7 Day Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safari – Akagera Wildlife, Nyungwe Chimps & Lake Kivu

Day 1: Transfer from Kigali to Akagera National Park & Lake Ihema Boat Cruise

After breakfast at around 10:00 AM, your professional driver-guide will pick you up from your hotel in Kigali for a scenic drive to Akagera National Park. The journey takes you through Rwanda’s picturesque countryside, with rolling hills, small rural communities, and beautiful landscapes along the way. Optional stopovers can be arranged for photography and brief insights into local culture.

Upon arrival, check in at your safari lodge and take time to relax before heading out for a sunset boat cruise on Lake Ihema. This peaceful evening excursion offers excellent opportunities to see hippos, Nile crocodiles, and a variety of aquatic bird species along the lush lakeshore — a perfect introduction to Rwanda’s wildlife.

Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Day 2: Full-Day Game Drive in Akagera National Park & Return to Kigali

Begin the day with an early breakfast before setting out on a full-day wildlife safari in Akagera National Park.

The park’s diverse ecosystems — including open savannah, acacia woodlands, rolling hills, and lakes — create ideal habitats for a wide range of wildlife. During your game drive, you may encounter members of Africa’s famous Big Five: lions, elephants, rhinos, buffaloes, and occasionally leopards.

Other wildlife commonly spotted includes topi, impalas, waterbucks, antelopes, baboons, and giraffes. The park is also a paradise for bird lovers, with over 500 bird species recorded.

After this unforgettable safari experience, enjoy a relaxed drive back to Kigali, arriving in the evening.

Dinner and overnight in Kigali.

Day 3: Scenic Drive to Musanze & Cultural Experience

After breakfast at 9:00 AM, depart Kigali for a scenic drive north to Musanze, the gateway to Rwanda’s volcanic region.

After lunch, visit the renowned Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village in Kinigi for an authentic cultural experience.

Here you will witness the energetic Intore traditional dance, historically performed by Rwanda’s royal warriors. The dancers, dressed in colorful traditional attire with sisal headdresses and ankle bells, perform powerful jumps and rhythmic movements symbolizing bravery, unity, and celebration.

After the cultural visit, return to your hotel in Musanze for dinner and overnight.

Day 4: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park & Transfer to Lake Kivu

After an early breakfast, your guide will pick you up at 6:00 AM and transfer you to the park headquarters of Volcanoes National Park for registration and a briefing about the gorilla trekking rules and safety guidelines.

From there, you will drive to the trekking starting point at the foothills of the Virunga Mountains. Accompanied by experienced park rangers and trackers, you will hike through bamboo forests and dense vegetation in search of a habituated gorilla family.

The trek may take 2 to 6 hours depending on your fitness level and the gorillas’ movements. Once located, you will spend one magical hour observing the gorillas as they feed, play, and interact in their natural environment.

After the trek, transfer to Gisenyi on the shores of Lake Kivu where you can relax by the lake in the evening.

Dinner and overnight by the lakeshore.

Day 5: Lake Kivu Exploration & Napoleon Island

After breakfast at 9:00 AM, begin your day with a visit to the nearby Lake Kivu hot springs before taking a scenic boat ride across the lake to Napoleon Island.

Known locally as Nyamunini Island, the island rises more than 100 meters above Lake Kivu and offers spectacular panoramic views of the surrounding water and hills. Its distinctive shape resembles Napoleon Bonaparte’s hat, which inspired its popular name.

The island is home to many bird species including palm-nut vultures, African fish eagles, hammerkops, and kingfishers. It also hosts a remarkable colony of over 40,000 straw-colored fruit bats, creating a fascinating wildlife spectacle.

After the excursion, return to your hotel in Karongi (Kibuye) for dinner and overnight.

Day 6: Nyungwe Forest Canopy Walk

After breakfast at 9:00 AM, depart for Nyungwe Forest National Park, one of Africa’s oldest and most biodiverse montane rainforests.

After lunch, embark on the famous Nyungwe Canopy Walk, one of Rwanda’s most exciting nature experiences. The walk begins along the scenic Igishigishi Trail, a 2.1-kilometer forest trail leading to a 160-meter suspended bridge high above the forest canopy.

From this vantage point, enjoy spectacular views of the dense rainforest and observe birds and monkeys moving through the treetops.

After the experience, return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 7: Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe Forest & Return to Kigali

Begin the day early at 5:00 AM, departing your lodge with a packed lunch and heading to the park headquarters for a briefing before starting your chimpanzee trekking adventure in Nyungwe Forest National Park.

Guided by experienced trackers, you will hike through the tropical forest in search of chimpanzees. Along the way, you may also encounter other primates such as red-tailed monkeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, and mangabeys.

After the trek, return to the lodge for lunch before departing for Kigali, marking the end of your unforgettable Rwanda wildlife and primate safari.