4 Days
Volcanoes, Lake Kivu
4-Day Rwanda Gorillas and Lake Kivu Relaxation
This journey combines gorilla trekking, cultural immersion, and relaxing Lake Kivu scenery.
7-Day Rwanda Primates and Big 5 Safari
7 Days - 5 Nights | Akagera - Nyungwe and Volcanoes National Parks
Overview
Experience Rwanda’s ultimate 7 day Primates and Big 5 Safari, blending thrilling game drives in Akagera National Park with mountain gorilla and chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest and Volcanoes National Park. This carefully crafted itinerary showcases Rwanda’s rich biodiversity, from lions, elephants, buffalo, rhinos and leopards to endangered primates in their natural habitat.
Itinerary
1
Day 1: Kigali to Akagera National Park
Your driver guide picks you up from your Kigali hotel or airport in the morning and begins the scenic three hour drive east to Akagera National Park. Along the way, enjoy views of rolling hills, tea plantations and rural villages. Upon arrival, check into your lodge and relax before an afternoon game drive in search of zebra, giraffe, buffalo and antelope.
- Drive time: Approx. 2–3 hours (with stops)
- Meal Plan: Half-Board
- Accommodation:Akagera Game Lodge(Mid-Range)
2
Day 2: Akagera National Park, Big 5 Game Drive
After an early breakfast, set out for a full day game drive across Akagera’s savannah, lakes and woodland. Search for the Big 5, lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and the recently reintroduced rhino, alongside hippo, crocodile and over 500 bird species. A boat cruise on Lake Ihema can be added to spot hippos and water birds up close.
- Meal Plan: Full-Board
- Accommodation: Same as Day 1
3
Day 3: Akagera to Nyungwe Forest National Park
After breakfast, begin the long but scenic transfer south west to Nyungwe Forest National Park, Africa’s oldest rainforest and home to thirteen primate species. The drive takes about six to seven hours through Rwanda’s famous thousand hills, with a lunch stop en route in Kigali or Huye. Arrive in the late afternoon and check into your lodge nestled within the forest. Enjoy dinner while listening to the sounds of the forest at night.
- Meal Plan: Full Board
- Accommodation: Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel(Mid-Range)
4
Day 4: Chimpanzee Trekking and Canopy Walk
Wake early for coffee before heading into the forest for chimpanzee trekking, tracking these energetic primates through dense vegetation as expert guides interpret their behaviour. In the afternoon, walk the famous Canopy Walkway, suspended seventy metres above the forest floor, for spectacular views over the rainforest canopy. Other primates such as colobus monkeys and grey cheeked mangabeys may also be spotted along forest trails.
- Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Accommodation: Same as Day 3
5
Day 5: Nyungwe to Volcanoes National Park
After breakfast, depart Nyungwe and travel north toward Volcanoes National Park, home to the endangered mountain gorillas and the five volcanic peaks of the Virunga range. The drive takes roughly six hours, passing through Kigali with an optional stop for lunch and souvenir shopping. Arrive in Musanze in the late afternoon and check into your lodge with views of the volcanoes. Relax and prepare for the following day’s gorilla trekking briefing.
- Meal Plan: Breakfast Lunch and Dinner
- Accommodation: Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge (Mid-Range)
6
Day 6: Gorilla Trekking and Optional Iby’iwacu Cultural Village
Rise early for a briefing at park headquarters before setting off with expert trackers into the forested slopes of the Virunga volcanoes to encounter a habituated mountain gorilla family. Spend a magical hour observing their behaviour up close, an unforgettable highlight of the trip. In the afternoon, visit Iby’iwacu Cultural Village (optional) to experience traditional Rwandan dance, storytelling and daily life demonstrations.
- Meal Plan: Breakfast Lunch and Dinner
- Accommodation: Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge (Mid-Range)
7
Day 7: Optional Golden Monkey Trekking and Departure
After breakfast, embark on a shorter trek through bamboo forest to visit a playful troop of golden monkeys, an endangered species found only in the Virunga region. Watch them leap and forage before returning to the lodge to freshen up and check out. Drive back to Kigali, arriving in the afternoon in time for your onward flight or extended stay. This marks the end of your unforgettable Rwanda Primates and Big 5 Safari.
- Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch
- Accommodation: None – Unless requested
Included/Excluded
Cost Includes
Transportation (Car, Guide & Fuel)
Meals and Accommodation
Gorilla Trekking Permit
Lake Ihema Boat Cruise
Chimpanzee Trekking Permit
Bottled Drinking Water
Government Taxes
Cost Excludes
Sorvenirs
Insurance
Tips and porter services
International Flights
Drinks other than Water
BOOK THIS TOUR
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