8 Day Rwanda Private Safaris for Photographers
This 8-day Rwanda private safaris itinerary combines immersive culture, breathtaking landscapes, and wildlife encounters through curated Rwanda private safaris. Photographers will capture everything from urban street scenes and volcano silhouettes to intimate gorilla portraits and primate action. With tailored guidance, each day of your Rwanda private safaris offers rare angles, rich storytelling, and unforgettable shots
Welcome to a breathtaking photographic adventure through the heart of Rwanda where every frame tells a story and every sunrise reveals new wonders. This 8-day Rwanda private safaris itinerary is designed for photographers seeking rich cultural moments, striking landscapes, and up-close wildlife encounters. From Kigali’s urban vibrance and the golden light over Akagera’s savannahs to misty gorilla treks in Volcanoes National Park, each day blends visual drama with emotional depth. You’ll photograph the Big Five, chimpanzees, and rare birdlife while capturing scenic volcanoes, rural villages, and the treetop canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest. What sets these Rwanda private safaris apart is the intentional pacing, local insights, and access to premium vantage points ensuring your lens never misses a meaningful moment. Whether you're building a portfolio or simply preserving memories, this journey delivers once-in-a-lifetime shots and soul-stirring experiences. It’s not just a safari it’s a visual pilgrimage across Rwanda’s past, present, and wild places. Let your shutter lead the way
Tour highlights
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali and Kick off with Urban and Cultural Shots
Day 2: Transfer to Akagera National Park for Boat Cruise
Day 3: Early Game Drive and Classic Safari Photography
Day 4: Transfer to Volcanoes for Rural Life and Volcanoes
Day 5: Gorilla Trekking with Prime Wildlife Photography and Dian Fossey’s Tomb
Day 6: Bisoke Volcano Hike for Surreal Landscapes
Day 7: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest Park for Canopy Walk
Day 8: Chimpanzee Trekking, Primate Shots and Return to Kigali for Departure
Price Includes:
- orilla tracking permit
- Chimpanzee 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
Price Excludes:
- Rwandan Visa (available online or on arrival)
- International and internal flights
- Personal expenses and gratuitie
- 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
- Day1Arrival in Kigali and Kick off with Urban and Cultural Shots
Your Rwanda private safaris begin with a warm welcome at Kigali International Airport, followed by a transfer to your boutique hotel. Spend the afternoon capturing Kigali’s vibrant urban life colorful markets, street murals, and colonial architecture. Visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial for powerful documentary-style shots, then head to Nyamirambo for lively street scenes and portraits. This first day of Rwanda private safaris offers a rich blend of culture and emotion, perfect for setting the tone of your photographic journey. As golden hour approaches, shoot cityscapes from Mount Kigali before enjoying a rooftop dinner with panoramic views
- Day2Transfer to Akagera National Park for Boat Cruise
After breakfast, your Rwanda private safaris continue eastward with a scenic drive to Akagera National Park, known for its savannah landscapes and shimmering lakes. Upon arrival, settle into your lodge and prepare for a late afternoon boat cruise on Lake Ihema. This tranquil excursion offers stunning opportunities to photograph hippos, crocodiles, and water birds in golden light. The reflections and wildlife interactions make this a standout moment in your Rwanda private safaris. Capture wide shots of papyrus swamps and close-ups of African fish eagles as they dive for prey
- Day3Early Game Drive and Classic Safari Photography
Rise early for a sunrise game drive through Akagera’s northern plains, where your Rwanda private safaris shift into high gear. Track the Big Five lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, and rhino against dramatic backdrops of acacia trees and misty hills. Your guide will position you for optimal lighting and angles, ideal for action shots and wildlife portraits. This day of Rwanda private safaris is all about capturing movement, behavior, and the raw beauty of the savannah. Expect encounters with giraffes, zebras, and antelopes, plus rare sightings of the elusive sitatunga antelope
- Day4Transfer to Volcanoes for Rural Life and Volcanoes
Leave Akagera behind and journey northwest to Volcanoes National Park, passing through terraced hills and rural villages. This leg of your Rwanda private safaris offers compelling scenes of daily life farmers in banana groves, children walking to school, and women carrying baskets. Stop for roadside portraits and landscape shots of the Virunga volcanoes rising in the distance. Upon arrival, settle into your lodge and prepare for the next phase of Rwanda private safaris, where misty mountains and cultural depth await. Optional evening shoot: golden light over Mount Sabyinyo
- Day5Gorilla Trekking with Prime Wildlife Photography and Dian Fossey’s Tomb
Today’s Rwanda private safaris deliver the ultimate wildlife experience gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park. After a briefing, hike through bamboo forests to find a habituated gorilla family. Spend one hour photographing intimate moments: silverbacks feeding, juveniles playing, and mothers cradling infants. This is the crown jewel of Rwanda private safaris, offering rare primate portraits in lush, cinematic settings. After lunch, hike to Dian Fossey’s tomb for moody forest shots and a tribute to conservation history. Capture mist, moss, and emotion in every frame
- Day6Bisoke Volcano Hike for Surreal Landscapes
Your Rwanda private safaris take a dramatic turn with a full-day hike up Mount bisoke, one of the well-known peaks in the Virunga range. The trail winds through bamboo groves, alpine meadows, and volcanic rock formations, offering surreal landscapes ideal for wide-angle and drone photography. At the summit, shoot crater views and panoramic ridgelines under shifting clouds. This day of Rwanda private safaris emphasizes texture, elevation, and atmosphere perfect for landscape photographers seeking depth and drama. Descend slowly to capture changing light and terrain
- Day7Transfer to Nyungwe Forest Park for Canopy Walk
Depart Volcanoes and head southwest to Nyungwe Forest National Park, a biodiversity hotspot and a highlight of Rwanda private safaris. After check-in, embark on the iconic canopy walk suspended 70 meters above the forest floor. Photograph treetop vistas, monkeys leaping through branches, and birds in flight. This aerial perspective adds a new dimension to your Rwanda private safaris, blending adventure with ecological storytelling. The walk offers chances to shoot rare species like the Rwenzori turaco and L’Hoest’s monkey in their natural habitat
- Day8Chimpanzee Trekking, Primate Shots and Return to Kigali for Departure
Conclude your Rwanda private safaris with an early morning chimpanzee trek in Nyungwe’s dense rainforest. Track vocalizing chimps through tangled vines and capture candid shots of grooming, feeding, and social play. This final wildlife encounter adds emotional depth to your Rwanda private safaris, rounding out your primate portfolio. After the trek, enjoy a farewell lunch and scenic drive back to Kigali. Stop for last-minute landscape shots or market scenes before your airport transfer. Depart with memory cards full and a heart full of East African wonder