12 Days Rwanda Big Five and Primate Tracking Safari

Day 1: Arrival in Kigali and Kigali City Tour

Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by your Verdant Safaris representative and transferred to your hotel in Kigali. After checking in and taking some time to refresh, you will begin an introduction to Rwanda through a guided Kigali city tour. Depending on your arrival time, you can visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial, explore some of the city’s important neighbourhoods and enjoy panoramic views across the surrounding hills. You may also visit local craft markets and galleries where you can discover Rwandan artwork, handicrafts and locally produced products. Your guide will introduce you to the country’s modern development and explain some of the cultural traditions that shape contemporary Rwanda. In the evening, you will return to your hotel for dinner and rest ahead of the safari adventures beginning the following morning.

Accommodation Options: Kigali Serena Hotel, Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Centre, Four Points by Sheraton Kigali
Meals: (Lunch, Dinner)

Day 2: Kigali to Akagera National Park and Lake Ihema Boat Safari

After an early breakfast, you will leave Kigali and drive eastwards towards Akagera National Park, Rwanda’s principal savannah wildlife destination. The journey takes you through attractive countryside, rural communities and rolling hills before gradually changing into the open landscapes of eastern Rwanda. Akagera contains a mixture of savannah, woodland, wetlands and lakes and is Rwanda’s Big Five safari destination. After entering the park, you will continue towards your lodge and enjoy lunch before relaxing briefly. In the afternoon, you will embark on a boat safari on Lake Ihema, where you can observe hippos, crocodiles and numerous water birds along the lake’s shoreline. The tranquil boat experience provides a pleasant introduction to Akagera before you return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay in the wilderness.

Accommodation Options: Ruzizi Tented Lodge, Akagera Game Lodge, Karenge Bush Camp
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 3: Full-Day Big Five Wildlife Safari in Akagera National Park

You will wake early, have breakfast and set out for a full-day game drive through Akagera National Park. The morning is an excellent time to explore the savannah while wildlife is active, and your experienced guide will carefully search the plains, woodland and wetland areas for different species. Akagera is home to the Big Five, alongside giraffes, zebras, hippos, antelopes, warthogs and numerous other animals. You will enjoy a picnic lunch or lodge-prepared lunch during the safari before continuing your exploration in the afternoon. Your guide will explain the behaviour of the animals, the park’s habitats and the conservation efforts that have helped restore its wildlife populations. As the day comes to an end, you will return to your lodge, enjoy dinner and relax after a rewarding day of wildlife viewing.

Accommodation Options: Ruzizi Tented Lodge, Akagera Game Lodge, Karenge Bush Camp
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 4: Akagera National Park to Nyungwe National Park

After breakfast, you will depart Akagera and begin the scenic journey towards southwestern Rwanda and Nyungwe National Park. The long drive provides an opportunity to experience the country’s changing landscapes, from the eastern savannah to cultivated hills, rural settlements and increasingly dense vegetation. You will travel through parts of Rwanda that demonstrate why the country is often associated with spectacular rolling landscapes and carefully cultivated hills. After a suitable lunch stop along the route, you will continue towards the ancient rainforest of Nyungwe. Nyungwe is one of Rwanda’s most important biodiversity areas and is home to numerous primate species, including chimpanzees, as well as a remarkable variety of birds and forest plants. On arrival, you will check into your lodge, enjoy dinner and prepare for the following morning’s early chimpanzee tracking adventure.

Accommodation Options: One&Only Nyungwe House, Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel, Gisakura Guest House
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 5: Chimpanzee Tracking in Nyungwe National Park

Today you will rise early for one of the principal highlights of your Rwanda primate safari, chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe National Park. After breakfast, you will proceed to the designated starting point for a briefing before entering the forest with experienced guides and trackers. Chimpanzee tracking begins early because the animals move through the forest in search of food, and the trek may involve walking through dense vegetation and uneven terrain. As you explore the rainforest, you may encounter other primates such as colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, vervet monkeys and L’Hoest’s monkeys, together with colourful forest birds and other wildlife. Once the chimpanzees are located, you will have the opportunity to observe their behaviour and social interactions from a responsible distance. After the experience, you will return to your accommodation for lunch, relaxation and a peaceful evening near the rainforest.

Accommodation Options: One&Only Nyungwe House, Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel, Gisakura Guest House
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 6: Nyungwe Canopy Walk and Transfer to Lake Kivu

After breakfast, you will enjoy another memorable experience in Nyungwe Forest before beginning your journey towards Lake Kivu. You will take part in the spectacular canopy walkway experience, which provides elevated views across the forest canopy and surrounding mountainous landscape. Nyungwe is recognised for its exceptional biodiversity and offers a variety of hiking and adventure experiences, including the canopy walkway. After the activity, you will return for lunch before departing the Nyungwe region. Your route towards Lake Kivu takes you through spectacular mountainous countryside, with terraced hills, villages and agricultural landscapes providing excellent opportunities for photography. On reaching the lakeside, you will check into your accommodation and have time to relax. You can enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of Lake Kivu before dinner and an overnight stay.

