8 Days Rwanda Wildlife and Primates Safari

Safari overview.

Safari Highlights

• Boat cruise
• Game drives
• Night Game drive
• Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
• Kigali City tour
• Scenic views
• Community walk
• Chimp Tracking
• Canopy Walk

Detailed Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrive at Kigali International Airport

Welcome to the Land of A thousand Hills. Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be welcomed by one of our experienced safari guides who will transfer you to your Hotel for the rest of the day and overnight. At check in, you will be briefed about your safari and what to expect, the safari do’s and don’ts. Overnight at your Hotel. Bed and Breakfast

Day 2: Kigali City tour and transfer to Akagera National Park

Morning breakfast at your Hotel in Kigali and set out for a half day Kigali city tour. The tour is inclusive of a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial Site and Museum, local markets and so on. Later have Lunch and then depart for Akagera National Park. Evening game drive. Overnight at your Lodge. Full Board.

Magashi Camp is available for those looking for a luxury experience. 

 Day 3: Full day in Akagera (Game drive and boat ride)

Morning breakfast and set out for a game drive in the Park. Akagera National Park is a well-known Savannah Park and is located in north eastern side of the country’s boarder with Tanzania. This small park is a home to several big mammals which cannot be found anywhere else in Rwanda. Have your cameras ready and eyes open as you search for the big game animals such as the Elephants, Zebras, Giraffes, Buffaloes, Water bucks, Bush bucks and the recently introduced Lions. The game drives with in the park normally are carried out in northern sector and these can last for hrs. depending on the day’s animal sightings. Return to your Lodge for Lunch and in the afternoon, set out for the boat ride on Lake Ihema in search for Hippos and Crocodiles as well as other game animals on the river banks. Dinner and overnight at your Lodge. Full Board.

Day 4: Akagera NP to Volcanoes National Park.

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Volcanoes National Park which is a home to the endangered Mountain Gorillas, other primates’ species like the Golden Monkeys as well as a lot of bird species. The Park is located in northern Rwanda in Kinigi, Musanze which is about 2 hours’ drive from Kigali the country’s capital. Your drive from Akagera National Park to Volcanoes will be via Kigali city and will offer you with scenic views of the different villages with great landscape. Arrive in the evening at your Lodge for dinner and overnight stay. Full Board.

Day 5: Gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Community Walk

Today morning after breakfast, you will be transferred from your lodge to the park headquarters for the days’ briefing about Gorilla trekking activity. It’s advisable to park your lunch, drinking water and hire porters as the time taken in the jungle is unpredictable. After the briefing from the Park rangers, you will be allocated your Gorilla family and then head into the forest to search for the gentle jungle giants. Tracking the Gorillas may take a few hrs. to a full day to hike up and down the mountain as this always depend on where they were last seen the previous night. Physical Fitness is highly recommended but also those who are not fit enough, they have the chance to hire Human helicopters (Sedan chair). Upon seeing the gorillas, you will be allowed to stay with them for one hour maximum (Take videos and Photographs). Then later return back to your Lodge for lunch.

Afternoon a enjoy a community walk to red rock a local initiative that improves community livelihood through Environmental Conservation, Arts & Culture, Education, and Community Health & Security.  Overnight at your Lodge.

Day 6: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park!

After morning breakfast emback on your 6-7 hours’ drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park, one of the oldest and largest rain forest in East Africa, the forest is popular for this rich biodiversity including a small population of chimpanzees as well as 12 other species of primate, including the L’Hoest’s monkey endemic to the Albertine Rift. Overnight at Nyungwe Top view Hotel. – One and Only Nyungwe House is available for those looking for a luxury experience.

Day 7: Chimpanzee Tracking and Canopy Walk.

Early morning set out for the famous Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe forest National Park. The activity will take you deep into this jungle forest to search for the Man’s closest friend in the world of primates the chimpanzees. Normally you are advised to park your breakfast from the Lodge as the briefing starts as early as 5:30am and then start on your experience by 6:00am. You will be briefed about how to behave as well as the Park’s do’s and don’ts. Your ranger guide will lead you to either the Uwinka trail head or The Cyamudongo sector for the start of the chimp trekking experience. The park is well endowed with rich biodiversity and is a home to more than 13 species of Primates including the Chimpanzees, LHoest’s monkeys, Rwenzori Colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, grey cheeked mangabeys and so on. Lunch at the Lodge and afternoon set out for the famous Canopy walk experience where you will be exploring Nyungwe National Park at 40 meters high above the ground level. Dinner and overnight at your Lodge. Full Board.

Day 8: Nyungwe to Kigali – Departure

Enjoy your breakfast at leisure before embarking on your 4 to 5 hours journey back to Kigali. On the way you will have a stopover at Huye which was formerly known as Butare. This is the city which hosts the ethnographic museum of Rwanda which was formerly known as the National Museum of Rwanda. You will learn more about the country’s culture and their history plus the normal day to day lives of the Rwandan people. Proceed with your journey to Kigali and arrive in the afternoon connect to your international flight.

Cost of the package

Cost includes:

• 1 x night accommodation in Kigali on BB
• 2 Nights at Akagera National Park on FB
• Game drives
• Boat cruise
• Night Game drive
• 2 x nights’ accommodation in Volcanoes on FB
• Kigali city Tour
• 1 x Gorilla permit at USD 1500
• 1 x Community walk
• 1 x Chimp permit
• 1x Canopy walk
• All transport with an English-speaking guide
• Drinking water in vehicle.

Cost does not include:

• International Airfare
• Gratuities
• Covid tests
• Visa fees to Rwanda
• Personal items like Laundry
• Insurance
• All premium drinks