Have a great time exploring Rwanda’s top attractions with this 8-Day Rwanda Safari. You will visit Nyungwe, Akagera, and Volcanoes National Parks, and participate 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 include visiting Kigali’s local markets, museums, art and gallery centers, the Kigali Genocide Memorial, Lake Kivu, and the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo.
Enjoy the scenery of hills, giving Rwanda its nickname, “The Land of a Thousand Hills.”
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
Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, your driver/guide will pick you up and provide a briefing. You will then take a short Kigali city tour, visiting attractions like the Kigali Genocide Memorial, art and gallery centers, local markets such as Kimironko, churches, and mosques. After the tour, proceed to the hotel for dinner.
Day 2: Transfer to Akagera National Park
Transfer to Akagera National Park, home to the Big Five animals and the only savanna national park in Rwanda. The 3-hour journey offers beautiful views of hills and landscapes.
In the evening, enjoy a game drive where you can spot animals like zebras, giraffes, warthogs, antelopes, lions, and more. Return to the lodge to end your day.
Day 3: Full Day in Akagera National Park (Hot Air Ballooning and Boat Cruise)
Spend the day exploring Akagera National Park. Begin with a hot air balloon ride, giving you a unique aerial view of the savanna and its wildlife.
Later, enjoy an afternoon boat cruise on Lake Ihema, which lasts about 2 hours. You will spot hippos, crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes, zebras, lions, leopards, antelopes, and various bird species during these activities.
Day 4: Transfer to Nyungwe National Park with a Stop at the Former Presidential Palace
Leave Akagera National Park and travel to Nyungwe National Park, with a stop at the former presidential palace. This historical site marks where Rwanda’s former president died in a plane crash. Tour the museum before continuing to Nyungwe National Park, where you will check in at the lodge.
Day 5: Chimpanzee Tracking and Canopy Walk
After breakfast, head to the park offices for a briefing about chimpanzee tracking rules. Some of the guidelines include not feeding animals, keeping a distance, and avoiding drinking or eating in front of the primates.
Start your trek with a ranger guide, and once you find a group of chimps, spend an hour observing and taking photos. Return to the lodge for lunch.
In the evening, enjoy a canopy walk. This bridge-like structure, suspended 70 meters above the ground and 160 meters long, offers amazing aerial views of the forest. You may see primates such as vervet monkeys, colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, and L’Hoest monkeys, as well as various birds.
Day 6: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Depart Nyungwe National Park and travel to Volcanoes National Park. On the way, visit Lake Kivu for a short boat cruise and lunch.
Volcanoes National Park is one of the oldest national parks in Africa and is home to endangered golden monkeys and mountain gorillas. It is also historically significant as the site of Dian Fossey’s research and conservation work. Upon arrival, check in at the lodge for dinner.
Day 7: Gorilla Trekking Experience in PNV
Start your day with breakfast before heading to the park offices for a briefing. The session will cover gorilla trekking rules, family assignments, and the option to hire a porter.
Begin the trek with a ranger guide, and along the way, spot birds, trees, and smaller primates like vervet monkeys and red-tailed monkeys. When you meet the gorilla family, spend an hour observing and taking photos.
The trek may last up to 8 hours, depending on the gorillas’ location. Afterward, return to the lodge to relax.
Day 8: Visit the Twin Lakes and Transfer Back to Kigali
Enjoy breakfast, check out from the lodge, and visit the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo. You can opt for a canoeing experience to meet local fishermen and enjoy the amazing views.
Proceed to Kigali for lunch and, later, be dropped off at the airport, marking the end of your 8-Day Rwanda Safari.
