11-day Rwanda Gorillas, Game & Forest
From the misty forests of Volcanoes National Park, across the rolling, verdant hills that earned Rwanda the nickname “Land of a Thousand Hills,” to the diverse landscapes of Akagera and the ancient rainforests of Nyungwe, this 11-day adventure is packed with wildlife encounters. Trek gorillas and golden monkeys in Volcanoes, spot chimpanzees, colobus, and mangabeys in Nyungwe, and seek out the Big Five in Akagera for an unforgettable experience.
Day 1: Kigali
You’ll be met on arrival at Kigali Airport by our representative holding a sign with your name. They’ll assist you through immigration and baggage collection before escorting you outside to meet your driver-guide.
Enjoy a private, one-way transfer to your hotel — a journey of around 20 to 30 minutes.
Days 2 - 4: Volcanoes National Park
Discover Kigali on a guided city tour, including a visit to the Genocide Memorial Museum — a deeply moving experience that offers insight into Rwanda’s dark past and remarkable journey of recovery and unity.
Then leave the city behind and enjoy a scenic three-hour drive through rolling hills and past rural villages to Musanze, the gateway to Volcanoes National Park, home to the endangered Mountain Gorilla population that primatologist Dian Fossey dedicated her lifetime to studying and protecting. It’s Africa’s oldest rainforest, and the oldest surviving tropical rainforest on earth. Here, you can enjoy gorilla trekking, hike to see the playful golden monkeys, or take on the challenging hike to Dian Fossey’s grave site.
Overnight Tiloreza Volcanoes Ecolodge x 3 nights
Optional
Morning
Gorilla Trekking Volcanoes National Park
Morning
Wild Frontiers Dian Fossey Tomb
Days 5 - 7: Akagera National Park
Drive east to Akagera National Park, located in the northeast of Rwanda along the border with Tanzania. This remarkable reserve is Central Africa’s largest protected wetland, a mosaic of woodlands, swamps, mountains, lakes, and rolling savannah — a landscape of striking contrasts.
Thanks to the outstanding conservation efforts of African Parks in recent years, Akagera is now home to the Big Five. Hippos and crocodiles are often seen lounging around Lake Ihema in the park’s southern region.
Enjoy game drives and optional boating activities.
Overnight Ruzizi Tented Lodge x 3 nights
Days 8 - 10: Nyungwe Forest National Park
From Akagera, we travel southwest to the pristine Nyungwe Forest.
Spanning 970 km² in southeast Rwanda, it is one of the world’s oldest rainforests, dating back to before the Ice Age. Its mountainous terrain is teeming with wildlife and birdlife, including a small population of chimpanzees and 12 other primate species, such as the L’Hoest’s monkey, endemic to the Albertine Rift Valley.
Activities in Nyungwe include chimp trekking, Colobus/ Mangabey spotting and forest walks.
Take the canopy walk, suspended 75m above the forest, or experience the thrilling zipline for a unique perspective over one of Rwanda’s most important ornithological sites, home to almost 300 bird species.
Overnight Nyungwe Top View Hotel x 3 nights
Day 11: End of Itinerary
On your final day, the 5–6-hour drive back to Kigali Airport offers a perfect last snapshot of Rwanda, with scenes of rolling hills, lively villages, and vibrant markets.
Includes:
Meet & Greet Kigali Airport
Transfer airport to Kigali Hotel
1 night Kigali Serena including breakfast
Kigali City & Genocide Memorial Tour
Services of driver/ guide and private safari vehicle
3 nights Tiloreza Volcanoes Ecolodge on a full board basis
3 nights Ruzizi Tented Lodge on a full board basis
Game drives
3 nights Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel on a full board basis
Emergency Evacuation Insurance
Excludes:
Gorilla Permit
Chimp permit
Golden Monkey
Colobus
Dian Fossey Grave Hike
All international flights and airport taxes
Personal expenses including visas, health requirements including compulsory Yellow Fever inoculation, porters, drinks and tips