16 Days Rwanda Safari Tour – SAFARI OVERVIEW
Your 16 days Rwanda safari tour is a relaxed 15 nights/16 days Rwanda tour, offering you a variety of amazing experiences, including mountain gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking, chimpanzee tracking, Rwanda wildlife safari, community tours, Mount Bisoke hike, Lake Kivu tour, Kigali city tour, and more.
Starting and ending in Kigali, this 16 days Rwanda safari tour takes you through the whole of Rwanda, visiting the three prominent national parks including Volcanoes National Park which hosts over 300 mountain gorillas, Nyungwe Forest National Park which is home to over 500 wild chimpanzees, and Akagera National Park which has all Africa’s “big five” animals and other incredible wildlife.
During this 16 days Rwanda tour, you’ll also have plenty of time to relax, learn about the country’s unique history and culture, and admire the gorgeous landscapes.
You can book or customize this 16 days safari Rwanda tour to fit your exact Rwanda safari interests – at an affordable price!
16 Days Rwanda Safari Tour – PRIME SAFARI ACTIVITIES
- Rwanda Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
- Mount Bisoke hike, 3711m
- Golden monkey tracking in Volcanoes
- Chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest
- Canopy walk via the treetop walkway in Nyungwe Forest
- Colobus monkey tracking in Nyungwe Forest
- Game drives at Akagera National Park
- Boat cruise on Lake Ihema in Akagera
- Relaxation on the scenic shores of Lake Kivu
- Night fishing adventure on Lake Kivu with Rwanda fishermen
- Canoe ride on the volcanic Twin Lakes
- Visit the Gorilla Guardian Cultural Village
- Visit the Ethnographic Museum & King’s Palace
- Visit the Genocide Memorial in Kigali City
- Musanze cave walking tour
- Scenic drives through Rwanda’s gorgeous landscapes
- Staying at comfortable safari lodges
16 Days Rwanda Safari Tour – FEATURED SAFARI DESTINATIONS
Day 1 & 2: Kigali City
Day 3 & 4: Akagera National Park
Day 5, 6, & 7: Nyungwe Forest, Ethnographic Museum & King’s Palace
Day 8, 9, & 10: Lake Kivu – Kibuye
Day 11, 12, 13, & 14: Volcanoes National Park, Ibyiwacu & Musanze Caves
Day 15: Twin Lakes & Kigali
Day 16: Departure
16 Days Rwanda Safari Tour – SAFARI HIGHLIGHTS
Day 1: Arrive at Kigali International Airport & transfer to a hotel
Day 2: Visit Kigali Genocide Memorial & have a Kigali city tour.
Day 3: Transfer to Akagera National Park and enjoy a Rwanda wildlife safari game drives.
Day 4: Morning game drive & afternoon boat cruise in Akagera National Park
Day 5: Travel to Nyungwe National Park Forest. Visit the Ethnographic Museum & King’s Palace en route.
Day 6: Do Chimpanzee tracking & canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest National Park
Day 7: Do Morning Colobus monkey tracking & afternoon Tea Estates tour
Day 8: Transfer to Lake Kivu (Kibuye) for relaxation. Engage in night fishing
Day 9: Boat cruise or kayaking on Lake Kivu & relaxation.
Day 10: Full market experience in Kibuye & Relaxation
Day 11: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park. Visit the Gorilla Guardian Cultural Village on arrival.
Day 12: Hike Mount Bisoke in Volcanoes National Park
Day 13: Undertake a Rwanda Gorilla trekking safari adventure & relax
Day 14: Do Golden Monkey Tracking & visit the Musanze Caves in the afternoon.
Day 15: Canoe ride on the Twin Lakes & Return to Kigali for relaxation.
Day 16: Drop off at the airport for flight departure
16 Days Rwanda Safari Tour – DETAILED SAFARI ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrive At Kigali International Airport & Transfer To A Hotel In Kigali.
On arrival at Kigali International Airport, clear Rwandan customs, and immigration formalities and proceed to the arrivals hall where you will be met by your Prime safari representative and assisted with your luggage to your waiting private vehicle.
You will be driven to your booked accommodation in Kigali for relaxation, dinner, and overnight. Located in the geographical center of the country, this lively city began life as a German colonial outpost at the turn of the last century. Today it is the country’s political, economic, and cultural center, and sprawls across the hills and valleys that lie at the foot of Mount Kigali.
