7 Days Rwanda Safari (Gorillas & wildlife )

7 Days Rwanda Safari or 7 days Primate & Wildlife safari is a 7 day Rwanda Gorillas & chimpanzee tracking and Big Game tour. This 7 day Rwanda safari covers wildlife viewing in Akagera National Park with boat cruise on Lake Ihema, Golden Monkey tracking and  Gorilla Trekking in  Volcanoes  National Park Chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest National Park.  

Overview of the 7 Days Rwanda safari

The 7 day Rwanda Safari takes you on a wildlife safari scheduled at Akagera National Park, featuring a boat excursion on Lake Ihema and a game drive across the savannah plains. The park, characterized by its forest-fringed lakes, rolling plains, papyrus swamps, and savannah plains, is renowned as the most picturesque in Africa. The 7 day Rwanda Safari then proceeds from Akagera National Park  to Volcanoes National Park for the purpose of gorilla trekking. A 7 day Rwanda Safaris in Rwanda provide an unparalleled experience, allowing trekkers to immerse themselves in the mountain gorilla home and spend up to one hour in close proximity to these magnificent gorillas. 7 days Rwanda safari then ends with Nyungwe Forest in Nyungwe National Park,  an exceptional destination for chimpanzee trekking in Rwanda. In addition to offering a remarkable canopy walk experience. The canopy walk in Nyungwe stands out as the premier experience in all of East Africa.

7 Days Rwanda Safari Itinerary Highlights

    Day 1: Arrival at Kigali International Airport and transfer to hotel

    Day 2: Transfer to Akagera National Park and have an evening boat cruise

    Day 3: Morning game drive and transfer to Volcanoes National Park

    Day 4: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park.

    Day 5: Golden Monkey trekking in Volcanoes and transfer to Nyungwe Forest.

    Day 6: Chimpanzee trekking and canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest National Park.

    Day 7: Return to Kigali International Airport

   A Detailed 7-Day Rwanda Safari Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive at Kigali International Airport and proceed to the hotel for check-in.

On day 1 of your 7-day Rwanda safari, a tour guide will be present at Kigali International Airport to greet you. The guide will be easily recognizable as they will be holding a placard displaying your names. Following your arrival, your local guide will escort you to your reserved accommodation in Kigali city. You arrive, unwind, enjoy dinner, and stay overnight.

    Meal Plan : Dinner

    Options for Accommodation: Luxury: Serena Hotel Kigali, Mid-range: Hotel chez Lando Budget: Iris Guest House

Day 2: Proceed to Akagera National Park and partake in an evening boat excursion.

 Following the initial meeting and greeting early morning in the hotel,  you will be taken for approximately 2 hours drive and 30 minutes to Akagera National Park. Upon arrival in time for lunch, you will enjoy a meal before taking a moment to unwind while awaiting the boat cruise. The boat excursion on Lake Ihema provides excellent opportunities to observe hippos and crocodiles in their natural habitat. Elephants and buffaloes can be observed along the shores of the lake. Following the boat trip, you will proceed to your reserved accommodation for check-in, dinner, and an overnight stay.

     Options for accommodation: For a luxurious experience, consider Ruziza Tented Camp. For a mid-range option, Akagera Game Safari Lodge is recommended.

  Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 3: Morning game drive followed by transfer to Volcanoes National Park

Breakfast is served in the early morning, followed by a game drive through the picturesque savannah plains, lasting approximately 4 hours, based upon animal sightings and personal desires. The wildlife observation opportunities include the renowned big five game: Buffaloes, Rhinos, Elephants, Lions, and Leopards. Additional wildlife species encompass giraffes, zebras, hyenas, cape bushbuck, topis, oribis, roan antelopes, duikers, impala, cape eland, among others. Following the morning game drive, you will enjoy lunch before transferring to Volcanoes National Park. The journey from Akagera will traverse through Kigali city and various picturesque villages. Your arrival at the reserved lodge in Volcanoes National Park is scheduled for the evening.

 Accommodation Options: Luxury: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge; Mid-range: Gorilla Solution Lodge. Budget: Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge.

    Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 4: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park

After breakfast, your driver-guide will collect you from the lodge for a journey to the park headquarters. Upon arrival at the park headquarters in Kinigi, you will first receive a briefing on the guidelines for Gorilla trekking in Rwanda conducted by the park warden. At 8:30 am, the park ranger guide will escort you to the designated starting point for the gorilla trek. A total of eight tourists, each holding a trekking permit for Rwanda priced at USD 1,500, are assigned to one gorilla family. A group of eight individuals typically spends approximately 2 to 6 hours trekking through the bamboo forest in the jungle, accompanied by armed ranger guides. Nonetheless, the duration allocated for observing the mountain gorillas is limited to just 1 hour (60 minutes).

 

The duration of the trek can vary based on the movements of the gorilla groups; however, the population in Rwanda is recognized for traveling shorter distances, which facilitates the trekking experience. Following an hour spent observing a gorilla family, you return to the park headquarters to meet your tour guide for the transfer back to your hotel.

     Available Lodging Choices: Luxury: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge; Mid-range: Gorilla Solution Lodge; Budget: Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge.

    Meal Schedule: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 5: Trekking for Golden Monkeys in Volcanoes National Park and subsequent travel to Nyungwe Forest

In the morning, you will embark on a trek to observe the Golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park, where they share their habitat with the mountain gorillas. Golden monkeys possess distinctive characteristics and can be readily recognized by their coloration. Please ensure your presence at the park headquarters by 7:00 am for a briefing prior to the trek. In Rwanda, there are two troops of golden monkeys, with the largest troop located on Mount Sabinyo, comprising approximately 80 to 100 monkeys. This troop is the most frequently visited in the park. Following the trek, you will be transported back to your hotel for lunch before proceeding to Nyungwe Forest National Park. You will spend the night at a preferred accommodation located near the park.

    Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

    Accommodation Options: Luxury options include Nyungwe Forest Lodge and One & Only Nyungwe Forest House. For mid-range accommodations, consider Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel. Budget: Gisakura Guest House

Day 6: Chimpanzee trekking and canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest National Park

In the early morning, you will enjoy breakfast before being taken to the park headquarters to begin your chimpanzee trekking experience. After a while of walking, you come to the location where the chimpanzees spent their last night. Chimpanzees exhibit remarkable agility as they leap from tree to tree, often accompanied by vocalizations.

 

The rapidity of their movements influences both the number of photographs captured and the duration of observation. Upon completing the trek, you will return to the starting point where you will meet your driver-guide for a transfer to the hotel, allowing for lunch and a period of relaxation. In the evening, you will engage in a canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest for approximately 2 hours. Subsequently, you return to the hotel for relaxation and dinner. You will stay at the same accommodation as the previous night.

    Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 7: Departure from Kigali International Airport, concluding the 7-day Rwanda safari.

On the final day of your journey, you may enjoy breakfast at your convenience, based on your departure schedule. Your driver guide will facilitate your transportation to Kigali International Airport for your departure flight. If you wish to make any purchases, feel free to request a stop at the craft shops in Kigali town from your guide.

Conclusion of the 7-Day Rwanda Safari Itinerary