The 12 Days Rwanda Gorillas, Wildlife and Cultural Heritage Safari is an unforgettable journey through the Land of a Thousand Hills, combining mountain gorilla trekking, wildlife viewing, primate encounters, scenic landscapes and authentic cultural experiences. This comprehensive Rwanda safari tour takes you from Kigali to the savannah plains of Akagera National Park, the ancient rainforest of Nyungwe National Park, the tranquil shores of Lake Kivu and the volcanic mountains of Volcanoes National Park. You will enjoy game drives, a Lake Ihema boat safari, chimpanzee tracking, cultural experiences and the exceptional opportunity to trek mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. The itinerary is ideal for you if you want to experience the best of Rwanda gorilla trekking, Rwanda wildlife safaris and cultural tourism in one carefully organised adventure.
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali and Kigali City Tour
Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be welcomed by your Silverback Tour guide and transferred to your hotel in Kigali. Depending on your arrival time, you will begin your Rwanda safari with a guided tour of the capital city and its important historical and cultural attractions. You may visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial, local markets, craft centres and other notable landmarks while learning about Rwanda’s history and remarkable transformation. You will also have an opportunity to experience the clean streets, modern developments and welcoming atmosphere that characterise Kigali. Your guide will brief you about the safari programme and the destinations you will explore over the coming days. In the evening, you will return to your accommodation for dinner and relaxation.
Accommodation: Kigali Serena Hotel, Four Points by Sheraton Kigali, Hotel des Mille Collines
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 2: Kigali to Akagera National Park
After breakfast, you will depart Kigali and travel towards Akagera National Park in eastern Rwanda. The journey takes you through beautiful countryside, rolling hills, cultivated farmland and rural communities, offering your first extended view of Rwanda beyond the capital. Upon reaching Akagera, you will enter the park and begin an afternoon game drive across its picturesque savannah plains. You may encounter elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, antelopes and numerous bird species as you explore the park. Your guide will explain the different habitats and conservation initiatives that have restored Akagera into one of East Africa’s exciting wildlife destinations. After your game drive, you will proceed to your lodge, enjoy dinner and relax in the peaceful surroundings of the park.
Accommodation: Akagera Game Lodge, Karenge Bush Camp, Magashi Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Full-Day Wildlife Safari in Akagera National Park
Today you will enjoy a full-day Rwanda wildlife safari in Akagera National Park, beginning with an early morning game drive. The early hours offer excellent opportunities to observe animals when they are most active, including elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, impalas and other antelope species. With patience and favourable conditions, you may also encounter lions and other predators moving through the savannah. Your experienced guide will help you identify wildlife, explain animal behaviour and share information about the park’s conservation history. You will enjoy lunch before continuing with further exploration of Akagera’s varied landscapes, including wetlands and woodland areas. The day provides an excellent opportunity for wildlife photography and a memorable introduction to Rwanda’s savannah ecosystem.
Accommodation: Akagera Game Lodge, Karenge Bush Camp, Magashi Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Lake Ihema Boat Safari and Transfer to Kigali
After breakfast, you will enjoy a relaxing boat safari on Lake Ihema, one of Akagera National Park’s most popular attractions. From the water, you will have excellent opportunities to observe large concentrations of hippos, crocodiles and numerous water birds along the shoreline. You may also see elephants and other wildlife approaching the lake to drink, creating excellent photography opportunities. After the boat excursion, you will leave Akagera and travel back towards Kigali through Rwanda’s scenic countryside. Depending on your schedule, you may stop at selected viewpoints or local attractions along the way. Upon reaching Kigali, you will check into your hotel, enjoy dinner and relax before continuing towards Nyungwe National Park.
Accommodation: Kigali Serena Hotel, Four Points by Sheraton Kigali, Hotel des Mille Collines
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Kigali to Nyungwe National Park
After breakfast, you will depart Kigali and travel towards Nyungwe National Park in southwestern Rwanda. The journey takes you through spectacular highland scenery, terraced hills, tea plantations and rural communities. You will have opportunities to stop at scenic viewpoints and appreciate the landscapes that have earned Rwanda its reputation as the Land of a Thousand Hills. As you approach Nyungwe, the countryside gradually becomes increasingly forested, signalling your arrival at one of Africa’s most important montane rainforests. Upon reaching your lodge, you will check in and enjoy time to relax in the tranquil forest environment. Your guide will brief you about the following day’s chimpanzee tracking experience and the importance of Nyungwe to Rwanda’s primate conservation.
Accommodation: One&Only Nyungwe House, Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel, Nyungwe Nziza Eco Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6: Chimpanzee Tracking in Nyungwe National Park
Today you will embark on an exciting chimpanzee tracking experience in Rwanda, beginning with an early breakfast before entering Nyungwe National Park. Accompanied by experienced guides and trackers, you will follow forest trails in search of habituated chimpanzee communities. Nyungwe is also home to several other primate species, so you may encounter colobus monkeys, mangabeys, red-tailed monkeys and other forest wildlife during your adventure. Your guide will explain the behaviour, ecology and conservation of chimpanzees while you explore the ancient rainforest. The dense vegetation, towering trees and abundant birdlife create a spectacular setting for nature observation and photography. After the experience, you will return to your lodge for lunch, relaxation and another peaceful evening in the Nyungwe forest.