Kigali offers a variety of accommodation options, a collection of restaurants, and points of interest, including the Genocide Museum, an atmospheric market, and craft shops. With its interesting architecture, bustling streets, winding boulevards, and verdant hillsides, Kigali is one of the most attractive in Africa.
Accommodation:-
Luxury: – Serena Hotel Kigali/Radison blu/Hotel Mille Collines
Midrange: – Hotel Chezlando
Meal Plan: – Dinner
Activities & Services:-
- Pick from the Airport
- Transfer to a hotel in Kigali
Day 2: Kigali Genocide Memorial Visit & Kigali City Tour.
Your 16 days Rwanda safari tour starts with breakfast at your hotel. At 8 am, visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial – an incredible site, documenting the harrowing history of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. The memorial was created by a joint partnership of the Kigali City Council and the UK-based Aegis Trust.
It is extremely moving, challenging, educational, and ultimately inspiring as well as a great place to understand the cause, tragedy and successful rebuilding post-genocide. It offers a tour that is transparent but very somber and humbling when you realize that over 250,000 deceased are buried here.
After this encounter, embark on the city drive exploring the Kigali markets, art galleries, craft centers, and other interesting sites. You can even opt to have a cup of coffee at Hotel Mille Collins which is one of the historic places in Kigali. Tonight enjoy you’re your dinner as you prepare for the exciting trip ahead!
The highlight of The Day: – Discovering Rwanda’s heartbreaking past at the Genocide Museum in Kigali.
Accommodation:-
Luxury: – Serena Hotel Kigali/ Hotel Mille Collines/Radison blu
Midrange: – Hotel Chezlando
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities & Services:-
- Kigali Genocide memorial visit
- Kigali City tour
Day 3: Drive to Akagera National Park & Enjoy a Game Drive.
Day three of the 16 days Rwanda safari tour commences with a relaxed breakfast at your hotel in Kigali. Thereafter, embark scenic 2½ drive east to Akagera National Park. Arrive at your lodge for relaxation and lunch.
In the late afternoon, have your first Rwanda safari experience in the park with a game drive of 3 hours. Akagera and its wildlife were nearly decimated in the 1990s and early 2000s in the aftermath of the Rwandan civil war and genocide. In 2008, the Rwandan government brought African Parks on board, and together they have achieved an extraordinary rehabilitation of the area.
Black Rhinos and lions have been reintroduced, making Akagera the only big five park in the country.
The populations of many other species, large and small, are booming. Akagera River runs along the eastern edge of the park and feeds the Akagera series of lakes and marshes that make up central Africa’s largest protected wetland. After your game drive, return to the lodge for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.
The highlight of the Day: – Driving through the amazing countryside landscapes
Accommodation:-
Luxury: – Magashi Camp/Ruzizi Tented Lodge
Midrange: – Akagera Game Lodge
Budget: – Dereva Hotel
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Drive distance & time: – Approx. 135km/2 ½ hours
Activities & Services:-
- Pick up from your hotel
- Transfer to Akagera
Optional Activities:-
- Night game drive
- Sunset boat cruise
Day 4: Morning Game Drive & Afternoon Boat Cruise in Akagera
On day two of the 16 days Rwanda safari tour, wake up early before sunrise and enjoy breakfast. Then go for a morning game drive as the sun comes up. Sunrise is the best time for wildlife viewing as animals tend to be the most active during the “golden hours” when the first rays of sunshine come to rest on the savannah.
Look out for the lions, rhinos, leopards, elephants, buffalos, Zebras, Giraffes, Warthogs, Hyenas, Baboons, Topi, Impalas, Waterbucks, Elands, Bushbucks, and more on large open plains. After the 3-4 hours game drive, return to the lodge for lunch and some free time to relax.
