The 10-Day Rwanda Safari offers many unique experiences, from Kigali city tours and primate tracking to big game viewing in the vast savanna grasslands.
The highlights of this 10-Day Rwanda Safari include exploring Kigali City (visiting iconic historical sites like the Kigali Genocide Memorial Center), game drives, a boat cruise in Akagera National Park, primate trekking in Nyungwe Forest (for chimpanzee tracking and canopy walks), and Volcanoes National Park (for mountain gorilla trekking).
10-Day Rwanda Safari Highlights
- Day 1: Pick-Up at the Airport and Transfer to the Hotel
- Day 2: Kigali to Akagera National Park
- Day 3: Game Drive and Boat Cruise
- Day 4: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park
- Day 5: Chimpanzee Trekking and Canopy Walk
- Day 6: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
- Day 7: Gorilla Trekking
- Day 8: Visit the Gorilla Guardians’ Village and Lake Kivu
- Day 9: Boat Ride on Lake Kivu
- Day 10: Return to Kigali and Departure
Detailed 10-Day Best of Rwanda Safari Itinerary
Day 1: Pick-Up at the Airport and Transfer to the Hotel
On arrival at Kigali International Airport (KGL), meet your professional driver/guide, who will warmly welcome you to the Land of a Thousand Hills. Transfer from the airport to your booked hotel in Kigali City.
Day 2: Kigali to Akagera National Park
Start your day with an early breakfast, then meet your driver for a city tour of Kigali. Visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial Center, Kandt Museum, local markets, and other attractions.
Afterward, travel to Akagera National Park, check into a safari lodge, enjoy a leisurely lunch, and prepare for an evening game drive in the savanna.
Day 3: Game Drive and Boat Cruise
Begin the day with tea or coffee before heading out for a morning game drive through the park’s rich wildlife tracks. This 2-3 hour guided drive will give you the chance to see animals like buffaloes, elephants, lions, leopards, zebras, rhinos, giraffes, and antelopes such as topis, impalas, elands, and roan antelopes. You will also spot various bird species.
After lunch at the lodge, enjoy an afternoon boat cruise on Lake Ihema, where you can see hippos, crocodiles, and water birds.
Day 4: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park
Leave Akagera National Park and travel to Nyungwe Forest National Park in Rwanda’s Southern Province.
The journey includes a stop at Butare to visit the King’s Palace and the National Museum, followed by a lunch break. Continue to Nyungwe, check into your lodge, and relax for the evening.
Day 5: Chimpanzee Trekking and Canopy Walk
After an early breakfast, proceed to Uwinka Reception for a briefing on chimpanzee trekking rules. The trek lasts 2-4 hours and allows one hour of close interaction with the chimpanzees. Nyungwe Forest is home to 13 primate species, including colobus monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, silver monkeys, olive baboons, and bush babies.
After lunch, head out for a canopy walk on a suspended bridge 50 meters above the ground. Enjoy breathtaking views of the forest and spot birds and primates.
Day 6: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Leave Nyungwe Forest and travel to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda’s Northern Province.
This park is home to 12 habituated mountain gorilla families and various other wildlife species. Prepare for the exciting gorilla trekking experience the next day.
Day 7: Gorilla Trekking in PNV
Start the day with breakfast, then attend a briefing at the park headquarters about gorilla trekking rules.
You will be assigned to a gorilla family, trekking in a group of up to 8 visitors. Follow the park guide through the forest, keeping an eye out for other wildlife along the way. Once you find the gorillas, spend one hour observing and photographing them.
Day 8: Visit the Gorilla Guardians’ Village and Lake Kivu
After breakfast, visit the Iby’Iwacu Village, also known as the Gorilla Guardians’ Village, to learn about the traditions and culture of the Rwandese people.
Later, travel to Lake Kivu and enjoy a relaxed evening by the lakeside.
Day 9: Boat Ride on Lake Kivu
Start the day with breakfast, then enjoy a boat ride on Lake Kivu.
Explore the scenic lake shores and visit one of its beautiful islands. Spend the rest of the day relaxing along the lake’s peaceful shores.
Day 10: Return to Kigali and Departure
After breakfast, leave Lake Kivu and return to Kigali.
Arrive early, and your driver will drop you off at your hotel or the airport for your departure. This marks the end of your memorable 10-Day Rwanda Safari.
