8 Days Rwanda Safari Holiday to Akagera and Nyungwe National Park
This 8 Days Rwanda Safari Holiday to Akagera and Nyungwe National Park tour will start in Kigali and end in Kigali. It will be with King Palace and Ethnological Museum and continue in Nyungwe National Park for a canopy walk on the second day. It will also let you explore the beautiful islands in Kivu on the 3rd day. On day 4, you will continue to Rubavu for the Mount Rubavu hike and hot spring. Day 5 will be reserved for the parliament building and the local market in Kigali while days 6 and 7 will be spent in Akagera National Park for your game drive.
Your Rwanda Safari Holiday combines thrilling wildlife encounters with immersive cultural experiences across Rwanda's stunning terrain, from tracking lions in Akagera National Park to walking among the treetops in Nyungwe National Park. The journey traverses approximately 800 kilometers of Rwanda's scenic countryside, allowing you to witness the nation's remarkable transformation while enjoying comfortable accommodations at each carefully selected destination.
This comprehensive Rwanda Safari Holiday provides a perfect balance of adventure and relaxation, taking you from the vibrant streets of Kigali to the tranquil shores of Lake Kivu and the wildlife-rich savannahs of eastern Rwanda. With expert guides accompanying you throughout your Rwanda Safari Holiday, you'll gain deep insights into Rwanda's rich biodiversity, cultural heritage, and inspiring history of renewal and conservation.
Tour highlights
Game drives in Akagera National Park tracking the Big Five
Canopy walk 70 meters above Nyungwe Forest
Cultural immersion at the King's Palace Museum and National Ethnographic Museum
Boat safari on Lake Ihema spotting hippos, crocodiles and water birds
Island exploration and hiking around scenic Lake Kivu
Evening game drive with opportunities to spot nocturnal predators
Hot spring experience and traditional massage in Rubavu
Guided canoeing adventure on the Mukungwa River
Historical Insights at the Campaign Against Genocide Museum
Authentic shopping experience at Kimironko local market
Price Includes:
- All national park entrance fees and conservation levies
- All activities mentioned in the itinerary
- Ground transportation in a comfortable 4WD safari vehicle
- Bottled water during drives and activities
- Full board accommodation as specified in the itinerary
- Services of a professional English-speaking driver-guide
- Driver allowances and fees
- All mentioned activities except for optional experiences
Price Excludes:
- Rwanda Visa (available online or on arrival)
- International and internal flights
- Personal expenses including gratuities
- Optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary
- Laundry services
- Tips for guides and hotel staff
- Travel and medical insurance
- Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages beyond water
Itinary in details
- Day1Arrival at Kigali International Airport, Pick Up and Transfer to Your Hotel
Your Rwanda Safari Holiday begins with a warm welcome at Kigali International Airport by your dedicated guide who will brief you on your upcoming adventure. This Rwanda Safari Holiday introduction includes a 15-kilometer drive through Rwanda's immaculately clean capital city to your comfortable hotel in central Kigali. Depending on your arrival time, your Rwanda Safari Holiday may feature an afternoon city tour of significant landmarks including the Kigali Genocide Memorial, providing context for Rwanda's remarkable journey of reconciliation and rebirth.
- Day2King Palace and Ethnological Museum, Canopy Walk in Nyungwe National Park
Day two of your Rwanda Safari Holiday begins with a scenic 230-kilometer journey southwest through Rwanda's verdant countryside to Nyungwe Forest National Park. Your Rwanda Safari Holiday experience includes a fascinating stop at the traditional King's Palace Museum in Nyanza (Rukari), where you'll discover Rwanda's royal heritage and the remarkable Inyambo long-horned cattle. The Rwanda Safari Holiday continues with an afternoon visit to the National Ethnographic Museum in Huye (formerly Butare), before arriving at Nyungwe for an exhilarating 200-meter canopy walk suspended 70 meters above this ancient rainforest.
