7 Days Rwanda Wildlife Safari Tour: All-Inclusive Itinerary.
Our 7 Days Rwanda Wildlife Safari package is among the most exciting Africa Safaris that will lead you to the famous tourist attractions in Rwanda.
7-Day Rwanda Wildlife Safari gives you an opportunity to explore Kigali city, visit Nyunge National Park for a chimpanzee tracking experience, Lake Kivu, Volcanoes National Park to see the endangered mountain gorillas and Akagera National Park to give you the real African wildlife experience while on a game drive.
Your 7 Days Rwanda Wildlife Safari starts with a trip through Kigali city visiting the various places such as the local markets, museum especially the presidential palace museum, Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre and much more. From here you will proceed to Nyungwe Forest.
Nyungwe Forest National Park is situated in the southwestern part of Rwanda and is known to be one of the oldest rainforests to exist in Africa. This park is home to 13 primate species and your highlight to visiting this park is to see chimpanzee species as they play on tree branches.
While in this park, you will also go on a canopy walk that gives you the opportunity to see the beautiful scenic views of the park, several species of birds and much more. The canopy walkway is a suspension bridge and only of its kind in East Africa hanging on top of tree branches. This 160m long and 70m high suspension bridge is accessible as part of a guided tour along the Igishigishigi trail, or to those hiking the Imbaraga or Umuyove trails.
From here, you will proceed to Lake Kivu on your way to Volcanoes National Park. Lake Kivu is a fresh water that is shared by both Rwanda and Congo. This lake is among the biggest lakes in Africa and while here, you will get the chance to go for a boat cruise or canoeing to capture the beautiful scenic views of the rolling hills that surround the lake.
There’s nothing as rewarding as getting an up close experience to man’s closest relative – mountain gorillas in their natural habitat and right from Lake Kivu, you will be led to Volcanoes National Park where you will be able to spot these massive creatures.
Volcanoes National Park is situated in the North western part of Rwanda and is part of the Virunga Conversation Area. While in the park, you will spot gorillas, golden monkeys, several bird species and on a clear day, you will also get to have beautiful scenic views of the volcanoes found within the park.
You will as well get to visit the Iby’iwacu cultural village to learn so much about the Rwandan culture, get to see the locals perform folk songs, dances and so much more.
This 7 Days Rwanda Wildlife Safari also takes you to Akagera National Park– the only savannah national park in the country and where you will get to have a big 5 game experience. The big 5 animals include; lions, leopards, buffaloes, elephants and rhinos. Some of these species (lions and rhinos) were recently re-introduced into the park following their extinction and the population of these have steadily increased which does increase your chances of seeing them.
Our 7 Days Rwanda Wildlife Safari Trip starts and ends in Kigali city.
Highlight of the 7 Days Rwanda Wildlife Safari Trip:
- Kigali city tour
- Chimpanzee tracking
- Canopy walk
- Gorilla trekking
- Iby’iwacu cultural village
- Game drive in Akagera National Park
- Boat cruise on Lake Ihema
Brief 7 Days Rwanda Wildlife Safari Tour:
- Day 1: Arrival, Pick up and Briefing.
- Day 2: Kigali city tour, Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park and visit the Museum along the way
- Day 3: Chimpanzee tracking and canopy walk
- Day 4: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park via Lake Kivu
- Day 5: Gorilla trekking and Iby’iwacu cultural experience
- Day 6: Transfer to Akagera National Park evening boat cruise and nature walk
- Day 7: Game drive and transfer back to Kigali city
Detailed 7 Days Rwanda Safari Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival, Pick up and Briefing.
Upon your arrival at Kigali International Airport, our guide/driver will pick you and transfer you to your hotel in Kigali where you will be briefed on this 7 Days Rwanda Wildlife Safari. You will then rest and prepare for the trip.
While in Kigali, here some of the hotels you will stay in depending on your safari budget;
Basic/Budget: Five to Five Hotel
Mid-Range: Hotel Chez Lando
Luxury: Kigali Serena Hotel
Meal Plan: Supper
Day 2: Kigali City Tour, Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park and Visit the Museum Along the Way.
Right after your early morning breakfast, our guide will pick you from your hotel and take you to a Kigali city tour where you will visit the various local markets, the presidential palace museum, the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre – where you will be told much more about the 1994 Kigali genocide.
You will then proceed to the south western part of the country to Nyungwe Forest National Park. Upon arrival, check in to your lodge, dinner and rest.
Suggested Accommodation:
- Budget: Gisakura Guest house
- Mid-range: Nyungwe top view hill hotel
- Luxury: Nyungwe Forest lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 3: Chimpanzee Trekking and Canopy Walk.
After your morning breakfast, our driver/guide will transfer you to the park headquarters where you will be briefed on the guidelines to follow during the trek and while close to these chimpanzee species.
You will then be led into the rainforest to search for a chimpanzee species with the help of a guide and an armed ranger. These know exactly where you will be to find these endangered species in Nyungwe forest National Park and all you can do is follow them.
