5 Day Rwanda Gorillas and Game Safari

Pickup : Kigali Airport
Drop-off : Kigali Airport

Tour Overview

This 5 Day Rwanda Gorillas and Game Safari takes you through two of Africa’s most compelling destinations. Along the way, you track mountain gorillas through ancient bamboo forest, cruise alongside hippos on a glassy lake, watch lions patrol open grasslands at dawn, and connect with local Rwandan culture. Whether you travel on a budget or in full luxury, this journey delivers memories that stay with you long after you return home.

Cost Includes

Transportation (Car, Fuel, Driver Guide)
Meals & Accommodation as mentioned
Gorilla Trekking Permit
Boat Cruise
Bottled Drinking Water
Government Taxes

Cost Excludes

International Flights
Accommodation Before and After your Trip
Optional Iby'Iwacu Cultural Experience
Optional Canopy Walk Experience
Sourvenirs
Tips & Porter Hiring

Travel Plan

Day 1: Pickup from Kigali to Akagera National Park

Your Iconic Africa Safaris driver guide meets you at Kigali International Airport or your Kigali hotel and settles you into a comfortable 4×4 Land Cruiser. Before heading east, you make meaningful stops in the capital, first at the Kigali Genocide Memorial, a sobering but important place that tells Rwanda’s difficult history with honesty and care, and then at either Inema Arts Center or Niyo Art Centre, where local artists create vivid, expressive work that reflects the country’s cultural energy. From there, the road leads out of the city and into the rolling countryside toward Akagera National Park, a drive of roughly 2 to 3 hours. This first leg sets the tone for your Rwanda Gorillas and Game Safari, blending history, culture, and the promise of wildlife still to come.

Accommodation: Rutete Eco Lodge (Budget) | Akagera Game Lodge (Mid Range) | Ruzizi Tented Camp (Luxury)
Meal Plan: Half Board

Day 2: Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Boat Cruise

Rising early on this day rewards you richly. Out on Akagera’s open plains at dawn, animals move freely in the cool air, and golden morning light transforms the landscape into something extraordinary. Elephants graze near the tree line while lions patrol the grasslands with quiet authority. Leopards drape themselves across acacia branches overhead, and large herds of buffalo and zebra cross the track just ahead of your vehicle. Giraffes move slowly through the woodland, their long necks rising above the canopy. First time visitors consistently find the sheer variety of species in a single morning drive hard to believe, and it is easy to see why this day is a highlight of any Rwanda Gorillas and Game Safari.

Then, as the afternoon heat settles in, the pace shifts completely. A boat cruise on Lake Ihema, one of Rwanda’s largest lakes, offers a different kind of wildlife spectacle altogether. Hippos surface just metres from the boat, their ears twitching above the waterline. Crocodiles bask along the muddy banks in long, motionless rows. Hundreds of waterbirds, including herons, kingfishers, and African fish eagles, fill the shoreline with colour and noise. The cruise brings the day to a calm, deeply satisfying close.

Accommodation: Rutete Eco Lodge (Budget) | Akagera Game Lodge (Mid Range) | Ruzizi Tented Camp (Luxury)
Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 3: Drive to Volcanoes National Park

This day, you will leave Akagera behind and travel west across Rwanda toward the Virunga Mountains, a drive of roughly 5 to 6 hours. The landscape changes gradually as you move through tea plantations, terraced hillsides, and small trading towns. By the time you reach Volcanoes National Park, the air is cooler, the volcanoes rise sharply on the horizon, and a sense of anticipation builds naturally. Tomorrow brings one of the most extraordinary wildlife encounters on the planet, the very heart of this Rwanda Gorillas and Game Safari.

Accommodation: La Palme Hotel (Budget) | Ingagi Lodge (Mid Range) | Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge (Luxury)
Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 4: Gorilla Trekking & Optional Iby'Iwacu Cultural Village

An early start brings you to the park briefing point, where rangers assign you to a gorilla family group of up to 8 trekkers and walk you through the trekking rules. Out in the forest, your guide leads you steadily upward through bamboo zones and thick vegetation while the tracker team works ahead to locate the family. Finding them, and then simply sitting among them, ranks among the most moving wildlife encounters anywhere on Earth. Silverbacks rest in quiet confidence, juveniles wrestle and tumble through the undergrowth, and mothers nurse their infants with gentle patience. You spend 1 full hour with the gorillas before making your way back down the mountain, a moment that alone justifies every part of this Rwanda Gorillas and Game Safari.

