7 days Rwanda safari is an exceptional experience that introduces you to Rwanda’s diverse wildlife and primates. It combines game viewing in Akagera National Park, gorilla and golden monkey trekking in Volcanoes National Park; chimpanzee tracking and canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest National Park. Your Rwanda safari will begin and end in Kigali.
What you should expect on your 7 days Rwanda safari
• A magical encounter with mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, and golden monkeys.
• Wildlife exploration in the vast savannas of Akagera National Park.
• Canopy walk in Nyungwe National Park.
• Ground transportation in a 4×4 drive safari.
• Fulltime English-speaking driver-guide.
• Accommodation and meals.
Brief itinerary of the 7 days Rwanda safari
Day 1: Drive to Akagera National Park
Day 2: Game drive and boat cruise in Akagera National Park
Day 3: Transfer from Akagera to Nyungwe Forest National Park
Day 4: Chimpanzee tracking and canopy walk in Nyungwe National Park
Day 5: Drive to Volcanoes National Park
Day 6: Gorilla trekking
Day 7: Golden monkey tracking and drive back to Kigali
Detailed itinerary of the 7 days Rwanda safari
Day 1: Drive to Akagera National Park
Pick up by our driver guide after early arrival at Kigali International Airport or after breakfast at your hotel or place of residence in Kigali. You will be briefed on what this package covers and later, drive eastwards to Akagera National Park about 135kms away from Kigali capital city. Enjoy incredible sights of the Rwanda countryside and not miss those of the Inyambo cows in Rwamagana prior to getting to your lodge to have lunch.
In the afternoon after lunch, you have a boat cruise along Lake Ihema which gets you a chance to catch a glimpse at the hippopotami, crocodiles as they bask along the lake shores, water birds as well as other savanna dwellers that roam at the lake shore.
Travel time: 2-3 hours
Meal plan: Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation choices at Akagera National Park
Magashi Tented Camp/Ruzizi Tented Camp (Luxury)
Akagera Game Lodge (Midrange)
Dereva Hotel (Budget)
Day 2: Game drive and boat cruise in Akagera National Park
Get up early in the morning and start your second day with breakfast in your safari lodge. Later, meet your driver-guide ready to start your morning game drive along the northern side of Akagera National Park. This is a 2-4-hour game viewing experience and it rewards travel endeavors with astonishing sights at diverse savanna dwellers in this 1122sq.km protected area, especially the African bush elephants, buffaloes, antelopes (waterbucks, oribis, elands, reedbucks, impalas, roan antelopes), Masai giraffes, lions, rhinos, birds to mention but a few. You will also have an incredible view of the vast savanna and breathtaking landscape. After your fun-filled experience, drive back to the lodge to enjoy lunch.
In the afternoon, you have a launch cruise on Lake Ihema-one of stunning lakes in Akagera National Park and remarkably, Rwanda’s second-largest lake. This watersport offers you a chance to see hippos, crocodiles, water bird including the shoebill storks, gonoleks and many more.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Accommodation choices at Akagera National Park
Magashi Tented Camp/Ruzizi Tented Camp (Luxury)
Akagera Game Lodge (Midrange)
Dereva Hotel (Budget)
Day 3: Transfer from Akagera to Nyungwe Forest National Park
Today after breakfast, your driver will transfer you to Nyungwe Forest National Park about 5 hours’ drive southwestwards. Along the way, you have the opportunity to pay a visit to the Butare National Museum popularly known as the Ethnographic Museum where several of the artifacts have been kept. You also have a chance to enjoy views of magical hills in southern Rwanda and you will have another visit to Nyanza Palace-the royal court of the two kings of Rwanda; King Musinga and his successor-King Rudahigwa. Later, proceed to Nyungwe National Park to check-in at the lodge to relax, dine and spend a night.
