7-Day Luxury Rwanda Safari – Primate Trekking & Wildlife Viewing

This 7-day safari takes you to all three national parks of Rwanda. You will visit Akagera National Park, the country’s only Savannah park, home to a variety of wildlife including the Big Five.

The trip then continues to Volcanoes National Park for gorilla trekking in Rwanda, and later to Nyungwe Forest National Park for chimpanzee tracking and the famous canopy walk.

The safari ends with a short Kigali city tour and a visit to the Genocide Memorial before departure.

7-Day Luxury Rwanda Safari Highlights

• Visit all three national parks in Rwanda in one safari
• Explore Akagera National Park, home to the Big Five animals
• Enjoy a morning game drive to see lions, elephants, giraffes, and zebras
• Take a relaxing boat cruise on Lake Ihema to see hippos and crocodiles
• Travel to Volcanoes National Park for mountain gorilla trekking
• Spend one full hour watching gorillas in their natural forest home
• Visit the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village and learn about Rwandan traditions
• Enjoy traditional dances, stories, and local food from the community
• Visit Nyungwe Forest National Park for chimpanzee tracking
• Take an optional canopy walk to see the forest from above the trees
• Enjoy beautiful views of Rwanda’s rolling hills and Virunga ranges
• End the safari with a Kigali city tour and visit to the Genocide Memorial
• Stay in luxury lodges throughout your 7-day Rwanda adventure

Brief 7-Day Luxury Rwanda Safari Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrival, Pick Up, and Transfer to Akagera National Park
• Day 2: Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Boat Cruise
• Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
• Day 4: Gorilla Trekking and Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village
• Day 5: Transfer to Nyungwe National Park
• Day 6: Chimpanzee Tracking and Optional Canopy Walk
• Day 7: Transfer to the Airport for Departure

Detailed 7-Day Luxury Rwanda Safari Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival, Pick Up, and Transfer to Akagera National Park

Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, your driver-guide will welcome you and brief you about the safari. You will then begin the journey to Akagera National Park, Rwanda’s only savanna park. On arrival, check in at your Rwanda luxury lodge, relax, and later have dinner and overnight.

Day 2: Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Boat Cruise

After an early breakfast, go for a morning game drive to spot early risers such as lions, leopards, and hyenas. Akagera National Park is home to the Big Five, with lions and rhinos recently reintroduced to join elephants, buffaloes, and leopards. During the drive, you may also see giraffes, zebras, warthogs, antelopes, and many other species. Return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation.

In the afternoon, enjoy a boat ride on Lake Ihema, Rwanda’s second-largest lake. The cruise offers beautiful views of the surrounding hills and wetlands. Expect to see hippos, crocodiles, and many bird species along the lake shores, as well as other animals that come to drink water in the afternoon.

Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park

After breakfast, drive to Volcanoes National Park, known for its mountain gorillas and five volcanoes that form part of the Virunga ranges. The park was once the research base of primatologist Dian Fossey. Enjoy stopovers and lunch along the way. You will arrive at your lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight.

Day 4: Gorilla Trekking and Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village

After an early breakfast, carry your packed lunch and go to the park headquarters for a briefing about gorilla trekking. The ranger guides will lead you through the forest in search of the gorillas. Trekking can take 3 to 5 hours depending on the location of the gorilla family.

When you find the gorillas, spend one unforgettable hour observing them and taking photos. Watching these gentle creatures up close is one of the most rewarding wildlife encounters in Africa. After trekking, return to your lodge for lunch.

In the afternoon, visit the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village for a cultural experience. This center showcases the traditions of Rwanda’s three ethnic groups; the Twa, Hutu, and Tutsi. Enjoy traditional dances, local food, and stories from the community before returning to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 5: Transfer to Nyungwe National Park

After breakfast, drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park. On the way, stop at the new Visitor Interpretive Centre to learn about the park’s wildlife, including the number of primate and bird species found there. Upon arrival, check in at your lodge, have lunch, relax, and enjoy dinner and overnight as you prepare for chimpanzee tracking the next day.

Day 6: Chimpanzee Tracking and Optional Canopy Walk

After an early breakfast, drive to the park headquarters for a briefing before starting your chimpanzee trek. Carry packed lunch and plenty of water since the activity may last up to six hours. During the trek, you will hear the sounds of birds and animals and may spot monkeys, hornbills, and other wildlife.

When you find the chimpanzees, spend one hour watching them interact, play, and feed. You can take as many photos as you like as long as your camera has no flash. After the trek, return to your lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, if time allows, you can enjoy an optional canopy walk for a unique view of the forest from above the trees.

Day 7: Transfer to the Airport for Departure

After breakfast, your driver-guide will transfer you to Kigali International Airport for your flight. This marks the end of your 7-day Rwanda safari.

If you would like to extend your trip or add more destinations to your itinerary, simply reach out to us through our contact page using the button below.