14 Day Rwanda Safari with Gorillas, Chimps and Wildlife

This safari is for travellers who want to see the country properly, not just rush in for one gorilla trek and leave. The route starts in Kigali, continues to Akagera National Park for savannah wildlife, moves through Rwanda’s cultural south to Nyungwe Forest, follows Lake Kivu through Kibuye and Gisenyi, then finishes in the Volcanoes region with gorilla trekking, golden monkeys and the Dian Fossey trail. It is a strong itinerary for visitors who want Rwanda’s full mix of wildlife, primates, culture, scenery and local history in one journey. You begin with the Kigali city tour and Gisozi Genocide Memorial, continue to Akagera for game drives, then travel to Butare, Nyungwe, Lake Kivu and Musanze. The safari includes major experiences such as chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe, colobus monkey trekking, Lake Kivu relaxation, Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village, gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, golden monkey tracking and the Dian Fossey trek.

Safari Highlights

• 14-day Rwanda safari starting and ending in Kigali
• Kigali city tour with Gisozi Genocide Memorial and local craft centre
• Akagera National Park game drives and Lake Ihema wildlife circuit
• Wildlife viewing for elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, hippos, crocodiles and rhinos
• Butare or Huye cultural route with King’s Palace in Nyanza and National Museum visit
• Nyungwe Forest National Park with colobus monkey trek and chimpanzee tracking
• Lake Kivu stay in Kibuye and Gisenyi
• Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village experience in Musanze District
• Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
• Golden monkey tracking in Volcanoes National Park
• Dian Fossey trek and Karisoke Research Centre history
• Optional Twin Lakes visit to Burera and Ruhondo if the gorilla trek ends early

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1, Arrival in Kigali and Kigali City Tour

Our guide will meet you on arrival at Kigali International Airport and brief you about the 14-day Rwanda safari. You will start with a Kigali city tour, depending on your arrival time. Kigali is Rwanda’s capital and main administrative centre, with clean streets, green hills and strong historical importance. The tour can include the Gisozi Genocide Memorial, an artisan shopping centre and selected local areas where you can see Rwanda’s modern city life. After the city tour, transfer to your hotel for dinner and overnight stay. Accommodation: Hotel des Mille Collines or Gorillas Golf Hotel 

Day 2, Transfer to Akagera National Park and Lake Ihema Boat cruise

After breakfast, drive east from Kigali to Akagera National Park. The journey takes you through Rwanda’s rolling countryside, small towns and farming landscapes before reaching the country’s main savannah park. Check in at Akagera Game Lodge, have a short rest, then continue for an afternoon boat cruise around the southern Lake Ihema. This area is good for relaxed wildlife viewing, with chances to see elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, hippos, crocodiles and rhinos. Akagera is one of Rwanda’s most important wildlife areas because it combines savannah, wetlands, lakes and gentle hills in one park. Accommodation: Akagera Game Lodge. Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 3, Northern Akagera Game Drive and Transfer to Butare

Start early with a northern Akagera game drive. The morning hours are good for wildlife because the park is cooler and animals are more active. The northern circuit gives wider savannah views and a stronger chance of seeing more wildlife than the shorter lake circuit. You may see hippos, crocodiles, antelopes, giraffes and other savannah species depending on the day’s movement. After the game drive, return to Kigali for lunch, then continue to Butare. On the way, stop at the King’s Palace in Nyanza, which gives visitors a window into Rwanda’s pre-colonial history. If time allows, you may also visit the art museum at Rwesero. Accommodation: Hotel Ibis Butare. Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 4, Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park and Colobus Monkey Trek

After breakfast, start with a visit to the National Museum of Rwanda for more insight into the country’s history and culture. You will then continue to Nyungwe Forest National Park, one of Rwanda’s richest forest destinations. Nyungwe is known for primates, birds, forest trails and tea-growing scenery. The park has up to 13 primate species, including chimpanzees, blue monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys and Angolan black-and-white colobus monkeys. Nyungwe is also an important birding area, with almost 300 bird species recorded. On arrival, stop at the Visitor Interpretive Centre, check in at the hotel and have lunch. In the afternoon, go for the colobus monkey trek. The forest is known for large habituated colobus troops, numbering 400 to 500 individuals. Accommodation: Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel. Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 5, Chimpanzee Tracking in Nyungwe Forest

Wake up early for chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest. You will transfer to the briefing point before entering the forest with ranger guides and trackers. Chimpanzees move quickly through the forest, so the trek can vary depending on where they are feeding, calling or travelling that morning. Once the chimpanzees are located, you spend one hour observing them in their natural forest habitat. You may see them feeding, grooming, calling or moving through the canopy. After the trek, return to the lodge for lunch. Depending on time and energy, you may add a community visit or tea plantation visit in the afternoon. Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 6, Transfer to Kibuye on Lake Kivu