Accommodation Options: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel, Cleo Lake Kivu Hotel, Mantis Kivu Marina Bay Hotel
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 7: Lake Kivu Boat Cruise and Lakeside Experience

You will start the day with breakfast before spending a relaxing morning exploring the beautiful Lake Kivu region. A boat cruise will take you onto the lake, giving you wonderful views of the surrounding hills, shoreline communities and islands. Lake Kivu is one of Rwanda’s major natural attractions and provides opportunities for boat excursions, bird watching and other lakeside activities. During your excursion, you can learn more about life around the lake and observe local fishing activities and the landscapes surrounding the water. After returning to shore, you will enjoy lunch and have some free time to relax at your accommodation. Depending on your interests, the afternoon can be spent swimming, walking along the lakeshore, enjoying the lodge facilities or simply taking in the scenery. Dinner and your overnight stay will be at your lakeside accommodation.

Accommodation Options: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel, Cleo Lake Kivu Hotel, Mantis Kivu Marina Bay Hotel
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 8: Lake Kivu to Volcanoes National Park and Musanze Experience

After breakfast, you will leave Lake Kivu and travel northwards towards Musanze and Volcanoes National Park. The journey takes you through some of Rwanda’s most impressive mountainous scenery, with the dramatic Virunga volcanoes gradually appearing on the horizon. Volcanoes National Park protects montane forest, bamboo forest, grassland, swamp and heath habitats and is particularly famous for its mountain gorillas and golden monkeys. On arrival in the Musanze area, you will check into your lodge and enjoy lunch. The afternoon will provide time to relax and prepare for your upcoming gorilla trek, including checking your walking equipment and receiving information about the following day’s activity. You may also take a short cultural experience or visit a local community, depending on your arrival time and arrangements. In the evening, you will enjoy dinner and an early night before your gorilla adventure.

Accommodation Options: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, Virunga Lodge, One&Only Gorilla’s Nest
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 9: Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park

Today is dedicated to one of Rwanda’s most iconic wildlife experiences, mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park. After an early breakfast, you will travel to the park headquarters in Kinigi for registration, briefing and allocation to a gorilla family. You will then begin your trek through the forested slopes of the Virunga Mountains, accompanied by experienced park guides and trackers. The length of the trek varies according to the location and movements of the gorilla family, and the terrain can range from relatively manageable forest paths to steeper sections. Once you locate your assigned gorilla family, you will spend time observing their behaviour, family interactions and movements in their natural habitat. Gorilla trekking is carefully managed as part of Rwanda’s conservation programme, making responsible behaviour and following the guidance of your trackers essential. After the trek, you will return to your lodge for lunch, relaxation and dinner.

Accommodation Options: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, Virunga Lodge, One&Only Gorilla’s Nest
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 10: Golden Monkey Tracking and Cultural Experience

After breakfast, you will return to Volcanoes National Park for an exciting golden monkey tracking experience. These distinctive primates live within the Virunga volcanic ecosystem and provide a different type of encounter from the previous day’s gorilla trek. You will receive a briefing before entering the forest with your guide and trackers in search of a habituated golden monkey troop. As you walk through the bamboo and montane forest, you will have opportunities to observe the monkeys feeding, climbing, jumping and interacting with one another. After completing the trek, you will return to the lodge for lunch and some time to rest. In the afternoon, you can participate in a community or cultural experience around Musanze, learning about local traditions and the connection between communities and conservation. You will return to your lodge for dinner and your final overnight stay in the Volcanoes region.

Accommodation Options: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, Virunga Lodge, One&Only Gorilla’s Nest
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 11: Volcanoes National Park to Kigali via Scenic Countryside

After breakfast, you will begin your return journey from the Volcanoes region to Kigali. The drive offers another opportunity to appreciate Rwanda’s remarkable countryside, including cultivated hills, villages, valleys and mountain landscapes. You will make suitable stops along the way to stretch your legs, take photographs and experience some of the rural scenery. Depending on your interests and timing, you may visit a cultural or heritage attraction before continuing towards Kigali. On arrival in the capital, you will check into your hotel and have time to relax after the journey. You may also have an opportunity for some final shopping or a short evening walk around the city, subject to your flight schedule the following day. A farewell dinner will provide an opportunity to reflect on your Big Five safari, chimpanzee tracking, gorilla trekking and golden monkey experience before your departure.

Accommodation Options: Kigali Serena Hotel, Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Centre, Four Points by Sheraton Kigali
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 12: Departure

After breakfast, you will have your final morning in Kigali before your departure from Rwanda. Depending on your flight schedule, you may have some free time to relax at the hotel or purchase last-minute souvenirs and locally made crafts. Your Verdant Safaris representative will arrange your transfer to Kigali International Airport and ensure that you arrive in good time for your departure formalities. As you leave Rwanda, you will carry memories of the Big Five and other wildlife of Akagera, the chimpanzees and forest primates of Nyungwe, the tranquil scenery of Lake Kivu and the mountain gorillas and golden monkeys of Volcanoes National Park. This marks the official conclusion of your 12 Days Rwanda Big Five and Primate Tracking Safari with Verdant Safaris. We hope your experience leaves you with lasting memories of Rwanda’s wildlife, landscapes, culture and conservation efforts.

Meals: (Breakfast)