Experience the remarkable beauty of Rwanda on this 9 Days Exciting Safari Adventure in Rwanda, a carefully designed journey combining wildlife, primates, dramatic landscapes, cultural encounters and relaxing moments beside Lake Kivu. Your adventure takes you from the vibrant capital of Kigali to the wildlife-rich plains of Akagera National Park, the ancient forests of Nyungwe, the peaceful shores of Lake Kivu and the volcanic landscapes of northern Rwanda. You will have opportunities to enjoy game drives, chimpanzee tracking, canopy experiences, scenic drives, boat excursions and cultural activities. The itinerary is designed to give you a diverse introduction to Rwanda while maintaining a comfortable pace and allowing you to appreciate the country’s natural beauty.
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali, Kigali City Tour and Cultural Experience
Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by your Verdant Safaris representative and transferred to your accommodation in Kigali. Depending on your arrival time, you will begin your Rwanda adventure with a guided Kigali city tour, visiting some of the city’s most interesting areas and landmarks. You can explore local markets, modern neighbourhoods, craft centres and important historical sites while getting an introduction to Rwanda’s culture and remarkable transformation. You may also visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial, where you can learn about Rwanda’s history and the country’s journey towards reconciliation and development. In the evening, you will enjoy a relaxed dinner at your hotel and prepare for the exciting safari experiences ahead.
Accommodation options: Kigali Serena Hotel, Four Points by Sheraton Kigali, Hotel des Mille Collines
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 2: Transfer to Akagera National Park and Afternoon Game Drive
After breakfast, you will depart Kigali and travel eastwards towards Akagera National Park, Rwanda’s premier savannah wildlife destination. The drive offers opportunities to see Rwanda’s changing landscapes as you move from the urban surroundings of Kigali into greener countryside and agricultural communities. Upon arrival in the park, you will check into your lodge, enjoy lunch and have some time to relax before heading out for an afternoon game drive. Your safari drive may bring you close to elephants, buffaloes, zebras, giraffes, antelopes and numerous bird species, while the park’s lakes and wetlands create beautiful scenery. As the afternoon progresses, you will continue exploring the savannah in search of wildlife before returning to your lodge for dinner and a peaceful evening surrounded by nature.
Accommodation options: Akagera Game Lodge, Ruzizi Tented Lodge, Magashi Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Akagera National Park Morning Game Drive and Boat Safari
You will wake up early for a morning game drive, one of the best times to explore Akagera because many animals are active during the cooler hours of the day. Your experienced guide will take you through different sections of the park while looking for wildlife and explaining the behaviour, habitats and conservation efforts surrounding the animals you encounter. You may have opportunities to see giraffes, elephants, buffaloes, zebras, antelopes and other species, while keen birdwatchers can enjoy the park’s impressive variety of birdlife. After lunch and some relaxation, you will enjoy a boat safari on Lake Ihema, where you can observe hippos and crocodiles in the water and watch birds along the shoreline. The boat excursion provides a different perspective of Akagera and creates excellent opportunities for photography before you return to your lodge for dinner.
Accommodation options: Akagera Game Lodge, Ruzizi Tented Lodge, Magashi Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park via Kigali
After breakfast, you will leave Akagera National Park and begin a scenic journey towards Nyungwe Forest National Park in southwestern Rwanda. The drive takes you through picturesque countryside, rolling hills, rural communities and agricultural landscapes, giving you a wonderful opportunity to appreciate why Rwanda is often described as the Land of a Thousand Hills. You will have lunch along the way before continuing towards the ancient montane rainforest of Nyungwe. Depending on your arrival time, you can enjoy a relaxed afternoon at your lodge or take a short nature walk around the surrounding area. Nyungwe is renowned for its exceptional biodiversity and is home to chimpanzees, colobus monkeys and many other forest species. Your evening will be spent relaxing at your lodge and preparing for the following day’s exciting primate experience.
Accommodation options: Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel, One&Only Nyungwe House, Nyungwe Nziza Eco Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Chimpanzee Tracking and Nyungwe Canopy Experience
Today, you will explore one of Rwanda’s most remarkable natural treasures with an exciting chimpanzee tracking experience in Nyungwe Forest. After an early breakfast, you will meet your guides and proceed into the forest in search of habituated chimpanzee communities. As you walk along forest trails, you will encounter a rich ecosystem filled with towering trees, ferns, orchids, colourful birds and different species of monkeys. Once you locate the chimpanzees, you will have time to observe their natural behaviour from a responsible distance while learning more about their social structure and conservation. Later, depending on timing and park conditions, you can experience the famous Nyungwe Canopy Walkway, suspended high above the forest floor and offering spectacular views over the rainforest. You will return to your accommodation in the evening to relax and enjoy dinner after an unforgettable day in the forest.
