7 Days Rwanda Wildlife & Uganda Gorilla Habituation Safari

Arrival in Kigali, Rwanda

Your 7 Days Rwanda Wildlife & Uganda Gorilla Habituation Safari begins with your arrival at Kigali International Airport, where you will be warmly welcomed by our representative from Decisive Safaris Africa Tours Limited. You’ll then be transferred to your hotel in Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda. Depending on your arrival time, you may opt for a brief city tour to introduce you to Rwanda’s rich culture, hospitality, and intriguing history.

Kigali is one of Africa’s most progressive and cleanest cities. Surrounded by rolling hills, this city offers a peaceful and safe environment for visitors to explore. If time permits, you may visit local attractions such as the Kigali Genocide Memorial, which honors the memory of the 1994 genocide victims and showcases the country’s journey toward peace and reconciliation. The Kimironko Market also provides an authentic look into local Rwandan life, offering colorful crafts, fresh produce, and vibrant fabrics.

Your evening will conclude with a delicious dinner at your hotel, where you can unwind after your flight and prepare for the exciting adventures ahead. You’ll overnight in a comfortable lodge that provides excellent services and amenities, ensuring a restful start to your safari.

• Destination: Kigali City
• Accommodation: Onomo Hotel (Mid-Range) / Serena Kigali (Luxury)
• Meal Plan: Dinner & Breakfast

Transfer to Akagera National Park – 7 Days Rwanda Wildlife & Uganda Gorilla Habituation Safari

On the second day of your 7 Days Rwanda Wildlife & Uganda Gorilla Habituation Safari, you will enjoy a delightful breakfast at your Kigali hotel before embarking on a scenic road journey to Akagera National Park. Located in the eastern part of Rwanda, Akagera is the country’s only savannah national park and one of Africa’s most successful conservation comeback stories.

The drive to Akagera takes approximately 2.5 to 3 hours, passing through beautiful countryside landscapes, terraced hills, and traditional Rwandan villages. Upon arrival at the park, you will check in at your lodge and enjoy a sumptuous lunch with views over the plains or Lake Ihema, one of the park’s many freshwater lakes.

In the late afternoon, you’ll embark on your first game drive inside Akagera National Park. This introductory safari drive is your first opportunity to encounter Africa’s famous Big Five: lions, elephants, rhinos, buffalo, and leopards, as well as giraffes, zebras, impalas, and warthogs. Birdwatchers will also be thrilled, as Akagera is home to over 500 bird species, including the rare shoebill stork and papyrus gonolek.

As the sun sets over the savannah, you’ll return to your lodge for a well-prepared dinner and a peaceful overnight stay in the heart of nature.

• Destination: Akagera National Park
• Accommodation: Magashi Tented Camp (Mid-Range) / Akagera Game Lodge (Luxury)
• Meal Plan: Full Board

Full Day Safari in Akagera National Park – 7 Days Rwanda Wildlife & Uganda Gorilla Habituation Safari

Day three of your 7 Days Rwanda Wildlife & Uganda Gorilla Habituation Safari is dedicated to a full-day exploration of Akagera National Park, providing maximum opportunities for wildlife sightings and scenic immersion.

After an early breakfast, you’ll set out for a full-day game drive through Akagera’s varied habitats, including open grasslands, acacia woodlands, wetlands, and lakeshores. The park’s diverse ecosystems support a high density of wildlife, and you may spot herds of elephants bathing near lakes, towers of giraffes gracefully walking across plains, and antelopes grazing in the tall grasses. The park is now home to a thriving lion population, and with luck, you might observe them resting or hunting in the early morning hours.

Enjoy a picnic lunch in the wild, surrounded by pristine nature and the distant calls of birds and primates. Continue your game drive into the afternoon, where sightings of crocodiles basking in the sun, pods of hippos wallowing in lakes, and flocks of waterbirds are common. The park’s eastern and southern regions also offer incredible views over Lake Ihema and the Tanzanian border.

As the day concludes, you’ll return to your lodge for a relaxed evening, sharing safari stories over dinner. The day’s experiences offer a rich understanding of Rwanda’s conservation efforts and the natural beauty that makes Akagera a rising star among African safari destinations.

