7-Day Rwanda Itinerary & Costs (Safari & Gorillas)

Rwanda packs more primate magic into its small footprint than almost anywhere else on earth, and a single week is all the time you need to see the very best of it without rushing.

Known as the Land of a Thousand Hills, Rwanda is compact, safe and remarkably well-organised, which makes planning a gorilla and chimpanzee and Big Five safari straightforward!

Volcanoes National Park delivers mountain gorilla trekking on the slopes of the Virunga Massif, Akagera in the east now holds all of the Big Five after a remarkable conservation turnaround, and Nyungwe Forest guards habituated chimpanzee groups inside an ancient UNESCO rainforest.

My own experience of Rwanda was nothing short of incredible! I am working on you Youtube video of my experience and will post it here when complete.

My highlights include observing a huge family of mountain gorillas with babies on the mountain side of Volcanoes national park to chasing after chimps through the Nyungwe rain forest to having the the best white rhinos sightings of my life in Akagera National park!

Seven days is enough to combine gorilla trekking in Volcanoes, chimp tracking in the rainforest of Nyungwe, a restful stop on the shores of Lake Kivu, and a proper taste of Akagera’s reintroduced lions and rhinos, all without marathon driving days or rushed activities.

For longer trips, you can also incorporate neighbouring Uganda with a 2-week Uganda and Rwanda safari itinerary.

Rwanda 7-Day Safari Itinerary Map

Below is the route map for my recommended 7-Day Rwanda itinerary. We’ll cover this itinerary in detail in this guide.

Why Go on Safari in Rwanda?

Rwanda’s lush, green and mountainous landscape is one of Africa’s most diverse safari destinations as well as having great infrastructure and one of the safest countries in Africa.

An impressive 9% of Rwanda’s land is protected for wildlife and conservation), with a total of 4 national parks.

Rwanda offers visitors mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, chimpanzee tracking in the ancient rainforest of Nyungwe, and Big Five safaris on the open plains of Akagera National Park.

Because the country is small and easy to navigate, 7 days on safari in Rwanda is enough time for you to encounter primates, plains game and predators, all in one compact loop.

Let’s dive into some of the features that set Rwanda apart as a safari destination or jump straight to the itinerary.

Easy Access via Kigali

Compared to most other safari destinations in Africa, Rwanda’s parks are easy to access thanks to good connections by air and overland.

I found the smooth tar roads and small size of Rwanda quite a contrast to the much longer bumpy drives between locations in neighbouring Uganda. However, you do pay extra for the great Rwandan infrastructure via much higher gorilla tracking fees.

Right in the centre of the country is the main gateway to Rwanda, Kigali International Airport. There are direct flights here from London, Brussels, Amsterdam, Doha, Dubai and several African hubs.

Travellers from the US connect through one of these hubs, reaching Kigali with a single stop from gateways such as New York, Atlanta or Washington.

From the landing strip to the first park gate is a short journey: Volcanoes National Park is only around 2.5 hours drive from Kigali, via well-maintained, paved roads.

Rwanda is widely considered the safest country in East Africa, with clean urban centres, strong governance and excellent road infrastructure.

Below is a map I made of Rwanda showing the safari highlights.

World-Class Primate Viewing

In Rwanda is one of the best places in the world to see primates in the wild including mountain gorillas, chimpanzees and golden monkeys.

Rwanda is one of only three countries in the world where mountain gorillas can be seen in their natural habitat, the others being Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Volcanoes National Park is Rwanda’s flagship reserve and offers everything you could hope for in a gorilla trekking experience: lush rain forests, dramatic mountain paths, and, of course, critically endangered mountain gorillas.

The park is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and part of the Virunga Massif, a mountain range that spans Rwanda, Uganda and the DRC, and covers 62 square miles (160 km²).

The Virunga region is the primary habitat for mountain gorillas in Africa, and Volcanoes is home to around 300-350 individuals across 10 habituated families.

Population	Gorillas	Location
Virunga Massif	604	Rwanda, Uganda, DRC
Bwindi-Sarambw	459	Uganda, DRC
TOTAL GLOBAL	1,063

On my most recent gorilla trekking journey, it took us nearly 2 hours to find the Hira family. But it was worth every step! We watched them for an hour, and this was one of the most magical experiences of my life.

There seemed to have been a baby boom in the Hira family as several mothers were cradling babies. The adorable infants wriggled restlessly in their mother’s arms while some slightly older youngsters played energetically and tested their mothers’ patience.

We were also treated to an extremely rare sight, and witnessed a great silverback mating with a female.

You can see a table below showing gorilla tracking permits by destination.

Rwanda is also excellent for chimpanzee trekking and you can do this in Nyungwe Forest National Park, covering 393 square miles (1,019 km²), this is one of the oldest rainforests in Africa and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are 13 different monkey species in the reserve as well as habituated families of chimpanzees.

You can also witness Golden monkeys in the volcanic Virunga Mountains. These endangered primates live only in this corner of Rwanda, Uganda and DR Congo, and are found nowhere else on earth.

A Compact Country with Everything Within Reach

Rwanda has a tiny footprint, which means driving between the key parks and having enough time in each one is manageable within a week. From Kigali, Volcanoes is a 2.5 hour drive north, and the southern gateway town of Musanze sits right at the park’s edge.

The roads are well-paved throughout and scenery is spectacular, with terraced highlands and tea plantations dotted between breathtaking rainforests and mountains.

There is also spectacular Lake Kivu, where you can stop to break up the longer drive between Volcanoes and Nyungwe into two comfortable halves.

Having been on safari in Rwanda and neighbouring Uganda I found the drivers much shorter and the roads much smoother but you do pay a premium vs Uganda.

All of the Big Five

You can now see all of Big Five in Rwanda’s Akagera National Park after lions were reintroduced into the park in 2015 and rhinos from 2017.

In the 1990s and early 2000s, the rhino population in Rwanda was virtually wiped out by extensive poaching, and they were completely absent from the park between 2007 and 2017.

Likewise, lions were officially declared extinct in Rwanda in 2000, after years of human-wildlife conflict following the Rwandan Genocide in 1994.

The reintroduction of lions and rhinos to the park is one of Africa’s greatest conservation success stories, and it really shows.

I had remarkable sightings of both lions and rhinos in Kilala Plain in Akagera National Park.

We spotted three lions – two males and a female – taking a nap right in the road! And nearby, as if to demonstrate the success of Rwanda’s conservation efforts, we came across four rhinos grazing out in the open, including a mother with her calf.

I then noticed three more rhinos a little further down the plain, grazing right next to a sleeping lion. Neither the rhinos nor the lion seemed concerned about the other’s presence.

If you’re short on time, skip ahead to my 7-Day Rwanda itinerary.

How Do You Book a 7-Day Rwanda Safari?

Without a doubt, the easiest and best value-for-money way to arrange your 7-day Rwanda safari is by booking through a reputable local tour operator.

That’s how I’ve booked my own safaris in Rwanda, and I’ve always been really happy with my experience..

Other booking options include using an international travel agent which typically costs 30 – 50% more than a local operator or self-driving, where you organise everything yourself.

Let’s dig in to the three main ways to book a safari, and consider the different trade-offs on cost, flexibility, and experience.

You can get quotes from the same local tour companies I use to organise my own trips here: Safaris By Ella

Booking Options at a Glance

Option	Cost	Flexibility	Best For
Local Tour Operator	$$	High	Most travellers, best value and experience and those wanting to maximise wildlife sightings
Self-Drive	$	Extremely High	Experienced drivers who are comfortable with gravel roads and good at wildlife tracking and spotting
International Agent	$$$	Medium	Those wanting International flights and safari in one package and are happy to pay 25 – 50% more than a local tour operator

Why I Recommend a Local Tour Operator for Rwanda

Take it from me, I’ve tried all three booking methods in the past, and the best option by far is to use local operators..

A local tour operator in Rwanda will arrange all of your trekking permits (for mountain gorillas, golden monkey, and chimpanzees), your game drives in Akagera National Park, a dedicated driver-guide, accommodation at lodges inside or outside the parks, airport transfers, transfers between parks, and even your park entry fees.

On my first trips, when booking directly or through hotels, I would spend evenings researching lodges, chasing confirmations and working out which gate to enter each park through. A good Rwanda operator does away with all this hassle and simply sends a driver to your hotel at 7am, gets you to the briefing hut in time, and the whole day flows from there.

Local operator pricing in Rwanda is typically at the same level as what you’d pay arranging your own accommodation, vehicle and permits yourself, because the operator buys rooms at preferential rates and owns their own fleet of specialist safari vehicles.

You end up with a far more optimised itinerary, driving less and seeing more, because local operators place you at the right lodge for each park sector. Local operators even often have access to rooms when the online booking sites say ‘sold out’.

What a Local Operator Gives You

• The best local tour operators provide end-to-end service, managing everything from arranging park permits to booking accommodation according to your specifications.

• Local tour operators have networks with deep expertise. Your local guide’s intimate knowledge of the terrain, wildlife behaviour, and tracking techniques is invaluable.

• Another huge advantage is your guide’s access to a radio network of fellow professionals. This communication web significantly increases your chances of good wildlife sightings.

• Having experienced both self-organised and professionally managed safaris, I can assure you that letting experts handle the details makes the whole trip extremely relaxing.

• Some lodges hold rooms specifically for local tour operators, so even if there seems to be no availability online, they might still be able to find you a spot.

What to Watch Out For

• Not all tour operators maintain the same standards, and the cheapest option is not always the best. Substantially cheaper packages may come with lower-quality accommodations, less experienced guides, and cheaper parks, which can negatively affect your overall safari experience.

• Local operators typically do not book international flights, so you will need to arrange those separately.

Rwanda Booking Tips

There are a few unique features of Rwanda’s safari system which you should bear in mind when booking..

• Gorilla permits: You should book your gorilla trekking permits 6-12 months ahead for peak season trips (June to August and December to February) to secure your preferred dates

• Lodge proximity: It’s a good idea to stay at a lodge close to the park headquarters at Volcanoes National Park. Gorilla treks start at 7am at park HQ, and the road is single-track with quite a few cargo trucks. You don’t want to get caught in traffic!

• Protective clothing: Many of the more upmarket hotels will offer you waterproof gaiters, which are recommended for gorilla and chimp trekking. Check this in advance with your tour company so you know whether or not to bring your own.

• Single operator for border crossings: If you’re traveling between Uganda and Rwanda, a single Kigali or Kampala-based operator can organise a Uganda and Rwanda combined trip, including the border crossing. This significantly simplifies the booking process.

Financial Protection When Booking Direct with a Local Tour Operator

When you book a safari with an international travel agent, there are usually financial protections in place in case of unforeseen cancelations or other issues. However, you can easily take steps to give similar financial protection to your booking. Paying by credit card or debit card often gives you purchase protection (in the UK it’s called Section 75) and good travel insurance covers trip interruptions.

You should also choose a recommended local safari company that takes balance payment closer to your trip date, which minimises risk.

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Should You Choose a Private or Group Rwanda Safari?

Private safaris give you a great degree of control over your schedule, routes through the parks, and the amount of time you spend at each wildlife sighting and are the best choice for most travellers visiting Rwanda.

The other option is a group (shared) safari where you share the vehicle with other tourists. In my experience, the only scenario where a group safari makes sense in Rwanda is if you are a solo traveller on a tight budget.

I always book private safaris in Rwanda as it gives me maximum freedom and the best photography experience

Importantly, your guide works exclusively for you, so there is no time lost collecting or dropping off other guests at the beginning and end of game drives.

As always on a game drive, you want to be at sightings as close to sunrise and sunset as possible, as this is when the animals are most active.

Private vs Group at a Glance

	Private Safari	Group Safari
Cost per day	$400-600 per person	$300 per person
Flexibility	Full control of schedule and route	Fixed times and pre-planned routes
Vehicle	Dedicated Land Cruiser and guide	Shared with 6-8 other travellers
Best for	Couples, families, photography enthusiasts	Solo travellers on a budget

In Rwanda, the private vs group distinction matters most on game drives in Akagera, where having a private vehicle lets you pause for longer at lion and rhino sightings on Kilala Plain and choose which sightings to prioritise.

