6-Day Rwanda Gorillas, Game & Lake Kivu Beach Safari
- Pickup : Kigali Airport
- Drop-off : Kigali Airport
Tour Overview
- Transportation (Car, Fuel, Driver Guide)
- Meals & Accommodation as mentioned
- Park Entrance Fees
- Gorilla Trekking Permit
- Lake Kivu Activities
- Bottled Drinking Water
- Government Taxes
Cost Includes
- International Flights
- Accommodation Before and After your Trip
- Optional Iby'Iwacu Cultural Experience
- Sourvenirs
- Tips & Porter Hiring
Cost Excludes
Travel Plan
Day 1: Kigali Arrival & Drive to Akagera National Park
An Iconic Africa Safaris driver-guide will meet you at Kigali International Airport or your hotel and get you settled into a comfortable 4×4 Land Cruiser. Before leaving the city, you will stop for a Kigali City Tour, visiting the Genocide Memorial to reflect on Rwanda’s history, then continuing to Inema or Niyo Art Centre to view locally made artwork. From Kigali, the road heads northeast toward Akagera National Park, a drive of about 2 to 3 hours. Rolling hills gradually open into savannah as you near the park, setting the tone for the Rwanda Gorillas, Game & Lake Kivu Beach Safari ahead.
- Accommodation: Akagera Game Lodge (Mid-Range) | Ruzizi Tented Camp (Luxury)
- Meal Plan: Half-Board
Day 2: Morning Game Drive & Afternoon Boat Cruise
An early start rewards you immediately. Out on Akagera’s open plains at first light, the morning sun catches the landscape beautifully, and animals move with unusual freedom. Elephants graze near the tree line while lions patrol the grasslands. Rare leopards rest on acacia branches overhead, and herds of buffalo and zebra cross the track ahead of your vehicle, rounding out sightings of the Big 5 in a single morning (rhino sightings, while possible, are less predictable). Giraffes move slowly through the woodland, and the sheer variety of wildlife on this drive consistently surprises first-time visitors.
That afternoon, the pace shifts. A boat cruise on Lake Ihema, one of Rwanda’s largest lakes, offers a different kind of wildlife encounter. Hippos surface just metres from the boat, crocodiles bask along the muddy banks, and waterbirds line the shoreline in large numbers. Herons, kingfishers, and fish eagles bring the lake to life, and the cruise closes out this leg of the safari on a calm, satisfying note.
- Accommodation: 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 and travel west across Rwanda toward the Virunga Mountains, a drive of roughly 5 to 6 hours depending on road conditions and stops. The landscape changes gradually, passing through tea plantations, terraced hillsides, and small trading towns. By the time you reach Volcanoes National Park, the air is noticeably cooler, the volcanoes rise sharply on the horizon, and anticipation builds for tomorrow’s highlight of the Rwanda Gorillas, Game & Lake Kivu Beach Safari.
- Accommodation: Ingagi Lodge (Mid-Range) | Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge (Luxury)
- Meal Plan: Full-Board
Day 4: Gorilla Trekking & Iby'Iwacu Cultural Village
An early start takes you to the park briefing point, where rangers assign your gorilla family (groups are capped at 8 trekkers per family) and go over the trekking rules. In the forest, your guide leads you upward through bamboo zones and thick vegetation while trackers work ahead to locate the family. Finding them, and simply sitting among them, ranks among the most moving wildlife encounters on Earth. Silverbacks rest in quiet confidence, juveniles wrestle through the undergrowth, and mothers nurse their infants with patience. You spend 1 full hour with the gorillas before descending the mountain.
Later that afternoon, a visit to the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village adds a human dimension to the day. Community members share traditional dance, storytelling, and craft-making in an experience that also supports local conservation, a fitting close to one of the signature days of the Rwanda Gorillas, Game & Lake Kivu Beach Safari.
- Accommodation: Ingagi Lodge (Mid-Range) | Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge (Luxury)
- Meal Plan: Full-Board
Day 5: Volcanoes to Lake Kivu
After breakfast, you will transfer to Lake Kivu, usually to Rubavu (Gisenyi), one of Rwanda’s most scenic destinations. This large freshwater lake, shared with the Democratic Republic of Congo, is known for calm waters, green hills, and a relaxed lakeside atmosphere. Spend the afternoon by the shore, taking a boat ride, kayaking, or enjoying a sunset walk along the lakefront. Lake Kivu is the ideal way to unwind after the gorilla trek in Volcanoes National Park, offering a slower pace and lovely views. Nearby resorts, cafés, and fishing villages add a further cultural touch to this stage of the safari.
- Accommodation: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel (Luxury)
- Meal Plan: Full-Board
Day 6: Lake Activities & Return to Kigali
The final morning offers a half-day of lake activities before the return journey. Kayaking, boat trips, and swimming are among the popular choices, giving you one last taste of Kivu’s beauty. Afterward, your driver-guide will transfer you back to Kigali for your onward departure, completing a compact but remarkably rich Rwanda Gorillas, Game & Lake Kivu Beach Safari.
- Accommodation: None unless requested
- Meal Plan: Half-Board
Answered FAQs
How much does this safari cost?
Cost depends on group size, season, and choice of accommodation. Mandatory fees are included in your total trip cost:
- Gorilla Trekking Permit: 1,500 USD per person
- Akagera National Park Entry Fees: charged per person, per day, and vary by nationality
Let us know your group size and whether you’d like to upgrade any of the accommodations listed above, and we’ll be happy to send you the total cost per person.
How physically demanding is this safari?
Game drives and the boat cruise require no special fitness. Gorilla trekking is the most demanding part, involving 1 to 6 hours of hiking on steep, sometimes muddy volcanic terrain at altitudes above 2,500 metres. A reasonable fitness level is recommended, and porters are available to assist at an additional cost.
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 easiest trekking conditions and the best game viewing. Rwanda can be visited year round, though the wetter months (March to May and October to November) bring lusher scenery and fewer crowds.
Can this itinerary be customized?
Yes. Group size, accommodation level, and the number of days at Akagera, Volcanoes or Lake Kivu can all be adjusted to suit your preferences and budget.
Are the gorilla permits guaranteed?
What type of vehicle is used for transportation?
You will travel in a customized 4×4 Safari Land Cruiser fitted with a pop up roof for wildlife viewing and photography. The vehicle has 4 wheel drive to handle rough park tracks and rural dirt roads, and comes stocked with bottled drinking water and power outlets for charging cameras and phones, with an extended chassis to give every passenger a window seat.
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