This 10 Days Rwanda safari features gorilla trekking and golden monkey experience in Volcanoes National Park, chimpanzee tracking and canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest National Park, boat ride in Lake Kivu and game viewing in Akagera National Park. The trip starts and ends in Kigali city.
- Day 1: Arrival in Kigali City
- Day 2: Kigali City Tour and Transfer to Akagera National Park
- Day 3: Game Drive and Boat Safari in Akagera National Park
- Day 4: Transfer to Nyungwe National Park
- Day 5: Chimpanzee Tracking and Canopy Walk
- Day 6: Nature Walk and Transfer to Lake Kivu
- Day 7: Explore Lake Kivu and Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
- Day 8: Gorilla trekking and cultural walk
- Day 9: Golden monkey trekking or Dian fossey hike
- Day 10: Kigali city tour and Departure
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali City
Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, your guide will welcome you and transfer you to your hotel. The drive takes about 20 to 30 minutes depending on your hotel’s location.
Depending on your arrival time, relax at the hotel or take a short walk around the neighbourhood. Kigali is known for its clean streets, green spaces, and organised layout. Visit a local coffee shop to sample freshly grown Rwandan coffee. You can also take a walk through Nyandungu Eco-Park, a restored wetland with walking trails, indigenous trees and many bird species. Accommodation options include The Retreat by Heaven (Luxury), Hotel des Mille Collines (Mid-range) and Onomo Hotel Kigali (Budget).
Day 2: Kigali City Tour and Transfer to Akagera National Park After breakfast, begin your city tour with a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial. The memorial provides insight into Rwanda’s history and honours those who lost their lives during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Next, visit Kimironko Market where local traders sell fresh produce, fabrics, baskets and handmade crafts. Continue to the Inema Arts Center to see contemporary Rwandan artwork. After lunch, drive to Akagera National Park. The journey takes about 2½ to 3 hours through rural communities and farmland.
Akagera National Park is located in eastern Rwanda along the border with Tanzania. It is Rwanda’s only savannah park, covering about 1,122 square kilometres of grasslands, woodlands, lakes and wetlands. The park is named after the Akagera River which supports its lakes and wildlife habitats. It is home to the Big Five animals, including lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards and rhinos along with giraffes, zebras, hippos, antelopes and many bird species. If you arrive early, enjoy an evening game drive before heading to your lodge.
Accommodation options include Magashi Camp (Luxury), Akagera Game Lodge (Mid-range) and Karenge Bush Camp (Seasonal Budget).
Day 3: Game Drive and Boat Safari in Akagera National Park
Leave early for a morning game drive when animals are most active. Watch for elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, lions, rhinos, antelopes and many bird species. The park has recovered remarkably through successful wildlife conservation. Today, it is home to Rwanda’s Big Five.
In the afternoon, enjoy a boat cruise on Lake Ihema. Hippos, crocodiles and water birds are common along the shoreline. For a quieter experience, your guide may take you to the northern plains. This area receives fewer visitors and often provides excellent wildlife viewing. Return to your lodge for dinner. Accommodation options include Magashi Camp, Akagera Game Lodge and Akagera Rhino Lodge.
Day 4: Transfer to Nyungwe National Park
After breakfast, leave Akagera and travel to Nyungwe National Park. The journey takes about 6 to 7 hours through Rwanda’s scenic countryside. Along the way, stop at the King’s Palace Museum in Nyanza. The museum explains Rwanda’s traditional monarchy and features long-horned Inyambo cattle. You may also visit the Ethnographic Museum in Huye before continuing south. Arrive at Nyungwe in the evening.
Nyungwe Forest National Park is located in southwestern Rwanda near the border with Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Established as a national park in 2004, it protects one of Africa’s oldest montane rainforests which has existed for thousands of years.
The park covers about 1,019 square kilometres and is known for its rich biodiversity. It is home to 13 primate species including chimpanzees, black-and-white colobus monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys and blue monkeys. Nyungwe also supports more than 300 bird species including several Albertine Rift endemics. Accommodation option include One&Only Nyungwe House (Luxury), Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel (Mid-range) and Gisakura Guest House (Budget)
Day 5: Chimpanzee Tracking and Canopy Walk
Start the day with chimpanzee tracking after an early briefing. Listen for their loud calls as guides lead you through the rainforest. Spend one hour observing the chimpanzees after locating them.
