7 Days Best of Rwanda safari

7 Days Best of Rwanda safari is a must book if you are interested in visiting the most that Rwanda has to offer in the 3 national parks of the country. Spend an engaging week in the land of a thousand hills and leave refreshed with the whole picture of the country as you will visit all corners of Rwanda on the wheels. It can be a bit demanding so be sure to be up for it all.

Trip Highlights of the 7 Days Best of Rwanda safari

Game viewing in Akagera national park
Cultural tours
Boat cruise
Mountain gorilla trek
Chimpanzees in Nyungwe
9m high canopy bridge in Nyungwe forest

Trip Description

Day 1: Kigali to Akagera National park for boat cruise

Kigali city tour: This 7 Days Best of Rwanda safari will start at 8 am expecting you to be at the agreed pick up point in Kigali where your driver-guide will be waiting to welcome and brief you. Pick up point options are the Kigali international airport or your agreed hotel in Kigali.
Boat cruise on River Kagera: You will set out for the starter of a complimentary Kigali city tour visiting the Kimironko market for craft pieces and the Kigali Genocide Memorial grounds for the history of the 1994 genocide times. Have lunch and drive to Akagera National park in time for the afternoon boat trip. This boat trip gives you the views of the aquatic life of Akagera like the hippos and crocodiles and the various bird life on the shores of the rivers. Check into your accommodation for dinner and the night as you refresh for the following day.

Day 2: Game drive and evening cultural tour

Morning game drive: Wake up very early and grab a bite or cup of coffee before you drive to the game drive starting point to pick up your ranger for your half-day drive. You will explore the Northern circuit where you will get to see the elephants, rhinos, giraffes, tree-climbing lions, and the smaller game like the kobs, warthogs to mention but a few. After about 4 to 5 hours in the park, you will drive back to your hotel for a hot lunch to regain some energy for the next activity of the day.
Evening cultural tour: When the sun has cooled down abit, you will connect with your driver-guide to connect for the cultural experience of Akagera. Spend about 2 hours and get back to your hotel before it gets dark. Connect for a barbeque dinner setting and enjoy the views of the park as the day winds up from the balcony.

Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes NP and evening cultural tour

Road transfer from Akagera to Volcanoes NP: The 3rd day of this 7 Days Best of Rwanda safari will be spent on the road. The road transfer from Akagera National park to Volcanoes National Park is about 4 to 5 hours via Kigali. You will have a stopover in Kigali for lunch and head further to Musanze the home of the world’s endangered mountain gorillas.

Iby’iwachu cultural center: The Iby’iwachu cultural centre gives the foreign visitors a feel of the Rwandan culture in terms of food, dressing, norms and lifestyle of the ancient people before modernization. After the experiential tour is done, connect to your accommodation for check in and dinner. Retire from the day and wait for the big day tomorrow.

Day 4: Mountain gorilla trek in Volcanoes NP

Trekking mountain gorillas in Rwanda: One of the highlights of the 7 Days Best of Rwanda safari is here. Wake up to an early breakfast in the misty forest of Volcanoes National Park. Drive to the park headquarters for the pre trek briefing and allocation of gorilla family to trek. Meet your porters and ranger guides and set out for your 2 to 8 hour mountain gorilla search. Once you find the gorillas, you are allowed 1 hour with the gentle giants. Stud them from a 6 meters standard distance as they carry out their daily activities. Connect back to your hotel for a late lunch and spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing as you view the hills as a backdrop from your hotel. Dinner will be served and you will retire back to your hotel room as the night before.

Day 5: Transfer to Nyungwe forest National Pak via Kibuye

6 to 7-hour road trip: Wake up to a sumptuous breakfast and check out of your hotel with your packed bags ready to connect to the south side of Rwanda. You will drive south via Kibuye where you will have a stopover for lunch and to stretch abit and continue to enter the Nyungwe forest later in the evening. You will reach your hotel a few minutes later and be welcomed with a hot towel and welcome drink. Settle in and connect back to the dining area for your first dinner in Nyungwe. Retire early to be up and fit for the next day.

Day 6: Morning Chimpanzee trek and afternoon canopy walk

Chimpanzee trek in Nyungwe: This is another big day with a lot to expect and experience. You will start this day as early as 6 am with a briefing at the park headquarters and enter the forest in search of these playful creatures whose sounds you will hear from the moment you enter the forest. You will see the chimpanzees swing from branch to branch before you exit the forest for your packed lunch.
Afternoon canopy walk: Be at the park headquarters by 2 am to join the team going for the canopy walk in Nyungwe forest. This canopy bridge is a 2 meters long and 9 meters high suspended bridge that gives you the bird’s eye view of the forest. Drive back to your hotel for your last dinner and overnight on the 7 Days Best of Rwanda safari .

Day 7: Drive back to Kigali

5-hour drive to Kigali: The final day of a safari surely hits different. Memories, fatigue, and all types of emotions fighting for recognition. You and your driver-guide will set out of the Nyungwe forest headed back north to the Kigali city with a stopover in Butare for lunch. If you have time, you will visit the Butare Museum and kings palace shortly before connecting to Kigali for drop off.

End of the 7 Days Best of Rwanda safari

Quote Includes

Full-time English/ French speaking guide
Fueled safari vehicle at your disposal
Accommodation as selected above
Meals on the tour
Bottled drinking water
Park entrance fee
Boat cruise fee
Activity permits
Cultural tour fees included

Quote Excludes

International flight fares
Visa fees
Vaccinations
Personal needs not indicated in the itinerary
Additional activities not described in the itinerary