Discover the finest of Rwanda on this 9 Days Luxury Rwanda Gorilla and Big Five Safari, an exclusive journey combining extraordinary wildlife encounters, mountain gorilla trekking, elegant accommodation, and immersive cultural experiences. Carefully designed by Silverback Tour, this luxury Rwanda safari takes you from the vibrant capital of Kigali to the wildlife-rich savannahs of Akagera National Park and the mist-covered mountains of Volcanoes National Park. You will enjoy private ground transfers, personalised guiding, carefully selected luxury lodges, and opportunities to appreciate Rwanda’s remarkable natural beauty at a relaxed pace.
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali
Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by a Silverback Tour representative and assisted with your arrival formalities before meeting your private driver-guide. You will be transferred in a comfortable private vehicle to your luxury hotel, where you can freshen up and relax after your journey. Depending on your arrival time, you may enjoy a leisurely introduction to Kigali, a clean, green, and beautifully situated capital known for its welcoming atmosphere and contemporary character. Your city experience may include a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial, where you can learn about Rwanda’s tragic past, its journey towards reconciliation, and the resilience of its people. You may also explore selected craft boutiques, contemporary art spaces, and local design shops, depending on opening times and your interests. In the evening, enjoy a refined welcome dinner at your hotel or a carefully selected restaurant, accompanied by an introduction to the experiences awaiting you during the coming days.
Accommodation Options: Kigali Serena Hotel, Kigali Marriott Hotel, The Retreat by Heaven.
Meals: Dinner.
Day 2: Transfer to Akagera National Park
After a leisurely breakfast, you will depart Kigali in your private safari vehicle and travel east towards Akagera National Park, Rwanda’s premier savannah wildlife destination. The journey takes you through attractive countryside, traditional settlements, rolling hills, and agricultural landscapes, providing an introduction to the country’s rural character. Upon reaching the park, you will begin discovering a landscape of open grasslands, acacia woodlands, lakes, and wetlands that support a remarkable diversity of wildlife. Depending on your arrival time, you may enjoy an introductory game drive as your experienced guide helps you look for elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, antelopes, and other wildlife. You will then proceed to your luxury safari lodge, where attentive hospitality, scenic surroundings, and a peaceful atmosphere provide a welcome retreat after your journey. Spend the late afternoon relaxing on your private veranda, enjoying the lodge facilities, or admiring the wilderness before dinner.
Accommodation Options: Magashi Camp, Ruzizi Tented Lodge, Akagera Game Lodge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 3: Full-Day Big Five Safari and Wildlife Exploration in Akagera National Park
Rise early for a freshly prepared breakfast before setting out on a private morning game drive through Akagera National Park. The cooler morning hours offer excellent opportunities to search for wildlife as animals become active across the savannah and around water sources. With your experienced guide, you will explore different habitats in search of lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, and rhinoceroses, the celebrated Big Five, although sightings of individual species cannot be guaranteed. You may also encounter giraffes browsing among acacia trees, zebras grazing across open plains, and numerous antelope species moving through the grasslands. Return to your lodge for lunch and a period of relaxation, allowing you to enjoy the luxury facilities and the surrounding wilderness at your own pace. Later in the afternoon, continue your safari with another game drive or a guided excursion around selected areas of the park, depending on wildlife conditions and your preferences. If conditions permit, you may also enjoy a boat safari on Lake Ihema, offering a different perspective on Akagera’s aquatic wildlife, including hippos, crocodiles, and waterbirds.
Accommodation Options: Magashi Camp, Ruzizi Tented Lodge, Akagera Game Lodge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 4: Scenic Transfer from Akagera to Kigali
Enjoy breakfast at your lodge before bidding farewell to Akagera’s wilderness and beginning your private journey back to Kigali. Depending on your departure time and the wildlife activities available, you may have an opportunity for a short morning game drive before leaving the park. During the drive to the capital, admire Rwanda’s changing scenery, from the open landscapes of the east to the cultivated hills and settlements surrounding Kigali. Upon arrival, check into your luxury hotel and enjoy a relaxed afternoon after your wildlife adventure. You may choose to unwind at the spa, spend time by the swimming pool, enjoy a leisurely lunch, or explore additional parts of the city with your private guide. For an enhanced luxury experience, Silverback Tour can arrange a private dining experience or a reservation at a selected fine-dining restaurant, subject to availability. The evening is reserved for relaxation and preparation for your journey to the volcanic highlands of northern Rwanda.
Luxury Accommodation Options: Kigali Serena Hotel, Kigali Marriott Hotel, The Retreat by Heaven.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 5: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
After breakfast, leave Kigali and travel north-west towards Volcanoes National Park, home to Rwanda’s endangered mountain gorillas and a spectacular chain of forested volcanic mountains. The scenic drive takes you through rolling hills, terraced farmland, lively roadside communities, and beautiful countryside, providing opportunities to appreciate Rwanda’s rural landscapes. As you approach the Musanze region, the scenery becomes increasingly dramatic, with views of the Virunga volcanoes rising above the surrounding hills. On arrival, check into your luxury lodge, where attentive service, elegant interiors, and beautiful natural surroundings create an inviting atmosphere. Depending on your arrival time, you may enjoy a guided visit to the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village, where local performers and community members introduce you to traditional Rwandan music, dance, crafts, and cultural practices. Alternatively, you can spend the afternoon relaxing at your lodge, enjoying a spa treatment where available, or taking in the views from your private terrace. Your guide will also brief you on the following day’s gorilla trekking experience, including fitness considerations, appropriate clothing, and park regulations.
