This 9 days Rwanda safari is one of the most rewarding offers set for you to explore iconic sites in the Land of a Thousand Hills. This package is exceptional and it takes you through a memorable game drive, boat/launch cruise in Akagera National Park, chimpanzee tracking, canopy walk, colobus tracking in Nyungwe Forest National Park and gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park. It also includes Kigali city tour for you to visit iconic historic sites, nearby local markets and many more. Your 9 days Rwanda safari starts and ends in Kigali.
What to expect on the 9 days Rwanda safari?
- Kigali city tour
- Magical encounter with chimpanzees, mountain gorillas, golden monkeys and variety of other primate species.
- Game drives and boat cruise in Akagera National Park
- Ground transportation in a 4×4 drive safari car
- Service of an English-speaking driver guide
Brief itinerary of 9 days Rwanda safari
Day 1: Kigali city tour
Day 2: Drive from Kigali to Akagera National Park
Day 3: Game drive in the morning and drive to Butare
Day 4: Explore Butare and connect to Nyungwe Forest National Park
Day 5: Chimpanzee tracking and community tour
Day 6: Colobus monkey tracking and canopy walk in Nyungwe National Park
Day 7: Drive to Volcanoes National Park
Day 8: Gorilla trekking
Day 9: Golden monkey tracking/Dian Fossey hike and drive back to Kigali
Detailed itinerary of your 9 days Rwanda safari
Day 1: Kigali city tour
After an early morning breakfast, you have city tour in Kigali, one of the most vibrant and cleanest cities in Africa. Today, you will pay a visit to Kigali genocide site in Gisozi to learn what took place during the 1994 Rwanda genocide, presidential palace museum where the late President Juvenal Habyarimana lost his life during the plane crash. Other sites to explore include craft markets/centers, Hotel Des Collines. Later, drive back to the hotel for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation options in Kigali
Luxury: Kigali Serena Hotel
Midrange: Hotel Chez Lando
Budget: Murugo Rwanda Hostel
Day 2: Drive from Kigali to Akagera National Park
Enjoy your delicious breakfast early in the morning and later, start your 2-3-hour road trip to Akagera National Park in the Eastern Province of Rwanda. Arrive early enough and have lunch at the lodge then in the afternoon, you have a boat/launch cruise via Lake Ihema, Rwanda’s second largest lakes. This will reward you with astonishing sights at huge concentration of hippos, crocodiles, water birds and many other savanna dwellers that roam along the lake shores. This thrilling and exciting watersport will last for about 2-3 hours and after, return to the safari lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation choices at Akagera National Park
Luxury: Magashi Tented Camp/Ruzizi Tented Camp
Midrange: Akagera Game Lodge
Budget: Dereva Hotel
Day 3: Game drive in the morning and drive to Butare
You will be served with a cup of tea or coffee and after, you have a game drive via the northern side of the park and will last for about 2-3 hours. On a game drive, expect to see variety of savanna dwellers including early morning risers. You will be exposed to wildlife species such as impalas, waterbucks, zebras, giraffes, lions, leopards, African bush elephants, buffaloes, birds, rhinos to mention but a few. later, drive back while enjoying the breathtaking landscape and several wildlife then get to the lodge for lunch and some rest. In the afternoon, drive to Butare about 4 hours’ drive depending on driver’s speed.
Accommodation choices at Butare
Luxury: Barthos Hotel
Midrange: Hotel Faucon
Budget: Shalom Guest House
Day 4: Explore Butare and connect to Nyungwe Forest National Park
Wake up early in the morning to enjoy your breakfast and later, visit Nyanza Palace where King Musinga and his successor king Rudahigwa stayed. This site is comprised of an exceptional hut crafted in traditional architecture and the traditional Inyambo cows surround it. Later, you will pay a visit to the Ethnographic museum that consists of several artifacts and genocide sites. Enjoy your lunch in Butare and later, drive to Nyungwe National Park about 3 hours’ drive.
