8-Day Immersive Wildlife Encounters (Group Tour)

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

Arrival in Kigali & Tropical Welcome

Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be met by your professional guide and transferred to the tranquil Kiyovu area. After checking into your boutique hotel, take time to relax by the swimming pool or enjoy a meal at Atmosphere Restaurant. Your guide will provide a briefing on local customs, including Rwanda’s commitment to being plastic-free, ensuring you are prepared for the adventure ahead in one of Africa's cleanest and most vibrant cities.

Main Destination:

Kigali

Accommodation:

Mythos Hotel

• Mid-range hotel

Meals & Drinks:

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

Nyamirambo Walking Tour & Kigali Sightseeing

Experience Kigali like a local with a walking tour of Nyamirambo, the city's most historic neighborhood. Led by guides from the Women’s Center, you’ll visit local salons, tailor shops, and family compounds to pound cassava leaves, followed by a traditional home-cooked lunch. In the afternoon, visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial for a moving reflection on the nation's history. End the day with a sightseeing and shopping tour to discover Rwanda’s thriving art scene and bustling local markets.

Main Destination:

Kigali

Accommodation:

Mythos Hotel

• Mid-range hotel

Meals & Drinks:

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

Transfer to Akagera & Sunset Boat Safari

Travel east to Akagera National Park, a stunning landscape of savannah, lakes, and wetlands. After checking into your safari camp, which offers panoramic views of Lake Ihema, head out for an afternoon game drive. As the sun begins to set, enjoy a boat safari on Lake Ihema to see hippos, massive Nile crocodiles, and a variety of water birds. This is the only place in Rwanda to see the "Big Five," thanks to an inspiring 20-year conservation turnaround.

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 Safari Camp

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

+2 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

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

Big Five Safari & Night Drive

Dedicate the day to exploring the diverse habitats of Akagera. Your morning and afternoon game drives will focus on tracking lions, rhinos, elephants, and herds of plains game like zebra, giraffe, and topi. After a picnic lunch in the park, the adventure continues after dark with a guided night drive. Using specialized spotlights, you’ll search for nocturnal predators and elusive species like leopards, servals, and wide-eyed bushbabies that are rarely seen during the day.

Main Destination:

Akagera National Park

Accommodation:

Akagera Safari Camp

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

Meals & Drinks:

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

Journey to Volcanoes & Visit Ellen DeGEneres Campus

Leaving the savannah behind, you will drive across the scenic highlands to Volcanoes National Park. After checking into your lodge, which sits in the shadow of the dramatic Virunga peaks, you will visit the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund. This world-class research center offers a deep dive into the history of gorilla conservation, the legacy of Dian Fossey, and the science currently being used to protect the roughly 1,000 mountain gorillas remaining in the wild.

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:

Mountain Gorilla View Lodge

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

+2 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

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

Golden Monkey Trekking & Mukungwa River Canoeing

Head to the park headquarters early this morning for a trek to find the endangered Golden Monkeys. These playful primates live in the bamboo forests and are a joy to watch as they leap through the canopy. In the afternoon, trade your hiking boots for a paddle. You will take a modern canoe down the Mukungwa River, floating through the lush countryside. This gentle river trip offers a unique perspective on rural Rwandan life and breathtaking views of the surrounding volcanoes.

Main Destination:

Volcanoes National Park (Gorillas)

Accommodation:

Mountain Gorilla View Lodge

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

Meals & Drinks:

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

The Gorilla Trekking Experience

Today marks the pinnacle of your journey: trekking the mountain gorillas. In a small group, you will hike through the rainforest to spend a transformative hour with a habituated gorilla family. Witnessing the silverback’s quiet power and the infants’ playful antics is a life-changing encounter. After returning from the forest, enjoy a celebratory lunch at the lodge. The afternoon is yours to relax, reflect on your experience, or visit local community projects in the Musanze area.

Main Destination:

Volcanoes National Park (Gorillas)

Accommodation:

Mountain Gorilla View Lodge

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

Meals & Drinks:

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

Twin Lakes Exploration & Departure

On your final morning, enjoy a relaxing walk along the north shore of Lake Ruhondo. You will explore the "Twin Lakes" area, spotting aquatic birds and meeting local fishing communities. A motorboat trip across the lake provides the best views of all five Virunga Volcanoes before a final lakeside lunch. In the afternoon, your driver will transfer you back to Kigali (approximately 3 hours) in time for departure, marking the end of your Rwandan adventure.

Main Destination:

Lake Burera

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

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

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