7-Day Rwanda Safari – Visit Akagera National Park, Volcanoes National Park, and tour Kigali city on this 7-day Rwanda safari.
Tour Highlights
- Day 1: Kigali to Nyungwe Forest National Park
- Day 2: Chimpanzee Trekking and Canopy Walks
- Day 3: Transfer to Lake Kivu
- Day 4: Morning Boat Ride and Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
- Day 5: Gorilla Trekking and Cultural Tour
- Day 6: Transfer to Akagera National Park
- Day 7: Morning Game Drive and Departure
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Kigali to Nyungwe Forest National Park
Pick up from your hotel in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. You will embark on a 5-6 hour drive to the south of Rwanda. Along the way, you may find it enriching to learn about Rwanda’s history through a visit to the Rwanda Genocide memorials in Kigali.
Enjoy stopovers at the Nyanza King’s Palace and the Ethnographic Museum, and have a delicious lunch in Butare.
You will arrive in Nyungwe in the late afternoon and check in at your lodge.
Day 2: Chimpanzee Trekking and Canopy Walks
You will track the chimpanzees of Nyungwe Forest early in the morning on a 2-6 hour (more or less) trekking experience. To participate in this adventure, ensure you have secured your Rwanda Chimpanzee Permits in advance.
Spend an hour with these famous primates, taking pictures and observing them in their natural habitat.
Later in the afternoon, you will go for a canopy walk on a walkway above the Nyungwe tree tops.
Day 3: Transfer to Lake Kivu
After a tasty breakfast at your lodge, hit the road to Lake Kivu, Rwanda’s biggest lake shared with the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Check in at your lodge, have lunch, and spend the rest of the day leisurely relaxing at the beach or go on a sunset boat ride on Lake Kivu.
Day 4: Morning Boat Ride and Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
You will have a boat ride on Lake Kivu for about 2 hours. Enjoy the surrounding views as you sail on the beautiful lake and be sure to spot some water birds. This safari covers diverse Rwanda National Parks, including Volcanoes National Park and Akagera National Park, each offering unique wildlife experiences.
Visit one of the islands and then return to the lodge for lunch.
Afterward, transfer to your safari lodge further north near Volcanoes National Park for the night.
Day 5: Gorilla Trekking and Cultural Tour
On day 5, you will trek the mighty mountain gorillas of Volcanoes National Park. If you’re interested in a more extensive exploration of Rwanda, consider the 10-Day Best of Rwanda Safari Tour for a comprehensive adventure.
Follow your experienced ranger guide into the forest on the slopes of the volcanoes to search for the gorillas.
You will spend 1 hour with them once you locate them.
Savor the moment, take pictures, and return from the trek.
After lunch, you will go for a cultural visit to the Gorilla Guardians Village.
Day 6: Transfer to Akagera National Park
Early morning transfer to Akagera National Park in East Rwanda via Kigali.
You will arrive in Akagera National Park in the afternoon, proceed to your safari lodge for lunch, and then embark on a boat ride on Rwanda’s second biggest lake, Lake Ihema.
Look out for hippos, crocodiles in the water, and some animals grazing at the shores or cooling their bodies at the shallow ends, such as buffalos, elephants, and waterbucks.
Return to the lodge for an overnight stay.
Day 7: Morning Game Drive and Departure
Go on a pre-sunrise game drive in Akagera National Park for a chance to spot lions, hyenas, giraffes, zebras, rhinos, elands, and leopards, among others.
Return to the lodge for breakfast and check out. Embark on one more game drive as you exit the park through the northern part of the park for more wildlife sightings.
Drop off at the airport in Kigali.
Visit Nyungwe Forest with these recommended Chimpanzee Trekking Companies or send us an inquiry below to book directly through this website.
