This 7-Day Rwanda Safari gives visitors a clear and rewarding way to explore Rwanda’s wildlife, culture, and daily life. The safari starts and ends in Kigali and takes you to three main national parks. These include Nyungwe National Park, Volcanoes National Park, and Akagera National Park.
During this safari, you will enjoy chimpanzee trekking, a canopy walk, mountain gorilla trekking, game drives, and a boat cruise. You will also experience Rwanda’s culture, local food, and friendly people. The main focus of this trip is leisure, learning, and enjoying nature at a relaxed pace.
Day 1: Pickup and Transfer to Nyungwe National Park
At the agreed time, a company representative will pick you up from your hotel or the airport in Kigali. After a short briefing about the safari, you will start the drive to Nyungwe National Park. The journey covers about 218 kilometers and takes around four hours.
Along the way, you will stop at Nyanza King’s Palace to learn about Rwanda’s history, traditional leadership, and royal life. Lunch will be taken en route. After arrival in Nyungwe, check in at the lodge, relax, enjoy dinner, and spend the night.
Day 2: Chimpanzee Trekking and Canopy Walk
After breakfast, you will head to the park offices for a briefing by ranger guides. They will explain the rules for chimpanzee trekking and what to expect in the forest. Chimpanzees live deep in the forest, and tracking them can take between one and five hours.
When you find them, you will observe how they move, feed, and communicate. You will also see other primates and forest birds during the walk. After the trek, return to the lodge for lunch.
Later in the afternoon, take part in the canopy walk. This walk is done on raised bridges above the forest. It allows you to see birds and monkeys in the trees. After the activity, return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 3: Nyungwe National Park to Volcanoes National Park
After breakfast, check out of the lodge and begin the drive to Volcanoes National Park. This drive takes about four to five hours, including a lunch stop along the way.
On arrival, check in at your lodge near the park. Spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing and preparing for the next day’s gorilla trekking activity. Dinner and overnight stay will be at the lodge.
Day 4: Gorilla Trekking
Wake up early and enjoy breakfast at the lodge. Carry your packed lunch and trekking gear, then drive to the park headquarters for a briefing. Rangers will explain the rules for gorilla trekking and assign you to a gorilla family.
The trek into the forest can take between one and eight hours, depending on the location of the gorillas. Once you find them, you will spend one full hour observing their behavior and taking photos. You may also see monkeys and birds along the trail.
After the trek, return to the lodge for refreshments, dinner, and overnight rest.
Day 5: Transfer to Akagera National Park
After an early breakfast, check out and drive to Akagera National Park. This is Rwanda’s only savannah park and home to the Big Five animals. The drive takes about two to three hours through rural areas and open countryside.
On arrival, have lunch at the lodge and relax in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight stay will be at the lodge inside or near the park.
Day 6: Game Drive and Boat Cruise
After breakfast, go for a morning game drive in Akagera National Park. This drive lasts about three to four hours and offers chances to see elephants, zebras, antelopes, buffaloes, and sometimes lions or leopards. Many bird species are also seen during the drive.
After lunch, enjoy a boat cruise on one of the park’s lakes. During the cruise, you will see hippos, crocodiles, and water birds. After the activity, return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 7: Return to Kigali. End of Safari
After breakfast, check out and drive back to Kigali. Depending on your flight time, you may visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial to learn about Rwanda’s past.
You may also visit local markets and gift shops before being transferred to Kigali International Airport. This marks the end of your 7-Day Rwanda Safari, leaving you with lasting memories of Rwanda’s wildlife, culture, and people.
