7 Days Best of Rwanda Safari

7 Days Best of Rwanda Safari: Despite Rwanda being the smallest East African country and having fewer attractions, a period of 7 days is quite enough to experience the Country’s beauty. Visiting Rwanda should be one of the top destinations for anyone to Africa. Quarter of mountain gorillas are said to be found In Volcanoes national park as it shares with Virunga national park in the democratic Republic of Congo while half of the mountain gorillas in the world are found in Bwindi forest of Uganda. Volcanoes national park is best for gorilla trekking in Rwanda and it is also closer to Uganda Rwanda border an easier way of combining Uganda and Rwanda safari packages. Rwanda has the oldest montane rainforest in East Africa called Nyungwe forest national park, best destination for chimpanzee trekking and other primates like the colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys to mention a few. Akagera national park is Rwanda’s wildlife safari with all the big 5 game and other animals like buffaloes, giraffes, hyenas, and different antelope species. Other destinations to visit in Rwanda are Kigali city, one of the best cities to visit in Africa with great history to learn from and given her history of the 1994 genocide, the country has several sites to visit.

Highlights of the 7 Days Best of Rwanda Safari

Day 1: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park.
Day 2: Gorilla Trekking Rwanda.
Day 3: Transfer to Nyungwe forest national park
Day 4: Chimpanzee tracking and Canopy Walk.
Day 5: Transfer to Akagera national park.
Day 6: Early morning game drive and Ihema Boat Cruise.
Day 7: 3rd July 2020: Return to Kigali & Departure

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park.

Upon arrival in Kigali airport or depending on your location in Kigali, your allocated safari guide will meet you up at your provided location and given time. He will brief you about your trip thereafter; get prepared to set off for Volcanoes national park. Depending on the time of meet up and if you are interested, a city tour can start off your experience of Rwanda, a country of a thousand hills. You may visit the Kigali genocide memorial, Kimoronko market and other interesting places around Kigali city. Volcanoes national park is located in the north-western part of Rwanda about 2-3 hours’ drive from Kigali city. The park is located on one of the eight Virunga Mountains and it is basically home to some of the mountain gorillas only found in East and central Africa. The town where we find the park is called Musanze so when you reach Musanze, given the time, have your lunch after you check-in your reserved accommodation where you will dinner and overnight stay.

Luxury option: 5 Volcanoes Gorilla lodge/Virunga lodge
Mid-range option: Le Bambou Gorilla lodge/Da Vinci Gorilla lodge
Budget option: Hotel Muhabura/Kinigi Guesthouse

Day 2: Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda.

Wakeup to an early morning breakfast then your safari driver will drive you to the park head headquarters where you will be briefed and allocation of Gorilla trekking groups of only 8 people. Thereafter head into the cloddy and misty forest of Virunga national park for your gorilla trekking journey which is anticipated to last between 2 to 6 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas. Finding the gorillas is so exciting, you put out your cameras for photos as you will only have 1 hour to view the gorillas while they play and feed. Thereafter, exit the forest and return to meet your guide and drive back to your reserved accommodation. Spend the rest of your afternoon/evening at leisure as you wait for dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above.

Day 3: Transfer to Nyungwe forest national park

Breakfast will be served early, check-out of the lodge, connect Iby’iwachu cultural village for a cultural experience tour before you embark on your drive to Nyungwe forest national park. This park is located in the southwestern part of Rwanda. Nyungwe forest is the largest remaining tract of montane rainforest in East Africa with 13 primate species present including chimpanzees and other several monkeys. It is about 6-7 hours’ drive from Musanze to Nyungwe forest with great views of the rolling hills, Virunga Mountains and Lake Kivu. On arrival, connect to your accommodation for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.

Luxury option: One and Only Nyungwe House
Mid-range option: Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel
Budget option: Gisakura Visitors Centre

Day 4: Chimpanzee tracking and Canopy Walk

Enjoy breakfast; go for briefing before entering the forest, searching for the active and playful fellows in Nyungwe forest. The Chimpanzees are the easy to spot, as they jump from one tree to another, chattering and laughing. Chimp tracking usually takes about 3 hours. You will then return to your accommodation for lunch.

After lunch, you will go on a walking trail that will take you to the Canopy Walk, a swing bridge 50 meters in length that is suspended from large trees. You will be able to see the amazing rainforest with a bird’s eye view, spotting wildlife moving about below you. Before night fall, you will return to the hotel for dinner and overnight at lodge as above

Day 5: Transfer to Akagera national park.

Have breakfast, transfer to Akagera national park. This park is located in the north eastern part of Rwanda with savannah type of vegetation suitable for wildlife habitats. You will first drive to Kigali where you will arrive in time for lunch in Kigali. Thereafter, proceed to Akagera national park. The whole journey takes about 6 to 8 hours’ with en-route stops. Upon arrival, enter the park with en-route game drive for available animals. Check-in your lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay

Luxury option: Ruzizi tented camp
Mid-range option: Akagera game lodge
Budget option: Dereva hotel

Day 6: Early morning game drive and Ihema Boat Cruise.

Rise up early and go for a game drive with great anticipation of seeing the different animals which rise early to graze and predators looking for their early morning kill. After the game drive, return to the lodge to freshen up and embark on your journey to Volcanoes national park with lunch en-route, arriving at Ruhengeri in the evening. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above.

Day 7: Return to Kigali & Departure

Enjoy breakfast at leisure and transfer back to Kigali. If the city tour wasn’t possible on the day of arrival, you will have a brief city tour and transfer to the airport for your onward flight.