The 5-day Rwanda Gorillas and Akagera Safari is a rewarding wildlife tour that combines classic game viewing with mountain gorilla trekking. Rwanda is often called the land of a thousand hills, and this safari allows visitors to explore both savannah and forest areas in one trip. You will visit Akagera National Park for wildlife viewing and Volcanoes National Park for mountain gorilla trekking.
This safari starts and ends in Kigali. It includes game drives, a boat cruise, gorilla trekking, and a cultural visit. It is suitable for travelers who want to see the Big Five animals and also experience Rwanda’s famous gorillas.
Day 1: Arrival and Transfer to Akagera National Park
On arrival in Kigali, your driver guide will meet you at your hotel or the airport and give a short briefing about the safari. After the briefing, drive east to Akagera National Park. The drive takes a few hours and passes through local towns, farms, and open countryside.
Akagera is Rwanda’s only Savannah park and is home to elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes, and rhinos. On arrival, check in at your lodge near the park. Enjoy lunch, relax, and spend the evening at the lodge. Dinner and overnight stay are at the lodge.
Day 2: Morning Game Drive and Boat Cruise on Lake Ihema
Wake up early for breakfast, then enter Akagera National Park for a morning game drive. During the drive, you may see elephants, giraffes, zebras, impalas, olive baboons, buffaloes, and if lucky, lions and leopards. Your guide will explain the animals and the park as you move through the open plains.
Return to the lodge for lunch and rest. In the afternoon, take a boat cruise on Lake Ihema. The cruise allows you to see hippos, crocodiles, water birds, and animals coming to drink at the shore. After the cruise, drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
After breakfast, check out from the lodge and drive north to Volcanoes National Park. The journey takes several hours and passes through hills, villages, and farming areas. Along the way, enjoy views of Rwanda’s countryside.
Arrive at your lodge near Volcanoes National Park in time for lunch. Spend the afternoon resting and preparing for the gorilla trek the next day. Dinner and overnight stay are at the lodge.
Day 4: Mountain Gorilla Trekking and Cultural Tour
Have an early breakfast, then drive to the park headquarters for a briefing by park officials. You will be informed about gorilla trekking rules and assigned a gorilla family. With an armed ranger guide, begin the trek into the forest.
Gorilla trekking can take between 1 and 8 hours depending on the gorillas’ location. Once found, you will spend one hour watching them feed, rest, and interact. After the trek, return to the park offices to receive your trekking certificate and then go back to the lodge to rest.
In the evening, visit Ibyiwacu Cultural Village. Here, you will learn about local traditions through music, dance, storytelling, and crafts. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 5: Return to Kigali and Departure
After breakfast, check out from the lodge and drive back to Kigali. If time allows, you may visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial to learn about Rwanda’s history. Continue to Kigali International Airport for your departure flight, marking the end of the 5-day Rwanda Gorillas and Akagera Safari.