Accommodation: One&Only Nyungwe House, Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel, Nyungwe Nziza Eco Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7: Nyungwe Forest and Cultural Experience
After breakfast, you will spend part of the day exploring the natural and cultural attractions around Nyungwe. Depending on the selected programme and availability, you may enjoy a guided nature walk, canopy experience or visit a nearby tea-growing community. You will learn about the importance of the forest to local livelihoods and the role of community conservation in protecting Rwanda’s natural heritage. A visit to a tea plantation provides an opportunity to understand how tea is cultivated and processed while interacting respectfully with local communities. You will then continue your journey towards the Lake Kivu region, enjoying beautiful scenery along the way. Upon arrival, you will check into your accommodation and spend the evening relaxing beside one of Rwanda’s most beautiful lakes.
Accommodation: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel, Cleo Lake Kivu Hotel, Paradise Malahide
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8: Lake Kivu Experience and Transfer to Musanze
After breakfast, you will enjoy the peaceful surroundings of Lake Kivu before continuing towards the volcanic north of Rwanda. Depending on your preferred programme, you may take a boat excursion on the lake, visit one of its islands or enjoy a guided lakeside experience. Lake Kivu’s calm waters and surrounding green hills provide a spectacular setting for photography and relaxation. You will then continue towards Musanze, the gateway to Volcanoes National Park and the home of Rwanda’s famous mountain gorillas. Along the way, you will pass through terraced farmland, rural villages and dramatic volcanic landscapes. Upon arrival in Musanze, you will check into your lodge, enjoy dinner and receive a briefing about your upcoming gorilla trekking experience.
Accommodation: Virunga Lodge, Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Today is the major highlight of your 12 Days Rwanda Gorillas, Wildlife and Cultural Heritage Safari, as you embark on an unforgettable mountain gorilla trekking adventure. After an early breakfast, you will report to the park headquarters for a briefing before entering the forest with experienced guides and trackers. The trek can take several hours depending on the location of your assigned gorilla family and the terrain encountered along the way. Once you locate the gorillas, you will spend the permitted viewing period observing their fascinating behaviour and social interactions in their natural habitat. You will follow all park guidelines while taking photographs and appreciating this rare wildlife encounter. After the trek, you will return to your lodge for lunch, rest and an evening of relaxation after one of Rwanda’s most extraordinary wildlife experiences.
Accommodation: Virunga Lodge, Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10: Golden Monkey Trekking and Cultural Heritage Experience
After breakfast, you will return to Volcanoes National Park for an exciting golden monkey trekking experience. Golden monkeys are endemic to the Albertine Rift and are among the most fascinating primates found in Rwanda’s volcanic forests. You will hike through the forest accompanied by experienced trackers as you search for troops moving through the bamboo vegetation. After the trekking activity, you will enjoy a cultural heritage experience in the Musanze area. You may learn about traditional Rwandan music, dance, crafts, food preparation and local livelihoods while interacting respectfully with community members. This combination of primate viewing and cultural discovery provides a deeper understanding of the relationship between local communities, conservation and the Virunga ecosystem.
Accommodation: Virunga Lodge, Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11: Musanze to Kigali and Farewell Experience
After breakfast, you will leave Musanze and begin your journey back towards Kigali. The drive offers another opportunity to appreciate Rwanda’s spectacular scenery, with terraced hills, cultivated valleys and rural communities stretching across the landscape. Depending on your interests and flight schedule, you may stop at selected cultural attractions, local craft shops or scenic viewpoints along the way. Upon arrival in Kigali, you will check into your hotel and have time to relax after the journey. You may also enjoy some final shopping for Rwandan handicrafts, locally produced products and souvenirs. In the evening, you will enjoy a farewell dinner, providing an opportunity to reflect on the remarkable wildlife, primate and cultural experiences of your Rwanda safari.
Accommodation: Kigali Serena Hotel, Four Points by Sheraton Kigali, Hotel des Mille Collines
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 12: Departure
After breakfast, you will check out of your accommodation and prepare for your departure from Rwanda. Depending on your flight schedule, you may have some free time for a final short activity in Kigali or simply relax before your airport transfer. Your Silverback Tour guide will transfer you to Kigali International Airport in good time for your scheduled flight. As your 12 Days Rwanda Gorillas, Wildlife and Cultural Heritage Safari comes to an end, you will leave Rwanda with unforgettable memories of mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, savannah wildlife, golden monkeys, scenic lakes and rich cultural encounters. This comprehensive itinerary brings together some of the country’s most important natural and cultural attractions in one rewarding journey. Silverback Tour hopes to welcome you again for another memorable East African safari.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
End of the 12 Days Rwanda Gorillas Wildlife and Cultural Heritage Safari.
Included in the Safari
- Airport transfers on arrival and departure
- Private 4×4 safari vehicle
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide
- Accommodation as specified in the itinerary
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary
- Gorilla trekking permit in Volcanoes National Park
- Golden monkey trekking permit
- Chimpanzee tracking permit in Nyungwe National Park
- Akagera National Park entry fees
- Game drives in Akagera National Park
- Lake Ihema boat safari
- Kigali city and cultural tour
- Lake Kivu excursion as specified
- Cultural heritage experiences mentioned in the itinerary
- Bottled drinking water during safari drives
- Fuel for the safari vehicle
- Applicable government taxes and service charges
- Park and conservation fees specified in the itinerary
Excluded from the Safari
- International flights
- Rwanda entry visa
- Travel and medical insurance
- Personal expenses
- Laundry services
- Telephone and internet charges
- Alcoholic and premium beverages
- Tips and gratuities for guides, drivers, trackers and lodge staff
- Souvenirs and personal shopping
- Optional activities not specifically mentioned in the itinerary
- Additional accommodation before Day 1 or after Day 12
- Personal trekking clothing and equipment
- Medical treatment and emergency evacuation expenses
- Any services not specifically listed under the included items.