This 6-day Rwanda Safari will give you the two ultimate safari experiences, i.e., game drives in Akagera National Park and gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park. Akagera National Park is the only Savannah park in Rwanda, hosting several big mammals, with the most sought-after being Lions, buffalo, Giraffes, Zebras, and hippos, which will provide for great photographic moments. After this experience, proceed to the Volcanoes National Park for an unforgettable encounter with the mountain gorillas on a gorilla trekking experience.
Detailed Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival for the 6-day gorilla safari and Rwanda wildlife tour
Today you start the amazing experience of touring Rwanda on this wildlife and gorilla safari. Kagera Safaris driver-guide will pick you up from your hotel or at the Kigali International Airport on your arrival. Meal plan – Dinner Accommodation
Day 2: Kigali City Tour A nd Transifer to Akagera National Park
After breakfast, we explore Kigali on the Kigali city tour, visiting key areas like the Genocide Memorial, craft centers, Kandt National Museum, etc. You can choose which sites to visit because in the afternoon we journey to Akagera National Park after having lunch in the city. Akagera National Park is located in eastern Rwanda. Our journey takes 2 hours, arriving late afternoon and continuing to the lodge for check-in. You can have short stopovers en route to Akagera Park for photo moments of the beautiful landscape during your Journey time.
Overnight Stay at:
Akagera Game Lodge | Ruzizi Luxury Tented Lodge | Akagera Transit Lodge
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Exploring wildlife in Akagera National Park
We arise early and leave right after breakfast to explore Akagera National Park in search of the big mammals like Elephants, Giraffes, Buffaloes, several Antelope species, and recently the reintroduced lions. Most of the game drives happen in the northern part of the park, where we will spend the better part of the day and return to the lodge later that afternoon. Akagera National Park is the biggest in Rwanda with beautiful scenery and landscape. It has varied habitats for wildlife and is a birder’s haven with over 500 species in the park. There are also opportunities to explore the park on foot together with a ranger by taking a nature walk; this can be incorporated on request, especially in the afternoon. You also have an opportunity for a boat safari on Lake Ihema to watch Hippos and crocodiles in the water or by the shores.
Overnight Stay at:
Akagera Game Lodge | Ruzizi Luxury Tented Lodge | Akagera Transit Lodge
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
After breakfast, we relive the great wildlife safari experience in Akagera National Park before transferring to the Volcanoes National Park, where the massive gentle giants inhabit. It is a natural habitat for the mountain gorillas, providing the perfect environment and food for the gorillas. Volcanoes National Park is located in northern Rwanda, about 2 hours from Kigali in Kinigi, Musanze. The drive from Akagera National Park to Musanze will be through Kigali city, enjoying several villages with great landscape views. You can ask the driver to stop for picture moments at different viewpoints. You will see the endless hills and understand why indeed Rwanda is referred to as ‘the land of a thousand hills’. We will arrive at the lodge later that evening, ready for the gorilla hike the next day. Journey time – 5 hours.
Overnight Stay at:
Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel | Ingagi Park View | Mountain Gorilla View Lodge | Sambura Lodge | Classic Hotel | Ndaza Inn | Virunga Inn and Spa
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safari
After a good, restful night, your whole agenda today is tied to meeting the mountain gorillas in the lush and dense jungles of the Virunga ranges – precisely the Volcanoes National Park. Your driver-guide will transfer you to the briefing place right after your early breakfast to listen to the ranger guide on how to behave while in the park and divide you into the different gorilla groups. In the meantime, as you wait for the briefing, enjoy the Rwandan cultural dances and the freshly brewed Rwandan coffee. After a briefing from the Visitors Center, you embark on the trek that will eventually bring you to the gorillas in their natural habitat. The trek can last from an hour to several hours depending on where the gorillas nested the previous night – you need to be relatively fit to enjoy this experience. Depending on the time the gorilla tracking lasts, you have an opportunity to visit the Iby’iwacu Cultural Village for a taste of the Rwandan culture.
Overnight Stay at:
Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel | Ingagi Park View | Mountain Gorilla View Lodge | Sambura Lodge | Classic Hotel | Ndaza Inn | Virunga Inn and Spa
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: End of 6 days gorilla safari and Rwanda wildlife tour
We hope that you have had a fantastic time exploring the wildlife and culture of Rwanda and will look back at these memories with a smile. This is the last day of your safari. After a lazy morning, we start a journey to Kigali for your return flight or hotel. If your flight is later in the night, you can add an optional activity like golden monkey trekking, hiking one of the Virungas, visiting Dian Fossey’s tomb, and learning more about her conservation work.
End of the 6-Day Rwanda Safari.