It’s worth noting that regardless of whether you’re on a private or group safari, the walking portions of gorilla and chimpanzee trekking are always group activities with 6-8 people. The major difference is in the transfers, the game drives and the flexibility of your schedule between treks.

What many people don’t know is that the price difference between private and group safaris is smaller than you might expect especially for group of two people or more.

A private Rwanda safari with budget accommodation and a dedicated Land Cruiser typically costs from $450 per person per day, while the equivalent group options cost around $300.

For a couple or small group of friends or family travelling together, splitting the private vehicle cost reduces the difference so that a private safari is only marginally more expensive than a group tour. The superior experience of a private safari makes it a really excellent value option for most travellers.

My Recommendation

I always recommend going private, if your budget allows. When traveling with companions, I keep numbers to 3-4 people maximum to ensure comfort and flexibility, particularly with photography.

With only 3-4 people in a private vehicle, everyone is able to move around adequately when you stop for a sighting, meaning you all get a great view and unobscured photographs.

On that note, I also always ask for Land Cruisers with open sides, which are even better for photography and allow you to feel really close to the wildlife!

How Much Does a 7-Day Rwanda Safari Cost?

A private 7-day Rwanda safari typically costs from $3,500 for budget accommodation, $4,550 for mid-range and $6,500 for luxury, per person in total.

This covers your accommodation, food, transport, park fees, gorilla and chimp trekking permits and game drives.

If you break it down to a daily average, a private safari in Rwanda starts at $450 per person per day. Shared group safaris are a little cheaper, starting at around $300 per day.

The gorilla permit is the single biggest line item in your safari budget, and comes in at $1,500 per person per trek.

A 7-day Rwanda trip generally works out to a lower per day average than a 3-day gorilla-only trip.

This is because the days you spend on safari, which cost less, will offset the expensive gorilla trekking day(s). If you extend your itinerary to 14 days, covering Uganda and Rwanda, this reduces the average daily rate further still.

The chart below shows typical prices for Rwanda safaris, with comparisons based on the level of luxury of your accommodation.

Safari Prices Typically Include

• Park fees at national parks

• Gorilla or chimp trekking permits

• Accommodation at lodges and tented camps

• Full-board meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner)

• Drinks at most lodges (soft and alcoholic)

• Transport and vehicle

• English-speaking driver guide

• Game drives, boat cruises and walking activities

Safari Prices Typically Do Not Include

• International flights

• Tips and gratuities for trackers, guides and porters

How Do Rwanda Safari Costs Compare to Other African Safaris?

Safari costs in Rwanda are higher than in Uganda. The gorilla permit is almost double what you’d pay in Uganda ($1,500 vs $800) and accommodation costs tend to run slightly higher across all tiers.

Compared with Kenya and Tanzania, for example, the total trip cost is higher mainly because of the gorilla and chimp trekking permits.

For instance, a Kenya private safari, where your focus is on game drives in reserves, starts from around $300 per person per day.

Park fees in Rwanda are are lower cost than those in Kenya and Tanzania so it’s the gorilla trekking permits and accommodation which are the more expensive parts.

You can see how costs compare across popular African safari destinations below:

Destination	Private Budget Safari Cost PP/Day
Kenya	300 USD
Tanzania	350 USD
South Africa	400 USD
Botswana	450 USD
Uganda	450 USD
Rwanda	650 USD

Breakdown of Rwanda Safari Costs

Let’s break down the total cost of a Rwanda safari booked with a local tour operator.

On a budget safari around 40% of the total cost of your trip goes towards permits and park fees such as the $1,500 per person per day gorilla tracking fees.

The next biggest cost which accounts for around 23% of your total cost is your safari vehicle and your professional driver guide who looks after you and takes you between locations as well as taking you on safari in the national parks and finds the wildlife.

15% goes towards your accommodation and meals on a private budget safari but this figure will be a bigger percentage on a mid-range or luxury safari and can reach over 50%.

The remaining 16% covers bank fees, administration such as operational costs and the tour operator’s overheads, insurance and profit for providing the trip.