During chimpanzee trekking, you will get the opportunity to see other wildlife species that reside within the park and these include; the various species of birds, butterflies, insects, the other 12 primate species in the park and much more.
Upon seeing the chimps, you will be allowed to spend time of up to 1hour observing and taking as many photos of these as they roam in the park. Once the 1hour elapses, you will be led to the park headquarters where our guide will pick you up and take you to your lodge for lunch.
After your lunch, you will then head to the canopy walk way. This is a suspension bridge that gives you the beautiful scenic views of the park and its surrounding. You will also spot some of the primate species like the monkeys and bird species that reside within the park.
Return to your lodge for dinner and then rest.
Suggested Accommodations:
- Budget: Gisakura Guest house
- Mid-range: Nyungwe top view hill hotel
- Luxury: Nyungwe Forest lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 4: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park via Lake Kivu.
Right after your morning breakfast, check out of your lodge and our driver will pick you up and transfer you to Lake Kivu. This is the largest fresh water lake in Rwanda and it is shared with Democratic republic of Congo.
Once you arrive, you will go for a boat ride to check out the various islands found on this lake. And if you would like to swim, this is the safest place you can do so as the lake is free from hippos and crocodiles.
You will then proceed to your lodge in Volcanoes National Park where upon arrival you will check in, have dinner and prepare for the next day’s activity.
Suggested Accommodation:
- Budget: The Garden Palace Hotel
- Mid-range: Tiloreza Volcanoes Ecolodge
- Luxury: Mountain Gorilla view Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 5: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park and Iby’iwacu Cultural Tour.
You will wake up early, have breakfast and our guide will transfer you the park headquarters in Kiningi where you will be briefed about the guidelines to follow during the trekking and while close to the gorillas.
You will then be assigned a gorilla family to track depending on your level of fitness. With the help of guides and rangers, you will be led into the dense rainforest to search for the location of mountain gorillas. Gorillas usually move from place to place in search of food and all you have to do is follow the guides and they will lead you to where your designated gorilla family is.
It’s during gorilla trekking that you will also see the other wildlife species that reside within the park that include several butterfly species, birds and much more.
Once you spot the mountain gorillas, you will be allowed to spend time of upto 1hour while observing their behavior as they play and feed. The experience is truly memorable and a once in a lifetime opportunity to get to these species with whom we share almost 98% of our DNA.
Once the 1hour elapses, you will be led back to the park headquarters where our guide will pick you and transfer you to your lodge for lunch. You will have a few minutes of resting.
In the evening, you will go on a cultural encounter where you will visit the iby’iwacu cultural village to learn so much about the locals. The local community here is welcoming and you will be able to see the various locally made craft, learn how to milk cows, participate in traditional dances and songs plus so much more.
Our guide will then drive you back to your lodge for dinner and then resting.
Suggested Accommodation:
- Budget: The Garden Palace Hotel
- Mid-range: Tiloreza Volcanoes Ecolodge
- Luxury: Mountain Gorilla view Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 6: Transfer to Akagera National Park Evening Boat Cruise and Nature Walk.
You will wake up early, have your breakfast, check out of your lodge and embark on a trip to the only savannah national park found in Rwanda – Akagera National Park. Throughout your trip, you will get to enjoy the scenic drive of the rolling hills and mountains, valleys and the different road side communities.
Upon arrival in Akagera National Park, you will check in to your lodge, have lunch and prepare for a boat cruise along Lake Ihema. While on a boat cruise, you will get the opportunity to spot some wildlife species like the crocodiles, hippos, several bird species and much more. The scenic views of the surrounding hills are extraordinary and you will definitely enjoy that.
Return to your lodge for dinner and then rest.
Suggested Accommodations:
- Budget: Karenga bush camp
- Mid-range: Akagera game lodge
- Luxury: Ruzizi Tented Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 7: Game Drive and Transfer back to Kigali City.
After your breakfast, you will go for a game drive in Akagera which gives you the opportunity to see the big 5 animals and other wildlife species as they roam in the park.
Some of the wildlife species you can see on your game drive in Akagera include; zebras, impalas, topis, oribis, giraffes, birds like the Senegal lapwings, hammerkop, pied crow among others.
You will then head back to your lodge for lunch, check out and embark on a trip back to Kigali. Upon arriving in the city, you will be dropped at the lodge of your choice or at Kigali International Airport to catch a flight back home.
This will mark the end of the 7 Days Rwanda Wildlife Safari.
Whats is Included on the 7 Days Rwanda Wildlife Safari?
7 Days Rwanda Wildlife Safari Tour inclusions:
- Gorilla trekking permits
- Chimpanzee tracking permits
- All activities on the itinerary
- Park entry fees
- Accommodation and meals (full board)
- Transport in 4×4 Safari vehicle
- Professional English speaking tour Guide
- Drinking water
7 Days Rwanda Safari Exclusions:
- Laundry services
- Visas
- Tips
- International flights
- Beverages/ drinks
- Any other extra activity
- Extra accommodation not mentioned in the itinerary
Lets Plan Your 7 Days Rwanda Wildlife Safari:
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