9-Day Rwanda Safari: Wildlife, Adventure & Gorilla Trekking
Rwanda 9 Days / 8 Nights 1-6 people
$6,035 per person (02 travelers)
Overview
This 9-day Rwanda safari combines wildlife viewing, chimpanzee tracking, gorilla trekking, and cultural experiences across some of Rwanda’s most remarkable destinations.
You explore the savannah plains of Akagera National Park on game drives in search of diverse wildlife before venturing into the dense forests of Nyungwe National Park to track chimpanzees.
The safari continues to Volcanoes National Park, where you trek through lush forests to encounter endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.
In addition to wildlife and primate encounters, the safari offers a taste of Rwandan culture at Ibyacu Cultural Village, where you experience Rwandan traditions through cultural demonstrations and dances.
Quick Safari Notes
- The safari suits couples, groups, solo travellers, and families with children. However, gorilla trekking and chimpanzee tracking are restricted to persons aged 15 and above.
- This safari starts and ends in Kigali, with airport or city pick-up and drop-off included.
- It is a fully guided experience with a professional tour guide throughout the safari.
- The itinerary includes game drives, gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, a boat trip, a cultural experience, and the Nyungwe Canopy Walkway.
- It is a fixed day-by-day itinerary, with accommodation and certain activities paid for in advance. Last-minute changes are subject to availability and may incur additional charges.
- Travel between destinations is by 4x4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof, providing comfort and excellent wildlife viewing.
- It involves 2–5 hours of hiking through Volcanoes National Park in search of mountain gorillas. A reasonable level of physical fitness is recommended.
- Accommodations quoted in this safari range from standard to mid-range and include guesthouses, cottages, and tented camps that offer clean and comfortable lodging.
Itinerary
Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, your guide will warmly welcome you and transfer you to your pre-booked hotel in Kigali.
As you drive through the city, enjoy views of Kigali’s vibrant urban life before settling in to relax and recharge for the days ahead.
Meal Plan: Dinner
After an early breakfast, you set off for Akagera National Park on a 2–3-hour drive through Rwanda’s scenic countryside, enjoying views of rolling hills and undulating plains along the way.
Upon arrival, embark on a game drive through Akagera’s savannah plains, searching for giraffes, zebras, antelopes, elephants, and buffaloes, along with the park’s diverse birdlife.
After lunch, enjoy a shared boat trip on Lake Ihema, one of Akagera’s largest lakes. As you cruise along the shoreline, look out for hippos, crocodiles, and a variety of waterbirds.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Early in the morning, enjoy another game drive in Akagera National Park, exploring its savannah plains in search of wildlife such as elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, and antelopes.
After the game drive, travel for 2–3 hours to Kigali, where you visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial, a place of remembrance and education commemorating victims of the 1994 Genocide.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After breakfast, leave Kigali and embark on a scenic drive to Nyungwe National Park, home to one of Africa’s oldest rainforests.
En route, visit the Royal Palace Museum in Huye, where you learn about Rwanda’s pre-colonial history and explore its social, economic, and cultural heritage.
After visiting the museum, enjoy lunch before continuing to Nyungwe. Upon arrival at the lodge, spend the evening relaxing amid the natural surroundings or taking a leisurely walk around the lodge grounds.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After an early breakfast, drive to one of Nyungwe National Park’s three briefing centres, Uwinka, Kitabi, or Gisakura, for a briefing on chimpanzee tracking guidelines.
After the briefing, begin trekking through the forest in search of chimpanzees. Once you locate them, spend up to one hour observing them before returning to the lodge for lunch.
Later, drive to the Uwinka Visitors’ Centre for a 3:00 PM canopy walk along a 160-meter-long suspended walkway 70 meters above the forest floor, offering panoramic views of Nyungwe Forest and Lake Kivu.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Check out of the lodge and embark on a 3–4-hour scenic drive to Lake Kivu, enjoying views of Rwanda’s rolling hills and picturesque islands on the lake along the way.
