Book this 8-Day Rwanda Safari Tour to see the best of Rwanda in just over a week.
This tour highlights Nyungwe Forest National Park, Volcanoes National Park, Akagera National Park, and Lake Kivu. You will drive through all the provinces of Rwanda: Central, West, South, East, and North.
Accommodation choices range from luxury to comfortable, based on your budget.
8-Day Rwanda Safari Tour Highlights
- 8-day Rwanda safari visiting Akagera National Park, Nyungwe Forest National Park, Lake Kivu, and Volcanoes National Park
- Road transfer from Kigali to Akagera National Park
- Boat ride on Lake Ihema to see hippos, crocodiles, and water birds
- Morning and evening game drives in Akagera National Park
- Search for animals such as elephants, buffaloes, lions, giraffes, leopards, and rhinos
- Road transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park with stopovers at the former Presidential Palace and the Ethnographic Museum in Butare
- Early morning chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest
- Afternoon canopy walk above the forest
- Transfer to Lake Kivu with a boat ride to Coffee Island
- Views of Mount Nyiragongo from Lake Kivu
- Transfer to Volcanoes National Park in Musanze
- Visit the Dian Fossey grave at the Karisoke Research Center
- Morning briefing at the park headquarters before gorilla trekking
- Spend one hour observing mountain gorillas and taking photos without flash
- Visit Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village to learn about local culture
- Golden monkey trekking in Volcanoes National Park
- Return transfer to Kigali City and drop off at Kigali International Airport
Brief 8-Day Rwanda Safari Tour Itinerary
- Day 1: Transfer to Akagera National Park
- Day 2: Full Day Game Drive
- Day 3: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park
- Day 4: Chimpanzee Trekking and Canopy Walk
- Day 5: Transfer to Lake Kivu
- Day 6: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park in Musanze
- Day 7: Mountain Gorilla Trekking
- Day 8: Golden Monkey Tracking and Departure
Detailed 8-Day Rwanda Safari Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Akagera National Park
Our tour guide will pick you up from Kigali very early in the morning and transfer you to Akagera National Park. On arrival, check in to your lodge, relax, have lunch, and head for an afternoon boat cruise on Lake Ihema.
Lake Ihema is one of the best spots to see wildlife in Rwanda. You will see many species of birds, crocodiles, hippos, and other animals drinking at the shores of the lake.
Day 2: Full Day Game Drive
Embark on two game drives: one in the morning and another in the evening. Explore the northern sector of Akagera, known for its vast concentration of wildlife. You may encounter elephants, lions, buffaloes, giraffes, and more. On a lucky day, you might see all the Big Five.
Day 3: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park
Wake up early and transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park on one of the most scenic drives in Rwanda. En route, visit the former Presidential Palace and the Butare Museum. Reach Nyungwe Forest in the late afternoon or evening, depending on driving speed.
Day 4: Chimpanzee Trekking and Canopy Walk
Wake up very early to locate chimpanzees before they wake up, since these primates move quickly once awake and can be difficult to find. Your afternoon includes a unique experience found only in Rwanda and the wider East African region: the canopy walk, with a bird’s-eye view of the forest, birds up close, and possible sightings of chimps and monkeys.
Day 5: Transfer to Lake Kivu
Transfer to Lake Kivu and relax on its beaches. In the afternoon, take a boat ride to Coffee Island, explore the island, and learn about its history. This island offers a perfect view of Mount Nyiragongo, the world’s most dangerous active volcano. Return to your lodge after this activity.
Day 6: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park in Musanze
Transfer to Volcanoes National Park, home to Rwanda’s gorillas. In the afternoon, visit Dian Fossey’s grave at the Karisoke Research Center. Dian Fossey was one of the greatest pioneers of mountain gorilla conservation in Africa and is the reason mountain gorillas still exist today.
Day 7: Mountain Gorilla Trekking
Bond with gorillas in Volcanoes National Park. Wake up very early and be at the park headquarters by 7:00 am for a briefing. You will be assigned to groups of eight and allocated a mountain gorilla group to trek.
Trekking may last from 2 to 8 hours, including an hour with these primates. Afterward, return to the park headquarters for your gorilla trekking certificates and transfer to your lodge for lunch.
In the afternoon, enjoy a cultural experience at Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village.
Day 8: Golden Monkey Tracking and Departure
Attend another briefing and trek Rwanda’s golden monkeys. After this activity, transfer to Kigali for a brief city tour and drop off at the airport.
Book this 8-Day Rwanda Safari Tour today and experience gorillas, chimpanzees, golden monkeys, and Big Five wildlife across four top destinations.
