Rwanda Primate & Big Five Safari

Your Rwanda adventure begins with a morning pickup from Kigali International Airport or your hotel. Meet your professional safari guide before beginning the scenic journey north toward Volcanoes National Park. The drive takes you through Rwanda's famous rolling hills, agricultural landscapes, villages, and countryside before reaching the dramatic Virunga volcanic region.

Arrive in the Musanze area and check into your lodge. Spend the afternoon relaxing after the journey and preparing for your gorilla trekking experience. Depending on your arrival time and interests, you can explore the local surroundings or enjoy views of the volcanic mountains before dinner and overnight.

Meals: Lunch & Dinner

Transport: Pop-up roof 4x4 vehicle — approximately 115 km / 2.5–3 hours from Kigali.

After an early breakfast, proceed to the park headquarters for your gorilla trekking briefing. Meet your trekking team and begin your hike into the mist-covered bamboo and montane forests of the Virunga Mountains. The trek can vary considerably in duration depending on where the gorilla family is located and the terrain you encounter.

Once you locate the gorilla family, you'll spend your permitted viewing time observing their behavior and photographing these remarkable primates from a respectful distance. After the trek, return to the lodge to rest and enjoy dinner while reflecting on one of Africa's most extraordinary wildlife experiences.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Transport: Pop-up roof 4x4 vehicle — local transfers to and from the park headquarters; trekking distance and duration vary according to gorilla movements.

Enjoy a more relaxed day in the Volcanoes region following your gorilla trekking adventure. Depending on your interests and energy levels, explore the surrounding communities, learn about local culture, or enjoy a guided nature experience in the area.

The volcanic landscape provides beautiful opportunities for photography, with terraced hills, traditional villages, and the dramatic Virunga peaks forming the backdrop. Return to your lodge for a relaxed evening and prepare for the next stage of your Rwanda adventure.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Transport: Pop-up roof 4x4 vehicle — approximately 20–50 km of local transfers, depending on selected activities.

After breakfast, begin the long but scenic journey south toward Nyungwe National Park. Travel through Rwanda's spectacular highland landscapes, passing agricultural communities and rolling hills along the way.

Arrive in the Nyungwe region later in the day and check into your forest lodge. Enjoy the peaceful surroundings and prepare for your upcoming chimpanzee trekking experience. The evening is ideal for relaxing after the long journey through southern Rwanda.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Transport: Pop-up roof 4x4 vehicle — approximately 250–280 km / 7–8 hours.

Rise early and head to the designated trekking briefing point for your chimpanzee experience. After a briefing from the park team, enter Nyungwe's ancient rainforest in search of habituated chimpanzee communities. The forest is also home to numerous other primates, including colobus monkeys and mangabeys, making every trek an opportunity for multiple wildlife encounters.

Once the chimpanzees are located, observe their fascinating behavior as they move through the forest canopy and understory. Return to your lodge after the trek for lunch and relaxation. Spend the evening enjoying the tranquility of one of Africa's oldest montane forests.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Transport: Pop-up roof 4x4 vehicle — local park transfers; trekking distance and duration vary according to chimpanzee movements.

After breakfast, enjoy another opportunity to experience the remarkable Nyungwe ecosystem. Depending on availability and your selected activities, explore the forest through a guided nature walk or experience the famous Nyungwe Canopy Walk, suspended high above the forest floor.

The forest offers excellent opportunities to observe primates, colorful birds, butterflies, orchids, and other species. Return to your lodge later in the day for a relaxed afternoon and dinner surrounded by the sounds of the rainforest.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Transport: Pop-up roof 4x4 vehicle — approximately 20–60 km of local transfers depending on activities.

After breakfast, depart Nyungwe and begin the journey toward eastern Rwanda and Akagera National Park. The scenery gradually changes from dense rainforest and highland landscapes to open countryside and savannah environments.

Arrive near Akagera in the afternoon and check into your lodge. If time permits, enjoy a short introductory game drive before sunset. Relax at your accommodation in preparation for the wildlife-focused days ahead.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Transport: Pop-up roof 4x4 vehicle — approximately 300–330 km / 7–8 hours.

After an early breakfast, depart for a full-day game drive through Akagera National Park. Explore open savannahs, woodland, wetlands, and rolling hills while searching for elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, lions, and other wildlife.

Akagera is one of Rwanda's most inspiring conservation success stories and offers the opportunity to see a remarkable variety of wildlife within a relatively compact ecosystem. Enjoy a picnic lunch during the safari before continuing your afternoon exploration and returning to your lodge in the evening.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Transport: Pop-up roof 4x4 vehicle — approximately 100–150 km of game viewing.

Begin the day with an early morning game drive when wildlife is most active. Continue your search for Akagera's Big Five while exploring areas where recent wildlife movements offer the best opportunities for sightings. Your guide will look for elephants, buffaloes, lions, rhinos, leopards, giraffes, zebras, and numerous antelope species.

Later, enjoy a scenic boat cruise on Lake Ihema. Cruise through the lake's calm waters while observing hippos, Nile crocodiles, African fish eagles, kingfishers, herons, and other waterbirds. The combination of land and water-based wildlife viewing provides a different perspective of Akagera before returning to your lodge.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Transport: Pop-up roof 4x4 vehicle — approximately 80–120 km of game viewing; boat cruise approximately 1.5–2 hours.

Enjoy your final full day in Akagera with another extensive game drive. The additional time gives your guide an opportunity to explore different habitats and focus on species you may not have encountered during the previous drives.

Search once again for lions, elephants, buffaloes, rhinos, leopards, giraffes, zebras, hippos, and other wildlife while enjoying the park's beautiful scenery. Depending on your interests, the day can also focus on birdwatching and photography before returning to your lodge for your final evening in the Rwandan wilderness.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Transport: Pop-up roof 4x4 vehicle — approximately 100–150 km of game viewing.

Enjoy a final early morning game drive before breakfast, giving you one last opportunity to photograph Akagera's wildlife in the beautiful morning light. Return to the lodge for breakfast and check out before beginning your journey back to Kigali.

Travel through Rwanda's scenic countryside toward the capital. Arrive in Kigali in the afternoon and transfer to Kigali International Airport or your hotel, bringing your 11-Day Rwanda Primate & Big Five Safari to an unforgettable close.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Transport: Pop-up roof 4x4 vehicle — approximately 110 km / 2.5–3 hours to Kigali.