6-Days Rwanda Gorilla & Wildlife (Akagera Big Five & Volcanoes Gorillas)

The 6 Days Rwanda Gorilla & Akagera Wildlife safari combines mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park with wildlife “Big Five” in Akagera National Park. This 6 days Rwanda gorillas & Akagera Wildlife safari tour features a Kigali city tour, gorilla trekking cultural experiences, game drive and boat cruise in Akagera National Park for savannah wildlife viewing. The specific combination of activities is contingent upon the selected itineraries, since several tour operators provide alternatives emphasizing either rainforest primates and savannas or a more extensive primate-specific trip.

 

The 6 days Rwanda Gorilla & Akagera Wildlife Safari encompasses activities such as a Kigali City Tour, mountain gorilla trekking, and wildlife watching, including lions, buffaloes, rhinos, leopards, elephants, zebras, waterbucks, and numerous others. Akagera National Park is the only grassland park with big cats, and it’s a great place to take pictures. After a game drive and boat tour on Lake Ihema, you will head to Volcanoes National Park for an encounter with the majestic Mountain Gorillas.

Highlights of the 6-Day Rwanda Safari

Day 1: Getting to Kigali

Day 2: Kigali City Tour and then go to Akagera National Park.

Day #3: Explore Akagera National Park through a game drive and a boat excursion.

Day 4: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park.

Day 5: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park.

Day 6. Transfer to Kigali

A Detailed 6-Days Rwanda gorilla & Akagera Wildlife

Day 1: Getting to Kigali

On the day 1 of your 6-days Rwanda Gorilla & Akagera safari, a tour guide will be there at Kigali International Airport to collect you. The guide will be immediately recognizable since they will be holding a placard with your names. Subsequent to the meeting and welcome, your local guide will escort you to the reserved accommodation in Kigali city. You check in, unwind, dine, and spend the night.

Meal Plan: Dinner

Options for Lodging: Luxury: Serena Hotel Kigali; Mid-range: Hotel Chez Lando; Budget: Iris Guest House

Day 2: Kigali city tour and transfer to Akagera National Park.

After breakfast at your reserved accommodation, prepare for a trip through Kigali city. You explore several historical and cultural sites, including as the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre. Following the city tour, you will have lunch before being transported to Akagera National Park. The journey takes approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes to arrive at the park. Upon arrival at sunset, you proceed to a reserved lodging facility where you complete the check-in process, unwind, and enjoy the evening.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Options for lodging: Luxury: Ruziza Tented Camp; Mid-range: Akagera Game Safari Lodge

Day 3: Explore Akagera National Park on a game drive and boat cruise.

After breakfast, you embark on a morning game drive in the park for around four hours. The observable fauna includes the Big Five game: buffaloes, rhinoceroses, elephants, lions, and leopards. Additional wildlife species encompass giraffes, zebras, hyenas, Cape bushbuck, topis, oribis, roan antelopes, duikers, impalas, Cape eland, among others. Following the game drive, you return to the hotel for lunch and subsequently rest while awaiting the boat trip.

The boat excursion on Lake Ihema provides excellent views of hippos and crocodiles in the water. Wildlife such as elephants and buffaloes can be observed around the lake’s edges. Subsequent to the boat excursion, you will proceed to a reserved lodging establishment for check-in, dinner, and an overnight stay.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Options for lodging: Luxury: Ruziza Tented Camp; Mid-range: Akagera Game Safari Lodge

Day 4: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park.

This morning, you will enjoy breakfast at your convenience before being transferred to Volcanoes National Park. The journey lasts around 4 to 5 hours along a picturesque path in the region of a thousand hills. The journey from Akagera will traverse Kigali city and various picturesque villages. Volcanoes National Park, situated in northern Rwanda, is the sole natural habitat of the elusive mountain gorillas that have been acclimatized for gorilla trekking.

You will reach a reserved lodge in Volcanoes National Park in the evening.

Accommodation Options: Luxury: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge; Mid-range: Gorilla Solution Lodge; Budget: Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

Day 5: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park

After breakfast, your driver-guide will collect you from the lodge for transportation to the park headquarters. Upon arrival at the park headquarters in Kinigi, you will first receive a briefing on the regulations and prohibitions of gorilla trekking in Rwanda from the park warden. At 8:30 am, the park ranger guide will escort you to the commencement location for the gorilla hike. Eight travelers with a trekking permit for Rwanda, priced at USD 1500 each, are assigned to one gorilla family. Every eight participants require around two to six hours for jungle trekking in the bamboo forest accompanied by armed ranger guides. Nevertheless, merely 1 hour (60 minutes) is allocated to the observation of the mountain gorillas.

The duration of the walk varies unpredictably based on the movements of the gorilla groups; however, the population in Rwanda is recognized for traversing shorter distances, hence facilitating easier trekking. Following an hour spent observing a gorilla family, you return to the park headquarters to meet the tour guide for transportation back to your accommodation.

Options for Lodging: Luxury: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge; Mid-range: Gorilla Solution Lodge; Budget: Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

Day 6: Departure

On the final day of your journey, you may enjoy breakfast at your convenience, contingent upon your departure schedule. Your driving guide will facilitate transportation to Kigali International Airport for your departing flight. You may request your guide to make a stop at craft shops in Kigali if you wish to make a purchase.

Breakfast: Meal Plan

Conclusion of the 6-Day Rwanda Safari Itinerary

Inclusions

  • English speaking driver-guide
  • Entry fees and taxes including
  • Gorilla permit
  • 4×4 Safari van
  • Meals
  • Water on board
  • 4 nights’ accommodation

Exclusions

  • Any purchases of personal kind
  • Any changes to the Itinerary
  • International flights and visas