In the afternoon, enjoy a relaxing boat cruise on Lake Ihema, watching for hippos and crocodiles. Spot more wildlife such as elephants and buffalo, as they gather at the lakeshore to drink water, and observe birds; there are almost 500 species around the lake and its surrounding wetlands. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
The highlight of the Day: -A scenic game drive in Akagera National Park
Accommodation:-
Luxury: – Ruzizi Tented Lodge/Magashi Camp
Midrange: – Akagera Game Lodge
Budget: – Dereva Hotel
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities & Services:-
- Morning game drive
- Afternoon boat cruise
Optional Activities:-
- Sportfishing on Lake Shakani
- Night game drive
Day 5: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park. Visit the Ethnographic Museum & King’s Palace En route
Your day five of the 16 days Rwanda safari tour begins at 7 am, before embarking on a 5-6 hour drive southwest through rolling hills and beautiful scenery. Make a stop in the Cultural Heritage Corridor of Rwanda and tour the detailed Ethnographic Museum in Butare for a look at the socio-cultural history of the country.
Proceed to Nyanza and explore the traditional king’s palace – the thatch homes that were the traditional seat of Rwanda’s kingdom. Meet the royal cows on-site and the herder who sings to them during the grooming process. Then, wander the halls of the simple, modern home of the country’s last king.
After the palace visit, enjoy a delicious lunch and continue to Nyungwe National Park – home to one of the oldest rainforests on the continent. Tonight, relax and have dinner at the lodge as you prepare for your amazing chimp trek tomorrow.
The highlight of The Day: – Learning about Rwanda’s rich cultural heritage
Accommodation:-
Luxury: – One & Only Nyungwe House/Nyungwe Forest Lodge
Midrange: – Nyungwe Hill Top View Hotel
Budget: – Gisakura Guesthouse
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Drive distance & time: – Approx. 320km or 5-6 hours
Activities & Services:-
- Transfer to Nyungwe Forest
- Ethnographic Museum tour
- Visit the King’s Palace
Day 6: Chimpanzee Tracking & Canopy Walk in Nyungwe Forest
Have an early breakfast today and transfer to the park’s visitor center at 5 am. Meet the local park ranger guide for a briefing before embarking on a 2-5 hour trek in the forest. The enchanting Nyungwe Forest is home to countless rare primates that dash at high speeds through its thick canopy.
This morning, search for one of the most coveted of them all, the chimpanzee. Once spotted, you have one hour to observe these intelligent great apes, as they move between the trees noisily. Sharing 98.7% of the same DNA as humans, chimps are our closest relatives, often behaving very similarly to humans.
Return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation. In the afternoon, connect at Visitor Center for a breathtaking 2-hour Nyungwe forest canopy walk that offers a chance to see eye-level wildlife that lives in the forest canopies but is not easily seen from the ground such as monkeys and birds.
The highlight of The Day: – Tracking the fascinating chimpanzees on foot
Accommodation:-
Luxury: – Nyungwe Forest Lodge/One & Only Nyungwe House
Midrange: – Nyungwe Hill Top View Hotel
Budget: – Gisakura Guesthouse
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities & Services:-
- Chimpanzee Tracking & Forest Canopy walk
Optional Activities:-
- Birding, hiking & community tour
Day 7: Colobus Monkey Tracking & Afternoon Tea Estate Tour.
Day seven of your 16 days Rwanda Safari tour commences with an early breakfast at 6.30 am. Then transfer to the park visitor center for yet another amazing adventure – tracking the attractive Colobus monkeys.
These old-world monkeys with their black-and-white coats and tufty shoulder pads tend to form ‘super-groups’ counting over 500 individuals, a phenomenon that has been observed to happen only among the colobus monkeys in Nyungwe.
The trek to see them is a very short adventure as the group that you’ll track is found near the edge of the forest at Gisakura.
In the afternoon, tour the tea plantations to discover how tea is grown and harvested. Continue to the factory to see how it is processed and finish off with a cup of tea. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
The highlight of The Day: – Tracking the beautiful colobus monkeys
Accommodation:-
Luxury: – Nyungwe Forest Lodge/One & Only Nyungwe House
Midrange: – Nyungwe Hill Top View Hotel
Budget: – Gisakura Guesthouse
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities & Services:-
- Colobus monkey tracking
- Tea plantation tour experience
Day 8: Transfer to Lake Kivu (Kibuye). Engage In Night Fishing
Your eight of the 16 days Rwanda safari tour will start with a leisurely breakfast.
Then, embark on a very scenic drive north to Kibuye, a calm town on the shores of Lake Kivu, one of the most beautiful lakes in Central Africa, stretching as far as Congo. It’s an ideal town to relax in and it is by far the most scenic part of Kivu.
