9-Day Rwanda Primates & Big Five Safari Experience

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

Arrival in Kigali – Welcome to Rwanda

Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by your guide and transferred to your hotel in Kigali.
Depending on your arrival time, you may enjoy an optional city tour including the Kigali Genocide Memorial, local markets, and craft centers.

Main Destination:

Kigali Genocide Memorial (Kigali)

Accommodation:

Five to Five Hotel

• Budget hotel located in Kigali

+5 Photos

+4 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Transfer to Akagera National Park – Afternoon Boat Safari

After breakfast, depart for Akagera National Park. Enjoy a scenic drive through Rwanda’s rolling hills.
In the afternoon, embark on a relaxing boat safari on Lake Ihema, where you may spot hippos, crocodiles, and abundant birdlife before heading to your hotel for the sunset evening.

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:

Akagera Transit Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located just outside Akagera NP

+2 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Full-Day Game Drive – Big Five Experience

Spend the day exploring Akagera on a game drive in search of the African Big Five—lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, and rhino along with giraffes, zebras, and antelopes.
Enjoy picnic lunch in the park as you immerse yourself in Rwanda’s only savannah ecosystem.

Main Destination:

Akagera National Park

Accommodation:

Akagera Transit Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located just outside Akagera NP

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Transfer to Volcanoes National Park

After breakfast, depart Akagera and journey to Volcanoes National Park, located in the Virunga Mountains.
Arrive in the afternoon and relax at your lodge with stunning volcanic views with an evening visit to ibyu wacu Gorilla guardain village for the cultural experence.

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:

Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located less than 1hr drive from Volcanoes NP (Gorillas)

+5 Photos

+4 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Gorilla Tracking & Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund Campus

Begin your day with an early breakfast before heading to the park headquarters of Volcanoes National Park for a detailed briefing. You will then be allocated a gorilla family and guided into the forest by experienced rangers for your gorilla tracking adventure. The trek can take between 2 to 6 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas, but the highlight is spending one unforgettable hour observing them up close in their natural habitat.

After returning from the trek and enjoying lunch at your lodge, proceed to visit the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund Campus. This modern conservation and research center offers a deeper insight into the work and legacy of Dian Fossey. Explore interactive exhibits, learn about gorilla conservation efforts, scientific research, and community programs that continue to protect these endangered primates.

Main Destination:

Volcanoes National Park (Gorillas)

Accommodation:

Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located less than 1hr drive from Volcanoes NP (Gorillas)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Golden Monkey Tracking & Transfer to Lake Kivu

Enjoy golden monkey tracking in the bamboo forests of Volcanoes National Park. These playful primates offer a lively and photogenic experience.
Later, transfer to Lake Kivu for relaxation by the lakeshore which is shared between Rwanda and the Democratic republic of congo.

Main Destination:

Volcanoes National Park (Gorillas)

Accommodation:

Paradise Malahide Hotel

• Mid-range hotel located 1-2hr drive from Volcanoes NP (Gorillas)

+2 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Lake Kivu Boat Ride, Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park & Tea Experience

Start your day with a peaceful boat ride on Lake Kivu, where you’ll enjoy the calm waters and stunning views of the surrounding hills and islands an ideal moment to relax after your primate adventures.

Afterward, continue your scenic transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park, one of Africa’s oldest rainforests and a haven for biodiversity.

In the evening, visit a nearby tea plantation for a guided tour, where you’ll gain insight into Rwanda’s tea production process from leaf picking to processing while enjoying the fresh air and beautiful green landscapes.

Main Destination:

Lake Kivu

Accommodation:

EAR Ken Barham Guest House

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

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Chimpanzee Tracking & Canopy Walk

Rise early for chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest. Follow expert guides through the dense rainforest in search of these energetic primates.
In the afternoon, enjoy the famous canopy walk an elevated walkway offering breathtaking views over the forest canopy.

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
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Transfer to Kigali via king's palace nyanza

After breakfast, begin your return journey to Kigali. En route, visit the historic King's Palace Museum in Nyanza for a cultural experience showcasing Rwanda’s royal heritage.
Arrive in Kigali in the afternoon for drop-off at the airport or your hotel.

Main Destination:

Nyanza (Town)

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
• Non-alcoholic drinks

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