Accommodation choices at Nyungwe Forest National Park
Luxury: Nyungwe Forest Hotel
Midrange: Nyungwe Hill Top View Hotel
Budget: Gisakura Guesthouse
Day 5: Chimpanzee tracking and community tour
Enjoy your delicious cup of tea or coffee at your respective lodge and after, meet other trekkers at Uwinka Visitor Center for briefing on chimpanzee tracking guidelines. Later, begin your search for chimpanzees at 8:00am together with the park ranger guide. This will take you approximately 2-4 hours depending on your hiking speed, landscape and along the way, don’t miss to spot out birds, other primates. In the afternoon, you have community tour for you to interact and learn more about the traditional and cultural practices of local residents adjacent Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Accommodation choices at Nyungwe Forest National Park
Luxury: Nyungwe Forest Hotel
Midrange: Nyungwe Hill Top View Hotel
Budget: Gisakura Guesthouse
Day 6: Colobus monkey tracking and canopy walk in Nyungwe National Park
Begin your day with a delicious cup of tea or coffee and after, you embark on colobus monkey tracking in the lush Nyungwe Forest. You will be amazed by large groups of colobus monkeys, especially the black and white colobus monkeys plus other monkeys like the red-tailed monkeys, grey cheeked mangabeys, L’Hoest monkeys; birds among others. After, return to enjoy your lunch and have some rest then in the afternoon, you have a canopy walk via suspended above Nyungwe forest tree top walk way which takes you about 2 hours. On a canopy walk, don’t miss incredible sights at distinct bird species, primates and scenic forest canopy.
Accommodation choices at Nyungwe Forest National Park
Luxury: Nyungwe Forest Hotel
Midrange: Nyungwe Hill Top View Hotel
Budget: Gisakura Guesthouse
Day 7: Drive to Volcanoes National Park
Drive from Nyungwe National Park to Volcanoes National Park after your breakfast about 9 hours’ drive. Despite the long hours, you won’t be left bored since you will be thrilled by the scenic views of Lake Kivu and hilly side of Rwanda. En-route, you have lunch and later, drive to Volcanoes National Park to check in at the gorilla lodge.
Accommodation options at Volcanoes National Park
Luxury: Mountain Gorilla View Hotel/Bisate Lodge
Midrange: La Palme Hotel/Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
Budget: Muhabura Hotel/Kinigi Guesthouse
Day 8: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Rise up early in the morning to start your day with a tasty cup of tea or coffee and later, gather at Kinigi park headquarters for briefing on gorilla trekking etiquette. At 8:00 am after you have allocated to a habituated family to trek in a group of 8 trekkers, hit the jungles together with the park ranger guide, porters and trackers.
Depending on your speed of hiking, where these majestic apes are and nature of their habitat, this adventure can take you about 2-6 hours. The gorilla groups to trek include Karisimbi, Sabyinyo, Susa A, Agashya, Kwitonda, Amahoro, Umubano, Ugenda, Hirwa and Bwenge. Once you get your gorilla group, you have only an hour of face to face encounter with them, explore their behaviors and take pictures. Later, get back to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation options at Volcanoes National Park
Luxury: Mountain Gorilla View Hotel/Bisate Lodge
Midrange: La Palme Hotel/Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
Budget: Muhabura Hotel/Kinigi Guesthouse
Day 9: Golden monkey tracking/Dian Fossey hike and drive back to Kigali
Gather at Kinigi park headquarters after breakfast where you will be briefed on the set safety measures to be observed while on trek to see golden monkeys. This primate adventure can take you about 4 hours and after, return to the lodge to check out ready to drive back to Kigali. The other option is Dian Fossey hike for you to learn about her gorilla conservation legacy. After your thrilling experience, return to the lodge to check out ready to make a return trip to Kigali.
End of the 9 days Rwanda safari
9 days Rwanda safari includes
- Gorilla permits ($1500 per person).
- Park entry fees
- All activities in the itinerary
- Ground transportation in a 4×4 drive safari car
- Services of an English-speaking driver guide
- Bottled water
- Accommodation and meals
- Relevant government taxes
- Border crossing from Uganda to Rwanda
9 days Rwanda safari excludes
- Person/medical insurance
- Tips to waiters, waitresses, park ranger guides, driver guides
- Laundry services
- Alcoholic drinks
- Accommodation in Kigali outside your travel plan
- Telephone calls
- Airfares
- Rwanda visa fees
Gorilla and chimpanzee trekking gear and equipment
- Waterproof hiking boots but should be lightweight
- Waterproof daypack.
- Sun screen
- Hat
- Insect repellent
- Long sleeved shirt/t-shirt
- Trousers
- Socks
- Gardening gloves.
- Bottled water and energy giving snacks
- Camera with no flashlight
Gorilla and chimpanzee trekking etiquette
- Only persons above 15 years are eligible to trek mountain gorillas
- No flashlight camera is allowed when taking pictures of gorillas
- You are advised to keep a distance of 7 meters away from these great apes at all times
- If you are not feeling well, you may not be allowed to trek gorillas
- Each gorilla group is trekked by only 8 visitors each day
- Upon finding gorillas, you have only an hour of magical encounter