7 Days Best of Rwanda Safari

7 Days Best of Rwanda Safari: Visit the 3 major national parks of the Rwanda the home of a thousand hills in a period of 7 days. This safari takes you to visit the Volcanoes national park, the home of the mountain gorillas, take off a few days to visit the Nyungwe national park for the chimpanzee trekking and canopy walk and get to visit the wildlife of Rwanda in Akagera national park. This package takes you to most of the corners of Rwanda.

Trip highlights of the 7 Days Best of Rwanda Safari

Trip description

Day 1: Set out to volcanoes national park

Kigali city tour: In the early morning hours of day 1 of the 7 Days Best of Rwanda Safari, you will connect with your driver guide who will be at the pickup place as discussed. Right after you exchange pleasantries, you will drive out to start your Kigali city tour visiting the Kigali Genocide memorial grounds for a brief history of the 1994 Genocide that claimed many Rwandan lives and after take some time at the Kimironko market.
3 hour drive to Ruhengeri: Connect for lunch and after drive to the home of the mountain gorillas – Ruhengeri which will be your home for the night. Check in and settle in as you wait for dinner to be served

Accommodation options in Volcanoes national park

Day 2: Mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes national park

Mountain gorilla trekking: As soon as the sun starts to come out, be ready to set out to the park for the morning brief before mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park. Grab your hot cup of coffee and packed lunches and enter the car to be driven to the park headquarters where the gorilla treks start from. Listen to the 30 minute brief on the expectations and expected code of conduct while in the forest and set out to look for the mountain gorillas. Trek for about 2 to 6 hours all depending on how far into the forest the gorillas are that day. When you meet the gorillas, spend your magical one hour with them as they go about their daily routine. Drive back to your hotel to relax as the sun cools abit.
Cultural tour in volcanoes national park: In the evening, drive to the Iby’iwachu cultural center for a cultural visit on the lifestyle of the Rwandan people and take part in some of the dances and cooking skills. Return to your hotel before it gets dark for dinner and a second night in Volcanoes National Park.

Day 3: Drive south to Nyungwe forest National park

5 to 6 hour drive to Nyungwe forest: Connect for breakfast at your hotel and after, check out of your hotel and connect with you driver guide to start on your transfer from Volcanoes national park to Nyungwe national park. You will drive on the west side of the country passing through the various country homesteads. You will stop enroute for lunch and continue further to your accommodation arriving in the evening in time to check in. Settle in as you wait for dinner to be served.

Accommodation options in Nyungwe forest national park

Day 4: Chimpanzee trekking and canopy walk

Chimpanzee trek: Drive out to the starting point of chimpanzee trekking at the park as early as 6 am. You will start the day with a brief before you enter the forest searching for chimpanzees. Chimpanzees are early risers so you would follow the rangers into the forest. Catch the chimpanzees swinging from tree branch to tree branch and exit the park for a late breakfast.
Canopy walk: Spend the midmorning enjoying the lodge until lunch is ready to be served. At 2pm you will be expected to drive to park for your canopy walk experience. Enjoy the 2 meter long canopy bridge hung up 9 meters giving you an aerial view of the forest. There are many other primates of the park you may be able to view on this walk. Drive back to your hotel in time for dinner and night stay in Nyungwe National Park as the night before.

Day 5: Drive to Akagera national park

7 to 8 hour road transfer: Wake up to an early breakfast shortly before you exit the park driving towards Kigali. You will pass by the Butare museum and the Kings’ Palace if time allows and have an enroute lunch in Butare or Kigali as you will advise. Drive further to Akagera national park arriving in the evening before the park gates close. Connect to your accommodation to refresh and settle in as you await dinner to be served.

Accommodation in Akagera national park

Day 6: Day game drive and Lake Ihema boat trip

Day Game drive in Akagera national park: Breakfast will be served in the dining and after having your cup of coffee with some snacks, you will meet your driver guide who will be waiting to take you to the starting point by 9 am where you will link up with the Akagera guide of the day. Drive around the vast savannah park viewing the game like the rhinos, lions, elephants, leopards, giraffes along with the smaller game like the antelopes, warthogs etc. You may have a bush lunch or return to your hotel for lunch.

Lake Ihema boat trip: Later in the evening when the sun is not as hot, you will drive to catch the scheduled Lake Ihema boat trip to see the aquatic life of Akagera along with a few of the 500 plus bird species in the Akagera national park. Drive back to your hotel in time for dinner and an overnight stay as the previous night.

Day 7: Drive back to Kigali

2 hour road transfer: Wake up to sumptuous breakfast at the hotel shortly before you exit the park. Pack your bags and check out of your hotel and meet your driver guide who will be waiting to transfer you back to Kigali. You will arrive in time for lunch and if you were not able to do the city tour on the first day, you may take it on now before you are dropped off at your agreed drop off location.

Safari quote includes

Safari quote excludes