Arrive at your lodge, overlooking the Lake after a drive of 3 to 4 hours. Spend the day at leisure, preparing for the night fishing adventure with the Rwanda fishermen starting at 6 pm. These fishermen spend every night out on crystalline water searching for popular Sambaza.
Though the profession is global, the process is unique to the region; the fishermen’s nightly journey across the lake, with their melodic songs and brightly lit lanterns, is truly captivating.
The highlight of The Day: – Night fishing on Lake Kivu
Accommodation:-
Midrange: – Cormoran Lodge
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Drive distance & time: – Approx. 3 hours
Activities & Services:-
- Transfer to Lake Kivu & Night fishing
Day 9: Enjoy A Boat Cruise on Lake Kivu & Relax At the Lodge
Start with a relaxed breakfast today and then set out on a boat cruise to discover the beauty, peacefulness, and tranquility of Lake Kivu.
Visit some islands and learn about their intriguing history and traditional folklore. The boat ride also offers some excellent birding opportunities with lots of water birds to be spotted. Return to your lodge and spend the rest of the day at leisure.
The highlight of The Day: – Boat cruise on Lake Kivu
Accommodation:-
Midrange: – Cormoran Lodge
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities & Services:-
- Boat Cruise on Lake Kivu
Optional Activity:-
- Full-day kayaking on Lake Kivu
Day 10: Have A Full Day Market Experience & Relax the Rest of the Evening off At the Lodge.
Your day ten of the 16 days Rwanda safari tour will be spent at a local market in Kibuye. You discover the local means of trade, the products on sale, and what a market looks like in an African countryside society. From there, spend the evening at leisure enjoying the comfort of your lodge.
The highlight of The Day: – Local market tour
Accommodation:-
Midrange: – Cormoran Lodge
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities & Services: – Market visit
Optional Activities: –
- Biking along the Congo Nile Divide Trail
- Kayaking on Lake Kivu
Day 11: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park. Visit The Gorilla Guardian Cultural Village On Arrival.
Day 11 of the 16 days Rwanda safari tour starts at 8 am with breakfast.
Then embark on a scenic 4 hours drive north via Gisenyi to your lodge near the Volcanoes National Park. The park contains parts of the Virunga Mountains and its 5 volcanoes that form the border between Rwanda, Uganda, and Congo.
Besides being one of the most scenic sights in Africa, Volcanoes NP is also the gateway to face-to-face encounters with the iconic Mountain Gorillas and golden monkeys. On arrival, go for an enchanting cultural experience in the Gorilla Guardian Cultural Village, a replica village of what traditional life was like back in the day for many Rwandans.
You have an opportunity to spectate and participate in many activities such as hunting skills, traditional dance, and music, traditional architecture, fashion, food preparation, weaving, local brew preparation, meeting traditional healers, etc.
Later in the evening, return to the lodge for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.
The highlight of The Day: – Ibyiwacu Cultural Village tour
Accommodation:-
Luxury: – Mountain Gorilla View Lodge/ Virunga Lodge/Bisate Lodge
Midrange: – Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
Budget: – Muhabura Hotel
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities & Services:-
- Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
- Visit Ibyiwacu Cultural Village
Day 12: Hike Mount Bisoke in Volcanoes National Park.
Day twelve of your 16 days Rwanda safari tour will be spent hiking Mt Bisoke (3,711m). Enjoy a hearty breakfast at 6 am, and transfer to the park office in Kinigi at 7 am. You’ll carry a lunch box. Meet the park guides for a briefing before ascending the volcano. During the ascent, trek through different vegetation zones.
On the lower slopes, pass through the bamboo forest, the preferred food of golden monkeys and mountain gorillas. As you climb up to the higher slopes you come to a band of Hagenia forest, which then opens out to Lobelia bush as you approach the summit, after about 4 hours. A wide variety of birds are found on the slopes.
The summit is dominated by a large crater lake and on a clear day, the views are far-reaching. This is a great place to relax and enjoy your lunch, before starting your 2 hours descent. After descending Mt Bisoke you’ll re-join your vehicle and guide the drive back to your lodge for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.
The highlight of The Day: – Hiking the scenic Mount Bisoke Volcano
Accommodation:-
Luxury: – Mountain Gorilla View Lodge/Bisate Lodge/Virunga Lodge
Midrange: – Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
Budget: – Muhabura Hotel
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities & Services: –
- Hiking Mount Bisoke
Optional Activity: –
- Dian Fossey Hike
Day 13: Gorilla Trekking In Volcanoes & Relaxation at the Lodge.
