9 Days Rwanda Safari Tour | Explore All primates, wildlife & culture
This comprehensive 9 days Rwanda safari tour itinerary allows you to explore all primates, wildlife & unique cultures across top destinations.
Embarking on this superb 9-Day brings you unusual encounters in the African jungles including the big game encounters; primate encounter, especially mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, and not to miss the authentic cultural experiences.
This unique African safari itinerary allows you to pay a visit to 3 (three) National Parks in Rwanda – Akagera National Park, Nyungwe Forest National Park, and Volcanoes National Park.
Each of the three destinations (National Parks) will guarantee you exceptional encounters and thrilling experiences.
In Volcanoes National Park, expect to enjoy a close encounter with mountain gorilla family during your gorilla trekking adventure. This park is 160sq.km and is a bamboo forest-dominated park located in Northwestern Rwanda.
Chimpanzees will be encountered in Nyungwe Forest, Southern province of Rwanda and this will be during the guided chimpanzee tracking. Still in Nyungwe, you will also enjoy a canopy walk.
Game drives will be enjoyed in Akagera National Park in the Eastern Province of Rwanda. Entirely, this is a combined primate, big 5 game, and cultural tour package worth booking.
Brief Itinerary – 9 Days Rwanda safari tour
- Day One: Arrival at Kigali
- Day Two: Akagera National Park & Boat cruise tour
- Day Three: Game drive & Kigali
- Day Four: Nyungwe Forest Park (chimps encounter)
- Day Five: Nyungwe Forest chimps & canopy walking
- Day Six: Nyungwe to Volcanoes Park (mountain gorilla encounter)
- Day Seven: Volcanoes Mountain gorillas & Iby’Iwacu cultural experience
- Day Eight: Twin Lakes tour/Golden monkeys/Dian Fossey
- Day Nine: Return to Kigali- city tour & departure
Detailed Itinerary -9 Days Rwanda safari tour
Day One: Arrival at Kigali
This day will be for you to travel to Kigali in Rwanda where our driver guide will pick you up and transfer you to a comfortable hotel. Briefing about your 9 Days Rwanda safari tour will be done by our company representative at the hotel. Early arrival may include a brief city tour in Kigali, Rwanda.
Accommodation
- Luxury: Kigali Marriot Hotel/The Retreat
- Midrange: Kigali Serena Hotel
- Budget: The Manor Hotel
Day Two: Akagera National Park and Boat cruise tour
Akagera National Park is a savanna-dominated park lying in Eastern Rwanda. This is where you will get up close with the big 5 game and other wildlife species.
Driving from Kigali city center to Akagera takes about 2 and a half hours. Akagera N/Park is a 1122sq.km protected area and shelters wildlife such as elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards, giraffes, elands, roan antelopes and over 500 species of birds.
You will drive through Akagera while enjoying the sight of wildlife as you connect to the lodge. Settle for lunch in a classic lodge and at 2:00 pm, proceed to Lake Ihema for a boat cruise tour 2-3 hours, and you will be viewing aquatic life such as hippos, crocodiles, and birds.
Accommodation
- Luxury: Magashi Tented Camp or Rusizi Tented Camp
- Midrange: Akagera Lodge
- Budget: Dereva Hotel
Day Three: Game drive & Kigali
Enjoy a hefty breakfast, after you will be heading off for a game drive starting at 6:00 am. Catch up with early morning risers and other savanna dwellers such as lions, leopards, hyenas, elephants, buffaloes, rhinos, elands, roan antelopes, zebras, giraffes, birds, and more.
The day game drive today will take you 2-3 hours and after, you will return for lunch and check out of the lodge. From Akagera, drive back to Kigali with an en-route game drive to see more wildlife.
Accommodation
- Luxury: Kigali Marriot Hotel/The Retreat
- Midrange: Kigali Serena Hotel
- Budget: The Manor Hotel
Day Four: Nyungwe Forest Park (chimps encounter)
Drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park located in Southern Rwanda, 6-7 hours drive journey. You will be making a stopover visit at Nyanza King’s palace, Bisesero memorial center, and lunch at Butare, then continue to Nyungwe National Park. Settle at the lodge for evening relaxation, and enjoy the lush surrounding vegetation and cool natural air.
Accommodation
- Luxury: Nyungwe Forest/One & Only Nyungwe House
- Midrange: Nyungwe Top View Hotel
- Budget: Gisakura Guesthouse
Day Five: Nyungwe Forest chimps & canopy walking
Wake up early, have your breakfast, and after, continue to Uwinka or Cyangugu reception for a briefing on chimpanzee tracking guidelines. Nyungwe Forest National Park is a rich primate destination with primates such as chimpanzees, and you will be guaranteed of one hour of a close encounter. Other primates include l’hoest monkeys, baboons, black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, etc.
At 2:00 pm, a canopy walk will start taking you 2 hours and you will be enjoying the sights of primates, birds and flora. From the canopy walk, you will get back and settle for dinner and an overnight.
Accommodation
- Luxury: Nyungwe Forest/One & Only Nyungwe House
- Midrange: Nyungwe Top View Hotel
- Budget: Gisakura Guesthouse
Day Six: Nyungwe to Volcanoes Park (mountain gorilla encounter)
Have breakfast early and after leave Nyungwe for Volcanoes N/Park. En route, you will enjoy lunch and the scenic view of Lake Kivu. Arrive at Volcanoes NP and check in at the lodge for relaxation and an overnight stay.
Accommodation
- Luxury: Five Volcanoes/Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
- Midrange: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge/La Palme Hotel
- Budget: Muhabura Hotel/Kinigi Guesthouse
Day Seven: Volcanoes Mountain gorillas & Iby’Iwacu cultural experience
The D-day to enjoy up close with mountain gorillas will begin at 8:00 am after a briefing and allocation of gorilla families. 12 gorilla families are in found in Volcanoes N/P, Northwestern Rwanda and you will be visiting one as of today. Tracking gorillas takes 2-6 hours and you will be guaranteed one (1) hour for up-close, and photography.
In the evening, your gorilla trekking experience will be followed by a cultural visit at Iby’Iwacu village. Iby’Iwacu village cultural tour offers you an opportunity to explore the traditions and cultures of the Rwandese. They will also entertain you with their unique dances and music performances.
Accommodation
- Luxury: Five Volcanoes/Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
- Midrange: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge/La Palme Hotel
- Budget: Muhabura Hotel/Kinigi Guesthouse
Day Eight: Twin Lakes tour/Golden monkeys/Dian Fossey
After an enjoyable breakfast in the lodge in Volcanoes Park, transfer to the Twin Lakes- Burera and Ruhondo or go for a briefing at Kinigi offices about the Dian Fossey hike or golden monkey tracking guidelines.
Accommodation
- Luxury: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel /Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
- Midrange: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge/La Palme Hotel
- Budget: Muhabura Hotel/Kinigi Guesthouse
Day Nine: Return to Kigali- city tour & departure
Enjoy early morning breakfast, after, you will check out and then head to Kigali to visit the Gisozi genocide memorial, Kirimonko market, and other sites. After lunch will be enjoyed, then transfer to the airport for departure or remain at a hotel for relaxation.
End of 9 days Rwanda safari tour
Safari inclusions
- Park entrance fees
- Chimps permits
- Gorilla permits
- City tour
- Accommodation
- Transportation
- Bottled water
Safari exclusions
- Visas
- Tips
- Passports
- Telephone
- Insurance
- Shopping