8 Days Best of Rwanda Safari 

This 8 days Rwanda Safari is the best safari that traverses all corners of the country and brings out the best tour that Rwanda offers. On the safari, we tour open plains of Akagera National Park and we are able to explore the woodlands and grasslands. Wildlife in this flat terrain is an absolute gem and only on this corner of entire Rwanda. We travel south and traverse the highlands before settling in a rainforest environment. The habitat is enclosed, wildlife species are elusive and we traverse the rainforest searching for them. We will walk into the forest canopy and explore wildlife hidden above ground. We will explore the Volcanoes forest trekking the Mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. The gorilla trekking expedition is a mixture of thrill and excitement. We visit the local people in the neighboring village for brief moments shake off our different nationalities and just live Rwandan lifestyle.

Safari activities   

• Game viewing safari
• Boat cruise
• Chimpanzee tracking
• Canopy walk
• Mountain gorilla trekking
• Golden monkey trekking
• Cultural tour

Day 1: Travel to Akagera National Park

• Transfer to Kagera national park: You will be picked by our driver guide for your hotel in Kigali or Kigali International Airport, have a briefing about the safari and then transfer to Akagera national park which takes about 3 hours drive with stunning views on the way. Upon arrival, you will check into the lodge for lunch where after you will go for an afternoon game drive in the park looking out for animals like elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, elands, impalas, waterbucks, topi, oribi, bushbucks, zebras among others. Later return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 2: Game drive and boat cruise on Lake Ihema

• Morning game drive: Rise up at first light of the day and set out for a game viewing safari into the wilderness where you will be blown away by beautiful landscapes, a variety of lush vegetation, variety of mammal species in large numbers such as lions, buffaloes, leopards, giraffes, zebras, rhinos, hyenas, bushbucks, waterbucks, elands, impalas among other and a host of beautiful bird species. After the game drive, you will drive back to the lodge for lunch.
• Boat cruise on lake  Ihema: After lunch, you will explore Lake Ihema on the afternoon boat cruise where you will be able to view hippos and Nile crocodiles in water, view buffaloes, elephants and antelopes drinking water on the shores, spot aquatic bird species among others. Later return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Travel to Nyungwe Forest National Park

• Transfer to Nyungwe. You will enjoy an early morning breakfast, check out of the lodge and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Nyungwe forest national park. You will have a stopover at Nyanza and have a brief tour of traditional King’s palace and another stopover for en-route lunch at Butare and also have a brief tour of the National Museum. The visit to these two places opens up the travelers’ mind to the traditional lifestyles of the Rwandan people.  Upon arrival, you will connect to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 4: Chimp trekking and canopy walk

• Chimpanzee trekking :Today you will descend into the jungle and explore wildlife deep into the rainforest. You set out on chimpanzee trekking expedition very early morning with ranger escorts. You wander into the wilderness following chimpanzee calls and other fresh signs of chimpanzee presence. You may spot some of other dozen primate wildlife species inhabiting the forests. Once the chimpanzees are found, you will be allowed to spend one hour with them, learn about their behaviors, take pictures, videos among others. After the one hour with the chimpanzees, you will transfer back to the lodge for lunch.
• Canopy walk: After lunch, you will go for an exciting canopy walk where you will walk on a bridge suspended 70m above the ground into the forest canopy will sum up the day activities of Rwanda tour. Return to relax at the lodge. Often a cultural band performing traditional music entertains guests at the hotel.

Day 5: Travel to Volcanoes national park

• Transfer to volcanoes park: You set out after breakfast on a road travel north along the shores of Lake Kivu. The travel in the countryside brings travelers to interaction with the indigenous people in their everyday lifestyle. You will have a stopover at a lakeside town of Kibuye to stretch your legs, explore the beauty of Lake Kivu and have ample time for lunch. You will later proceed with sights of volcanic mountains and upon arrival in Volcanoes national park, check into your lodge for dinner and overnight. 

Day 6: Gorilla trekking experience

• Gorilla trekking : After an early breakfast, carry your packed lunch and meet up with your driver guide to transfer to Kinigi park headquarters in time for a gorilla trekking briefing about the rules and regulations. You descend into the rainforest and explore the jungle in search of the habituated mountain gorillas. Once they are located, you will get an opportunity to spend one hour with them, learn about their habits, watch them feed, play, rest, groom young ones, take photos and record the breathtaking moments. You will later meet with your safari guide and travel into the neighborhood to visit and interact with local people, listen to their stories, dance to their music, songs and watch their drama. The local people share their life experiences and lifestyle in that way.

Day 7: Golden monkey trekking  and transfer to Kigali

Golden monkey trekking: and transfer to Kigali Golden monkeys are unique primate species that share a habitat with mountain gorillas. You will set out from your lodge early morning with lunch boxes and meet at Kinigi tourism assembly point. Rangers will escort you on another exciting walk into the rainforest in search of the golden monkeys which takes about 2 to 5 hours depending on where they are located. Once the golden monkeys are found, you will spend an hour observing their behaviors, taking pictures and videos among others. Later return to the starting point where you will meet with your safari guide to transfer back to Kigali, traverse the beautiful countryside and check into your hotel upon arrival for an evening relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Day 8: Kigali city tour and Departure

Enjoy your stay in Rwanda.  Your safari guide will take you on tour of Kigali City to purchase Rwanda safari souvenir items, explore the Rwanda urban lifestyle, visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial center, Kimironko market, Art centers and learn about the history of Rwanda. Later your driver guide will drive you to Kigali airport in time for your departure flight.