- Day3Go to Respond to the Calling Islands
Today your Rwanda Safari Holiday takes you approximately 120 kilometers to the stunning shores of Lake Kivu in Karongi (Kibuye), a journey of about 2.5 hours through picturesque terraced hillsides. This Rwanda Safari Holiday adventure features an unforgettable boat excursion to Napoleon Island, where you'll discover blue monkeys, and fruit bats, and enjoy panoramic views of Rwanda's thousand hills. Your Rwanda Safari Holiday experience is enhanced by the tranquility of moving between the lake's verdant islands, with opportunities for swimming in the crystal-clear waters before returning to your lakeside accommodation.
- Day4Transfer to Rubavu, Mount Rubavu Hike and Hot Spring
Your Rwanda Safari Holiday continues with a 90-kilometer northward journey along Lake Kivu's shoreline to Rubavu (formerly Gisenyi), taking approximately 3 hours through lush landscapes. The Rwanda Safari Holiday adventure includes an afternoon 1.5-hour hike up Mount Rubavu, offering spectacular views across to Goma in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo and across Rubavu town. The Rwanda Safari Holiday experience is completed with a rejuvenating visit to Rubavu's natural hot springs (known locally as "Amashyuza"), where you'll enjoy a traditional therapeutic massage to ease any hiking fatigue.
- Day5Transfer to Kigali, Canoeing, Visit the Parliament Building and Kimironko Local Market
This day of your Rwanda Safari Holiday features a 160-kilometer return journey to Kigali, with an exciting detour through Musanze (Ruhengeri) for a 2-hour canoeing adventure on the Mukungwa River beneath the majestic Virunga volcanoes. Your Rwanda Safari Holiday continues in Kigali with a poignant visit to the Campaign Against Genocide Museum housed in the Parliament building, offering insights into Rwanda's dramatic transformation. The Rwanda Safari Holiday experience is enriched with a visit to Kimironko Market (locally known as "Isoko rya Kimironko"), where you can interact with local vendors and purchase authentic Rwandan crafts.
- Day6Akagera National Park Game Drive Safari
An early start to your Rwanda Safari Holiday takes you 120 kilometers east from Kigali to Akagera National Park, Rwanda's only savannah reserve, for approximately 2.5 hours of driving. Your Rwanda Safari Holiday adventure includes a full-day game drive through the southern section of this 1,122 square kilometer park, home to zebras, giraffes, buffaloes, and numerous antelope species. This Rwanda Safari Holiday experience provides excellent opportunities for bird watching with over 500 species recorded in Akagera, before arriving at your comfortable accommodation at Akagera Rhino Lodge on the park's eastern boundary.
- Day7Boat Tour and Evening Game Drives in Akagera National Park
Day seven of your Rwanda Safari Holiday begins with a 2-hour boat safari on Lake Ihema (locally known as "Ikiyaga cya Ihema"), Rwanda's second-largest lake and home to one of Africa's highest hippo densities. Your Rwanda Safari Holiday continues with an afternoon rest at your lodge before an exhilarating evening game drive through the northern section of Akagera, with elevated viewpoints overlooking Tanzania and Rwanda's shared landscapes. The Rwanda Safari Holiday experience culminates with sunset views over Akagera's wetlands and the opportunity to spot nocturnal predators including lions, leopards, and hyenas in their natural habitat.
- Day8Transfer to Kigali, Fly Back Home
The final day of your Rwanda Safari Holiday features a 120-kilometer return journey to Kigali, taking approximately 3 hours through Rwanda's eastern province. Your unforgettable Rwanda Safari Holiday concludes with a timely transfer to Kigali International Airport for your departure flight. This Rwanda Safari Holiday experience leaves you with lasting memories of Rwanda's remarkable wildlife, stunning landscapes, rich culture, and the warm hospitality of the Rwandan people known locally as "Banyarwanda."