Experience the best of Rwanda's wildlife and natural wonders with our comprehensive 5-day safari combining the savanna landscapes of Akagera National Park with the misty mountain forests of Volcanoes National Park. This carefully crafted itinerary offers two spectacular but completely different wildlife experiences: traditional big game viewing and the once-in-a-lifetime mountain gorilla trek.
Begin your adventure in Akagera National Park, Rwanda's only savanna reserve and home to the "Big Five" (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and buffalo). Enjoy multiple game drives and a boat safari on Lake Ihema, exploring diverse ecosystems from lakes and swamps to woodlands and open plains teeming with wildlife.
Then venture to Volcanoes National Park in the Virunga Mountains for the highlight of your journey - tracking endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. Under the guidance of experienced rangers, you'll trek through bamboo forests to spend a magical hour with a gorilla family, observing their remarkably human-like behaviors and social interactions.
| Number of People | Price Per Person |
|---|---|
| 1 person | $5,181 |
| 2 Pax | $4,421 |
| 3 Pax | $4,201 |
| 4 Pax | $4,092 |
| 5 Pax | $4,025 |
| 6 Pax | $3,981 |
| 7 Pax | $3,949 |
Note: Gorilla permit fee of $1,500 per person is included in the above prices.
Your adventure begins with an early morning pick-up from your Kigali hotel or the airport. Meet your guide who will accompany you throughout your safari journey. Begin the scenic 2.5-hour drive east to Akagera National Park, Rwanda's only savanna reserve and home to the "Big Five." The landscape gradually transforms from the hills of Kigali to flatter, more open terrain as you approach the park.
Arrive at the park entrance around mid-morning. After a brief orientation at the visitor center, proceed to your accommodations for check-in and lunch. After some time to settle in and refresh, embark on your first game drive in the northern section of the park. This afternoon excursion offers your first opportunity to spot wildlife such as zebras, giraffes, elephants, antelopes, and perhaps even some of the recently reintroduced lions or rhinos. The park's varied landscape includes open grasslands, acacia woodland, and scenic lakes, providing diverse habitats for numerous species.
As the sun begins to set, return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay. Enjoy the sounds of the African wilderness as you relax at your accommodation inside or near the park. Depending on your accommodation choice, you might have the opportunity to observe wildlife visiting nearby waterholes or listen to the calls of nocturnal animals from the comfort of your room.
Overnight: Accommodation in or near Akagera National Park
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Rise early for breakfast before embarking on a morning game drive. The early hours offer excellent wildlife viewing opportunities as animals are typically more active during the cooler parts of the day. With your guide's expertise, explore different sections of the park, focusing on areas where wildlife is most likely to be spotted. Along the way, learn about the park's remarkable conservation success story – from near destruction during Rwanda's troubled times to its current status as a thriving ecosystem.
Return to your lodge for lunch and a brief rest during the hottest part of the day. This is a good time to relax and enjoy the facilities at your accommodation.
In the afternoon, experience one of the highlights of Akagera – a boat safari on Lake Ihema, the largest lake in the park. This two-hour boat trip provides excellent opportunities to view hippos, crocodiles, and numerous waterbirds up close. The lakeshore is also frequented by other wildlife coming to drink, particularly as the afternoon progresses.
After the boat safari, enjoy a sunset game drive as you return to your lodge. This time of day often offers unique photographic opportunities with wildlife silhouetted against the dramatic African sunset. Return to your accommodation for dinner and your second night in Akagera.
Overnight: Accommodation in or near Akagera National Park
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Enjoy an early breakfast before setting out on a final morning game drive in Akagera, targeting areas you haven't yet explored. This provides one last opportunity to spot any wildlife you might have missed on previous drives and to take some final photographs of the park's beautiful landscapes.
After your game drive, check out from your accommodation and begin the journey to Volcanoes National Park in the northwest of Rwanda, approximately a 5-6 hour drive. The journey takes you back through Kigali and then northwest through Rwanda's beautiful countryside, often referred to as "the land of a thousand hills." Enjoy a packed lunch or stop at a restaurant en route.
The landscape dramatically changes as you approach the Virunga Mountains, with terraced hillsides giving way to more densely forested slopes. Arrive at your accommodation near Volcanoes National Park in the late afternoon. After checking in, receive a briefing about tomorrow's gorilla trekking experience, including what to expect, what to wear, and proper gorilla viewing etiquette.
Enjoy dinner at your lodge or hotel and take time to rest and prepare for the early start and physical activity of tomorrow's gorilla trek. Your accommodation will have your packed lunch prepared for the trek.
Overnight: Accommodation near Volcanoes National Park
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Wake up early for breakfast at your accommodation. At around 6:30 AM, transfer to the park headquarters at Kinigi for the 7:00 AM briefing by park rangers. During this briefing, you'll learn about gorilla behavior, trekking protocols, and safety measures. You'll also be assigned to one of the habituated gorilla families based on your fitness level and preferences. There are multiple gorilla families in the park, each with its unique characters and history.
After the briefing, drive to your designated trailhead to begin your trek into the forest with your guides and armed rangers. The trek duration varies depending on the location of your assigned gorilla family and can range from 30 minutes to 4+ hours of hiking through sometimes challenging terrain. The anticipation builds as trackers communicate the gorillas' location to your guide.
Once you locate the gorilla family, you'll have a magical hour in their presence. Watch as they feed, play, groom each other, and care for their young. Witness the impressive silverback males, protective mothers, playful juveniles, and curious infants in their natural environment. This is a profound wildlife encounter that few experiences can match. Your guide will ensure you maintain the appropriate distance (7 meters/21 feet) while helping you find the best viewing positions.
After your hour with the gorillas, trek back to the trailhead where your vehicle awaits. The return hike is often filled with excitement and discussion about the incredible encounter you've just experienced. Return to your accommodation for lunch or enjoy your packed lunch, depending on the timing of your trek.
Spend the remainder of the day at leisure, reflecting on your gorilla encounter. You might choose to visit nearby communities, explore local markets, or simply relax at your accommodation. Enjoy dinner and overnight at your lodge or hotel near Volcanoes National Park.
Overnight: Accommodation near Volcanoes National Park
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, you have the option to participate in another activity in or near Volcanoes National Park (additional cost applies). Options include:
Alternatively, you can simply relax at your accommodation and enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery.
After your optional activity or leisure time, check out from your accommodation and enjoy lunch before beginning the journey back to Kigali (approximately 2-2.5 hours). Upon arrival in Kigali, time permitting, you might have the opportunity for some souvenir shopping or a brief city tour.
Transfer to your Kigali hotel or to the airport for your departure flight, concluding your 5-day Akagera and Volcanoes National Park safari. If your flight departs the following day, we can arrange additional accommodation in Kigali (not included in the package price).
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Located in eastern Rwanda along the border with Tanzania, Akagera National Park covers approximately 1,122 square kilometers of savanna, woodlands, lakes, and swamps. It represents the northernmost extension of the savanna ecosystem typical of eastern and southern Africa.
The park is named after the Akagera River that flows along its eastern boundary, feeding into several lakes, the largest being Lake Ihema. This diverse landscape supports a wide variety of wildlife, including recently reintroduced lions (2015) and black rhinos (2017), making it once again home to the "Big Five" after years of conservation efforts.
Akagera is approximately a 2.5-hour drive from Kigali, making it the most accessible safari destination in Rwanda. The park's relatively compact size means that it's possible to see a significant portion of its diverse ecosystems in just a couple of days.
Located in northwestern Rwanda, Volcanoes National Park (Parc National des Volcans) protects the Rwandan portion of the Virunga Mountains, a range of extinct and active volcanoes that straddle the borders of Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The park covers an area of approximately 160 square kilometers.
The park is home to five of the eight volcanoes in the Virunga range: Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhabura, Gahinga, and Sabyinyo. These mountains range in altitude from 2,300 to 4,507 meters (Mount Karisimbi being the highest) and create diverse habitats including bamboo forests, meadows, marshes, and heath zones at various elevations.
Volcanoes National Park is most famous for its population of mountain gorillas, but it also hosts golden monkeys, forest elephants, buffaloes, and numerous bird species. The park is approximately a 2-2.5 hour drive from Kigali and is accessible via a well-maintained road.
This area gained international attention through the work of primatologist Dian Fossey, whose research and conservation efforts were chronicled in the book and film "Gorillas in the Mist." Her former research station, Karisoke, is accessible via a hike within the park.
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