7 Days Gorilla Chimpanzee & Wildlife Self Drive Safari in Rwanda Detailed itinerary Safari

Day 1 of the 7 Days Gorilla Chimpanzee & Wildlife Self Drive Safari in Rwanda: Arrive in Rwanda (Kigali International Airport) & transfer to Akagera National Park

Arrive at the Rwanda’s Kigali International Airport where you will meet your safari guide who will give you a brief about the destination Rwanda and the safari in particular after which you embark on the transfer to Akagera National Park 135km around 2 ½ drive passing through amazing countryside landscapes including the areas of Rwamagana where you have chances of encountering the inyambo cows. You arrive in Akagera National Park in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight

Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Ruzizi Tented Lodge,Midrange / Standard:  Akagera Game Lodge,Budget / Basic:  Dereva Hotel,Wild Camping: Ruzizi Tented Camp, Midrange / Standard: Akagera Game Lodge, Budget / Basic: Dereva Hotel, Wild Camping

Day 2 of the 7 Days Gorilla Chimpanzee & Wildlife Self Drive Safari in Rwanda: Undertake a game drive / wild game viewing in the morning and Lake Ihema boat cruise in the afternoon

After a morning cup of coffee, embark on the thrilling game drive encounter in the savannah landscapes of Akagera National Park. The Akagera National Park features a range of wild game including elephants, masaai giraffes, buffaloes, Impala, water bucks, bushbucks, Oribi, eland, reedbuck, roan antelope, lions, leopards among other wild game are present in the park and might be encountered on the game drive. You retreat from 3 – 4 hour encounter and get to the lodge for relaxation and lunch after which you connect to Lake Ihema for an afternoon boat cruise. Lake Ihema is the second largest lake in Rwanda inhabited by Hippos and Nile crocodile and counts of birds. Thus the boat cruise on this lake presents a memorable encounter on the Rwanda safari. Retire for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Ruzizi Tented Lodge,Midrange / Standard:  Akagera Game Lodge,Budget / Basic:  Dereva Hotel,Wild Camping

Day 3 of the 7 Days Gorilla Chimpanzee & Wildlife Self Drive Safari in Rwanda: Drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park. Tour the Ethnographic Museum and the King’s Palace in Butare and Nyanza respectively

After breakfast, embark on the transfer to Nyungwe forest National Park in the south west of Rwanda 320km about 5 hours’ drive. You drive through impressive countryside landscapes of Rwanda before making a stop in Butare to visit the Ethnographic Museum with over 100,000 artifacts detailing the history and heritage of Rwanda. From the ethnographic Museum, you proceed to visit the King’s Palace at Nyanza where the two Kings of Rwanda King Musinga and King Rudahigwa stayed. The palace features a traditional hut which depicts the exact design to time of the Kingship and the Inyambo cows with their beautiful long horned cows. Retreat from the activities and continue to Nyungwe Forest National Park for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Nyungwe Forest Lodge,Midrange / Standard: Nyungwe Hill Top View Hotel,Budget / Basic: Gisakura Guesthouse,Wild Camping

Day 4 of the 7 Days Gorilla Chimpanzee & Wildlife Self Drive Safari in Rwanda: Undertake morning chimpanzee trekking and Nyungwe Canopy walk in the afternoon

After breakfast, connect to the Park headquarters for briefing at 8am local time before heading to the forest in search of common Chimpanzees. The forest of Nyungwe is considered as the largest montane forest in the region and is a rich habitat to 310 Species of birds, over 75 mammal Species, 13 Species of Primates of which common Chimpanzees are among along with counts of butterflies, impressive trees and beautiful orchids. The chimp trek tend to last 2 – 5 hours inclusive of one hour direct encounter with the chimps as you see them munch fruit, roll themselves on tree branches, socialize, patrol, copulate among other interesting aspects that will lure you to make full utilization of your Camera space. Retreat from the activity and connect to the lodge for relaxation an lunch. In the afternoon, you connect at Uwinka Visitor Center to embark on the afternoon Nyungwe canopy walk. The two hour walk on top of the forest canopy offers you impressive views of the forest and the species that thrive in it including primates and birds. Retreat from the activity and connect to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Nyungwe Forest Lodge,Midrange / Standard: Nyungwe Hill Top View Hotel,Budget / Basic: Gisakura Guesthouse,Wild Camping

Day 5 of the7 Days Gorilla Chimpanzee & Wildlife Self Drive Safari in Rwanda: Undertake a whole day drive to Volcanoes National Park – the Rwanda’s gorilla trekking haven

Embark on the transfer to Volcanoes National Park 338km driving along the impressive views of Lake Kivu and the Congo Nile divide. The undulating hills of Rwanda covered with lush green and extensive human settlement along with other crop gardens and cattle farms will keep your eyes occupied for the whole drive. Arrive in Volcanoes in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Mount Gorilla View Lodge,Midrange / Standard: Hotel La Palme,Budget / Basic: Muhabura Hotel,Camping

Day 6 of the 7 Days Gorilla Chimpanzee & Wildlife Self Drive Safari in Rwanda: Undertake gorilla trekking experience & afternoon exploration to Musaze Caves.

After breakfast, connect to the park headquarters at Kinigi to undertake a mountain gorilla trekking experience. You arrive at the headquarters and if it’s earlier than 8am, you attend to the traditional performances of the Banyarwanda demonstrating their magical intore dance. The hot Rwandan coffee is available at the site where you can take a cup and gain warmth amidst the mountain coldness. At 8am, the gorilla families are allocated and you attend to briefing in your respective gorilla groups after which you connect to the respective trail head to start the trekking. The search for the gorillas is a lifetime adventure where man begins the quest to reunite with his long lost cousin since their ancestors parted ways millions of year ago. The magical bird songs, the sounds of the forest, the sights of lush plants and amazing scenery combine to make the track to the gorillas a memorable one. The moment with the gorillas are far beyond the ordinary and it neutralizes long treks through challenging landscapes that you might have encountered. Encounter the gorillas as they forage and thrive comfortably in natural habitats. You are free to take as many photos as possible and interact with gorillas directly while maintaining the 7m distance. Retreat from the encounter and return to the lodge for short relaxation. In the afternoon, you embark on the Musaze Caves exploration where you explore the ancient Caves of Musaze 2km long dating back to 65million years ago when the lava basalt was flowing out from Volcanoes of Bisoke and Sabyinyo. The Caves with 31 entrances were used as hiding grounds in times of war in the pre-colonial Africa. Retreat from the activity and return to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Upmarket / Luxury: Mount Gorilla View Lodge,Midrange / Standard: Hotel La Palme,Budget / Basic: Muhabura Hotel,Camping

Day 7 of the 7 Days Gorilla Chimpanzee & Wildlife Self Drive Safari in Rwanda: Transfer to Kigali City and depart

After breakfast, embark on the transfer to Kigali 116km about 2 – 3 hours’ drive passing through the beautiful Rwandan hillside landscapes that have earned it a dub as the land of a thousand hills. If you arrive in Kigali early before your check in time, you can take time to visit the Kigali genocide memorial to gain a clear picture of what actually transpired in the 1994 genocide. From the museum, you connect to the Airport for flight departure.

End of the 7 Days Gorilla Chimpanzee & Wildlife Self Drive Safari in Rwanda