Travel time: 5 hours
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Accommodation choices at Nyungwe Forest National Park
Nyungwe Forest Lodge (Luxury)
Nyungwe Hill Top View Hotel (Midrange)
Gisakura Guesthouse (Budget)
Day 4: Chimpanzee tracking and canopy walk in Nyungwe National Park
Have breakfast in the morning and at 7:00 am, join other trekkers at Uwinka reception center to be briefed on the set chimpanzee tracking etiquette. At 8:00 am, professional park ranger guide and trackers will take you through your primate adventure to see chimpanzee and this may take you about 2-4 hours including an hour of magical encounter. Nyungwe National Park is in the southern province of Rwanda and inhabits about 13 primate species including about 500 chimpanzees as well as other primates that you will catch a glimpse while on chimpanzee trek, especially L’Hoest monkeys, vervet monkeys, olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys; birds and unique flora.
After, get back to the lodge to enjoy your lunch and in the afternoon, you have a canopy walk which takes about 2 hours. This offers you a great opportunity to see several primates, butterflies, birds, flora and magical view of Nyungwe Forest canopy. Return to relax, dine and spend a night.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch,, and Dinner
Accommodation choices at Nyungwe National Park
Nyungwe Forest Lodge (Luxury)
Nyungwe Hill Top View Hotel (Midrange)
Gisakura Guesthouse (Budget)
Day 5: Drive to Volcanoes National Park
After your cup of coffee or tea, transfer to Volcanoes National Park in the Northern Province of Rwanda where a section of mountain gorillas thrives. You will have lunch along the way and then proceed to Volcanoes National Park.
Day 6: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Enjoy breakfast early in the morning and later, gather at Kinigi park headquarters where you will be briefed on the set guidelines to follow while on a trek to see mountain gorillas. Volcanoes National Park inhabits a section of the rare mountain gorillas and currently, it consists of 10 habituated families; Susa A group, Hirwa, Bwenge, Kwitonda, Amahoro, Umubano, Agashya, Karisimbi, Sabyinyo, and Ugenda. During the briefing, you will be assigned to only one habituated group to trek in a group of 8 trekkers and at 8:00 am, the park ranger guide and trackers will take you through a search for mountain gorillas in the wild. This may take you about 2-6 hours depending on your speed of hiking, where these apes are and the nature of the habitat. After you successfully find these massive creatures, you have an hour to strike your imaginations, take pictures and learn about their behaviors then later, get back to the lodge.
In the afternoon/evening, sum up the day with a thrilling cultural experience in Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village where you have a chance to enjoy the unique dances, music performances and learn traditions, lifestyles of Rwandese.
Day 7: Golden monkey tracking and drive back to Kigali
Gather at Kinigi park headquarters after breakfast where will be briefed on the set guidelines to be observed while on a trek to see golden monkeys. This primate adventure takes trekkers about 2-4 hours including an hour of magical encounter with golden monkeys. Later, get back to the lodge to have lunch and then drive back to Kigali 2 to 3 hours’ drive.
End of the 7 days Rwanda safari
7 days Rwanda safari includes
• Gorilla trekking permit ($1500 per person)
• Chimpanzee tracking
• Golden monkey tracking
• Bottled water
• Services of an English-speaking driver-guide
• Visit Iby’Iwacu cultural village
• Relevant government taxes
7 days Rwanda safari excludes
• Personal insurance
• Rwanda visas
• Tips to guides/driver guides, waiters, waitress
• Laundry services
• Alcoholic drinks
• Optional activities
Gorilla trekking etiquette
• One habituated group is trekked by 8 visitors
• A distance of 7 meters should be kept away from mountain gorillas.
• No flashlight camera should be used while taking pictures of chimpanzees or gorillas.
• Visitors who are not feeling well may not be allowed to participate in gorilla trekking. In the case of sneezing, please cover your nose and mouth in case you want to cough.
• Don’t eat, smoke or drink in the presence of gorillas or chimpanzees.
• Persons above 15 years are eligible to trek gorillas.
Things to pack on 7 days Rwanda safari
• Insect repellent
• Waterproof daypack
• Gardening gloves
• Rain jacket/poncho
• Long-sleeved shirt/t-shirt-preferably is environmentally friendly.
• Camera with no flashlight
• Waterproof hiking boots
• Sun hat
• Sun glasses
• Walking stick-essential for gorilla trekking
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