Our 8 Days Impressive Rwanda Holiday gives you many chances to enjoy gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, a cultural visit to the Gorilla Guardian Village, golden monkey tracking, game drives in Akagera National Park, and chimpanzee trekking with a canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Detailed 8 Days Rwanda Safari Itinerary
Day 1: Drive to Akagera National Park for wildlife viewing
Our driver will meet you at your hotel or any location in Kigali in the morning and drive you to Akagera National Park. After arrival, check in at your lodge, freshen up, enjoy lunch, and watch some birds near the lodge.
Dinner and overnight will be at your booked lodge (budget, midrange, or luxury) inside the park.
Day 2: Morning game drive & afternoon boat ride on Lake Ihema
Today, go for a morning game drive in the northern part of Akagera, where most animals are found. You may see elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, warthogs, lions, rhinos, leopards, antelopes, and many others. While it is not guaranteed to see all the animals, you might be lucky and spot the Big Five.
In the afternoon, take a boat ride on Lake Ihema. You will see hippos, crocodiles, and many types of birds living in the wetlands and trees near the lake. Dinner and overnight at your lodge in Akagera.
Day 3: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park
Wake up early, have breakfast, and begin the long drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park. On the way, you will visit the Ethnographic Museum in Butare and stop for lunch. Arrive in Nyungwe in the evening and check in at your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking & canopy walk
After an early breakfast, go to Nyungwe Forest to search for chimpanzees. It is best to start early, before sunrise, to see the chimpanzees as they wake up and begin their day. The trek can take 1 to 4 hours. When you find them, you will spend one hour watching them before returning to the lodge for lunch.
In the afternoon, go on a canopy walk to enjoy views of the forest from above. Along the way, you may see monkeys, birds, and butterflies. Dinner and overnight will be at your lodge in Nyungwe Forest.
Day 5: Transfer to Lake Kivu
After breakfast, drive to Lake Kivu for a relaxing stay by the lake. Have lunch on arrival, then in the afternoon, take a boat ride to Coffee Island. Learn about the history of the island and how coffee is grown, harvested, and processed.
From the island, you can see Nyiragongo Volcano in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Return to the lodge by sunset for dinner and overnight.
Day 6: Drive to Volcanoes National Park
After breakfast, drive to Volcanoes National Park, home of Rwanda’s mountain gorillas. After lunch, enjoy a boat ride on the twin lakes of Ruhondo and Bulera. Have dinner and stay overnight at your chosen lodge (budget, midrange, or luxury).
Day 7: Gorilla trekking & visit to Gorilla Guardian Village
Wake up early, have breakfast, and go to the park headquarters by 7:00 am for a briefing. After this, you will be assigned a gorilla group based on your fitness level and then start the trek.
The walk may take 1 to 4 hours. Once you find the gorillas, you will spend one hour watching them. After the trek, return to the lodge for lunch.
In the afternoon, visit the Gorilla Guardian Village to learn about the local culture. Dinner and overnight stay at the same lodge.
Day 8: Return to Kigali
After breakfast, drive back to Kigali with a stop for shopping on the way. This ends your 8 Days Impressive Rwanda Holiday.
End of 8 Days Impressive Rwanda Holiday.
