movement and feeding patterns. The terrain is generally gentler than gorilla trekking, making this a more relaxed yet equally enjoyable activity.

Once the golden monkeys are found, you will spend one full hour observing them at close range. These rare primates are highly active and social—often seen jumping between bamboo stems, feeding on shoots, grooming one another, and interacting in playful groups. Their striking golden-orange fur and lively behavior make them a favorite for photography.

The entire experience lasts approximately 2 to 3 hours, offering a rewarding and engaging wildlife encounter without the physical demands of gorilla trekking.

After the activity, return to your lodge for lunch and a short rest. In the afternoon, begin your scenic drive to Lake Kivu (approximately 3 to 4 hours), passing through Rwanda’s rolling hills and rural landscapes.

Arrive at your lakeside lodge in the late afternoon, check in, and unwind as you enjoy the calm atmosphere and beautiful views over the lake.

After breakfast, enjoy a relaxed morning along the shores of Lake Kivu. You may choose to take a boat ride, go for a swim, try kayaking, or visit nearby fishing communities for a glimpse into local life. Alternatively, simply unwind at the lodge and enjoy the peaceful lakeside views.

After lunch, depart for Nyungwe Forest National Park (approximately 4 hours). The drive is scenic, passing through Rwanda’s rolling hills, rural villages, and beautiful tea plantations.

Arrive in the late afternoon, check in at your lodge, and relax in the cool and tranquil rainforest environment as you prepare for the next day’s chimpanzee tracking experience.

After an early breakfast, transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing before beginning your chimpanzee tracking experience in Nyungwe Forest, one of Africa’s oldest and most biodiverse rainforests.

Accompanied by experienced guides and trackers, you will head into the forest in search of chimpanzees, often guided by their loud calls echoing through the trees. The trek typically takes 1 to 3 hours, depending on the location of the chimpanzee group.

The terrain can be moderately challenging, with forest trails, uneven ground, and dense vegetation, but the experience is well guided and paced for comfort.

Once the chimpanzees are located, you will spend approximately one hour observing them. Unlike gorillas, chimpanzees are very active and often move quickly through the canopy, offering a dynamic and exciting wildlife encounter. You may see them feeding, grooming, playing, or calling to one another.

Nyungwe Forest is also home to several other primate species, so you may encounter colobus monkeys and other wildlife during your trek.

After returning to the lodge for lunch and relaxation, you will continue with your afternoon activity, such as the canopy walk.

On your final day, enjoy a guided primate walk in Nyungwe, followed by a visit to a tea plantation to learn about Rwanda’s tea production.

Afterward, begin your return drive to Kigali (5–6 hours), with a lunch stop along the way. Upon arrival, transfer to the airport or your hotel.