7 Days Rwanda Safari Overview
The 7 Days Rwanda safaris covers incredible destinations such as Akagera National Park, Nyungwe Forest National Park and Volcanoes National Park. The key safari highlights of this tour package include game/wildlife viewing, chimpanzee trekking and gorilla tracking. Your trip begins and ends in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda- the Land of a Thousand of Hills.
Brief Itinerary
Day 1: Kigali to Akagera National Park (Eastern Province)
Day 2: Wildlife tour & launch trip –Akagera
Day 3: Travel from Akagera to Nyungwe (The Southern Province)
Day 4: Chimpanzee trek and canopy walking –Nyungwe
Day 5: Nyungwe NP-Volcanoes Park (Northern Province)
Day 6: Gorilla trekking & a cultural trip
Day 7: Depart Volcanoes NP for Kigali
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Kigali to Akagera National Park (Eastern Province)
A delicious breakfast will be enjoyed at the lodge in Kigali or meet your tour guide at the airport for pick up and transfer to Akagera National Park. Kigali to Akagera National Park is about 2 and half hours, and this is the biggest of the 4 National Parks in Rwanda. Akagera lies in the Eastern part of Rwanda, created in 1934 and shelters over 500 birds and all the big 5 game that is; elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos and buffaloes. The other species of wildlife include bushbucks, warthogs, Maasai giraffes, waterbucks, zebras, roan antelopes and more.
Where to stay
- Budget: Dereva Hotel
- Midrange: Akagera Game Lodge
- Luxury: Ruzizi Tented Camp/Magashi Camp
Day 2: Wildlife tour & launch trip –Akagera
After breakfast, you will explore Akagera National Park diverse wildlife species on a morning game drive. The 2-3 hours wildlife viewing tour will reward you with the best views of the big game (lions, buffaloes, elephants, rhinos, leopards) and other species like waterbucks, warthogs, Maasai giraffes, bushbucks, plus birds.
An afternoon launch/boat cruise starts at 2:00 pm on Lake Ihema, Akagera National Park. Many aquatic species can be spotted on a comfortable boat including hippos, crocodiles and birds.
Where to stay
- Budget: Dereva Hotel
- Midrange: Akagera Game Lodge
- Luxury: Ruzizi Tented Camp/Magashi Camp
Day 3: Travel from Akagera to Nyungwe (The Southern Province)
Enjoy a delicious breakfast in the morning, after which, leave Akagera NP for Nyungwe Forest National Park. En route, lunch break will be made and if time allows, you will visit the King’s palace in Nyanza as well as the Rwanda National Museum plus other sites, then continue to check in at the accommodation in Nyungwe Forest NP.
Where to stay
- Budget: Gisakura Guesthouse
- Midrange: Nyungwe Top Hill Lodge
- Luxury: Nyungwe Forest Lodge or One&Only Nyungwe House
Day 4: Chimpanzee trek and canopy walking –Nyungwe
A hot cup of tea/coffee early morning, after, proceed to Uwinka reception for a briefing session about chimpanzee tracking guidelines. The chimp trek starts at 8:00 am with an experienced park guide taking you through Nyungwe Forest. Expect to spend at least 2-4 hours and this covers a special one hour for photography and observing the daily behaviors of chimps. Nyungwe is a rich natural forest and today’s trek lets you come across more than chimpanzees. Other primates may be spotted including; black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed, l’hoest, olive baboons plus birds.
Lunch break after tracking chimpanzees and later you will embark on a canopy walk which is suspended 60m from the ground. The canopy walkway is 200m long and you will be in position to see a variety of primates, birds and forest canopy.
Where to stay
- Budget: Gisakura Guesthouse
- Midrange: Nyungwe Top Hill Lodge
- Luxury: Nyungwe Forest Lodge or One&Only Nyungwe House
Day 5: Nyungwe NP-Volcanoes Park (The Northern Province)
Following a hefty breakfast, transfer to Volcanoes National Park in the Northern Province of Rwanda. Volcanoes NP offers the best of gorilla trekking experience and 12 habituated gorilla families exist for visitors to explore. Arrive early and check in at your pre-booked lodge for relaxation and an overnight stay.
Where to stay
- Budget: Muhabura Hotel/Kinigi Guesthouse
- Midrange: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge/La Palme Hotel/Da Vinci
- Luxury: Five Volcanoes/Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
- Upper Luxury: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge/One & Only Gorilla’s Nest/Bisate Lodge/Volcanoes Virunga Lodge/Singita Kwitonda Lodge
Day 6: Gorilla trekking & a cultural tour
Gorilla trekking is a remarkable primate adventure that you will enjoy today starting at 8:00 am after briefing at Kinigi. You will be assigned a park guide and trekking takes 2-6 hours inclusive of 1 hour for photography plus observing the daily behaviors of gorillas. One of the 12 habituated families of mountain gorillas will be allocated to you in a group of 8 guests. In the evening after adequate relaxation, you will leave the lodge for Iby’Iwacu cultural village tour.
Where to stay
- Budget: Muhabura Hotel/Kinigi Guesthouse
- Midrange: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge/La Palme Hotel/Da Vinci
- Luxury: Five Volcanoes/Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
- Upper Luxury: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge/One & Only Gorilla’s Nest/Bisate Lodge/Volcanoes Virunga Lodge/Singita Kwitonda Lodge
Day 7: Depart Volcanoes NP for Kigali
After a tasty breakfast, check out of the lodge and you will be driven back to Kigali capital. Have a short city tour or drive straight to the airport for departure and today marks the end of the 7 Days Rwanda safaris.
End of safari
Inclusions
- Game viewing
- Park entrance fees
- Boat cruise excursion
- Bottled drinking water
- Accommodation 6 nights + meals
- Ground travel to & from all destinations
- Services of an English-speaking guide
Exclusions
- Visas
- Laundry
- Tips
- Telephone
- Shopping
- Insurance