8 Days Rwanda Safari (Gorillas, Chimpanzees, Wildlife, Lake Kivu)
8 Days Rwanda Safari includes Gorilla and Chimpanzee trekking, wildlife viewing, and a boat ride on Lake Ihema. This 8-day Rwanda safari includes three Rwanda’s national parks: Nyungwe Forest National Park, for chimpanzee tracking & canopy walks, and spotting Colobus monkeys; Volcanoes National Park, renowned for gorilla trekking, golden monkeys, and the Gorilla Guardians Village; and the scenic Akagera National Park, offering game drives and boat safaris. As you navigate the winding roads, observe the diverse Rwandan landscapes.
The 8-Day Rwanda Safari Tour encompasses a game drive, boat cruise, chimpanzee trekking, gorilla trekking, a visit to Lake Kivu, and a tour of Kigali city.
Your 8-dayRwanda safari will begin from Kigali city, proceeding to Akagera National Park, followed by Nyungwe Forest National Park, Volcanoes National Park, and concluding at Lake Kivu. Departing from Kigali city, proceed to Akagera National Park for a wildlife excursion that includes a game drive and a boat tour on Lake Ihema. The park, characterized by forest-fringed lakes, undulating plains, and savannahs, is renowned as the most picturesque in Africa.
The 8 Days Rwanda Safari proceeds to Nyungwe Forest, the premier location for chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda. Chimpanzees in this area are accustomed to tracking by multiple visitor groups. Proceed from Nyungwe Forest to Volcanoes National Park for gorilla trekking. Gorilla safaris in Rwanda provide a once-in-a-lifetime experience, allowing trekkers to inhabit the mountain gorilla environment and spend up to one hour in contact to the gorillas.
Highlights of the 8-Day Rwanda Safari
Day #1: Arrival at Kigali International Airport, short Kigali city tour, and transfer to hotel.
Day #2: Drive to Akagera National Park and have an evening game drive.
Day #3: Morning Game drive and afternoon boat cruise on Lake Ihema in Akagera National Park.
Day #4: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Day #5: Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Day #6: Transfer from Nyungwe Forest to Volcanoes National Park.
Day #7: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park and transfer to Lake Kivu.
Day #8: Boat cruise and return to Kigali International Airport for a departure flight.
Detailed 8 Days Rwanda Safari Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at Kigali International Airport, short Kigali city tour, and transfer to hotel
A tour guide will be there at Kigali International Airport to receive you upon your arrival. The guide will be immediately recognizable since they will be holding a placard with your names. Upon meeting, your local guide will transport you to Kigali for a city tour and lunch. Subsequent to lunch, you will be transported to a reserved accommodation in Kigali city. You register, unwind, dine, and stay overnight.
Dinner: Meal Plan
Accommodation Choices: Luxury: Serena Hotel Kigali; Mid-range: Hotel Chez Lando; Budget: Iris Guest House.
Day 2: Travel to Akagera National Park and partake in an evening game drive.
After breakfast in Kigali, you will be transported for approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes to Akagera National Park. Upon arrival for lunch, you partake in a meal and thereafter unwind while anticipating an evening game drive. In the afternoon, you will partake in a game drive in the savannah plains of Akagera. The observable fauna includes the Big Five game: Buffaloes, Rhinos, Elephants, Lions, and Leopards. Additional wildlife species encompass giraffes, zebras, hyenas, Cape bushbuck, topis, oribis, roan antelopes, duikers, impalas, Cape eland, among others. In the evening, you return to your reserved hotel or lodge for relaxation, dinner, and overnight accommodation.
Accommodation choices: Luxury: Ruziza Tented Camp; Mid-range: Akagera Game Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Morning game drive and afternoon boat ride on Lake Ihema in Akagera National Park.
on the early morning, breakfast is provided, followed by a game drive on the picturesque savannah plains lasting around four hours, contingent upon animal sightings and interests. Upon concluding the game drive, you return to your accommodation for lunch. In the afternoon, you embark on a boat excursion on Lake Ihema.
The boat excursion on Lake Ihema provides excellent views of hippos and crocodiles in the water. Fauna such as elephants and buffaloes can be observed around the lake’s edges. Subsequent to the boat excursion, you will proceed to the reserved lodging for check-in, dinner, and an overnight stay.
Accommodation choices: Luxury: Ruziza Tented Camp; Mid-range: Akagera Game Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Transit to Nyungwe Forest National Park
You will enjoy breakfast at your convenience before being transported to Nyungwe Forest National Park. The journey from Kigali city to Nyungwe Forest takes approximately 4 to 5 hours. Upon arrival, you register at your resort, partake in lunch, and unwind in the evening.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Options for Lodging: Luxury: Nyungwe Forest Lodge / One & Only Nyungwe Forest House; Mid-range: Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel; Budget: Gisakura Guest House
Day 5: Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest National Park
In the early morning, you will have breakfast before being transported to the park headquarters to commence a chimpanzee trekking trip. You walk for a while until you discover the location where the chimpanzees spent the previous night.
Chimpanzees exhibit rapid locomotion between trees, accompanied by vocalizations; their agility influences the quantity of photographs captured and the duration of observation. Upon completing the hike, you return to the starting point where you meet the driver-guide for a journey to the hotel for lunch and relaxation.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Choices for Accommodation: Luxury: Nyungwe Forest Lodge / One & Only Nyungwe Forest House; Mid-range: Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel; Budget: Gisakura Guest House
Day 6: Transfer from Nyungwe Forest to Volcanoes National Park
After enjoying breakfast at your convenience in Nyungwe Forest, you will be taken to Volcanoes National Park. The journey endures approximately 5 to 6 hours, culminating in the afternoon. You register at an accommodation of your preference.
Accommodation Alternatives: Luxury: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge; Mid-range: Gorilla Solution Lodge; Budget: Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park and transfer to Lake Kivu
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 guidelines of gorilla trekking in Rwanda from the park warden. At 8:30 am, the park ranger guide will escort you to the starting location for the gorilla hike. Eight travelers with a trekking permit for Rwanda, priced at USD 1500 each, are assigned to one gorilla family.
The duration of the walk is variable, contingent upon the movements of the gorilla group; however, the population in Rwanda is recognized for traversing shorter distances, facilitating easier trekking. After one hour with a Gorilla family, you return to the park headquarters to meet the tour guide for a transfer back to your hotel, followed by a journey to Lake Kivu in the evening.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Choices for Accommodation: Luxury: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel; Mid-range: Paradise Malahide; Budget: Stipp Hotel.
Day 8: Boat tour followed by return to Kigali International Airport for departure flight.
On the final day of your 8-day safari in Rwanda, you will embark on an early morning boat excursion to Coffee Island. You will have breakfast and engage in touring in the picturesque surroundings. Following breakfast, you depart from the island and proceed to Kigali International Airport for your flight departure.
Breakfast Meal Plan
Conclusion of the 8-Day Rwanda Safari
Inclusions
Inter camp transfers
Scheduled activities
Exclusions
International flights
Airport taxes
All meals and drinks not specified
Tips and gratuities
Items of a personal nature