Visit Rwanda in 10 Days

You will have a hike around Nyungwe boat cruise at lake Kivu and from where you will head to Volcanoes National Park where you encounter the endangered mountain gorillas and transfer for golden monkeys trekking after you will head for a game drive at Akagera and boat cruise which is done on lake Ihema. Having done your boat cruise, you will drive to Kigali airport where you will fly back home.

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Kigali

Immediately as you land at the Kigali international airport, you will be welcomed by your driver guide who will give you a quick briefing about the Safari. The briefing is not long but it's short containing mostly the rules and regulations to follow while on your safari then drive to your booked hotel in Kigali and have your dinner there as you are preparing for your first activity the following day.

Day 2: Kigali city tour

Have your breakfast at your hotel and then head to Kigali for a city tour. In this city, you will choose places to visit since the city is blessed with many attractions. You may decide to visit the genocide memorial centre where over 800,000 victims were buried. The genocide happened in 1994 between the superior Hutu and the minority tribe of Tutsi. At this memorial centre, you will have a look at the remains of the victims such as the skulls, bones and some of the weapons which were used in this tribal war.

Since the city is well equipped with many attractions, you may decide to go and hike mount Kigali which lies at the altitude of 6000 metres above sea level. In reality, it is not a mountain but just a hill and is the highest hill in Kigali. Its name was given to it so as to attract the attention of tourists because while on it, you will be well positioned to view all parts of the city. Drive back to the hotel and have your dinner and night's stay

Day 3: Transfer to Nyungwe with a stopover at the former Presidential palace

On the third day of your safari, you will wake up early in the morning and have your well-served morning breakfast after which you will drive and head to Nyugwe national Park. While on your way, you will have a stopover at the former presidential palace where you will see the palace of the former president before the one in power. You will buy some of the snacks here and some drinks from the nearby hotels and after you will proceed with the journey to Nyugwe National Park arriving late in the evening at your lodge as you are served your dinner.

Day 4: tracking chimps and canopy walk

Wake up early in the morning and be very with a morning breakfast at your lodge and after you will drive for an interesting activity which most tourists like the chimpanzee trekking. You will drive to the park headquarters from where you will be given a permit for chimpanzee trekking and then drive to the starting point where a ranger guide will give you a quick briefing about the experience.

After the briefing, you will set off and start looking for these animals. Having reached them, you will be given an hour in their presence as you are taking photos, and videos and learn more about their behaviours after you drive back to your lodge for lunch as you prepare for your next activity in the evening.

In the evening, you will head for a canopy walk. This activity is done on a high suspended metallic raised above the treetops purposely to have an aerial view of the forest. In this experience, you will be in a position to view monkeys jumping in trees, birds and other things that are in the forest. Drive back to your lodge for your dinner and night stay as above

Day 5: hike around Nyungwe forest and transfer to Lake Kivu

Be served a delicious breakfast at your lodge and then head for a hike around Nyugwe national Park/ nature walk. On this nature walk, you will be led by a guide to the forest who will give you all the required details of the park as you see different bird species, monkeys, butterflies and other forest inhabiters. Drive to your lodge for your meals and after transfer to lake Kivu.

Day 6: Boat cruise and transfer to Volcanoes National Park

Have your well-served morning dish at your lodge and after head for a full-day boat cruise at Gisenyi on Lake  Kivu. During this drive, you will have a look at the aquatic animals such as hippopotamus, crocodiles and some bird species together with the view of the sunset over the horizons. Have your lunch and after transfer to Volcanoes National Park a journey taking only 2-3 hours drive.

Day 7: tracking gorillas and relax

Begin your day with a morning breakfast well served at your lodge and then drive to Volcanoes National Park for an eye-catching experience, gorilla trekking. Drive to park headquarters where you get a gorilla permit and after drive to the starting point where you will meet a park ranger .who will take you through a short briefing about the experience. In the briefing, you will be read the do's and don'ts to follow when trekking. After you will officially set for the experience and start looking for these endangered mountain gorillas. The experience normally takes 4-8 hours depending on the movements of these primates and they tend to move high in the mountains hence calling you to come with your hiking gumboots/shoes.

After reaching them, you will be given a chance of one hour in their presence as you are taking photos, and short videos and see other behaviours such as grooming and how they play with each other. Having done your experience, you will drive to the park headquarters for your gorilla trekking certificate and drive back to your lodge and then relax a bit from such a long but interesting experience as you are preparing for your dinner

Day 8: Golden monkey trekking and transfer to Akagera National Park

Enjoy your morning breakfast at your lodge and then drive heading for a golden monkey trekking which is also done in volcanoes national park. It is one of the interesting activities where you will have a look at monkeys jumping from one tree to another as you are taking photos and videos. After transfer to Akagera National Park where you will be served your dinner and rest while waiting for your next activity the following day.

Day 9: game drive and boat cruise at Lake Ihema

Begin your day with a well-served morning meal at your lodge and after the drive and head for a morning game drive in Akagera National Park. It is the only Savannah park in Rwanda and is located in the eastern part of the country taking a 2-3 hours drive from Kigali. On this drive, you will spot some savanna animals like zebras, giraffes, olive baboons and not forgetting the big five animals like lions, elephants, buffalos, rhinos and leopards. Drive back to your lodge for lunch.

In the evening after having your lunch, drive and head for an evening boat cruise which is mostly done on lake Ihema. This drive will provide you with a stunning view of Lake Ihema where you will spot some aquatic animals like hippos, crocodiles and some bird species like giant Kingfishers, papyrus gonolek and many more that inhabits the shores of Lake Ihema. Drive back to your lodge for dinner and rest as done on the above days

Day 10: Transfer back to Kigali and fly back home

On this last day of your 10 days best of Rwanda safari, you will be served a morning breakfast at your lodge from where you will drive to Kigali international airport and then fly back to your home country.