Have a great time exploring Rwanda’s top attractions with this 8-Day Rwanda Safari. You will visit Nyungwe Forest National Park, Akagera National Park, and Volcanoes National Park, taking part in activities such as game drives, boat cruises, gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, and a forest canopy walk.
Other highlights of this 8-Day Rwanda Safari tour include visiting Kigali’s local markets, museums, art centers, the Kigali Genocide Memorial, Lake Kivu, and the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo.
On this Rwanda safari holiday, you will enjoy the scenery of hills that give Rwanda its famous nickname, The Land of a Thousand Hills.
Highlights of the 8-Day Rwanda Safari
- Visit Kigali City and explore its local markets and museums
- Game drives and hot air balloon safari in Akagera National Park
- Boat cruise on Lake Ihema and Lake Kivu
- Chimpanzee tracking and canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest
- Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
- Visit the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo
- Learn Rwanda’s culture and history from local guides
8-Day Rwanda Safari Highlights
- Day 1: Arrival in Kigali City and City Tour
- Day 2: Transfer to Akagera National Park
- Day 3: Full Day in Akagera National Park (Hot Air Ballooning and Boat Cruise)
- Day 4: Transfer to Nyungwe National Park with a Stop at the Former Presidential Palace
- Day 5: Chimpanzee Tracking and Canopy Walk
- Day 6: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
- Day 7: Gorilla Trekking Experience in PNV
- Day 8: Visit the Twin Lakes and Transfer Back to Kigali
Detailed 8-Day Rwanda Classic Safari Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali City and City Tour
Arrive at Kigali International Airport, where your driver and guide will meet you and brief you about your Rwanda safari. Begin a Kigali city tour, visiting attractions such as the Kigali Genocide Memorial, art and gallery centers, local markets like Kimironko Market, churches, and mosques. After the tour, head to your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 2: Transfer to Akagera National Park
After breakfast, drive to Akagera National Park, Rwanda’s only savanna park and home to the Big Five animals. The 3-hour journey offers scenic views of hills and rural landscapes. Upon arrival, enjoy an evening game drive to spot animals such as zebras, giraffes, lions, buffaloes, elephants, and antelopes. Return to your lodge for dinner and rest.
Day 3: Full Day in Akagera National Park (Hot Air Ballooning and Boat Cruise)
Spend the day exploring Akagera National Park. Start with an early hot air balloon safari, giving you an aerial view of the park’s savanna plains and wildlife. Later, go for a boat cruise on Lake Ihema to spot hippos, crocodiles, and birds. You may also see elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes, zebras, and water antelopes during your game activities.
Day 4: Transfer to Nyungwe National Park with a Stop at the Former Presidential Palace
After breakfast, leave Akagera and travel to Nyungwe National Park. Stop at the Former Presidential Palace Museum, where Rwanda’s former president lived before his tragic plane crash. Learn about Rwanda’s history and continue the journey to Nyungwe. Upon arrival, check into your lodge and relax.
Day 5: Chimpanzee Tracking & Canopy Walk
After breakfast, head to the park offices for a briefing before starting your chimpanzee tracking adventure. Follow your ranger guide into the forest, and once you find a chimpanzee group, spend one hour watching and taking photos. Return to the lodge for lunch. In the evening, enjoy a canopy walk, 70 meters above the ground, with great views of the forest. You may spot monkeys such as colobus, vervet, and red-tailed monkeys, along with many bird species.
Day 6: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Depart from Nyungwe and travel to Volcanoes National Park. On the way, stop at Lake Kivu for a short boat cruise and lunch. Volcanoes National Park is one of Africa’s oldest national parks and is home to mountain gorillas and golden monkeys. Upon arrival, check into your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 7: Gorilla Trekking Experience in Volcanoes National Park
After breakfast, go to the park headquarters for a briefing on gorilla trekking in Rwanda. You will be assigned to a gorilla family and guided through the forest by a ranger. The trek may take several hours depending on where the gorillas are located. Once you find them, spend one hour observing and photographing them. Return to the lodge to relax and enjoy dinner.
Day 8: Visit the Twin Lakes & Transfer Back to Kigali
After breakfast, visit the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo, where you can take part in canoeing and meet local fishermen. Enjoy the beautiful scenery before driving back to Kigali City for lunch. Later, your driver will drop you at the airport, marking the end of your 8-Day Rwanda Safari.
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