This 7 Days Visit Rwanda tour covers the capital city of Kigali, Lake Kivu, the protected areas of Akagera, Volcanoes, and Nyungwe forest national park. It’s time to explore!
Highlights
- Big 5 game drive and Lake Ihema boat ride in Akagera national park
- Mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park
- Village walk at the Gorilla Guardian’s Village
- Chimpanzee tracking and canopy walk in Nyungwe forest
- Ethnographic museum tour
- Stopover in Karongi on the shores of Lake Kivu
- Kigali genocide memorial and city tour
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Transfer from Kigali to Akagera national park
Embark on a journey to Akagera national park about 110 km (3-hour drive) east of Kigali capital city. You will stop along the way at Imigongo Art café for refreshments. Proceed via the southern entrance gate to the lodge overlooking the swamp fringed Lake Ihema, the park’s largest lake. The hippos tend to graze around the tents and the sounds of nature provide a perfect setting for wild nights. Akagera is the only savanna protected area of Rwanda where wildlife was devastated by the genocide. Thanks to the restorative conservation efforts. The Big 5 African animals which include black rhinos, lions, buffaloes, elephants and leopards have been restored and the numbers are steadily increasing. The money you spend further supports conservation through community projects such as the electric fence that reduces human-wildlife conflicts. The diverse habitats and scenery surely provides the authentic African wilderness safari experience you can ever imagine.
Accommodation options:
Budget: Karenga Bush Camp
Midrange: Akagera Game Lodge
Luxury: Ruzizi Tented Lodge
Meal plan: Full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Day 2: Game drive and boat cruise in Akagera national park
The game drive experience in Akagera involves a lot of driving from south to the northern open plains of Kilala. There it is less bushy and you may spot more wildlife and also get out of the car and have picnic in the wild. Seeing all the Big 5 can be challenging due to low numbers, however. The zebras, giraffes, buffaloes, hippos, and antelope species like Impala, topi are abundant. There are over 500 species of birds including the papyrus gonolek and the shoebill stork. You will be back to the south by 1pm to do the boat cruise along Lake Ihema. The 3-hour boat ride offers opportunities to relax from the day’s drive and spot wildlife. Back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Akagera to Volcanoes national park
Breakfast in Akagera and then travel back to Kigali city and stop there for refreshments. Proceed to Musanze town on the outskirts of Volcanoes national park. Check in your lodge with beautiful gardens, swimming pool, and view of the Virunga Mountains. Volcanoes National Park offers a high-quality gorilla trekking experience which is worth to save the endangered gorillas.
Accommodation options
Budget: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge
Midrange: Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
Luxury: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Meal plan: full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner).
Day 4: Gorilla trekking experience
Early breakfast early in the morning and transfer to Volcanoes national park headquarters at Kinigi. Meet the rangers and join in the briefing on the rules and regulations for your gorilla trek. You can request them to allow you visit a gorilla family depending on your hiking ability. Whether it will be a shorter or longer trek, the reward is worth the effort. You have one hour to spend watching the gorilla family members including silverback, females, and the playful youngsters. During that time, you must be careful to obey the instructions of your guide. Given that anything disruptive can ruin your experience. So try to be responsible and enjoy the moments. After the hour is over, you will hike back to the center to receive some gifts from the park warden. Then get to the lodge for lunch and relaxation. The lodge offers swimming pool, private gardens, and hammocks to do so. The gorilla experience it isn’t over yet.
The evening community walk offers an opportunity to positively impact the ex-poachers. It features a visit to the Gorilla Guardian’s village where you will take part in the event that showcases Rwandan culture, art, and music. It is an authentic and immersive cultural encounter that preserves stories while conserving gorillas for future generations. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Transfer to Nyungwe forest national park
Travel from Musanze to Nyungwe with a stopover along the way on the shores of Lake Kivu. Rwanda’s beautiful landscape is most impressive on this road trip. Arrive at the lodge on the western edge of Nyungwe forest famous for harboring 12 primate species including over 500 chimps, black and white colobus monkeys, Hamlyn’s monkeys, L’hoest monkeys as well as over 300 Afro-tropical birds of which 16 are Albertine rift endemics. Check in for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation options
Midrange: Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel
Luxury: Nyungwe Forest Lodge
Meal plan: Full board (breakfast, lunch and dinner).
Day 6: Chimp tracking and canopy walking
After breakfast, you will be given a packed lunch box and driven to the park center by 7am. The park warden informs you about the tracking rules and how long it may take to find the chimps. Usually it may take 2 to 5 hours depending on their location. It’s highly recommended that you hire a porter. Rest assured that you will get to spend 1 hour with the chimps. among other primate species including L’hoest monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys may be seen. you will return to the lodge or have your packed lunch and wait for the canopy walk starting at 2:00pm. The Nyungwe canopy walk offers an opportunity to enjoy spectacular views of the forest whilst walking 75 meters above the ground. The canopy walk lasts for 1 to 2 hours after which you will return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 7: Transfer back to Kigali
Enjoy breakfast, you will depart from Nyungwe for a 224 km (6-hour drive) to Kigali city. This includes a cultural tour at the Ethnographic museum in Butare along the way. The museum displays artifacts about Rwandan people and their culture. Proceed and arrive in Kigali city early afternoon and head to Khan Kazan restaurant for a delicious lunch. Mindful of your departure flight, you may visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial which takes one to two hours. Finally, you will be taken to the airport for your onward flight.
7 days visit Rwanda includes the following:
- Accommodation, meals, bottled drinking mineral water throughout the itinerary
- Meals enroute
- Private 4×4 Safari car with AC
- Professional tour guide
- Akagera park entry fees
- Rwanda gorilla permit
- Chimpanzee trekking permit
- Activities of choice
- Airport transfer
7 days visit Rwanda excludes:
- Flight fares
- Rwanda visa fee
- Personal travel insurance
- Expenses of personal nature like premium alcoholic drinks, shopping
- Tips to guides and community
- Cost of hiring a porter
