7 Days Rwanda Safari – primate tracking & Wildlife Tour

This 7 Days Rwanda safari by Carmine Safaris is an itinerary through the Land of a thousand hills with activities including wildlife game drive and boat cruise,  gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking, canopy walk, cultural experience and Kigali City tour.

The trip comprises a visit to the Akagera National Park for the Big Five wildlife tour, Volcanoes National Park for Gorilla trekking, cultural encounters in the communities, chimpanzee trekking tour and canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest National Park. This trip can be done by any category of travelers but the minimum age for the gorilla trekking and chimpanzee tracking is 15 years.

Itinerary Highlights of 7 Days Rwanda Safari

Day 1: Pick up, Kigali city tour and transfer to Akagera National Park

Day 2: Morning game drive & boat Cruise

Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park

Day 4: Mountain Gorilla Trekking

Day _5: Transfer to Nyungwe National Park

Day 6: Chimpanzee trekking and canopy walk

Day _7: Transfer back to Kigali city/Airport

Detailed Itinerary of the 7 Days Rwanda Safari

Day 1: Pick up, Kigali city tour and transfer to Akagera National Park

Have breakfast at hotel or upon pick up at Kigali International Airport, your driver will ensure transfer to Kigli City for a tour. During this half day Kigali city tour, there are options like visiting the Gisozi genocide memorial, the presidential palace museum where the remains of presidential plane FALCON 50 lay in pieces, the craft centers, Natural History Museum among other attractions.

After the city tour you have lunch then later embark on the transfer drive to Akagera National Park, enjoy sightseeing en route. Arriving in the evening, check into hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.

Meals: Lunch & Dinner

Day 2: Morning game drive & boat Cruise

Have breakfast in the morning or carry packed lunch then go for a game drive in the Akagera Park. Go for a game drive in the park in search of wildlife animals like lions, leopards, African elephants, different species of antelopes, zebras, buffaloes among others. After a successful morning game drive, you will return to the lodge/ hotel for lunch and then later in the afternoon you will go for a boat ride on Akagera River for the best photographic moments, watching hippos and crocodiles sunbathing on the river shores and very many water birds along the river. Later you will return to the hotel for an overnight stay and dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park

Following breakfast at hotel, you then transfer to Volcanoes National Park. Have a few stops along the way as you go sightseeing and enjoy the beauty of Rwanda. On arrival, check in and spend the night at hotel near Volcanoes National Park.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 4: Mountain Gorilla Trekking

Enjoy an early morning breakfast (06:00am) and drive to the park headquarters with packed lunch and water. Attend to a briefing by senior park warden on the ‘Dos’ and ‘Don’ts’ while with gorillas.

Gorilla Trekking through steep and slippery Virunga slopes is so strenuous and takes 2-8 hours depending on gorillas’ movements. At least an hour is allocated to the visitors in the presence of the gorilla group. After the beautiful trekking experience, you will then return to the park headquarters and later to your lodge for refreshment.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 5: Transfer to Nyungwe National Park

After breakfast at hotel board your safari vehicle for a drive to Nyungwe National Park. You will pass the green hillside of western Rwanda with lunch stop en route. Driving most of this journey along Lake Kivu is one of those enjoyable things on this safari. Arrive in the afternoon, check in at your hotel and freshen and relax, later have dinner and overnight.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 6: Chimpanzee trekking and canopy walk

Have an early breakfast then get ready for a chimpanzee trekking experience. Go to the trek start point for briefing about the chimpanzee trekking guidelines before entering the forest in search of the chimpanzees in Nyungwe forest.

As you get closer to where the chimpanzees are, you will notice s you hear their calls and notice them jump from one tree to another, chattering and laughing. The trekking experience takes about 3 hours including 1 hour that you are allowed to spend in their presence.

After the trek, return to the starting point and meet up with your guide to drive you back to your lodge for lunch and refreshment. After lunch, you will go for the canopy walk, the best in East Africa a bridge 50 meters in length that is suspended across large trees.

On the canopy walk, you will be able to see the amazing rain forest with a bird’s eye view, spotting wildlife moving about below you. Before night fall, you will return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 7: Transfer Back to Kigali City

After an early breakfast, embark on the drive back to Kigali city. Along the way, have a stop en route at Butare for lunch and visit Nyanza palace after which you continue with your drive to Kigali city to your hotel or transfer to the airport for your flight back

Meals: Breakfast and lunch

End of 7 Days Rwanda primate tracking & Wildlife Safari itinerary

Safari includes:

  • Transportation in a safari vehicle
  • Services of an English -speaking tour guide/driver
  • All activities in the itinerary

Accommodation

  • Entrance fees and taxes
  • Pick up and drop off

Safari exclusions

  • All activities not mentioned in the program
  • Tips
  • International transfers
  • Gratitude to tour guides
  • Personal insurance
  • Personal effects of any nature
  • Hotel fees before and after the safari