6 Days Rwanda Safari Big Five and Uganda Gorillas
This 6 Days Rwanda Safari Big Five and Uganda Gorillas Safari takes you for a gorilla trekking experience at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It is well known for harboring half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas, and it is a great spot to see gorillas. You will be picked up from Kigali and driven into the home of mountain gorillas. You will then proceed to Akagera National Park, where you will do a wildlife safari, engage in a game drive and do a hot-air balloon safari.
Each day of your Rwanda Safari adventure unfolds new wonders, from the sobering history of Kigali to the breathtaking sight of gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and the thrilling game drives in Akagera National Park. The perfect balance of culture and wildlife makes this Rwanda Safari truly exceptional, with expert guides ensuring meaningful connections at every destination.
Your Rwanda Safari experience includes premium accommodations, authentic cuisine, and transportation in custom 4x4 vehicles, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in East Africa's natural splendor. From the emotional gorilla encounters in Bwindi to watching lions stalk their prey in Akagera's savanna, this journey promises unforgettable moments that will resonate long after your return home
Tour highlights
Insightful Kigali city tour and visit to the Genocide Memorial
Cross-border journey to Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Face-to-face encounter with endangered mountain gorillas
Comprehensive exploration of Akagera National Park, Rwanda's only savanna reserve
Chance to see the recently reintroduced lions and rhinos in Akagera
Spectacular hot-air balloon safari over Akagera's diverse landscapes
Scenic boat cruise on Lake Ihema to observe hippos and crocodiles
Custom 4x4 safari vehicle with experienced English-speaking guide
Price Includes:
- Gorilla tracking permit
- Park fees for all locations visited
- All activities mentioned in the itinerary
- Ground transport in custom 4x4 safari vehicle
- Bottled water during all transfers and game drives
- Full board accommodation as specified in the itinerary
- Services of a professional English-speaking driver-guide
- Driver allowances and park entry fees
- Hot-air balloon safari in Akagera
- Boat cruise on Lake Ihema
Price Excludes:
- Rwandan Visa (available online or on arrival)
- International and internal flights
- Personal expenses and gratuities
- Optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary
- Laundry services
- Travel and medical insurance
- Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
- Tips for staff and guides
Itinary in details
- Day1Pick Up and Transfer to Hotel
Your Rwanda Safari begins with a warm welcome at Kigali International Airport by our dedicated representative who introduces you to the "Land of a Thousand Hills." This Rwanda Safari experience starts with a comfortable 30-minute transfer through Kigali's clean, organized streets to your hotel in the city center. As part of your Rwanda Safari orientation, your guide provides insights about Rwanda's remarkable recovery and development since the 1994 genocide, setting the context for your journey ahead.
- Day2Kigali City Tour and Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After breakfast, your Rwanda Safari continues with an 8:00 AM pickup and informative city tour, including a visit to the moving Kigali Genocide Memorial (Gisozi). The Rwanda Safari journey then takes you westward across the Rwanda-Uganda border at Gatuna/Katuna, a drive of approximately 4-5 hours through the beautiful countryside known locally as "Birunga." Your Rwanda Safari guide navigates the scenic route to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, locally called "Ishamba rya Nyamuragira," arriving at your lodge near one of the four gorilla trekking sectors: Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, or Nkuringo.
- Day3Gorilla Trekking Experience and Transfer to Kigali
The highlight of your Rwanda Safari awaits with an early 6:00 AM breakfast before the 7:30 AM briefing at the Uganda Wildlife Authority headquarters in Bwindi. Your Rwanda Safari adventure continues as you trek through dense forest undergrowth with experienced rangers, following the trails of the gentle giants to their current location. This extraordinary Rwanda Safari experience culminates in one magical hour with a gorilla family, observing their remarkably human-like behaviors before a 3-4 hour return journey to Kigali, crossing back into Rwanda at the Cyanika border post.
- Day4Transfer to Akagera National Park
Today your Rwanda Safari transitions to wildlife viewing with a 2.5-hour eastward journey to Akagera National Park, Rwanda's only Big Five reserve. During your Rwanda Safari drive, you'll pass through rural communities and terraced hillsides before reaching the park entrance at Nyungwe Gate around midday. Your Rwanda Safari experience continues with check-in at your lodge followed by an afternoon game drive through Akagera's diverse habitats, from woodlands to lakes, concluding with a spectacular sunset boat cruise on Lake Ihema, known locally as "Amazi y'Urugwiro" (Waters of Hospitality).
- Day5Hot-Air Balloon Safari and Game Drive
The most exhilarating day of your Rwanda Safari begins before dawn as you prepare for an unforgettable hot-air balloon experience over Akagera's varied landscapes. Your Rwanda Safari adventure continues floating silently above the park at sunrise, offering unparalleled aerial views of wildlife moving through the savanna below. After a champagne breakfast, your Rwanda Safari exploration takes you to the northern Kilala Plains of Akagera, spending approximately 6-7 hours searching for elephants, buffaloes, and the recently reintroduced lions and rhinos that complete the Big Five collection.
- Day6Game Drive and Transfer Back to Kigali
The final day of your Rwanda Safari features one last game drive through Akagera's northern plains, known locally as "Urugarama" (open grassland). Your Rwanda Safari concludes with a picnic lunch at a scenic viewpoint overlooking Lake Rwanyakazinga, home to one of Africa's highest hippo densities. The 2.5-hour return journey of your Rwanda Safari takes you back to Kigali by late afternoon, with drop-off at either your hotel or Kigali International Airport, bringing your comprehensive exploration of Rwanda's cultural and natural treasures to a memorable close.