7-Day Rwanda Gorilla Tour and Wildlife Safari

Arrival in Kigali and Transfer to Nyungwe National Park

The 7-Day Rwanda Gorilla Tour and Wildlife Safari begins with your arrival in Kigali, where a friendly representative from Decisive Safaris Africa Tours Limited will meet and brief you before setting off on a scenic drive toward Nyungwe Forest National Park. This first leg of your journey introduces you to the heart of Rwanda’s cultural heritage. En route, enjoy a stop at the King’s Palace in Nyanza, an important symbol of Rwanda’s pre-colonial monarchy. Here, you’ll explore traditional architecture, learn about royal traditions, and even meet the famous long-horned Inyambo cows, revered for their cultural importance.

Continuing on, you will pause in Butare to explore the Ethnographic Museum, widely recognized as one of the finest museums in Africa. It houses diverse exhibits ranging from woven textiles, historic tools, pottery, hunting instruments, and musical artifacts that paint a vivid picture of Rwanda’s rich cultural heritage.

After lunch in Butare, the journey proceeds south to Nyungwe Forest National Park, a pristine tropical rainforest located in the southwest of the country. Covering over 1,000 square kilometers, Nyungwe is one of Africa’s oldest rainforests, renowned for its biodiversity and lush beauty. Upon arrival, check into your selected lodge—Gisakura Guest House (budget), Emeraude Kivu Resort (mid-range), or the exclusive One and Only Nyungwe House (luxury). Spend the evening relaxing and preparing for your first primate adventure.

Chimpanzee Tracking and Canopy Walk in Nyungwe Forest

Today is dedicated to discovering Nyungwe’s incredible primate population. After an early breakfast, you will head to the park headquarters for a comprehensive briefing before setting out into the forest for chimpanzee tracking. The 7-Day Rwanda Gorilla Tour and Wildlife Safari invites you to venture deep into the forest, guided by experienced rangers who will lead you along trails that wind through towering trees and lush undergrowth.

The trek typically lasts 2–3 hours depending on the location of the chimpanzees, who move freely through the forest. Once located, you’ll spend a magical hour observing them in their natural habitat. Watch their social behavior—grooming, feeding, playing—and listen to their loud vocalizations echoing through the canopy. Nyungwe is also home to 12 other primate species, such as L’hoest monkeys, owl-faced monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, and black-and-white colobus monkeys. With luck, you may spot several species during your excursion.

Return to your lodge for a well-deserved lunch and short rest. In the afternoon, head to the Uwinka Visitor Center for the famous Nyungwe Canopy Walk. Suspended 50 meters above the forest floor and stretching over 160 meters, this walk offers exhilarating panoramic views of the forest and its rich biodiversity. Keep your eyes peeled for birds like the Ruwenzori turaco, butterflies, and arboreal primates swinging through the treetops. Conclude the day with dinner and an overnight stay at your lodge.

Scenic Transfer to Volcanoes National Park

On Day 3 of the 7-Day Rwanda Gorilla Tour and Wildlife Safari, enjoy breakfast before departing for Volcanoes National Park, located in the northwest of Rwanda. The journey offers stunning vistas as you drive past tea plantations, terraced hills, and small communities that define the Rwandan countryside.

The 4- to 5-hour drive takes you through Gisenyi, a charming lakeside town on Lake Kivu, before ascending into the misty volcanic range of the Virungas. This route offers photo opportunities at every turn, with expansive views of valleys, mountains, and vibrant rural life. You’ll arrive in Kinigi, the gateway to Volcanoes National Park, in the afternoon.

Check into your preferred accommodation—Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Solution Lodge, or Kinigi Guest House. Each offers warm hospitality, hearty meals, and excellent proximity to the park headquarters. Rest and prepare for one of the most unforgettable experiences of the safari: gorilla trekking.

Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park & Iby’iwachu Cultural Village

Today is the highlight of your 7-Day Rwanda Gorilla Tour and Wildlife Safari. After an early breakfast, proceed to the Volcanoes National Park headquarters for a detailed briefing on gorilla trekking protocols. Rangers will assign you to one of the habituated gorilla families before beginning the trek.

The trek through the dense volcanic forest can last from 1 to 7 hours depending on the gorilla group’s location. Your expert guides and porters assist you through thick vegetation and up forested slopes until you encounter these magnificent creatures. Spend up to one magical hour observing their social behaviors, from mothers cuddling infants to dominant silverbacks asserting control.

In the afternoon, immerse yourself in Rwanda’s vibrant cultural heritage at the Iby’iwachu Cultural Village. This community project allows you to interact with locals who share their traditions, music, dance, and stories. Learn about banana beer brewing, traditional medicine, and take part in dance performances and drumming.

Return to your lodge for a relaxed dinner and a cozy overnight.

Transfer to Akagera National Park via Kigali

On Day 5 of your 7-Day Rwanda Gorilla Tour and Wildlife Safari, enjoy a hearty breakfast before departing Kinigi for Akagera National Park. You’ll pass through Kigali, stopping for lunch and optional souvenir shopping before continuing east toward the park. The landscape changes gradually as the forested mountains give way to open savannah and rolling plains.

Arrive at Akagera National Park in the afternoon, one of East Africa’s most beautiful safari destinations. This park is Rwanda’s only Big Five reserve, offering sightings of elephants, lions, leopards, buffalos, and rhinoceroses. After check-in at your lodge—such as Akagera Game Lodge or Ruzizi Tented Lodge—relax and prepare for the next day’s thrilling game drives.

For those interested, a sunset boat cruise or night game drive can be arranged for your first encounter with Akagera’s wildlife. Enjoy dinner at your lodge and an overnight stay under the stars.

Game Drive and Boat Safari in Akagera

Start the day early with a morning game drive across Akagera’s savannah. As part of the 7-Day Rwanda Gorilla Tour and Wildlife Safari, this game drive offers incredible chances to spot early-morning predators and grazers such as giraffes, zebras, impalas, topis, warthogs, elands, and hyenas. Guided by a park ranger, you’ll explore different habitats from lakeshores to open grasslands.

After lunch at the lodge, embark on a boat safari on Lake Ihema, the largest lake in the park. Glide through calm waters while spotting hippos, crocodiles, and numerous bird species like the African fish eagle, shoebill stork, and papyrus gonolek. Watch elephants and buffaloes coming to the lake’s edge for a drink, and enjoy the peaceful serenity of the park.

After your activities, return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Kigali City Tour and Departure

On the final day of your 7-Day Rwanda Gorilla Tour and Wildlife Safari, you will drive back to Kigali after breakfast. Upon arrival, embark on a city tour featuring a poignant visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial. This powerful museum commemorates the victims of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi and offers a sobering yet inspirational insight into Rwanda’s journey of healing.

Depending on your flight schedule, visit local craft markets, art galleries, or relax with a Rwandan coffee before transferring to the airport. Your 7-day adventure concludes with memories that will last a lifetime.