10-Day Classic Rwanda Safari

Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by our 10-Day Classic Rwanda Safari driver/guide who will drive you to your accommodation for the night.  Relax and unwind as you prepare for the exciting adventure ahead.

• Accommodation: Hotel Des Mille Collines
• Meals: D

After an early breakfast, you will set off for Akagera National Park. This is a scenic 2.5-hour drive from Kigali. Akagera National Park is a 2,500 sq. km savannah park west of the Kagera River. The park has several wildlife species, including the Big 5.

On arrival, you will enjoy a game drive around the park before checking into your accommodation. You will have lunch and then head out for a boat safari on Lake Ihema, where you can spot hippos, crocodiles, and various birds, such as the African fish eagle, pied kingfisher, and many more.

• Accommodation: Akagera Safari Camp
• Meals: B, L, D

You will start your day very early with breakfast before heading out for a morning game drive. This is the best time to spot predators like lions, leopards, and hyenas. You will also see a variety of other wildlife, such as Burchell’s zebra, impala, and waterbuck.

You will enjoy a picnic lunch after which you will continue exploring the park’s vast savannah before returning to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

• Accommodation: Akagera Safari Camp
• Meals: B, L, D

After breakfast, you will return to Kigali arriving in time for lunch. In the afternoon, visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial where over 250,000 victims of the 1994 Rwandan genocide are buried. The memorial serves as both a museum and an education center offering insights into Rwanda’s history. Afterward, return to your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.

• Accommodation: Hotel Des Mille Collines
• Meals: B, L, D

Following breakfast, you will head to Nyungwe Forest National Park, one of Africa’s oldest rainforests. The drive will take about five hours giving you plenty of time to enjoy the scenic views of the Rwandan countryside.

Along the way, you will stop at the Royal Palace Museum in Nyanza and the Ethnographic Museum in Huye. These stops will give you a great insight into Rwanda’s history and culture. You will arrive in Nyungwe in the evening and rest at your lodge.

• Accommodation: Nyungwe Top View Hotel
• Meal plan:  B, L, D

After an early breakfast, you will head to the park offices for a briefing before starting your chimpanzee tracking adventure. Accompanied by a 10-Day Classic Rwanda Safari guide, you will hike through the dense forest in search of chimps and other primates. During your hike, you might spot some species of monkeys, sometimes in large groups, and many different bird species. Once you find the chimps, you will spend an hour with them before heading back.

After the hike, you will return to the lodge for lunch and then go for a canopy walk in the park. This is a suspended bridge 70 meters above the ground that gives you a unique view of the forest and a chance to see primates high up in the trees. You will then return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

• Accommodation: Nyungwe Top View Hotel
• Meal plan: B, L,D

Spend the day leisurely exploring Lake Kivu. You can take a boat ride to visit nearby islands, observe local fishing practices, and interact with island communities. You might also enjoy a nature walk, witnessing the natural beauty and birdlife.

• Accommodation: Emeraude Kivu Resort
• Meals: B, L, D

After an early breakfast, you will drive to Volcanoes National Park. Along the way, you will stop at the Iby’iwacu Cultural Village to experience traditional Rwandan culture. After lunch, continue to the park, where you’ll settle in for the night.

• Accommodation: Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
• Meal plan: B, L, D

This day promises to be one of the most memorable of your 10-Day Classic Rwanda Safari. After an early breakfast, head to the park headquarters for a briefing on gorilla trekking. In small groups, you will set off into the dense forest with experienced guides to track a gorilla family. The trek can be challenging, with steep and muddy paths, but the reward is well worth the effort.

Upon finding the gorillas, you will have the opportunity to spend an hour observing these gentle giants in their natural habitat. Watch as they play, feed, and interact as you gain insight into their daily lives. After this unforgettable encounter, return to the lodge for lunch and then go on an excursion to explore the beautiful twin lakes in the region (Lake Bulera & Ruhondo).

• Accommodation: Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
• Meal plan: B, L, D

After an early breakfast at the lodge, you will head out to Volcanoes National Park headquarters for a golden monkey trekking experience. The trek will take you through lush forests and scenic landscapes as your experienced 10-Day Classic Rwanda Safari guides share their knowledge about the golden monkeys and the park’s diverse ecosystem. Upon finding the golden monkeys, you will have the opportunity to spend an hour observing them. Unlike the gorillas, golden monkeys are playful and quick, often engaging in hide-and-seek games so you might have to follow them around.

Once your trek is complete, you will return to the lodge for a well-deserved rest and lunch. In the early afternoon, you will end your 10-Day Classic Rwanda Safari with a journey back to Kigali and then to Kigali International Airport for your departure flight.

• Meal Plan: B, L

End of 10-Day Classic Rwanda Safari