The 10 Days best Rwanda safari vacation covers the best national parks Rwanda with mountain gorilla trekking, Golden monkey tracking, wildlife safari and chimpanzee tracking. On this trip plan, expect to get thrilled by guided game drives as you search for the big 5 game and other mammals in their natural environments. You will also search for the rare mountain gorillas in the wild during gorilla trekking.

Other activities that you should expect to engage in as per this itinerary include golden monkey tracking, boat cruise on Lake Ihema, chimpanzee tracking, canopy walk, cultural tour and canoeing on Lake Kivu.

The key safari destinations of interest as per your trip plan include Volcanoes National Park, Akagera National Park, Lake Kivu, and Nyungwe National Park. The entire trip will begin from Kigali and the first place to visit will be Akagera National Park, home to all the big five game, then you connect to Volcanoes Park, Lake Kivu, and lastly, Nyungwe Forest National Park.

Brief Itinerary

Day 1: Pick up – Transfer to Akagera National Park – Evening game drive

Day 2: Morning game drive – Boat ride on Lake Ihema

Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park

Day 4: Mountain gorilla trekking

Day 5: Visit Iby’Iwacu cultural village, Ellen DeGeneres Dian Fossey campus

Day 6: Golden monkey tracking in the lush Mgahinga’s bamboo forest

Day 7: Transfer to Lake Kivu for Canoeing and island tour –

Day 8: Transfer to Nyungwe National Park

Day 9: Chimpanzee tracking – Canopy walk

Day 10: Transfer to Kigali

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Pick up – Transfer to Akagera National Park – Evening game drive

Enjoy a hefty breakfast at your respective hotels and after, you will be greeted by your safari leader or driver guide. Have a short briefing where you get to know what your safari is all about and the first destination you will be paying a visit to. After, make sure that all your luggage is available and is packed in your 4×4 safari vehicle. Next, you will board the car and set off for actual road trip and today, you will be departing from Kigali to Akagera National Park in the Eastern Province of Rwanda.

Driving time will be about 2.5 hours and on arrival, you will check in your lodge for relaxation and lunch will be provided to you. Later in the afternoon, you will be picked up and then head off for a guided game drive. This will run up to evening and expect to come across a range of wildlife including lions, elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, giraffes, zebras, and other mammals plus birds.

Accommodation

• Luxury: Magashi Tented Camp/Rusizi Tented Camp
• Midrange: Akagera Game Lodge

Day 2: Morning game drive – Boat ride on Lake Ihema

Enjoy a hearty breakfast in the morning and later, catch up with the sunrise game drive through the enriching game tracks of Akagera National Park. Today’s guided game drive will go for 2-3 hours and you will be searching for more wildlife in addition to what you encountered the previous day.

The likely animals to encounter on your game drive include the Maasai giraffes, African bush elephants, topis, impalas, zebras, lions, leopards, buffaloes, and birds. After the game drive, you will be at the lodge where lunch will be offered.

In the afternoon, go explore the charming Lake Ihema on a boat or launch cruise. This comes with incredible sights of aquatic species like hippos, crocodiles and water birds.

Accommodation

• Luxury: Magashi Tented Camp/Rusizi Tented Camp
• Midrange: Akagera Game Lodge

Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park

After the early morning breakfast, you will be transferred from Akagera in the east to Volcanoes National Park in the northwestern side of Rwanda. Enjoy the beautiful countryside characterized by breathtaking landscapes. Arrive at Volcanoes National Park early for you to check in your accommodation.

Accommodation

• Luxury: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge/Bisate Lodge
• Midrange: La Palme Lodge/Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge
• Budget: Kinigi Guesthouse

Day 4: Mountain gorilla trekking

Leave your respective places of stay for briefing at Kinigi. Get insight into the dos and don’ts for gorilla trekking then also be allocated a habituated gorilla family to be trekked. One gorilla group will be visited by a maximum of 8 guests and the actual trek begins at around 8:00am with the park ranger guide available to lead you through.

When you come across gorillas, you will have an hour of up close and personal encounter with these unusual apes, take pictures, and observe their unique behaviors. You will then start walking back and have the rest of the evening at the lodge.

Accommodation

• Luxury: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge/Bisate Lodge
• Midrange: La Palme Lodge/Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge
• Budget: Kinigi Guesthouse

Day 5: Visit Iby’Iwacu cultural village, Ellen DeGeneres Dian Fossey campus

Depart your lodge for a cultural experience at Iby’Iwacu cultural village. You will have great time exploring the traditions, cultures of the Rwandan people and also, expect to get entertained by locals. From Iby’Iwacu, proceed to the Ellen DeGeneres Dian Fossey campus for more exploration.

Accommodation

• Luxury: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge/Bisate Lodge
• Midrange: La Palme Lodge/Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge
• Budget: Kinigi Guesthouse

Day 6: Golden monkey tracking in the lush Mgahinga’s bamboo forest

Enjoy a delicious cup of tea/coffee and after, set off for your guided golden monkey trek. But first, you will get briefed on golden monkey tracking regulations and the park ranger guide will also be allocated to take you through your thrilling primate adventure.

An hour will be guaranteed for you to observe golden monkeys and taking their pictures while they are in the wild. Return and enjoy a leisurely lunch plus the rest of the evening.

Accommodation

• Luxury: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge/Bisate Lodge
• Midrange: La Palme Lodge/Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge
• Budget: Kinigi Guesthouse

Day 7: Transfer to Lake Kivu for Canoeing and island tour

Get up early to prepare and also enjoy breakfast. After, check out and set off on a leisurely drive to Lake Kivu where you will have a rewarding canoeing experience and visit to one of its islands.

Accommodation

• Luxury: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel

Day 8: Transfer to Nyungwe National Park

Have a leisurely breakfast and after, check out of your accommodation at Lake Kivu. From Lake Kivu, connect to Nyungwe Forest National Park, home to 13 primate species, 310 bird species and other mammals. Have a relaxed stay at your respective lodges.

Accommodation

• Luxury: One&Only Nyungwe House
• Midrange: Nyungwe Top View Hill Lodge
• Budget: Gisakura Guesthouse

Day 9: Chimpanzee tracking – Canopy walk

Get up a bit earlier than the usual days and today, you will have breakfast then proceed to your briefing area. You will have insight into chimpanzee tracking regulations and park ranger guides assigned to lead you. Today’s primate trek allows you search for habituated community of chimpanzees and on finding them, you will spend an hour while exploring their daily behaviors.

Later in the afternoon, you will again leave the lodge and embark on a canopy walk. This will be done starting from Uwinka area (Igishigishigi trail) and you will follow a 200m long canopy walkway set 50m from the forest floor.

Accommodation

• Luxury: One&Only Nyungwe House
• Midrange: Nyungwe Top View Hill Lodge
• Budget: Gisakura Guesthouse

Day 10: Transfer to Kigali

Enjoy a delicious breakfast at your comfortable lodge and after, set off for Kigali about 6-7 hours’ drive. En-route, have a stopover at Butare where you will pay a visit to the ethnographic museum and the king’s palace. From Butare, continue up to Kigali and you may have a short tour involving paying a visit to Kigali/Gisozi genocide site. You may proceed to the airport for late evening departure or remain at the hotel.

End of safari

Inclusions

• Game drives
• Boat cruise
• Gorilla, golden monkey & chimpanzee permits
• Accommodation and meals
• Transportation services and guide or driver
• All safari activities exclusive of optional
• Government taxes

Exclusions

• Tips
• Cost on beverages
• Laundry
• Telephone bills (airtime)
• Optional activities
• Insurance