Factors Impacting Rwanda Safari Costs

The biggest factor impacting the cost of your Rwanda safari is usually the level of luxury of the accommodation that you select. A Rwandan safari with high-end accommodation will cost a lot more than a trip where you’re staying in budget or mid-range lodges.

The booking method you use for your safari will also impact the cost. Booking through an overseas travel agent will cost 30-50% more than booking through a local tour operator. 

In Rwanda, the number of days you choose to spend gorilla and chimpanzee Trekking will have a big impact on the average daily cost, as permits for these activities ($1,500 per person per gorilla trek) are high compared to general entrance fees for national parks.

Let’s take a closer look at the different factors affecting the overall cost of your safari.

Even though they represent a substantial cost, it’s important to remember that permit fees directly fund conservation efforts to protect the fewer than 1,100 mountain gorillas that remain in the wild.

Let’s look in more detail at the main elements that impact how much your safari will cost.

How You Book Your Safari

How you book your Rwanda safari can impact your safari cost by as much as 50%.

Booking your safari through an international travel agent or directly with your hotel is the most expensive way to organise your trip.

International travel agents typically charge anything from 25% – 50% more than local tour operators for the equivalent package as they typically just sub-contract the tip to the local tour operator and add their profit on top.

By comparison, going direct to a local tour operators tends to work out much more cost-effective whilst providing a similar experience.

My Preference: I always book through local tour operators as they offer the best balance of value and quality, and take all of the stress out of arranging permits, lodges and transport.

Even when I occasionally opt for flying between parks on my safaris, I still rely on local tour operators for these bookings, as well as for game drives and other arrangements. Their local knowledge is invaluable.

Accommodation

With accommodation costs in Rwanda ranging from $60 to $3,000+ per person per night, your choice of accommodation will have a big impact on your overall safari cost. For most travellers, mid-range accommodation options offer the best balance of comfort and cost.

Remember, you’ll be out on game drives or treks for most of the day, so you probably won’t have loads of time at your hotel or lodge to enjoy too many special facilities.

Accommodation Prices in Rwanda (Peak Season)

Accommodation Level & Location	Price Per Person Per Night
Budget near Volcanoes NP	$60-$150
Mid-range near Volcanoes NP	$250-$500
Luxury near Volcanoes NP	$800-$1,500
Luxury Plus inside Akagera (Magashi)	$1,500-$3,000+

My Preference: I tend to mix accommodation types throughout my journey. Sometimes I splurge on luxury lodges at the start and end of my trip, or on a rest day after a long drive, when comfort becomes more of a priority. Other than that, I find that mid-range accommodation is perfect for most of the trip.

Time of Year

Peak season, which runs from June to August and December to February, is the most expensive time to visit Rwanda, with lodge rates at their highest.

Many lodges offer discounts of up to 30% over the long rainy season, from March to May, but game viewing and trekking conditions can be difficult with the wet weather.

You’ll pay the same for a gorilla permit at all times of the year, but availability fluctuates seasonally. Be sure to book your trekking permits 9-12 months in advance for peak season travel.

My Preference: I find that visiting Rwanda in the shoulder season, from October to November, offers the best mix of weather, wildlife and value-for-money.

How Many Days you Spend Gorilla and Chimpanzee Trekking

Park and trekking permit fees form the largest part of your overall costs at between 30 – 40% of total costs for budget and mid-range safaris.

Unlike Tanzania and Kenya, park and trekking fees in Rwanda stay the same year round.

In Rwanda you’re looking at $1500 for gorilla trekking and $150 for chimp trekking.

The comparatively low park fees in other wildlife reserves such as Akagera of around $100 per person per day  offset the high cost of primate trekking. So on a longer safari trip, with proportionally fewer days primate trekking, you’ll notice a lower average daily spend. 

My Preference: In Uganda I opted for 2 days gorilla trekking but in Rwanda I opted for just one due to the higher fees. Doing two days in a row ensure you maximise sightings but it can be quite tiring doing two treks one after the other.

On my next visit I’d probably opt for two treks as it’s such a great experience as you tend to have different sightings each day but add a rest day in-between them.

Mode of Transport Between Parks (Road or Air)

If you travel between parks by domestic flights it typically cost between $100 and $300 per person per flight, but can save you several hours of driving.

