5-Day Rwanda Gorilla and Wildlife Safari
5 Days – 4 Nights
5-Day Rwanda Gorilla and Wildlife Safari
Overview
This 5-Day Rwanda Gorilla & Wildlife Safari is the perfect combination of mountain primates and classic savannah wildlife. It offers you the unique opportunity to track endangered mountain gorillas and golden monkeys in the lush forests of Volcanoes National Park, while also exploring Akagera National Park—Rwanda’s only savannah park and home to the Big Five.
From up-close gorilla encounters to sunset game drives and peaceful boat cruises on Lake Ihema, this tour is packed with wildlife, scenic landscapes, and rich cultural experiences. Best of all, if you travel between November and May, you’ll enjoy 30% off the gorilla trekking permit, paying $1,050 instead of $1,500—a rare and rewarding offer for off-season travelers.
-
5 Days/ 4 Nights
-
Rwanda
-
Guided, Private Safari
-
Airport TransfersCar hireServices of an English-speaking guideRefreshments like waterAll accommodation & MealsAll activitiesAll Taxes /VATA professional driver /guideFuelGorilla permitDrinking water
-
Tips and gratuitiesAll items of personal natureInternational flightsAlcoholic drinks
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Transfer from Kigali to Akagera National Park + Sunset Game Drive
Your adventure begins in Kigali, where you’ll meet your professional safari guide. After a short briefing, enjoy a scenic 2.5–3-hour drive eastward to Akagera National Park. The park is a hidden gem of rolling savannah, acacia woodland, and a network of lakes and wetlands near the Tanzania border.
After checking into your lodge and having lunch, head out for your first sunset game drive. This is your chance to spot wildlife in the golden hour—elephants, zebras, giraffes, buffaloes, and maybe even a lion or hyena if you’re lucky.
Overnight at:
-
Akagera Mantis Game Lodge or
-
Ruzizi Tented Lodge
Meal Plan: Lunch & Dinner
Day 2: Full-Day Game Drives in Akagera + Boat Cruise on Lake Ihema
After breakfast, embark on a morning game drive through Akagera’s diverse landscapes. With luck, you’ll spot members of the Big Five—lions, rhinos, leopards, elephants, and buffaloes—along with other iconic animals such as impalas, elands, topis, and warthogs.
Return to your lodge for a hearty lunch, then in the afternoon, enjoy a relaxing boat safari on Lake Ihema. Watch hippos wallow, crocodiles bask, and dozens of bird species flutter around the lake—perfect for photographers and nature lovers.
Overnight at:
-
Ruzizi Tented Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board
Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park + Cultural Experience
After breakfast, enjoy a final short game drive as you exit Akagera National Park, then embark on a picturesque 4–5 hour drive northwest to Volcanoes National Park. This drive takes you through Rwanda’s famous rolling hills, banana plantations, and rural villages.
Along the way, stop at the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village, where you’ll engage with local communities and learn about Rwandan traditional music, dance, medicine, and even try your hand at banana beer brewing or spear throwing!
Check into your lodge near the park and relax for the evening, preparing for your once-in-a-lifetime gorilla trekking experience the next day.
Overnight at:
-
Budget: Le Bamboo Gorilla Lodge
-
Midrange: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel
-
Luxury: One & Only Gorilla’s Nest Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board
Day 4: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Today is the highlight of your safari—mountain gorilla trekking. After an early breakfast, head to the Kinigi Park Headquarters for a briefing on gorilla trekking etiquette and safety.
You’ll be assigned a gorilla family group and guided by expert rangers deep into the Virunga forest. The trek can take anywhere from 2 to 6 hours depending on the gorillas’ location, but once you find them, you’ll spend an unforgettable hour quietly observing these gentle giants—watching them feed, groom, and interact in their natural habitat.
This is one of the most transformative wildlife encounters on Earth.
After your trek, return to your lodge to relax and celebrate your achievement.
Overnight at:
-
Budget: Le Bamboo Gorilla Lodge
-
Midrange: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel
-
Luxury: One & Only Gorilla’s Nest Lodge
Meal Plan: Full Board
Day 5: Golden Monkey Trekking + Return to Kigali
After breakfast, return to the park for another magical experience—golden monkey tracking. These playful primates live in the bamboo zones of Volcanoes National Park and are endemic to the Virunga Mountains.
The trek is generally shorter and easier than gorilla trekking, and you’ll enjoy watching their colorful antics, social behavior, and energetic tree-hopping.
After the trek, return to Kigali (approximately 2.5–3 hours). Depending on your flight schedule, you may have time to visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial, the Kimironko Market, or enjoy a local lunch before your airport drop-off or hotel transfer.
Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch
You will then be dropped off at Kigali International Airport for your departure, marking the end of your 5 Days Rwanda Primates Safari.
Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch
Request a Quote
Suggested Rwanda Safari Ideas
The tours featured throughout our website are intended to give you ideas for what’s possible when you travel with us. Treat them simply as inspiration, because your trip will be created individually by one of our specialists to match your tastes and budget.
