9 Days Rwanda Wildlife & Primate Safari – Akagera, Nyungwe & Lake Kivu Expedition

Arrive at Kigali International Airport, where your guide will be waiting to greet you. Depending on your arrival time, you may explore a few highlights of Kigali, such as the Kigali Genocide Memorial, local artisan shops, or the vibrant Kimironko Market. Transfer to your hotel for dinner and a good night’s rest.

After breakfast, drive east to Akagera National Park, Rwanda’s only savannah park and home to the Big Five. Arrive around midday, check in at your lodge, and enjoy lunch with views of the surrounding bush. In the afternoon, set out on your first game drive, exploring the park’s southern sector. You’ll spot giraffes, zebras, baboons, and herds of antelope. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Today is devoted to a full-day game drive, starting early and heading toward the northern plains. Your guide will help you track down elephants, lions, rhinos, buffaloes, and leopards as you traverse different ecosystems—from open grassland to swamps and acacia forests. Break for a picnic lunch in the wild, and enjoy endless opportunities for wildlife photography. Return to your lodge in the evening.

Start the day with a boat safari on Lake Ihema, offering up-close views of hippos, crocodiles, and a variety of waterbirds such as African fish eagles and papyrus gonoleks. After the boat ride, return to your lodge to freshen up and check out. Drive back to Kigali, arriving in the evening. Overnight at a hotel in the capital.

Enjoy a relaxed morning, then drive westward toward Lake Kivu, arriving in the lakeside town of Kibuye by afternoon. This tranquil leg of your journey allows you to rest and rejuvenate. Settle into your lake-view lodge and enjoy a sunset walk, optional kayak ride, or a quiet evening by the shore.

After breakfast, embark on a boat excursion across Lake Kivu. Visit Napoleon Island or Peace Island, and stop at a lakeside coffee plantation where you’ll learn about Rwanda’s farm-to-cup coffee culture. The rest of the afternoon is yours to relax at the lodge or explore the hills around Kibuye. Overnight at Lake Kivu.

Leave Lake Kivu behind and drive south to Nyungwe National Park, passing through tea plantations and rolling green hills. Upon arrival, stretch your legs with a guided hike to Isumo Waterfall, a picturesque trail known for bird sightings, monkeys, and lush vegetation. Check in to your forest lodge and enjoy dinner surrounded by nature.

Start early for an exciting chimpanzee trekking experience. Accompanied by a park ranger, hike deep into the rainforest to find one of the habituated chimpanzee families. Once located, spend up to an hour observing their playful and social behavior. After lunch and a short break, head to the park’s canopy walkway, suspended 50 meters above the ground. It’s a thrilling perspective on the treetops and a great chance to spot birds and monkeys. Overnight in Nyungwe.

After a final breakfast in the forest, begin your return journey to Kigali. The drive takes about 6 hours, but the scenery is spectacular along the way. Optional stops include local tea factories or the Nyanza King’s Palace Museum. Your guide will drop you at the airport or your Kigali hotel, marking the end of your Rwanda wilderness journey.