14  Days safari adventure in Rwanda

This 14  Days safari adventure in Rwanda will bring you to this magnificent land of a thousand hills, particularly to the clean and organized streets of its capital, Kigali, and then away from the hustle and bustle of the city through its crowning hills and lush vegetation to the different national parks in the country. On this safari, you will make your way to Volcanoes National Park in Kinigi, home of the endangered mountain gorillas and golden monkeys, Akagera National Park in the Eastern part of Rwanda where you will get to experience Africa’s BIG 5 as well as other wildlife both by land and water, Nyungwe Forest National Park located at the border of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, home to the chimpanzees as well as the longest canopy walkway in East Africa. You will also enjoy a beach experience and boat adventure on Lake Kivu, which will take you to some islands on this lake such as Amahoro Island.

 14  Days safari adventure in Rwanda 14  Days safari adventure in Rwanda Itinerary overview

  • Day 1: Pick up from Kigali then Kigali city tour
  • Day 2: Transfer to Akagera
  • Day 3: Game drive and boat cruise
  • Day 4: Game drive and nature walk
  • Day 5: Transfer to Kigali
  • Day 6: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park
  • Day 7: Chimpanzee trekking
  • Day 8: Canopy walk and waterfall hike
  • Day 9: Transfer to Gisenyi then boat cruise on Lake Kivu
  • Day 10: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park and visit the Ellen DeGeneres Museum of Dian Fossey
  • Day 11: Gorilla trekking
  • Day 12: Golden monkey trekking and visit to the twin lakes
  • Day 13: Transfer to Kigali
  • Day 14: Departure

Detailed Itinerary of  14 Days safari adventure in Rwanda 

Day 1: Pick up from Kigali then Kigali city tour

A designated English-speaking driver guide will pick you up from Kigali International Airport and take you on a city tour of Kigali during which you will visit the different tourism centers in Kigali such as the Kigali genocide memorial in Gisozi where you will see the gravestones of hundreds of thousands of children and adults that were killed during the 1994 Rwanda genocide, Kigali convention center after which you will have a brief lunch stopover at a local restaurant within the city then proceed for a visit of the Kandt museum of history that gives you an insight into the history of Rwanda during the colonial rule, and Kimironko market where you can pick up some locally manufactured products and souvenirs. Later in the evening, you will check into your hotel where you will have dinner and then spend the night. For a nightlife experience, you can make a separate arrangement for a night tour which will include a visit to the nightclubs, theatres, and cinemas.

Meal plan; Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Accommodation; Hôtel des Mille Collines

Day 2: Transfer to Akagera

Breakfast will be served early in the morning after which you will be picked up by your driver guide and embark on your journey to Akagera National Park enjoying the beautiful scenery en route. Upon arrival at the southern gate of Akagera National Park, you will be briefed shortly before you enter the park gates and proceed on a short game drive to your accommodation. Once you arrive at the lodge, you will check into your rooms and then settle down for lunch. After lunch, you will go out for more game viewing during which you will see more of the animals you had seen earlier as well as others such as elephants, buffalos, giraffes, zebras, and leopards among others. Return to the lodge after the game to drive for dinner and an evening rest.

Meal plan; Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Accommodation: Ruzizi tented camp

Day 3: Game drive and boat cruise

A morning breakfast will be served before 6:00 am, after which with a packed lunch you will set off for the wilderness for a game drive. During the game drive you will spot a variety of wildlife species such as Africa’s BIG 5 and others such as Topis, antelopes, zebras, and giraffes. This game drive will take between 6-7 hours then you will have a lunch break. After lunch, you will head to Lake Ihema for more wildlife viewing by water on a boat cruise. During this, you will see aquatic animals such as crocodiles and hippos, and birds such as the rare shoebill stork. Dinner will be made available at the lodge in the evening after which you can take your rest for the day.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 4: Game drive and nature walk

Breakfast will be made available at 6:00 am after which you will proceed for yet another session of a game drive during which you will see even more wildlife and bird species. After the game drive you will return to the lodge for lunch which you will follow with an afternoon of relaxation. In the later afternoon, you will head out for a guided nature walk through the savanna plains enjoying the magnificent breeze from the vegetation as you enjoy spotting the different creatures in the wild such as birds, butterflies, insects as well as more wildlife. In the evening, you will return to your lodge where you will dine for dinner and then retire to your rooms for the night’s rest.

Meal plan; Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Day 5: Transfer to Kigali

After an early morning breakfast at your lodge, you will start yet another scenic drive from Akagera National Park to Kigali. Upon arrival in Kigali, you will check into your lodge where you will dine for lunch and then enjoy an afternoon of relaxation. You could opt to spend the afternoon visiting other parts of Kigali city, such as the Belgian Peacemaker Museum and the crafts centers.

Meal plan; Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Accommodation: Five to Five Hotels

Day 6: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park

An early morning breakfast and a packed lunch will be provided at the hotel then your driver guide will pick you up and you embark on this long road trip to Nyungwe Forest National Park as you enjoy the magnificent landscapes and vegetation en route. You will have short breaks as often as you need to appreciate certain features longer or take photographs. Upon arrival in Nyungwe National Park, you will check into the lodge where dinner will be served then you can retire to your rooms for the night’s rest.

Meal plan; Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Accommodation: Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel

Day 7: Chimpanzee trekking

After a nourishing breakfast in the morning, your driver guide will pick you up and take you to the park headquarters at the Uwinka visitors’ center where you will be briefed about the dos and don’ts of chimpanzee trekking. After the briefing, in a group of about 8, you will hike into the forest in search of the chimpanzees. This hike will take about 2-6 hours and once you locate them, you will be allowed 1 hour of observing them and taking photographs. After this, you will return to the starting point where you will meet your driver guide and return to the lodge for lunch and then enjoy an afternoon of relaxation. Dinner will be provided later in the evening then you can take the day’s rest.