The drive from Nyungwe in the southwest to Akagera in the east takes around 6 hours. Flying cuts that down considerably: Akagera has its own airstrip inside the park (a 15–30 minute helicopter or charter hop from Kigali), and Kamembe Airport near Nyungwe is a 40-minute scheduled flight from Kigali, followed by a 1–2 hour road transfer to the park.

Traveling by road is typically no extra cost as the driver and car already have to make the transfer anyway to meet you and provide your transport and safaris.

My Preference: Generally, I enjoy road travel because I get to see more of the landscape and have flexibility in case of wildlife sightings en route. However, if the road travel options exceed 6 hours and there are flight alternatives, I tend to fly instead.

Group Size

In Rwanda group size is not as big of a factor as other safari destinations such as Kenya as your biggest cost, the gorilla tracking, is paid per person.

However, the number of people in your travel group has an impact on your accommodation as single travelings often have to pay a single supplement to have a private room. It will also impact fixed costs, as you would have to shoulder all the fixed costs such as your safari vehicle and driver guide.

The bigger the group the greater the reduction of the per-person cost. A word of caution though: most safari vehicles can only take a maximum of 6-7 people comfortably, and traveling with larger groups reduces your flexibility.

For couples and small families, private safaris work out to be good value-for-money, as the cost of the vehicle and guide is only slightly higher than a group rate.

My Preference: I like to keep the group small so that everyone has the flexibility to move around and get the best views and photo opportunities during wildlife sightings. Usually 3 or 4 people, including myself, is the maximum group size I’m comfortable with, as with a larger group it can be difficult for you all to find an optimal spot in the game drive vehicle.

When Is the Best Time to Visit Rwanda?

The best time to visit Rwanda for gorilla trekking as well as a traditional Big Five safari is during the dry seasons: June to August and December to February.

During these times, the trekking trails are drier and easier to navigate on foot and the sparser vegetation and limited water sources makes Akagera’s wildlife easier to spot.

Logistics can become challenging in the rainy season, as I’ve discovered first-hand. On one particular chimp tracking expedition in a very muddy Nyungwe during the long rains, I had to take a 2-hour, all uphill detour on foot thanks to a stuck truck that had blocked the main exit road.

If your priority is communing with primates with the least mud underfoot, you should aim for June to August. This is the peak season, though, so you will have to book your permits 9-12 months in advance.

If you would like to balance out the cost of gorilla trekking with cheaper park fees at Akagera and quieter game drives, the shoulder periods of October, early November and late December are sweet spots.

The Important Role of the Rains

As with most other safari destinations in East or Central Africa, Rwanda is hugely impacted by East Africa’s rains. They dictate when the animals migrate and when they give birth and there arrival times very from year to year.

The Short Dry Season (Mid-December – February)

If you want the balance between quieter parks and pleasant weather and don’t mind a slight chance of rain or higher temperatures, the short dry season is for you.

This is Rwanda’s hottest stretch, with sunny days, dry trails and abundant wildlife at Akagera. Because of the heat, the gorillas retreat to higher altitudes where it’s cooler, which means you’ll have to cover more elevation in your trek.

My experience visiting in The Short Dry Season: I’ve been to neighbouring Uganda in the short dry season and despite it being dry, I found Uganda extremely green and lush compared to Kenya and Tanzania.

The Long Rainy Season (March – May)

The long rainy season suits adventurous travellers who are not bothered by heavy rain and muddy trails. In return you’ll enjoy the lowest prices and quietest parks.

This is the low season in Rwanda when visitor numbers are at their lowest and lodges tend to offer significant discounts. The weather is wet, with daytime temperatures of 61-82°F (16-28°C).

Gorilla tracks are shorter as the smaller number of visitors means that only the closer gorilla families are visited at this time of year which means shorter drives to the start point and shorter tracks

My experience visiting in The Long Rainy Season: I visited Rwanda at the very start of the long rainy season. One morning heading to Nyungwe for chimp trekking, our vehicle had to detour around a vehicle stuck in mud, then we hiked two hours uphill back to the truck after a road block. Gorilla trekking was extremely muddy, so I’d recommend taking two trekking poles.

