7Days Best of Rwanda Wildlife and Gorilla Safari

7-Day Best of Rwanda Wildlife and Gorilla Safari

Discover the magic of our 7 Days Best of Rwanda Safari, combining Kigali city, Akagera Big Five safaris, Volcanoes gorilla trekking, and Nyungwe chimpanzee tracking and canopy walks. This all-in-one journey blends Rwanda’s culture, wildlife, and landscapes into an unforgettable experience. Perfect for travelers seeking gorilla safaris, primate tours, and classic game drives, it’s the ultimate way to explore the best of Rwanda in a 7 adventure-filled days

Detailed itinerary

 Day 1: Kigali City to Akagera national park

After breakfast, you will depart Kigali, tracing a scenic route through Rwanda’s rolling hills to Akagera National Park, arriving just in time for your lunch at Akagera Game Lodge, where the savannah unfurls before you like a golden promise. You’ll check in, then set off on an afternoon game drive—your first taste of the wild. Watch zebras stripe the horizon, giraffes nibble treetops, and antelopes dart through the grass as the sun casts long shadows across the plains. As evening approaches, you will embark on your journey back to the lodge

Dinner and overnight at Akagera game lodge

 Day 2: Morning game drive and afternoon trip at Lake Ihema

Rise with the sun for breakfast, then embark on a full-day game drive through Akagera’s diverse tapestry of landscapes. Roam from open savannahs to wooded hills, eyes peeled for the Big Five—lions basking in the shade, elephants lumbering through dust, rhinos grazing quietly, leopards lurking in the shadows, and buffalo roaming in herds. You’ll pause near Lake Ihema, where hippos wallow and crocodiles bask, their stillness a stark contrast to the park’s vibrant pulse. You will later return to the lodge for lunch and prepare for an afternoon boat cruise at Lake Ihema, where you will see hippos wallowing in the shallows and crocodiles basking on the banks, their stillness glowing in the golden light. You’ll look out for fish eagles soaring as the sun dips below the horizon, painting the sky in fiery hues. You’ll return to the lodge, the evening alive with distant calls, ready for more.

Dinner and overnight at Akagera game lodge

Day 3. Transfer to volcanoes national park

After an early breakfast, transfer to Volcanoes National Park-Kinigi, home of the endangered mountain gorillas. Lunch will be served in Kigali before proceeding to arrive at your lodge. We may have a break in Kigali visiting the genocide memorial center or Kandt house museum, have lunch and proceed to the volcanoes

Dinner and overnight stay at. Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge.

Day 4: Gorilla trekking experience

After an early breakfast, you’ll venture out to Kinigi, at the foothills of the Virungas, at Parc National des Volcans, where you’ll begin your trek with a general briefing at the park headquarters. Your lead guide will take you deep into the forest in search of your assigned gorilla family. Your trek could last from three to eight hours depending on the exact location of the specific gorilla family that you’re tracking.

When you locate the gorillas, you’ll have the chance to spend up to one magical hour quietly observing them, photographing and taking memorable videos. The viewing distance is usually about eight (8) meters away from you and at times they get very close and even touch or push you down. Observing these endangered gentle giants is such a thrilling experience. They go about their daily lives, feeding, grooming, and interacting with each other under the watchful gaze of the silverback.

Late in the afternoon, you’ll be transferred back to your accommodation, where you can spend the evening reflecting on your incredible encounter with the mountain gorillas of Rwanda or, better still, visit the Ellen DeGeneres campus or the Dian Fossey museum to complete your gorilla trekking experience.

Dinner and overnight stay at. Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge

 Day 5: Golden monkey tracking and transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park

After an early-morning breakfast, you will be transferred by your driver-guide to the park headquarters for a briefing on the golden monkey tracking experience. The experience of coming up close with these endangered golden monkeys in their natural habitat is a humbling one. Once you locate them, you will be allowed to observe and follow them for about 1 hour before returning to your lodge for an early lunch, freshening up, and transferring to Nyungwe Forest National Park.

Dinner and overnight at Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel 

 Day 6. Chimpanzee trekking experience

Today, you’ll join a guided hike through the dense forest of Nyungwe National Park to track chimpanzees. This is a phenomenal wildlife experience that is at par with gorilla tracking. While the trek is undoubtedly exciting, it can be challenging, as the chimps are very mobile, and they’re always running around in the canopies, on the move from one place to another.

During your time in Nyungwe National Park, you’ll also have an opportunity to cross the Canopy Walkway, a 200-meter bridge suspended between giant trees, 50 meters above the forest. The walkway offers incredible views of the upper canopy and it is excellent for spotting wildlife. Many of the primates live in trees, so you’ll have better chances of locating them along the walkway. It is also a fantastic way to see the birds and butterfly species recorded in the forest. Return to your lodge for a deserved evening relaxation

Dinner and overnight stay at. Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel 

 Day 7. Transfer back to Kigali for your departure flight

After breakfast, you will drive back to Kigali city for your flight home or drop off at your booked hotel, marking an end to your memorable Best of Rwanda Primate Experience. On our way, you will visit the Ethnographic museum in Butare and the King’s palace in Nyanza bringing to light Rwanda’s cultural experience. Lunch en-route and proceed to arrive in Kigali for your flight back home (We highly recommend a night flight if flying out on the same day).

End of 7Days Best of Rwanda Wildlife and Gorilla Safari 

Please Note: This itinerary can be customised to suit your interest(s), time and budget