Get the Best of Rwanda on Our 10-Day Safari Holiday – Explore the top destinations in Rwanda, the Land of a Thousand Hills, on this distinctly designed 10-day safari holiday. Visit Akagera National Park, Nyungwe Forest, and Volcanoes National Park for a myriad of experiences, from primates to big game viewing. This special trip begins and ends in Kigali, one of the world’s most beautiful and safest cities.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Pick Up, Kigali City Tour
Receive a warm welcome to the Land of a Thousand Hills followed by a briefing from your safari leader. Depart Kigali International Airport for a short city tour, including a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial. This historical site provides detailed information about the 1994 Rwanda genocide that lasted approximately 3 months between Hutus and Tutsis. Other places to visit include craft centers and Kirimonko market.
Day 2: Drive to Akagera National Park, Eastern Rwanda
Akagera National Park is Rwanda’s largest park and the country’s only savanna protected area. Located in far eastern Rwanda, Akagera is a 2.5-hour drive from Kigali. After breakfast at your hotel, enjoy the scenic countryside en route to this magical savanna park. Akagera boasts all the Big Five game animals—buffaloes, elephants, leopards, lions, rhinos—as well as Masai giraffes, zebras, and over 500 bird species.
Upon arrival, enjoy a leisurely lunch and relax at the safari lodge. In the late afternoon, embark on a wildlife expedition in Akagera National Park in a 4×4 vehicle, expecting uninterrupted sightings of big game, antelopes, and birds.
Day 3: Game Drive & Boat Tour
After a delicious breakfast, begin with a guided game drive through the Northern section of Akagera National Park. The morning game drive lasts 2-3 hours and promises amazing animal sightings such as buffaloes, lions, leopards, antelopes, elephants, giraffes, and various bird species. Return to the lodge for lunch with continued opportunities for incredible wildlife sightings.
At 2:00pm, enjoy a memorable boat cruise on Lake Ihema, home to hundreds of hippos, crocodiles, and aquatic birds. The concentration of these amazing aquatic animals will make for a great day, and you’ll return to the lodge with plenty of incredible pictures for your memories.
Day 4: Akagera to Nyungwe National Park via Kigali
After breakfast, transfer from Eastern Province to Southern Province where Nyungwe Forest National Park is located. Nyungwe Forest is Rwanda’s premier destination for chimp tracking, home to 13 primate species. Enjoy lunch en route in Huye and visit the National Museum before arriving at your lodge.
Day 5: Chimpanzee Trek and Canopy Walk Tour
After a cup of African tea or coffee, leave your lodge for a briefing on chimpanzee trekking guidelines at Nyungwe Forest. Assemble at Uwinka or Cyamudongo reception areas where a park guide will lead you in search of chimpanzee communities. The trek can last 2-4 hours, including 1 hour for a magical encounter and photography.
Nyungwe Forest offers clear sightings of not only chimpanzees but also other primates such as L’Hoest’s monkeys, colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, baboons, and over 310 bird species. Return to enjoy a leisurely lunch and then set off for a rewarding canopy walk, approximately 2 hours exploring Nyungwe on suspended walkways. More primates, birds, and the magical Nyungwe Forest canopy will enrich your afternoon canopy walk experience.
Day 6: Travel to Volcanoes National Park
Transfer to Volcanoes National Park, another remarkable primate destination and home to 30% of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. The road trip from Nyungwe to Ruhengeri takes about 6 hours, offering scenic views of Lake Kivu, Rwanda’s largest freshwater lake, along the way.
Day 7: Gorilla Trek and Cultural Walk
Wake up early for breakfast and proceed to the Kinigi offices of Volcanoes Park for a briefing and assignment to a gorilla family. Volcanoes National Park is home to 12 gorilla families available for trekking, starting at 8:00am with a park guide leading each group of 8 individuals.
Trekking through the jungle can take between 2 and 6 hours before encountering gorillas, with a guaranteed 1-hour magical encounter for photography. In the evening, gain insight into Rwandan traditions, cultures, practices, lifestyles, dances, and music performances during a visit to the Ibyiwacu Cultural Village.
Day 8: Golden Monkey Tracking & Dian Fossey Tour. Overnight at Lake Kivu
Enjoy an early morning breakfast and proceed to meet park officials at Kinigi. Choose between tracking golden monkeys or trekking to the Dian Fossey grave site. Fossey left an incredible legacy in mountain gorilla conservation worth sharing, and hiking to her tomb is an inspirational experience. After activities at Volcanoes Park, transfer to Lake Kivu for evening relaxation.
Day 9: Lake Kivu – Full Day
Enjoy a hearty breakfast and embark on a boat ride or kayaking adventure on Lake Kivu, a freshwater lake shared between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Spend the evening relaxing and reflecting on your adventurous experiences.
Day 10: Departure from Lake Kivu to Kigali
Check out after breakfast at your respective hotel or lodge. Upon return to Kigali, transfer to your accommodation or Kigali airport for departure to your next destination or home.