Meal plan; Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Day 8: Canopy walk and waterfall hike

Early morning the lodge will provide you with a nutritious breakfast and a packed lunch for the day, then with your driver guide you will set off for the Uwinka visitor’s center. Upon arrival, you will register for the canopy walk after which you will be briefed about this activity. After the briefing, you will join other visitors for a 1- hour hike to the canopy walkway. Once on the walkway, you will begin the canopy walk during which you will see several butterfly and bird species.  You may also spot chimpanzees and monkeys during the walk since this place inhabits these primates. It will also give you a view of a large part of East Africa, lake Kivu, and Nyungwe National Park. This walk will last about 2- hours after which you will return to the visitor’s center where you will enjoy your packed lunch.

 After lunch, you will proceed for a waterfall hike. During the waterfall hike, you will walk through the Nyungwe waterfall trail, also known as the Isumo trail during which you will see numerous bird species, and wildlife as well as the jaw-dropping Isumo waterfalls. The walk will take between 4-5 hours after which you will return to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Meal plan; Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Day 9: Transfer to Gisenyi then boat cruise on Lake Kivu

After breakfast, you will check out of the lodge with a packed lunch and with your driver guide embark on a journey to Gisenyi. Once at Lake Kivu, you will proceed for a boat cruise to Amahoro Island where you will visit the local communities of fishermen and farmers and take part in their day-to-day activities such as fishing. You will then enjoy a picnic lunch at the beach before returning to the shore where you will meet your driver guide and proceed to your hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Meal plan; Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Accommodation: Lake Kivu Safari Lodge

Day 10: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park and visit the Ellen DeGeneres Museum of Dian Fossey

Breakfast will be served at 8:00 am after which you will pack up and check out of the lodge and continue on this adventure through Musanze to Kinigi for a visit to the Virunga conservation area, specifically Volcanoes National Park, home to the mountain gorillas and the golden monkeys. Upon arrival in Kinigi, you will check into your accommodation where you will enjoy a hot delicious meal. After lunch, you can choose to enjoy your afternoon relaxing at the lodge or opt for a visit to the Ellen DeGeneres Museum of Dian for a start of the gorilla experience where you will get to understand the full gorilla conservation story of Dian Fossey. Later in the evening, you will return to the lodge for dinner before taking your night’s rest.

Meal plan; Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Accommodation; DaVinci lodge

Day 11: Gorilla trekking

A nourishing breakfast will be served early in the morning after which you will pick up a packed lunch at the lodge restaurant then your driver guide will pick you up at 6:15 am and take you to the park headquarters. Upon arrival at the headquarters, you will be greeted with a hot cup of locally manufactured Rwandan coffee after which you will proceed for briefing. This will last about 30 minutes and then you will be grouped into groups of 8 individuals and each group assigned a gorilla family. After this, the driver guide will drop you off at the gorilla trekking starting point and it is at this point that you can hire a porter to assist with your luggage if you need one.

You will then penetrate the forest in search of your gorilla family, which will take 4-8 hours. Upon locating them, you will have 1 hour in their presence observing them and taking photographs after which you will return to the starting point to meet your driver guide and drive back to the lodge.

Later in the afternoon, you will dive into the local culture of the Rwandan people with a visit to the Gorilla Guardian village also known as Ibyi’wacu where you will interact with local former gorilla poachers who are now known as the gorilla guardians. Returning to the lodge will be in the evening for dinner.

If you are exhausted from the gorilla trekking expedition to try this adventure, feel free to sit this one out and instead enjoy the amenities at the facility.

Meal plan; Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Day 12: Golden monkey trekking and visit to the twin lakes

Breakfast will be served as early as it was the day before, then you will head out with your driver guide to the park headquarters where you will be briefed about what to expect and the code of conduct for Golden Monkey trekking. After the briefing, you head out to a group of 8 individuals with a ranger guide in search of golden monkeys. As you hike to the forest, you will spot some of the golden monkeys in the nearby gardens feeding on potatoes of the local community. This hike will take between 2 to 4 hours and once you find the golden monkeys you will be allowed to spend 1 hour observing them and taking photographs. After this, you will return to the lodge for lunch.

After lunch, you will take a visit to the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo located at the foot of Muhabura volcano. At these lakes, you will enjoy an afternoon boat ride during which you will spot several aquatic animals and bird species such as African Crown Crane. You will also spot some fishermen on their boats fishing and also meet the local communities living around the lakes who will entertain you with their traditional dances and songs. In the evening, you will return to the lodge for dinner and then take your rest for the day.

Meal plan; Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Day 13: Transfer to Kigali

After a very long rest, you will wake up to a delicious breakfast after which you will pack up, check out of the lodge, and start your journey to Kigali enjoying the crowning hills and the lush vegetation en route. Once you arrive in Kigali, you will have a lunch stopover in Kigali at a local restaurant before proceeding for a short drive around this beautiful city. After this, your driver guide will drop you off at your hotel where you will have dinner and spend the night.

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Accommodation: Five to Five Hotels

Day 14: Departure

Early morning, the hotel will provide you with breakfast after which the driver guide will pick you up and take you to Kigali International Airport where you will catch your flight to your next destination.

Inclusions

  • Ground Transportation
  • Accommodation
  • Meals
  • Gorilla permits
  • Golden monkey permits
  • Chimpanzee permits
  • Park Entrance
  • Activities mentioned
  • Bottled water

Exclusions

  • Tips
  • Porters
  • Laundry
  • International Flights
  • Extra activities
  • Drinks and cigarettes
  • Donations