This 8 Days Rwanda Gorilla Safari takes you on the ultimate Explore Rwanda Tour as you discover the beautiful sites and sceneries in the famous ‘Land of a thousand hills.’ Embark on scenic game drives in Akagera National Park which is the only savannah national park in Rwanda. You will then drive to Volcanoes National Park for gorilla trekking and golden monkey trekking which is definitely going to be the highlight of your Rwanda safari.
Highlights for 8 Days Rwanda Gorilla Safari.
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali
Day 2: Kigali City Tour and Drive to Akagera National Park
Day 3: Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Boat Cruise
Day 4: Full Day Northern Circuit Game Drive
Day 5: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Day 6: Gorilla Trek and Visit Ibyi’wacu Village
Day 7: Golden Monkey Trek
Day 8: Transfer Back to Kigali
Detailed Itinerary for 8 Days Rwanda Gorilla Safari.
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali
Upon your arrival at Kigali international airport, you will be met by our company representative and after a brief briefing session, you will drive to your hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2: Kigali City Tour and Drive to Akagera National Park
Have breakfast at your hotel in the morning and then find your driver guide waiting for you at the hotel lobby. You will then embark on a short tour of Kigali city where you will visit Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre, Camp Kigali and Caplaki Craft Village. You will then have lunch and drive to Akagera National Park. Upon your arrival in the park, you will check-in at your lodge before heading out for a short game drive in the southern part of the park.
Later head back to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 3: Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Boat Cruise
Start your day with early breakfast served at your lodge. Meet your driver guide and head out for a morning game drive in the park in search for wildlife such as zebras, lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, buffalos, and giraffes among others. Later head back to your lodge for lunch and relaxation.
After you have had your lunch and relaxation, you will drive to the docking point for your afternoon/sunset boat cruise on Lake Ihema. Afternoon/sunset boat cruises in Akagera Park are great for birding tours because you have a chance to look out for different bird species including Denham’s bustard, Cabanis’s bunting, Grasshopper buzzard, Marsh Tchagra and the Caspian plover to mention but a few.
Dinner will be served at your lodge.
Day 4: Full Day Northern Circuit Game Drive
Enjoy a relaxed breakfast meal at your lodge before heading out for a full-day game drive in the park. You will have ample time to explore both the southern and northern sectors of the park for wildlife animals including the famous Big Five like the Rhinos, lions, elephants, buffaloes, and hippos as well as other wildlife species like Sitatunga, hartebeests, antelopes, leopards, common eland, waterbucks and so many more.
Return to your lodge at the end of the day for dinner and an overnight stay the same as the previous night.
Day 5: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
After having breakfast at your lodge, you will embark on approximately a 4-5 hours’ drive from Akagera National Park to Volcanoes National Park passing through Kigali city. You will have a stopover for lunch before proceeding to the park; where upon your arrival, you will check-into your lodge and get refreshed. In case you wish to explore the park or surrounding sites, you can so at your own cost. Interesting sites to consider visiting include Dian Fossey museum at Karisoke center, Musanze caves or Buhanga eco park.
Later dinner will be served.
Day 6: Gorilla Trek and Visit Ibyi’wacu Village
You will be asked to get up at 5 a.m. for breakfast and be ready to begin the walk. Our guide will meet you once you have packed your breakfast and lunches and will drive you to Kinigi Headquarters, where you will receive a briefing before beginning the gorilla walk. This brief is completed at 7 a.m.
During this briefing, you will be given guidelines before beginning the walk. Because of its unpredictable nature, this gorilla journey might last anywhere from 2 hours to half a day. When you discover the gorillas, keep a 6-meter distance and have one hour to appreciate and photograph them.
After the trek, you will have lunch and taken back to your hotel as the night before to relax and reminisce on the experience. You can ask the guide in case you want to have another activity in the evening at your own cost and he will advise. You will later go for the Ibyi’wacu Cultural Visit. Dinner and overnight will be at the same hotel as the night before.
Day 7: Golden Monkey Trek
On the seventh day of your 8 Days Rwanda Gorilla Safari, get up to a delicious breakfast amid the misty volcanic forest before driving to the park headquarters for a briefing. Following your briefing, you will begin on a guided journey into the jungle in search of golden monkeys, which might take 3-6 hours or longer depending on their location.
Once you’ve discovered a group of golden monkeys, you’ll spend an hour with the primates before eating your packed lunch and returning to base. You will then meet up with your driver guide and drive back to your lodge for lunch.
Dinner and overnight stay at your lodge.
Day 8: Transfer Back to Kigali
On the last day of your 8 Days Rwanda Gorilla Safari, you will have breakfast at your own pace but ensure to check out of the hotel in time. Our guide will be waiting to drive you back to Kigali International Airport or any location you will advise in Kigali.
End of your 8 Days Rwanda Gorilla Safari!