The Long Dry Season (June – Mid-October)

With the driest trails and firmest underfoot conditions for gorilla trekking, the long dry season is the most popular time to visit Rwanda.

Because it’s so popular, you should expect the highest lodge rates and book your gorilla permits well in advance.

My experience visiting in The Long Dry Season: I have not visited Rwanda in the long dry season myself. My most recent trip was in early March at the very start of the rains, but I have seen the parks in shoulder season conditions and it was easier to track the gorilla and chimps with less mud.

The Light Rainy Season (Mid-October – Mid-December)

If you want good weather, fewer crowds and value for money, the light rainy season offers the best of all worlds.

This is a great option if you’re after quieter parks with generally good weather. Gorilla permits are more readily available and lodges and parks are less crowded.

My experience visiting in The Light Rainy Season: October and November are my favourite months to visit this part of the world. The weather is generally good, and parks and activities are less crowded than peak season.

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How Many Days Do You Need for a Rwanda Safari?

Seven days is the ideal length of time for a safari in Rwanda if you want to combine gorilla and chimp trekking with Big Five game viewing.

In 7 days, you can cover four distinct ecosystems, including the volcanic peaks of the Virungas, the ancient rainforest of Nyungwe, the savannah plains of Akagera, and even a relaxing boat ride on Lake Kivu.

If seven days is more time than you can spare, it’s possible to cover two of the key activities such as Volcanoes for gorilla trekking and Akagera for the Big Five or chimp tracking in Nyungwe within 5 days.

For a deeper experience that includes Uganda, a 2-week combined Rwanda and Uganda itinerary adds gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, chimpanzee tracking in Kibale, and more traditional game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

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What Does This 7-Day Rwanda Itinerary Look Like?

This 7-day itinerary covers Akagera National Park, Volcanoes National Park, Lake Kivu and Nyungwe Forest National Park in Rwanda, starting and ending in Kigali.

You will spend 2 days on game drives and boat cruises in Akagera, 2 days gorilla and golden monkey trekking in Volcanoes, a day exploring Lake Kivu, and a day chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe, with Kigali bookending the trip.

This route is based on my own experiences, and is designed to give you the best wildlife encounters while keeping driving times manageable.

Road transfers between parks are scenic, winding through the famous “thousand hills”, with tea plantation views and volcanic backdrops along the way.

7-Day Rwanda Safari Map

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Day-by-Day Breakdown of the Perfect 7-Day Rwanda Safari

Rwanda has so much to offer, seven days will zip by. I have crafted this 7-day safari itinerary to make sure you make the most of every moment!

I have also considered the distance between the parks and driving times in order to come up with the most enjoyable itinerary.

Is a 7-Day Rwanda Safari Worth It?

A 7-day Rwanda safari is absolutely worth it! You get to experience mountain gorilla trekking on the volcanic slopes of the Virunga Massif, chimpanzee tracking in a UNESCO rainforest, and Big Five game drives in Akagera, all within a compact, safe and well-organised country.

This 7-day itinerary covers 4 distinct ecosystems: the open savannah of Akagera with reintroduced lions and rhinos, the volcanic peaks of Volcanoes National Park where mountain gorillas roam, the tranquil shores of Lake Kivu, and the ancient rainforest of Nyungwe with its habituated chimpanzees and canopy walks. 7 days gives enough time to experience every highlight without rushing, with each destination connected by scenic drives through the famous ‘thousand hills’.

I will never forget the absolute peace of falling asleep at Ruzizi Tented Lodge to the bellowing of hippos and chirping of reed frogs, and I saw more rhinos than I could count on the open plains of Akagera – a real highlight!

But for me, the most unforgettable moment was being assigned to the Hira gorilla family in Volcanoes, a special group known for having twins, and spending an hour watching mothers tenderly cradle their youngsters while a silverback kept guard.

Rwanda is a small country with an enormous amount to offer, and I hope this guide helps you plan your own gorilla and chimp safari. If you have any questions or need help booking your trip, do get in touch.

• For a longer itinerary, consider the 2-week Uganda and Rwanda safari itinerary which combines the best of both countries.

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