• Destination: Akagera National Park
• Accommodation: Magashi Tented Camp (Mid-Range) / Akagera Game Lodge (Luxury)
• Meal Plan: Full Board

Transfer to Kigali – Exploring Rwanda’s Vibrant Capital

After a fulfilling wildlife experience in Akagera, your 7 Days Rwanda Wildlife & Uganda Gorilla Habituation Safari continues with a scenic return journey to Kigali, Rwanda’s capital. After breakfast, we bid farewell to the savannah landscapes of Akagera National Park and embark on a comfortable drive back to Kigali. As the city skyline comes into view, you’ll notice the transition from the tranquil wilderness to the dynamic, clean, and bustling city life Kigali is known for.

Upon arrival, check-in at your selected hotel. You have the afternoon at leisure to explore some of Kigali’s renowned cultural and historical landmarks. We recommend a guided visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre, a deeply moving and educational experience. Alternatively, stroll through Kimironko Market, where local artisans and traders offer a colorful array of crafts, fabrics, and fresh produce. You may also enjoy Kigali’s upscale cafes or take a city walk to discover Rwanda’s urban transformation firsthand. Dinner and overnight at your chosen hotel.

• Destination: Kigali City
• Accommodation: Onomo Hotel (Mid-Range) / Serena Kigali Hotel (Luxury)
• Meal Plan: Full Board

Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – Journey to the Pearl of Africa

Day five of the 7 Days Rwanda Wildlife & Uganda Gorilla Habituation Safari begins with an early breakfast before we cross the border into Uganda, heading to the world-renowned Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to nearly half of the world’s mountain gorilla population. As we leave Kigali, you’ll enjoy a scenic drive through Rwanda’s rolling hills and into southwestern Uganda, passing terraced farms, small towns, and vibrant roadside villages.

Arriving in Bwindi by afternoon, you’ll check in at your selected lodge. The atmosphere in this region is cool, misty, and surrounded by thick rainforest – a dramatic contrast from the lowland savannahs of earlier days. Rest and prepare for the following day’s rare gorilla habituation experience. Dinner is served at your lodge, set against the backdrop of lush jungle sounds.

• Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Uganda)
• Accommodation: Gorilla Mist Camp (Mid-Range) / Nkuringo Gorilla Safari Lodge (Luxury)
• Meal Plan: Full Board

Gorilla Habituation Experience in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Today is arguably the most exclusive and unforgettable highlight of the 7 Days Rwanda Wildlife & Uganda Gorilla Habituation Safari. After an early breakfast, you’ll transfer to the park headquarters for a briefing with experienced Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers and researchers. You are about to embark on a Gorilla Habituation Experience, a rare and immersive opportunity that goes beyond standard trekking.

Unlike traditional gorilla trekking, where you spend only one hour with a fully habituated family, this experience allows you to spend up to four hours observing a group of gorillas still undergoing the process of habituation. You’ll witness their natural behavior in a more raw and intimate state – feeding, grooming, climbing, and interacting within their social structure. This experience is limited to a small number of participants per day, offering a private, research-focused encounter in the dense montane rainforest.

After an enriching and deeply moving time with these great apes, trek back to the starting point and return to your lodge. Spend the rest of the day relaxing and reflecting on this rare wildlife privilege. Dinner and overnight stay at your lodge.

• Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
• Accommodation: Gorilla Mist Camp (Mid-Range) / Nkuringo Gorilla Safari Lodge (Luxury)
• Meal Plan: Full Board

Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi & Transfer to Kigali – End of Safari

The final day of your 7 Days Rwanda Wildlife & Uganda Gorilla Habituation Safari brings one last exhilarating adventure – traditional gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. After an early breakfast, return to the park headquarters for a pre-trek briefing. Assigned to a different gorilla group from the habituation, you’ll follow skilled trackers and guides deep into the forest. The trek can take anywhere from 1 to 4 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas.

Once found, you’ll spend one magical hour with the gorilla family, observing them in their fully habituated state. This encounter is ideal for photography, close observation, and truly appreciating the behavior of these gentle giants. After the trek, return to your lodge for lunch.

In the afternoon, we begin the return journey to Kigali, Rwanda, making stopovers for photos or refreshments along the way. Upon arrival, you’ll be transferred to Kigali International Airport for your evening or night flight. This marks the end of your once-in-a-lifetime safari through the heart of Rwanda and Uganda.

• Destination: Kigali International Airport
• Accommodation: No Accommodation (End of Safari)
• Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch