Experience some of the most popular activities during your safari in Rwanda with our 5-Day Rwanda Safari package. Highlights of this trip include gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, as well as chimp trekking and canopy walking in Nyungwe National Park. Additional activities include golden monkey trekking, cultural visits, and city tours in Kigali. Nyungwe, Akagera, and Volcanoes National Parks are among Rwanda’s key wildlife destinations. This itinerary includes a visit to Akagera National Park for a unique wildlife safari experience.

About Nyungwe and Volcanoes National Parks

Nyungwe National Park is known as Rwanda’s primate capital, home to 13 primate species, including golden monkeys, Angola colobus monkeys, chimpanzees, and black-and-white colobus monkeys. It features one of the largest and oldest afro-montane forests in the world. The main attractions in Nyungwe include chimp trekking, ecological tours, and a scenic forest canopy walk.

On the other hand, Volcanoes National Park is Rwanda’s most popular tourist destination. Established in the early 1960s by Dian Fossey, who founded a gorilla research station there, the park is famous worldwide. Fossey played a vital role in habituating mountain gorillas and fighting against poaching. Each year, tens of thousands of tourists visit to see the park’s 350 mountain gorillas. In addition to gorilla trekking, visitors can participate in golden monkey trekking, visit Dian Fossey’s burial site, explore the Musanze caves, hike one of the Virunga volcanoes, or tour a nearby cultural center.

By the end of this five-day Rwanda safari, visitors will have explored Rwanda’s premier national parks and experienced the vibrant city of Kigali and the Iby’iwacu Cultural Centre. The journey begins and ends in Kigali.

 Day 1: Pick up from Kigali and transfer to Akagera National Park and do a boat cruise

Our company driver guide will pick you up from the airport or hotel in Kigali and transfer you to Akagera National Park, depending on your arrival time, you may go on a brief city tour to explore the interesting iconic safari destinations in Rwanda including; Kigali genocide memorial, the local markets, Inema art gallery, Rwanda Art Museum among others. Have lunch and thereafter, embark on your journey to Akagera arriving late afternoon, driving to the lodge, and checking in for relaxation, dinner, and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Ruzizi Tented Lodge (Luxury) / Akagera Game Lodge (mid-range accommodation)

Meal plan: Lunch and dinner

Day 2: Morning game drive and boat on Lake Ihema

An early start this morning after breakfast, join your ranger in an open vehicle for your safari into the Akagera National Park. The game drive offers you the opportunity to spot a variety of wild animals such as elephants, buffalos, lions, Masai giraffes, gazelles, impala, baboons, oribi, Burchell’s zebra, Topi, bush babies, leopards and bushbuck. Return to the lodge for lunch.

After lunch, you will proceed with a boat trip along Lake Ihema, where you will have a closer encounter with some of the water animals including; Crocodiles and Hippos, coupled with a large concentration of birds over 252 recorded bird species. Unique species such as shoe-billed stocks and papyrus gonolek can be encountered. Endemics include jacanas, ibis, sandpipers, and herons.

Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay

Accommodation options: Ruzizi Tented Lodge (Luxury) / Akagera Game Lodge (mid-range

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner

 Day 3: Morning game drive and transfer to Volcanoes National Park

Rise early have your breakfast and then check out of the lodge and go on another game drive this time is used to polish out from the previous game drive. After, exit the park and return to Kigali and connect to Volcanoes National Park in the north for an unparalleled experience of Mountain gorilla tracking. On arrival, check in to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge.

Accommodation options: Mount Muthaura Lodge, La Palme Hotel (Budget) Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge, (Mid-range) Bisate Lodge, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, or Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel(luxury)

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 4: Gorilla trekking and afternoon Iby’iwacu cultural visit

Today marks the highlight of the safari, gorilla trekking. After an early breakfast, head to the park headquarters in Kinigi for registration and a briefing by park rangers. The rangers provide essential information about trekking protocols, gorilla behavior, and conservation efforts. Depending on the location of the gorilla families, treks can last from one to four hours or more depending on the movement of the Gorillas.

With rangers leading the way, the group sets off on foot through the dense bamboo forests and mist-covered slopes of the Virunga Mountains. The trek is both challenging and rewarding, offering encounters with other wildlife like golden monkeys, birds, and colorful vegetation. Eventually, the rangers signal the group to remain quiet and prepare their cameras—indicating the presence of a gorilla family.

Once you find them, you will spend a magical hour observing these gentle giants as they interact, play, and feed. The sight of a massive silverback guarding his family or a playful infant clinging to its mother creates memories that last a lifetime. After the encounter, you will return to the starting point of the trek where certificates are awarded for gorilla trekking.

The driver guide will take you back to the lodge where you may choose to spend the rest of the day relaxing or visit Iby’iwacu Cultural Village, a nearby community project offering insights into traditional Rwandan culture through music, dance, and crafts. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge.

Accommodation options: Mount Muthaura Lodge, La Palme Hotel (Budget) Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge, (Mid-range) Bisate Lodge, Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, or Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel(luxury)

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 5: Golden Monkey Trekking and Transfer to Kigali

On the final day, you will rise early for breakfast and head out to the park headquarters for another briefing. You will be accompanied by the ranger guides, to begin with the trekking to see golden monkeys, a rare and playful primate found only in the Virunga region.

After the trek, return to the lodge check out, and start your journey back to Kigali where you will be dropped off at the airport for your departure flight.

End of Tour

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