Later that afternoon, a visit to the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village adds a warm human dimension to the day. Community members share traditional dance, storytelling, craft making, and everyday village life in an experience that also directly supports local conservation efforts. It makes for a fitting close to such a remarkable day.

Accommodation: La Palme Hotel (Budget) | Ingagi Lodge (Mid Range) | Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge (Luxury)
Meal Plan: Full Board

Day 5: Golden Monkey Tracking, Dian Fossey Hike and Departure

The final morning starts early once again. Golden monkey tracking takes you into the bamboo forest, where these bright, energetic primates leap through the branches with playful speed, their vivid golden orange patches flashing between the green. After tracking, a hike to the Dian Fossey research site honours the legendary primatologist who dedicated her life to protecting these very gorillas. The site carries real weight and deserves a thoughtful, unhurried visit. Following the hike, your driver guide will transfer you back to Kigali, roughly 2.5 to 3 hours away, in time for your onward departure flight, bringing this Rwanda Gorillas and Game Safari to a close.

Accommodation: None unless requested
Meal Plan: Half Board

Answered FAQs

How much does this Rwanda Gorillas and Game Safari cost?

Cost depends on your group size, chosen accommodation level, and the season you travel. Mandatory permit and park fees set by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) are included in your total trip cost:

Gorilla Trekking Permit: 1,500 USD per person
Golden Monkey Trekking Permit: 100 USD per person
Akagera National Park Entry Fee: approximately 100 USD per person, per day (varies by residency status)

Let us know your group size and whether you would like to upgrade to any of the accommodation levels mentioned in the itinerary, and we will send you the total cost per person.

Can this itinerary be customized?

Yes. This Rwanda Gorillas and Game Safari can be shortened, extended, or combined with other destinations such as Nyungwe Forest for chimpanzee tracking, or Lake Kivu for a relaxed lakeside stay. Accommodation levels, activities, and the pace of each day can all be adjusted to suit your preferences and budget.

How physically demanding is this safari?

Gorilla trekking can range from a 30 minute walk to a 6 hour hike, depending on where the gorilla family is located on the day of your trek. The terrain is steep, muddy, and at high altitude (around 2,500 to 3,000 metres), so a reasonable level of fitness is recommended. Game drives and the boat cruise in Akagera require no special fitness, as most viewing happens from the vehicle or boat. Porters are available to hire at the trailhead for around 20 USD to help carry bags and offer a hand on steeper sections.

What is the best time of year to go on this trip?

The two dry seasons, June to September and December to February, offer the best conditions for both gorilla trekking and game viewing, with drier trails and easier road access. Rwanda can be visited year round, but the wetter months of March to May and October to November bring muddier, more challenging trekking conditions.

What should I pack for a gorilla and game safari?

Pack sturdy waterproof hiking boots, gardening style gloves for gripping vegetation, long sleeved shirts and trousers in neutral colours, a light rain jacket, a warm layer for cool mornings, gaiters if you have them, a sun hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, binoculars, and a camera with a zoom lens. A daypack to carry water and snacks is also useful for both the trek and the game drives.

Are the gorilla and golden monkey permits guaranteed?

Permits are issued in limited quantities by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) to protect primate populations. Before your booking is confirmed, we first check permit availability, and once permits are purchased on your behalf, your trekking spots are guaranteed. Because demand is high during peak months, it’s better to book this Rwanda Gorillas and Game Safari 4 to 6 months in advance, especially during peak season.

What type of vehicle is used for transportation?

You will travel in a customized 4×4 Safari Land Cruiser equipped with a pop up roof for wildlife viewing and photography. The vehicle features four wheel drive to handle rough park tracks and dirt roads in rural areas. It comes stocked with bottled drinking water and has an extended chassis to give every passenger a window seat.