7 Days Rwanda wildlife and primate safari

The 7 days Rwanda Wildlife and primates safari covers 90 percent of Rwanda’s tourist attractions visiting all the three existing national parks covering a wide range of activities to do while on  a Rwanda Safari. This 7 days tour package allows visitors to explore the beautiful country of Rwanda given that she has been recognized as one of the beautiful and countries in Africa. This tour features wild animal viewing for animals like lions, elephants, buffaloes, antelopes to mention a few and a boat trip on Lake Ihema in Akagera national park, then gorilla trekking experience in Volcanoes national park, a stop at Lake Kivu – the only fresh water lake in Rwanda and it is shared by Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo and also features chimpanzee trekking, Nyungwe canopy walk which stands as the first of a kind in East Africa in Nyungwe forest national park. Other tourist sites to compliment the safari include; Rwanda genocide memorial sites, Nyanza King’s palace to mention a few.

Highlights

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Transfer to Akagera national park

Depending on your location in Kigali city or upon arrival at Kigali international airport, you will be picked up by your safari guide who will drive you to Akagera national park. The park is located in the Eastern part of Rwanda taking about 2-3 hours to access the park. Enter the park through one of the gates to connect to check-in your lodge. Later in the evening, enjoy an evening game drive to explore some of the available animals before you return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation and meals (Lunch and dinner);

  • Ruzizi Tented Camp for luxury option
  • Akagera game lodge for Mid-range option
  • Dereva Hotel for budget option

Day 2: Early morning game drive and boat cruise on Lake Ihema

After early morning breakfast, meet with your guide who will introduce you to your ranger guide who will be guiding you through the trials of game drives. A game drive may take 2-3 hours depending on availability of animals that exist in the park including the big 5 – buffaloes, Elephants, Leopards, lions and Rhinos. Other animals to expect include giraffes, hippos, Kobs, Zebras, Bushbucks, and waterbucks. Bird species can be spotted in places including the woodland, swamps, lakes and Savannah. Return to the lodge for lunch.

After lunch, connect to starting point for a boat trip on Lake Ihema, this boat will take 1 to 2 hours exploring the water animals such as the hippos, crocodiles and the water birds. Return to the lodge before dark to refresh, have dinner and overnight stay as above.

Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes national park

On this day, after you wake up to a delicious breakfast, check-out of the lodge and drive out of the park. This drive comes with an en-route game drive for slights of any missed animals which rise early to graze and predators looking for their early morning kill. After the game drive, proceed out of the park to embark on your journey to Volcanoes national park with lunch en-route in Kigali city. After your lunch, continue to your final destination of the day – Volcanoes national park which is about 3 hours’ drive from Kigali, arriving Ruhengeri/Musanze in the evening with beautiful views of the Volcano. Depending on your accommodation, you will check-in refresh, have dinner and and overnight stay.

Accommodation and meals (Lunch and dinner);  

  • Hotel Muhabura for budget
  • Le Bambou Gorilla lodge for luxury
  • 5 Volcanoes Gorilla lodges for Luxury

Day 4: Gorilla trekking – Lake Kivu

Wake up to an early morning breakfast and meet your driver to transfer to Kinigi – the park headquarters for briefing and allocation of Gorilla trekking groups. Thereafter with your packed lunch and water, head into the cold and misty forested slopes of Virunga national park for your Gorilla trekking experience. The trek can last between 2 to 6 hours depending on the movement of the Gorillas and upon finding them; you will be allowed to spend time with the creatures for 1 hour while taking photos before you exit the forest. Meet your driver / guide at the starting point and drive back to the lodge where you will refresh, pack your luggage, check-out of the lodge and proceed to Gisenyi – Lake Kivu which is about 2 hours’ drive from Musanze arriving there late afternoon. Proceed to check – in your accommodation and relax with great views of the lake. Dinner will be served before you sleep for the day.

Accommodation and meals (Full board);

  • Paradise Malahide for budget option
  • Palm Garden Hotel for Mid-range option
  • Lake Kivu Serena lodge for Luxury option

Day 5: Explore Lake Kivu and Transfer to Nyungwe Forest national park

Wake up very early, have your breakfast and explore a bit of Lake Kivu on a boat trip and visit some of the Islands, this will take about 2 hours, return from the boat trip and embark  on your journey to Nyungwe national park. It’s approximately 7-8 hours’ drive with en-route stopover at You will have en-route lunch before you proceed to Nyungwe national park where you will go ahead and check-in your accommodation for dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation and meals (Full board);

  • Nyungwe One and Only Hotel for luxury
  • Nyungwe Top hill view Hotel for Mid-range
  • Gisakura Visitors Centre for Budget option

Day 6: Chimpanzee trekking experience and Canopy walk

After breakfast, meet your safari guide to connect to Nyungwe forest. Nyungwe is one of the largest rainforest in East Africa and habitant for 13 species of primates. You will meet for a briefing about the Chimpanzee trekking experience at the park headquarters. Chimpanzees in Nyungwe forest are semi-habituated quite difficult spot however; the rangers will ensure that you get to see the endangered chimpanzees. It will take about 2-5 hours to find the chimpanzees and on finding them, you will be allowed to view them for a hour before you return to the starting point where you will meet your guide the drive back to the lodge for lunch.

After lunch, head for the canopy walk experience. Nyungwe forest has the most outstanding canopy which is a 70 meter suspended bridge which gives the aerial perfect view of the forest. Walking along the canopy offers an opportunity to view some of the available primates and birds at the top. After the walk, meet your guide and drive back to your accommodation to relax, have dinner and overnight stay.

Day 7: Transfer to Kigali/Departure

After breakfast, check-out of the lodge and embark on your journey back to Kigali city with en-route lunch and visit of the King’s palace and the ethnographic center and learn about the history and culture of Rwanda.  Depending on your own arrangements, you will be either dropped at your hotel in Kigali or be dropped off at the Kigali International airport for your check-in flight back home. End of trip

Inclusions of this tour package;

  • Ground transfers throughout the trip including airport pick up and drop off
  • Ground transportation in a 4X4 Safari Vehicle and fuel
  • Accommodations and meals and En-route meals
  • All permits required; Gorilla and Chimpanzee permits
  • Park entry fees and boat cruise fees in the required Akagera and Lake Kivu
  • Full time English speaking, knowledgeable and professional safari guide driver
  • Bottled drinking water throughout the trip

Exclusions of the tour package

  • International Airfares
  • Rwanda Visa fees
  • Optional activities
  • Personal Insurance
  • Extra meals and accommodation not indicated on the itinerary
  • Expenses of personal nature such as; laundry, drinks, telephone usage to mention a few
  • Tipping and gratitude rendered

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