10-Day Wild Rwanda for Photographers

• You'll be collected from the airport.
• Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Arrival in Kigali & Orientation

Arrive at Kigali International Airport, where your guide will welcome you and transfer you to your hotel. After settling in, enjoy a brief city orientation to capture panoramic shots of Kigali’s rolling hills and modern architecture. Visit craft markets and local cafés for street photography opportunities. Learn about Rwanda’s history and urban culture while preparing for your photographic journey. Dinner and overnight in Kigali.

Main Destination:

Kigali

Accommodation:

B&B Mountain View

• Budget guest house located in Kigali

+15 Photos

+14 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Transfer to Akagera national park

Drive approximately 2.5–3 hours east to Akagera National Park, Rwanda’s savannah gem. After lunch at your lodge, embark an afternoon game drive, photographing elephants, lions, buffalo, giraffes, zebras, and abundant birdlife. Capture golden hour shots across lakes and open plains. Dinner and overnight at a budget-friendly lodge near the park.

Main Destination:

Akagera National Park

Best Time To Visit June to September and mid-December to mid-February (It is drier and wildlife is easier to spot)

High Season June to September (The park is busiest at weekends)

Best Weather June to October (Sunny, but not too hot)

Wildlife in Akagera NP

GiraffeCommon

BuffaloAbundant

ZebraAbundant

HippoAbundant

White RhinoOccasional

LionOccasional

Show more

ElephantOccasional

Black RhinoRare

LeopardRare

HyenaRare

CheetahNone

WildebeestNone

Wild DogNone

Accommodation:

Dereva Hotel

• Mid-range hotel located less than 1hr drive from Akagera NP

+3 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Full-Day Safari in Akagera National Park

Start early with a sunrise game drive to capture wildlife in natural light. Explore lakes, woodland, and savannah habitats. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the park, then continue photographing unique bird species, hippos, and water scenes. Sunset photography over Lake Ihema concludes the day. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Main Destination:

Akagera National Park

Accommodation:

Dereva Hotel

• Mid-range hotel located less than 1hr drive from Akagera NP

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Transfer to Volcanoes National Park

After breakfast, drive 5–6 hours northwest to Volcanoes National Park in Musanze. En route, photograph Rwanda’s terraced hills, rural villages, and scenic landscapes. Check into your lodge, then enjoy a short nature walk in Musanze for bird photography and local flora shots. Dinner and overnight at a lodge near the park.

Main Destination:

Volcanoes National Park (Gorillas)

Best Time To Visit June to August (It is drier and hiking is easier)

High Season June to September (Permits are scarce)

Best Weather June to October (Sunny, but not too hot)

Wildlife in Volcanoes NP

GorillaCommon

ChimpanzeeNone

ElephantRare

BuffaloRare

White RhinoNone

Black RhinoNone

Show more

GiraffeNone

LionNone

LeopardNone

CheetahNone

ZebraNone

WildebeestNone

HippoNone

Accommodation:

Villa Gorilla

• Budget lodge located less than 1hr drive from Volcanoes NP (Gorillas)

+3 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Gorilla trekking experience

Rise early for a guided gorilla trek. Hike through dense forest trails, capturing primates, birds, and insects along the way. Spend up to one hour photographing a gorilla family in its natural habitat. Guides provide conservation insights and behavioral explanations. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Main Destination:

Volcanoes National Park (Gorillas)

Accommodation:

Villa Gorilla

• Budget lodge located less than 1hr drive from Volcanoes NP (Gorillas)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Golden Monkey Trek & Musanze Caves

After breakfast, embark on a golden monkey trek in Volcanoes NP, photographing these rare, playful primates in bamboo forests. Later, explore Musanze Caves for dramatic rock formations and adventurous shots. Drive to Lake Kivu (approx. 3 hours) in the late afternoon, capturing lakeside reflections at sunset. Dinner and overnight at a lakeside lodge.

Main Destination:

Volcanoes National Park (Gorillas)

Accommodation:

Villa Gorilla

• Budget lodge located less than 1hr drive from Volcanoes NP (Gorillas)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Lake Kivu Boat Cruise

Enjoy a morning boat cruise for landscape, waterbird, and fisherfolk photography. Capture sunrise reflections over the lake and local life along the shores. Visit nearby lakeside villages to photograph traditional Rwandan life, markets, and crafts. Afternoon relaxation or optional kayaking sessions. Dinner and overnight at a lakeside hotel.

Main Destination:

Lake Kivu

Accommodation:

Kay Sun Hotel

• Mid-range hotel located at Lake Kivu

+6 Photos

+5 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Transfer to Nyungwe national Park

Drive approx. 4–5 hours to Nyungwe Forest, Rwanda’s tropical rainforest. Stop en route for landscape photography of rolling hills and tea plantations. Upon arrival, check into a lodge and enjoy an evening canopy walk preview for bird and wildlife photography. Dinner and overnight at a lodge near Nyungwe.

Main Destination:

Nyungwe National Park (Chimps)

Best Time To Visit June to September (Dry weather, best chimp trekking)

High Season June to September (Popular gorilla trekking time in Volcanoes NP)

Best Weather June to October (Sunny, but not too hot)

Wildlife in Nyungwe NP

ChimpanzeeCommon

White RhinoNone

Black RhinoNone

LionNone

LeopardNone

CheetahNone

Show more

ElephantNone

GiraffeNone

BuffaloNone

ZebraNone

WildebeestNone

HippoNone

Accommodation:

EAR Ken Barham Guest House

• Budget guest house located less than 1hr drive from Nyungwe NP (Chimps)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Chimpazee trekking and Canopy walk

Early morning chimpanzee trekking with photographers’ access, capturing interactions, feeding, and social behavior. Later, traverse the canopy walk for breathtaking aerial forest shots, highlighting treetops, waterfalls, and birdlife. Optional evening nature walk for low-light photography. Return to lodge for dinner and overnight.

Main Destination:

Nyungwe National Park (Chimps)

Accommodation:

EAR Ken Barham Guest House

• Budget guest house located less than 1hr drive from Nyungwe NP (Chimps)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Transfer to Kigali

After breakfast, drive 5–6 hours back to Kigali. Stop at scenic viewpoints and small villages along the way for final landscape and cultural shots. Arrive in Kigali in the afternoon for lunch and souvenir shopping. Transfer to Kigali International Airport for your departure, concluding your photographic adventure.

Main Destination:

Kigali International Airport (Kigali)

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

• Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
• You'll be dropped off at the airport.