5-Day Rwanda Gorillas & Wildlife Safari Tour

This 5-day safari takes you to Volcanoes National Park, famous for its mountain gorillas, and Akagera National Park. The trip includes gorilla trekking, game drives, a boat ride, and a Kigali city tour where you will visit the Rwanda Genocide Memorial, the Presidential Museum, local markets, and nearby communities around the two national parks.

5-Day Rwanda Gorillas & Wildlife Safari Highlights

• Day 1: Pick up from Kigali Airport & transfer to Akagera National Park
• Day 2: Game drive & afternoon boat ride on Lake Ihema
• Day 3: Travel to Volcanoes National Park
• Day 4: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
• Day 5: Return to Kigali & departure

Detailed 5-Day Rwanda Gorillas & Wildlife Safari Itinerary

Day 1: Pick up from Kigali Airport & transfer to Akagera National Park

On arrival at Kigali International Airport, meet your safari guide for a briefing about your 5-day trip. You will then be transferred to Akagera National Park in the east of Rwanda.

Depending on arrival time, you may do an afternoon game drive in the park. On this drive, you may see giraffes, buffaloes, spotted hyenas, elephants, and many bird species.

Dinner and overnight at Dereva Hotel (budget), Akagera Game Lodge (mid-range), or Magasha Tented Lodge (luxury).

Day 2: Game drive & afternoon boat ride on Lake Ihema

Have an early breakfast and set off for a morning game drive. Look out for lions, hyenas, leopards, buffaloes, elephants, giraffes, and antelopes, as well as many bird species.

Return to the lodge for lunch, then in the afternoon enjoy a boat ride on Lake Ihema. On this cruise, you may see hippos at their resting points, large crocodiles, and many waterbirds along the shores. Land animals like elephants and buffaloes also come to the lake to drink.

Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Travel to Volcanoes National Park

After breakfast, drive north to Ruhengeri, the gateway to Volcanoes National Park, home of Rwanda’s mountain gorillas.

Check into your lodge. In the afternoon, you can take an optional community tour to learn about the culture and traditions of local people living near the park.

Day 4: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park

After an early breakfast, transfer to the park headquarters in Kinigi for briefing. The park rangers will explain the rules and regulations of gorilla trekking before assigning you to a group of up to 8 people, each tracking a specific gorilla family.

The trek can take 2–7 hours depending on where the gorillas are located. Once you find them, you will spend 1 hour observing them as they feed, play, and interact.

After this special experience, return to your lodge for lunch and relaxation. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Day 5: Return to Kigali & departure

After breakfast, drive back to Kigali. Along the way, stop at the Genocide Memorial, cultural sites, and craft centers for souvenir shopping. After lunch, transfer to the airport for your departure flight.

End of 5 Days Rwanda Gorillas & Wildlife Safari.

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