Accommodation options: Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel, One&Only Nyungwe House, Nyungwe Nziza Eco Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6: Transfer to Lake Kivu and Relaxation in Gisenyi
After breakfast, you will leave Nyungwe and travel towards Lake Kivu, one of Africa’s Great Lakes and one of Rwanda’s most beautiful destinations. The journey is scenic, taking you along winding roads through the mountainous countryside and offering spectacular views of hills, villages and plantations. On arrival in the Lake Kivu area, you will check into your accommodation and enjoy lunch before spending a relaxing afternoon by the lake. You can take a leisurely walk along the lakeshore, enjoy the peaceful surroundings or simply relax at your hotel while appreciating the views across the water. If time permits, you can also enjoy a short boat excursion to experience the lake from the water. In the evening, you will enjoy dinner while taking in the tranquil atmosphere of Lake Kivu.
Accommodation options: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel, Cleo Lake Kivu Hotel, Moriah Bay Resort
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7: Lake Kivu Experience and Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
You will begin the morning with a relaxing Lake Kivu experience before continuing towards northern Rwanda and Volcanoes National Park. Depending on your interests and schedule, you can enjoy a morning boat ride on the lake, visit one of the nearby islands or explore the local community around Gisenyi. The lake’s calm waters, surrounding green hills and fishing communities provide excellent opportunities for photography and cultural interaction. After lunch, you will begin the scenic drive towards Musanze, passing through some of Rwanda’s most dramatic landscapes and rural settlements. As you approach Volcanoes National Park, the impressive Virunga volcanoes begin to dominate the horizon. You will check into your lodge, enjoy dinner and have an opportunity to rest ahead of the following day’s exciting primate adventure.
Accommodation options: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Virunga Inn Resort & Spa
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8: Golden Monkey Tracking in Volcanoes National Park and Cultural Experience
Today, you will explore the magnificent volcanic landscape of Volcanoes National Park with a memorable golden monkey tracking experience. After an early breakfast, you will meet your ranger guides and enter the forest in search of the endangered golden monkeys, a species associated with the Virunga mountain ecosystem. The trek takes you through beautiful forested slopes where you can enjoy the scenery, listen to the sounds of the forest and observe other wildlife and bird species along the way. When you find the golden monkey group, you will have time to watch their energetic movements through the vegetation while learning about their behaviour and conservation. Later, you can participate in a cultural experience within the local community, learning about traditional Rwandan life, music, dance and crafts. You will return to your lodge for a relaxing evening and your final dinner in Rwanda.
Accommodation options: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Virunga Inn Resort & Spa
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9: Departure
After breakfast, your 9 Days Exciting Safari Adventure in Rwanda comes to an end. Depending on your flight schedule, you will have some free time to relax at your lodge or explore Musanze before beginning your transfer towards Kigali International Airport. The journey provides one final opportunity to enjoy Rwanda’s beautiful countryside, with its rolling hills, cultivated landscapes and charming communities. If time allows, you may stop for lunch or purchase locally made crafts and souvenirs as a reminder of your experience. Upon reaching Kigali, your Verdant Safaris representative will assist you with your airport transfer and departure arrangements. You will leave Rwanda with memories of spectacular wildlife encounters in Akagera, primate experiences in Nyungwe and Volcanoes National Park, and the peaceful scenery of Lake Kivu.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Tour Inclusions
- Airport transfers on arrival and departure
- Private 4×4 safari vehicle throughout the tour
- Services of an experienced English-speaking driver-guide
- Accommodation as indicated in the itinerary
- Meals as specified in the itinerary
- Kigali city tour
- Akagera National Park entrance fees
- Game drives in Akagera National Park
- Lake Ihema boat safari
- Chimpanzee tracking permit in Nyungwe Forest
- Nyungwe Canopy Walkway experience, where applicable
- Golden monkey tracking permit
- Lake Kivu boat experience, where applicable
- Bottled drinking water during safari drives
- All scheduled activities mentioned in the itinerary
- Government taxes and applicable park fees
Tour Exclusions
- International and domestic flights
- Rwanda entry visa fees, where applicable
- Travel and medical insurance
- Personal expenses such as drinks, laundry and telephone calls
- Alcoholic and premium beverages
- Tips for guides, drivers and lodge staff
- Personal souvenirs and gifts
- Activities not specifically mentioned in the itinerary
- Gorilla trekking permits, unless specifically added to the package
- Any additional accommodation before or after the scheduled itinerary
- Any expenses arising from changes to the itinerary requested by you.