After breakfast, leave Nyungwe and drive to Kibuye on the shores of Lake Kivu. Lake Kivu is Rwanda’s largest Lake and one of the main scenic breaks on this Rwanda safari. Lake Kivu stands at 1,461 metres, or 4,790 feet, above sea level, making it one of Africa’s highest major lakes. Kibuye is one of Rwanda’s most attractive lake towns, with hills, islands and wide views across the water. This day gives you a slower pace after the forest activities in Nyungwe. Accommodation: Moriah Hill Hotel. Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 7, Relaxation and Optional Lake Kivu Boat Ride

Take your breakfast and drive to the Bugarama hot water springs (the largest and biggest natural spring in Rwanda) via Cyamudongo natural forest. It is possible to take a warm bath in the hot springs if time allows but this must be pre-arranged so we plan for it before.  We will later drive to River Rusizi for a day trip with lunch and fresh drinks and then later transfer to Kibuye town.

Day 8, Transfer to Gisenyi on Lake Kivu

Today in the morning, after breakfast, you will depart Kibuye to transfer to Gisenyi, the drive will take about 1 hour. Check into your hotel and then go visit the hot water springs and the fishing communities. If you are adventurous, you may opt to go kayaking to Napoleon Hill. Budget: Ubumwe Hotel or Malahide Paradise, luxury:  Kivu Serena Hotel.

Day 9, Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village and Transfer to Musanze

After breakfast, transfer to Musanze District near Volcanoes National Park. You will visit Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village, also known as Gorilla Guardians Village. This community experience introduces Rwandan traditions, song, dance, food, storytelling and daily life around the Volcanoes region. You may take part in drumming, local dances, traditional dress such as the Umushanana, archery, a traditional healer demonstration, banana beer tasting or a local household visit. Accommodation: Five Volcanoes Hotel. Meals: Full board

Day 10, Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park

After an early breakfast, carry your packed lunch, drinking water and gorilla trekking gear, then report to Volcanoes National Park headquarters for registration and briefing. The ranger guides will explain the trekking rules, group allocation and what to expect in the forest. Gorilla trekking can take about 2 to 10 hours, depending on the location of the gorilla family and the pace of the group. Once the gorillas are located, you spend one hour with them. This is the main primate experience of the safari, giving you time to observe the silverback, mothers, young gorillas and family behaviour in their natural habitat. After the trek, return to the lodge. If the trek ends early, you may add a visit to the Twin Lakes of Burera and Ruhondo at extra cost.

Day 11, Golden Monkey Tracking in Volcanoes National Park

After breakfast, return to the park headquarters for a golden monkey tracking briefing. Golden monkeys live in the bamboo zones of the Virunga Volcanoes and are one of the special primates of the Albertine Rift. This experience is usually shorter and less demanding than gorilla trekking, but it is still active because the monkeys move quickly through bamboo and forest vegetation. The trek gives good chances for photography, especially when the monkeys feed, jump between bamboo stems or move in groups.

Day 12, Dian Fossey Trek and Karisoke Research Centre

After breakfast, take the Dian Fossey trek in Volcanoes National Park. This hike leads towards the former Karisoke Research Centre area between Mount Karisimbi and Mount Bisoke. Dian Fossey arrived in Rwanda in 1967 and became one of the most important figures in mountain gorilla conservation. She spent many years studying and protecting gorillas in the Volcanoes region before she was killed in 1985. Her work later became widely known through the book and film Gorillas in the Mist. The trek gives historical context to Rwanda’s gorilla conservation story and adds depth after the gorilla trekking day.

Day 13, Transfer to Kigali and City Sightseeing

After breakfast, check out and drive back to Kigali. You will have scenic stopovers along the route before arriving in the city. Depending on the time, you may continue with light sightseeing in Kigali or relax at the hotel. Accommodation: Hotel des Mille Collines. Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 14, Kigali Airport Transfer and Departure

Today, after breakfast, we embark on the 2 and a half-hour drive to Kigali, stopping at the souvenir shop before we transfer you to the airport to catch the onward flight back home. This marks the end of the 14-day Best of Rwanda safari gorilla and wildlife safari.

Inclusions and Exclusions

Included

• Meals as indicated in the itinerary
• Accommodation as indicated
• All airport transfers
• a professional English-speaking guide
• 4×4 safari vehicle and fuel
• park and entrance fees
• Two gorilla trekking permits per person
• One golden monkey trekking permit
• One chimpanzee permit
• Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village visit
• Drinking water daily while on safari
• Government taxes and levies

Excluded

• Entry visas
• Tips
• Telephone calls
• Laundry
• Gifts
• Airport taxes
• Alcoholic beverages
• Personal expenses