An amazing 10-Day Discover Rwanda Safari – Visit Gorillas and Wildlife in Rwanda. Rwanda is one of the few vacation spots in Africa.
From the clear shores of Lake Kivu, the savannah plains of Akagera National Park, to the rainforests of Nyungwe and Volcanoes National Parks, this country is truly special and visiting here is a priceless experience.
On this 12-day vacation tour in Rwanda, you will trek and spend time with one of the 13 habituated gorilla groups and one of the two habituated golden monkey troops in Volcanoes National Park.
You will also trek chimpanzees and do the canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest National Park, relax by the calm shores of Lake Kivu, and enjoy game drives in Akagera National Park.
Detailed 10-Day Rwanda Safari Itinerary
Day 1: City Tour & Drive to Volcanoes National Park
After a good breakfast at the hotel, you will have a city tour to visit the craft markets, Genocide Memorial Centers, and local markets.
After lunch, you will drive to Volcanoes National Park through Ruhengeri, enjoying the beautiful hills that gave Rwanda the name “Land of a Thousand Hills.”
After settling into your lodge, take a drive to Gorilla Guardian Village to learn about the culture and way of life of Rwanda’s three ethnic groups.
Overnight stay, dinner, and rest at a lodge near Volcanoes National Park.
Day 2: Gorilla tracking in Volcanoes National Park & boat ride on the Twin Lakes
After breakfast at your lodge, go to the park headquarters in Kinigi for registration and briefing. Then start the trek to find one of the habituated gorilla groups.
The trek takes 1 to 4 hours, after which you will spend one hour watching the gorillas play, eat, rest, and groom. This is the highlight of your safari. Return to the lodge for lunch and rest.
In the afternoon, take a boat ride on the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo. After the boat ride, return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 3: Golden monkey tracking in Volcanoes National Park & drive to Lake Kivu
After breakfast, set out to track the golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park. This trek takes 1 to 3 hours before you find the lively golden monkeys.
Spend one hour with a habituated golden monkey troop, then return to the lodge for lunch. After lunch, drive to a lodge on the shores of Lake Kivu.
Check in, relax, and enjoy swimming or relaxing by the lake.
Day 4: Full day at Lake Kivu
Have breakfast, then take a boat cruise on Lake Kivu to Gishamwana Island, a coffee-growing island. Learn about coffee growing, harvesting, and processing. Enjoy views of Mount Nyiragongo from afar.
Return to the shore and visit Gisenyi city. After the tour, return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 5: Drive from Lake Kivu to Nyungwe Forest National Park
After breakfast, leave Lake Kivu for Nyungwe Forest National Park. This forest is home to over 12 species of primates, including chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, baboons, and more.
At the park, you will track chimpanzees and have a chance to see other primates and do the canopy walk. After arrival, check in at your lodge for lunch, rest, dinner, and overnight stay.
Day 6: Chimpanzee tracking & canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest National Park
After a simple breakfast, start the chimpanzee trek early (around 6 am) to see chimpanzees as they leave their nests. Spend one hour watching them during their daily activities.
Besides chimpanzees, you may see other animals like leopards, forest elephants, duikers, forest hogs, buffaloes, many birds, and butterflies. After the trek, enjoy your packed lunch.
In the afternoon, do the canopy walk on a 200-meter-long bridge hanging 74 meters above the forest floor. Watch for primates, birds, and butterflies during this 2-hour walk.
Day 7: Leave Nyungwe Forest National Park for Kigali City
Have breakfast, then start the 5-hour drive back to Kigali City. Stop at the Ethnographic Museum in Butare and the Nyanza Royal Palace on the way.
Have lunch in Kigali, then check in at a hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 8: Transfer to Akagera National Park
After breakfast at 7:00 am, drive to Akagera National Park in eastern Rwanda. This park is mainly savannah but also has forests, lakes, rocks, woodlands, and wetlands.
You may see the big five animals, giraffes, hippos, impalas, crocodiles, waterbucks, topis, warthogs, and more.
In the afternoon, take a boat ride to see hippos, Nile crocodiles, and many birds close up. After the boat ride, return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 9: Full-day game drive in Akagera National Park
Start a half-day game drive through the Northern Circuit of Akagera National Park. Look for topis, elephants, lions, ostriches, giraffes, leopards, rhinos, buffaloes, warthogs, hippos, and more.
Birds and the park’s scenery make great photo opportunities.
Day 10: Airport Transfer & Departure
Depending on your flight time, first visit a massage parlor to relax, then go to the airport to catch your flight. This ends your 10-day safari in Rwanda.
End of 10-Day Vacation Tour in Rwanda.