Later, go for canopy walkway. The suspended bridge offers views across the forest canopy. If time allows, explore the nearby Tea Plantation Trail. Return to your lodge in the evening. Accommodation options include One&Only Nyungwe House, Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel and Gisakura Guest House
Day 6: Nature Walk and Transfer to Lake Kivu
After breakfast, join a guided forest walk. Your guide will explain medicinal plants, birds, butterflies and forest ecology. You can also hike the Waterfall Trail, one of Nyungwe’s quieter walking routes. The trail passes through dense forest before reaching a waterfall.
Later, continue to Lake Kivu. The drive takes about 4 to 5 hours. Lake Kivu is one of Africa’s Great Lakes, located along the border between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It covers about 2,700 square kilometres and is the sixth-largest lake in Africa. The lake lies at an altitude of approximately 1,460 metres above sea level and is surrounded by green hills, islands and small fishing villages.
Lake Kivu is a freshwater lake and forms part of the Albertine Rift Valley. It drains south through the Ruzizi River into Lake Tanganyika. The lake supports local communities through fishing, transport and tourism. Popular lakeside towns include Karongi (Kibuye), Rubavu (Gisenyi) and Rusizi (Cyangugu). These towns serve as convenient stopovers for travellers visiting Nyungwe National Park or Volcanoes National Park. Accommodation options include Cleo Lake Kivu Hotel (Luxury), Kivu Serena Hotel (Mid-range) and Paradise Malahide (Budget)
Day 7: Explore Lake Kivu and Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Enjoy a relaxed morning at Lake Kivu. Take a boat trip to Napoleon Island, home to a colony of fruit bats. You may also visit nearby fishing villages to learn about local life. After lunch, drive to Volcanoes National Park. The journey takes about 2½ to 3 hours.
Volcanoes National Park is located in northwestern Rwanda and is the country’s oldest national park. Established in 1925, it was created to protect the endangered mountain gorillas and their habitat. The park covers about 160 square kilometres and forms part of the Virunga Mountains.
The park is home to mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, over 200 bird species, and a variety of other wildlife. It is also known for its five volcanic peaks including Mount Karisimbi and Mount Bisoke. Accommodation options include Bisate Lodge (Luxury), Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel (Mid-range) and Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge (Budget)
Day 8: Gorilla trekking and cultural walk
After breakfast, you will transfer to the park headquarters to be briefed about the gorilla trekking adventure. Later you will start off the search of these gentle giants which will take about 2-6 hours depending on the movement of gorillas in their natural habitat. Meet and stay with the gorillas for a maximum of one hour as you enjoy how they interact with each other, mothers grooming the young ones among others. Later return for a cultural tour to the Banyarwanda people and explore more about their unique culture. Return for dinner and overnight stay at Mountain gorilla view lodge (Luxury)/ La Palme Hotel (Deluxe)/ Muhabura Hotel (Budget)
Day 9: Golden monkey trekking or Dian fossey hike
After breakfast, you will head into the forest together with the park rangers in search for the Golden monkeys. This also rewards views of other primates such as the Angolan colobus, black and white colobus monkeys among others. Or you may choose to visit the Karisoke research center for a hike to the Dian fossey tombs. After lunch, you will have a nature walk to the twin lakes. Dinner and overnight at Mountain gorilla view lodge (Luxury)/ La Palme Hotel (Deluxe)/ Muhabura Hotel (Budget)
Day 10: Kigali city tour and Departure
After breakfast, drive back to Kigali. The journey takes about 2½ to 3 hours. Depending on your departure time, visit Caplaki Craft Villeg for handmade souveniers or relaxt at a local cafe. Your gide will then transfer you to Kigali International Airport for your departure flight. This marks the end of your 10 days Rwanda safari
End of Safari
This Safari Package Covers:
Gorilla Permit
Entrance Fee to Genocide Memorial Museum
Hiking Fee to Dian Fossey Tomb / Golden Monkey trekking Permit.
Park Ranger Fees
Relevant Government Taxes.
Full Board Accommodation (3 nights) and en-route meals as indicated in the itinerary.
Full time English speaking Driver/Guide
Ground Transportation by a 4×4 safari vehicle
Airport transfer, as long as your flight is on the same day on which the safari ends.
Safari Exclusions:
Airfares
Visa Fees
Personal Insurance
Expenses of personal nature such as; drinks, tips, laundry, telephone, cigarettes, accommodation & meals not indicated in the itinerary and optional activities.
Content for the tab Gallery
