This 6-Day Rwanda Wildlife & Gorilla Safari Adventure is one of our most magical and preferred safari tours, offering a remarkable encounter with mountain gorillas and chimpanzees in the “Land of a Thousand Hills.”
The 6-Day Rwanda Wildlife & Gorilla Safari Itinerary provides a great opportunity to undertake a game drive in Akagera National Park, canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest National Park, and cultural tours in Butare and Kigali cities, completing your safari with us.
Some of the camps where you’ll stay include Ruzizi Tented Camp, Karenga Bush Camp, and Magashi Camp, among others.
6-Day Rwanda Safari Highlights
- Day 1: Transfer to Akagera National Park
- Day 2: Morning Game Drive & Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
- Day 3: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes NP
- Day 4: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park
- Day 5: Chimpanzee Trekking & Canopy Walk
- Day 6: Transfer back to Kigali
Detailed 6-Day Rwanda Safari Itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Akagera National Park
This tour begins in Kigali at 7:00 am, ready to transfer to Akagera National Park, the only Savannah national park in Rwanda. On the way, visit Nyakarambi village and learn about the Imigongo cow dung paintings crafted by the Kakira Women’s Cooperative.
These paintings, dried and mixed with natural colors from plants, decorate various houses, showcasing their vibrant colors and unique attractiveness.
Upon arrival at your accommodation, check-in and have lunch. In the afternoon, take a boat trip on Lake Ihema to spot various water birds, including the rare shoebill stork. You may also see big reptiles like hippos, Nile crocodiles, and land animals such as antelopes, buffaloes, and elephants.
After this excursion, return to your lodge, enjoy a sundowner on your room’s balcony, a comforting bonfire, and the soothing sounds of the African wilderness.
Day 2: Morning Game Drive & Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
After an early breakfast at 6:00 am, embark on a morning game drive in Akagera National Park to catch sight of nocturnal hunters and early risers. Search for big mammals like elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, various antelope species, and recently reintroduced lions and eastern black rhinos.
The park hosts a diverse wildlife habitat and over 500 bird species, making it a vibrant birding paradise. Return to the lodge for check-out and take packed lunch.
Begin your transfer to Volcanoes National Park in the north-west, Rwanda’s gorilla destination. Arrive in the evening, check-in at the lodge, and overnight stay.
Day 3: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes NP
After breakfast, head to the national park headquarters for a briefing from park officials on the dos and don’ts while with the gorillas. Get assigned a ranger guide and the mountain gorilla family you’ll track. Enter the jungle to search for mountain gorillas, an amazing experience limited to a small group of visitors.
Spend an hour observing their behaviors and way of life before returning to the lodge by 2:00 pm. Enjoy refreshments and lunch at the lodge.
In the evening, visit Iby’Iwachu Village, immersed in the cultures of Rwanda’s three tribes: Hutu, Tutsi, and Twa. Experience their lifestyle, activities, artifacts, traditional performances, cuisine, and cultural insights.
Day 4: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park
Start your day with breakfast in Volcanoes National Park. Check-out and depart for Nyungwe Forest National Park. En route, stop at Lake Kivu for a thrilling boat cruise and lunch on the white sand beaches of Rwanda’s largest lake.
After the cruise, continue southwards to Rusizi, home of Nyungwe Forest National Park. Nyungwe is famous for chimpanzees and offers East Africa’s only canopy walk experience. Relax at the lodge in the evening.
Day 5: Chimpanzee Trekking & Canopy Walk
Enjoy an early breakfast before embarking on a hike to search for resident chimpanzee troops. Nyungwe National Park is home to approximately 400-500 chimpanzees, including a small troop in Cyamudongo Forest.
Listen for their calls as you trek through the dense forest, where you might also spot migratory birds like the grey-cheeked hornbill, Ross’ turaco, regal sunbird, and red-breasted sparrow hawk.
After lunch, experience the canopy walk, offering views of elusive animals, primates, and birdlife in Nyungwe Forest. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 6: Transfer back to Kigali
Enjoy an early breakfast and depart Nyungwe for Kigali city in the central province, approximately a 5-hour drive. Along the way, visit the Royal Palace Museum and Ethnographic Museum in Nyanza Southern Province.
After lunch, head directly to Kigali to mark the end of your 6-Day Rwanda Wildlife & Gorilla Safari Adventure.
