The most complete Rwanda itinerary we build: all three national parks, Lake Kivu and time in Kigali, sequenced across ten days so no leg feels rushed.
Day by day
Day 1 — Arrive Kigali
Private transfer to your hotel, with the afternoon free to recover from international travel.
Day 2 — Kigali city
A guided morning at the Kigali Genocide Memorial, offering essential context for Rwanda's modern history, then an afternoon exploring the contemporary city — art spaces, the craft market, and a considered dinner.
Day 3 — Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Private transfer of 2.5 to 3 hours, with an afternoon at leisure and a trek briefing.
Day 4 — Gorilla trekking
The 7:00 a.m. briefing at Kinigi, your guided trek, and one hour with your assigned family.
Day 5 — Transfer to Lake Kivu
A private transfer of roughly two hours, arriving for an afternoon at leisure.
Day 6 — Lake Kivu at leisure
A full free day — boat excursion, coffee cooperative visit, or rest.
Day 7 — Transfer to Nyungwe Forest
A private transfer of two to three hours from the Kivu shore, arriving in the afternoon.
Day 8 — Chimpanzee trekking and the canopy walk
An early chimpanzee trek followed by the canopy walk in the afternoon.
Day 9 — Transfer to Akagera
Nyungwe and Akagera sit at opposite ends of the country, so this leg is typically flown — Kamembe to Kigali, then roughly 2.5 hours by road. An afternoon game drive on arrival where timing permits.
Day 10 — Akagera game drive, boat safari, departure
An early game drive through the savannah in search of the Big Five, followed by a boat safari on Lake Ihema for hippos, crocodiles and waterbirds. Private transfer to Kigali (about 2.5 hours) for an evening flight.
Wildlife expectations
Gorilla sightings are extremely reliable. Chimpanzee sightings in Nyungwe are less predictable. Akagera's Big Five viewing is strong, with lions (reintroduced 2015) and both black and white rhino populations established, though — as with any wild savannah — specific sightings on a given drive cannot be guaranteed.
Why the low season suits this shape
Because this itinerary visits Akagera and Nyungwe alongside Volcanoes, travelling November to May lets you claim Rwanda's 30% gorilla permit discount, which is contingent on visiting both parks. That makes this structure a natural fit for shoulder or low-season travel from both an experience and a value standpoint.
Optional additions
- Golden monkey trekking near Volcanoes
- A guided walking safari or night drive in Akagera, where offered by your lodge
- An additional Akagera night for a second full game-drive day
- Private helicopter transfers between legs, where operationally available
What's included
All private transfers including the recommended domestic flight, nine nights' luxury accommodation, full board, one gorilla permit, one chimpanzee permit, canopy walk fees, Akagera park and game drive fees, the Lake Ihema boat safari, a private guide throughout, and the Genocide Memorial guided visit.
What's excluded
International flights, travel insurance, visas, gratuities, and alcoholic beverages beyond lodge inclusions.