Upon arrival at your lodge, enjoy lunch and spend the rest of the day relaxing and taking in the lakeside surroundings.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
After breakfast, embark on a 2-hour drive to Kinigi in Rwanda’s Northern Province, near Volcanoes National Park, for an Iby’Iwacu cultural experience.
Enjoy a warm community welcome and discover local traditions, customs, daily life, and cultural heritage through interactive demonstrations and experiences.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Following an early breakfast, take a short drive to the collection centre for an 8:00 AM briefing with experienced park rangers on gorilla trekking guidelines and procedures.
After the briefing, join a group of up to seven participants and trek through Volcanoes National Park’s steep, densely forested slopes in search of a habituated gorilla family.
Once you locate the gorilla family, spend one hour observing them in their natural habitat, with opportunities to take photographs and observe their natural behaviour.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Your 9-day Rwanda safari concludes with a 2-hour drive to Kigali International Airport, with scenic views of Rwanda’s undulating hills along the way.
Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch
Safari Highlights
- Trek endangered mountain gorillas through the lush forests of Volcanoes National Park.
- Enjoy game drives in Akagera National Park and spot diverse wildlife across its savannah plains.
- Enjoy stunning landscapes and countryside views throughout the journey
- Track chimpanzees in Nyungwe National Park and observe their fascinating social behaviour.
- Discover Rwandan culture and traditions at Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village through interactive activities and cultural performances.
- Relax beside Lake Kivu and take in its scenic beauty.
- Walk across the Nyungwe Canopy Walkway for panoramic views of the rainforest.
Price Per Person (USD)
| 1 Pax | 2 Pax | 3 Pax | 4 Pax | 5 Pax | 6 Pax |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8070 | 6035 | 5700 | 50150 | 5140 | 4835 |
Price Includes
- Gorilla tracking permit in Volcanoes National Park
- Accommodation for 08 nights as indicated in the itinerary
- Road transport using 4 X 4 Vehicle
- Services of the English-speaking guide/driver.
- All meals during the safari period as indicated in the day-by-day section
- Entrance fees to all the parks indicated in the itinerary.
- Bottled water in the safari vehicle
- Game drive in Akagera National Park
- Chimpanzee tracking permit in Nyungwe National Park
- Canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest
- Cultural experiences and community walks as indicated in the itinerary
- Airport transfers
Price Excludes
- International travel to/from Kigali
- Personal /travel insurance
- Entry Visa fees into Rwanda
- Domestic flights (if required)
- Payment charges (when using online payment methods)
- Tips (gratuity) to guides (recommended)
- All activities indicated as optional
Accommodations
| Nights | Destination | Lodge/Hotel | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Night 1 | Kigali City | Five to Five Hotel | Standard |
| Night 2 | Akagera National Park | Akagera Safari Camp | Mid-Range |
| Night 3 | Kigali City | Flame Tree Village | Mid-Range |
| Nights 4 & 5 | Nyungwe National Park | Nyungwe Top View Hotel | Mid-Range |
| Night 6 | Lake Kivu-Gisenyi | Paradise Malahide. | Mid-Range |
| Nights 7 & 8 | Volcanoes National Park | Mountain Gorilla View Lodge | Mid-Range |
Accommodation is subject to availability at the time of booking. If the quoted accommodation is unavailable, we arrange a similar-standard alternative and notify you before confirmation.
Preferred accommodation or upgrades can be requested to suit your preferences, though such changes may affect the tour cost.
Please contact us for special accommodation requests.Safari Highlights
- Trek endangered mountain gorillas through the lush forests of Volcanoes National Park.
- Enjoy game drives in Akagera National Park and spot diverse wildlife across its savannah plains.
- Enjoy stunning landscapes and countryside views throughout the journey
- Track chimpanzees in Nyungwe National Park and observe their fascinating social behaviour.
- Discover Rwandan culture and traditions at Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village through interactive activities and cultural performances.
- Relax beside Lake Kivu and take in its scenic beauty.
- Walk across the Nyungwe Canopy Walkway for panoramic views of the rainforest.