Enjoy early morning breakfast and then drive to the park offices. First, the rangers give you a briefing on the Rwanda gorilla trekking procedures, and then you set off into the mountains. The park protects roughly 300 of these endangered great apes, and the family group that you’ll be trekking is habituated/accustomed to human presence.
In the wet, muddy and humid conditions, this 2- 6 hours trek can be relatively challenging as you journey through the dense vegetation and climb to the base of the Virunga Volcanos where the groups are found.
Once gorillas are encountered, you are rewarded with a once-in-a-lifetime sighting of these gentle giant, human-like creatures for 1 hour as they interact, play, eat, groom, and go about their daily lives in their natural habitat.
The highlight of The Day: – Tracking rare Mountain Gorillas
Accommodation:-
Luxury: – Mountain Gorilla View Lodge/Bisate Lodge/Virunga Lodge
Midrange: – Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
Budget: – Muhabura Hotel
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities & Services:- Gorilla trekking
Day 14: Do Golden Monkey Tracking & Visit To The Musanze Caves In The Afternoon.
After breakfast at 6 am, go back into the Virungas for yet another amazing experience – the golden monkey trekking adventure.
Golden monkeys are unique to Virunga Mountains and live in the bamboo forests. They have beautiful golden fur coats and their spritely character makes them an exciting encounter. The trek to find them is relatively easy as they are at the bottom of the mountains. It will take about 1 hour to locate them and then you have one with the habituated group with more than 100 individuals.
After the expedition, return to the lodge for relaxation and lunch. In the afternoon, embark on the Musanze Caves exploration where you explore the ancient Caves of Musanze 2km long dating back to 65 million years.
The highlight of The Day: – Tracking endemic golden monkeys
Accommodation:-
Luxury: – Mountain Gorilla View Lodge/Bisate Lodge/Virunga Lodge
Midrange: – Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
Budget: – Muhabura Hotel
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities & Services: –
- Golden tracking
- Musanze caves walk
Day 15: Canoe Ride along the Twin Lakes – Ruhondo & Bulera. Transfer Back To Kigali & Relax At the Lodge.
Day 15 of the 16 days Rwanda safari tour starts with a relaxed breakfast. Then embark on a canoeing trip on the Twin Lakes – Bulera and Ruhondo, which are located at the base of the volcano Mount Muhabura.
Glide across the dark blue waters of these stunning lakes, which are surrounded by rolling hills and scenic views of the Virunga volcanoes. Retire from the activity and embark on a leisurely drive back to Kigali. Arriving at your lodge for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.
The highlight of The Day: – Exploring the scenic Twin Lakes on a canoe
Accommodation:-
Luxury: – Hotel Mille Collines
Midrange: – Hotel Chezlando
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Drive distance & time: – Approx. 116km or 2-3 hours
Activities & Services: –
- Canoeing trip on twin lakes
- Drive back to Kigali
Day 16: Drop Off At the Airport for Flight Departure.
This is another day at leisure and then you will be dropped off at the airport in the evening for the flight back home.
End of the 16 Days Rwanda Safari Tour
16 Days Rwanda Safari − SAFARI INCLUSIONS
- Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safaris Permit
- Chimpanzee Permit (for chimpanzee trekking safaris)
- Full-board accommodation on safari
- Transportation in either 4X4 Safari Van or 4X4 Safari Land Cruiser all with Pop up roof & AC
- Fuel
- Professional English Speaking driver guide. Any other foreign language speaking guide can be arranged on request.
- Entrance fees to the tourist sites including Protected areas mentioned
- Activity fees of the tourist activities mentioned
- Bottled water while on safari
- Border crossing fees (for cross-border safaris)
16 Days Rwanda Safari Tour − SAFARI EXCLUSIONS
- General tips for the driver guide, site guides, and service staff at the lodges
- Laundry Services
- Other Beverages/drinks of personal nature like Alcohol
- International Flights (Arranged on request)
- Domestic Flights (Arranged on request)
- Visas
- Optional Activity fees
- Other extras not mentioned in the Itinerary
- Airport Transfer (Arranged on request)
- Accommodation in Kigali unless it is part of the Itinerary (Arranged on request)
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