Accommodation Options: One&Only Gorilla’s Nest, Bisate Lodge, Singita Kwitonda Lodge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 6: Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Today brings one of the most extraordinary experiences of your Rwanda luxury safari, a guided trek to encounter endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. After an early breakfast, you will travel to the Volcanoes National Park headquarters for registration, a briefing from park rangers, and allocation to an available gorilla family. Accompanied by experienced trackers and guides, you will enter the montane forest and follow trails through bamboo vegetation, dense undergrowth, and rugged terrain in search of the gorillas. The duration and difficulty of the trek vary according to the location and movements of the gorilla family, so a reasonable level of fitness and suitable walking equipment are important. Once the gorillas are located, you will normally be allowed to spend one unforgettable hour observing their natural behaviour from a respectful distance, watching them feed, groom, rest, and interact with one another. This intimate wildlife encounter offers exceptional opportunities for photography and a deeper appreciation of the conservation work protecting these endangered primates. After the trek, return to your luxury lodge for a well-earned lunch, relaxation, and a celebratory dinner reflecting on the day’s remarkable experience.
Accommodation Options: One&Only Gorilla’s Nest, Bisate Lodge, Singita Kwitonda Lodge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 7: Golden Monkey Trekking
Enjoy breakfast before setting out for another wildlife experience in the volcanic highlands. Subject to permit availability and your preferences, the morning will be dedicated to tracking golden monkeys, striking primates recognised by their golden-orange fur and their lively behaviour in the bamboo forests of the Virunga region. After receiving a briefing from park rangers, you will follow your guides into the forest to observe the monkeys moving through the vegetation, feeding, and interacting within their natural habitat. The experience offers a different perspective on Rwanda’s primate conservation efforts and complements your mountain gorilla encounter. After the activity, return to your lodge for lunch and a leisurely afternoon. You may choose to enjoy a guided nature walk in an appropriate area outside restricted park zones, visit a local community project, or simply relax at your lodge and appreciate its architecture, cuisine, and spectacular surroundings. For an additional premium experience, your lodge may be able to arrange a private wellness treatment, a special dinner, or a guided excursion, depending on the services available and advance arrangements.
Accommodation Options: One&Only Gorilla’s Nest, Bisate Lodge, Singita Kwitonda Lodge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 8: Scenic Return to Kigali
After breakfast, enjoy a final morning in the Volcanoes region before beginning your private transfer back to Kigali. Depending on your departure time and preferences, you may have an opportunity for a short visit to Musanze town or a selected cultural stop before leaving the northern province. During the journey, enjoy the beautiful landscapes that have characterised your Rwanda safari, including terraced hillsides, cultivated valleys, and rural communities. Your driver-guide will be available to make suitable stops for refreshments, photographs, or locally produced crafts where time permits. On arrival in Kigali, check into your luxury hotel and enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at leisure. You may choose to visit a craft market for souvenirs, explore a contemporary art gallery, or enjoy a relaxing spa session before your final evening. Celebrate the conclusion of your wildlife and primate adventure with a farewell dinner, where you can reflect on your encounters with Rwanda’s Big Five, mountain gorillas, and golden monkeys.
Accommodation Options: Kigali Serena Hotel, Kigali Marriott Hotel, The Retreat by Heaven.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 9: Breakfast and Departure from Rwanda
Enjoy your final breakfast in Rwanda, taking time to relax and reflect on the exceptional experiences you have enjoyed during your luxury safari with Silverback Tour. Depending on your international flight schedule, you may have time for a short visit to a nearby craft shop or a final leisurely moment at your hotel. Your private driver will collect you at the agreed time and transfer you to Kigali International Airport in a comfortable vehicle. The Silverback Tour team will assist with coordinating your departure transfer and ensuring that you allow sufficient time for airport check-in and security procedures. If you have an early flight, breakfast arrangements will depend on your hotel’s service hours, and a packed breakfast may be requested in advance. Bid farewell to Rwanda with lasting memories of its beautiful landscapes, extraordinary wildlife, welcoming communities, and remarkable conservation achievements. Your 9 Days Luxury Rwanda Gorilla and Big Five Safari concludes upon arrival at the airport, marking the end of your journey.
Meals: Breakfast.
Safari Inclusions
- Private airport transfers on arrival and departure.
- Private ground transportation in a comfortable, safari-appropriate 4×4 vehicle.
- Services of an experienced English-speaking driver-guide.
- Eight nights of accommodation in selected luxury hotels, lodges, or safari camps, subject to the final booking arrangements.
- Meals as specified in the daily itinerary.
- Big Five game drives in Akagera National Park.
- Akagera National Park entrance fees for the scheduled activities.
- One mountain gorilla trekking permit per participant, if explicitly included in the confirmed quotation.
- Golden monkey trekking permits, if explicitly included in the confirmed quotation.
- Scheduled cultural visits and guided experiences as agreed in the final itinerary.
- Bottled drinking water during scheduled road transfers and game drives.
- Assistance with safari planning and coordination by Silverback Tour.
Safari Exclusions
- International flights to and from Rwanda.
- Rwanda entry visa fees, where applicable.
- Travel insurance, including medical, cancellation, and evacuation cover.
- Personal expenses, including laundry, telephone calls, and souvenirs.
- Premium alcoholic beverages, additional drinks, and meals not specified in the itinerary.
- Spa treatments, private dining upgrades, and other optional lodge services.
- Tips and gratuities for guides, lodge staff, trackers, porters, and other service providers.
- Optional activities not expressly listed as included.
- Excess baggage charges and airline-related fees.
- Any increase in park fees, permit charges, taxes, or government levies introduced after confirmation, where contractually applicable.
- Any service not specifically stated in the final written safari quotation.