This 7 Days Explore Rwanda Safari takes you on an adventurous journey to three major national parks in Rwanda. Get a chance to encounter mountain gorillas in Volcanoes national park, view wildlife in Akagera National Park and trek chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Summary for 7 Days Explore Rwanda Safari.
Day 1: Arrive in Kigali.
Day 2: Transfer to Akagera national park and Ihema Boat Cruise.
Day 3: Early morning game drive and transfer to volcanoes national park.
Day 4: Gorilla Trekking Volcanoes National Park & Ibyi’wacu Village Tour (Optional)
Day 5: Golden monkey trek & Transfer to Nyungwe.
Day 6: Chimpanzee tracking & Canopy Walk.
Day 7: Return to Kigali & Departure
Detailed Itineraries for 7 Days Explore Rwanda Safari.
Day 1: Arrive in Kigali.
Following your arrival, you will be welcomes by our company representative together with the guide and transfer you to your hotel in Kigali OR, depending on your time of arrival, enjoy a brief tour of Kigali city including Kimironko market and the Genocide memorials and transfer to the hotel for dinner and overnight at Step Town Motel (Budget)/ Des Milles Collines Hotel (Midrange).
Day 2: Transfer to Akagera national park and Ihema Boat Cruise.
Have breakfast and transfer to Akagera national park where you will arrive in time for lunch at the lodge and later embark on the afternoon boat cruise on Lake Ihema where you will see game like hippopotamuses, Crocodiles and many bird species that live around the lake and the surrounding swamps. Dinner and overnight Karenge Bush Camp (Budget)/Akagera Game Lodge (Midrange).
Day 3: Early morning game drive and transfer to volcanoes national park.
Rise up early and go for a game drive with great anticipation of seeing the different animals which rise early to graze and predators looking for their early morning kill. After the game drive, return to the lodge to freshen up and embark on your journey to Volcanoes national park with lunch en-route, arriving Ruhengeri in the evening. Dinner and overnight stay at Muhabura Hotel (Budget)/Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge
Day 4: Gorilla Trekking Volcanoes National Park & Ibyi’wacu Village Tour (Optional)
Wakeup to an early morning breakfast and report to the park headquarters for briefing and allocation of Gorilla trekking groups. Later, you will head into the cold and misty forested slopes of Virunga national park for your Gorilla trekking journey. The trek can be anywhere between 2 to 6 hours depending on the movement of the Gorillas and upon finding them, you will be allowed 1 hour to see and take photos after which you exit the forest.
Meet your driver / guide and transfer back to the lodge for lunch. If you feel strong, you may opt for a cultural tour to Ibyi’wacu village which is situated outside the national park Get to watch dance and singing performances from the local intore dance troupe and also learn more about the interesting Rwandan cultures. Dinner and overnight stay at Muhabura Hotel (Budget)/Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge (Midrange) as above
Day 5: Golden monkey trek & Transfer to Nyungwe.
Breakfast will be served early and you will go for Golden monkey trekking experience which is a half day activity starting a 7am in the morning. You will be given an hour to spend with the monkeys once you have located a group and then head back to base to meet up with your driver/guide and have lunch. After lunch, you will later transfer to Nyungwe forest national park arriving in the evening. Dinner and overnight stay at Gisakura Guesthouse (Budget), Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel (Midrange).
Day 6: Chimpanzee tracking & Canopy Walk.
Enjoy breakfast and go for briefing before entering the forest, searching for the active and playful fellows in Nyungwe forest. The Chimpanzees are the easy to spot, as they jump from one tree to another, chattering and laughing. Chimp tracking usually takes about 3 hours. You will then return to your accommodation for lunch. After lunch, you will go on a walking trail that will take you to the Canopy Walk, a swing bridge 50 meters in length that is suspended from large trees. You will be able to see the amazing rainforest with a bird’s eye view, spotting wildlife moving about below you. Before night fall, you will return to the hotel for dinner and overnight at Gisakura Guesthouse (Budget)/Nyungwe Top Hill View Hotel (Midrange) as above
Day 7: Return to Kigali & Departure
Enjoy breakfast at leisure and transfer back to Kigali. If the city tour wasn’t possible on the day of arrival, you will have a brief city tour and transfer to the airport for your onward flight.
