9-Day Rwanda Primates & Big Five Safari

Welcome to the Land of a Thousand Hills

Your 9-Day Rwanda Primates & Big Five Safari begins when you arrive at Kigali International Airport.

A professional Zamunda Travels guide will welcome you and transfer you to your hotel.

Depending on your arrival time, you can enjoy a relaxed introduction to Kigali. You may also visit selected city attractions or explore some of the capital’s vibrant neighbourhoods.

If your schedule allows, an optional visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial provides an important introduction to Rwanda’s history and journey of resilience.

Afterwards, return to your hotel for dinner and relaxation.

Overnight: Kigali
Meals: Dinner

Into Rwanda’s Eastern Savannah

After breakfast, depart Kigali and travel east towards Akagera National Park.

The landscape changes from Kigali’s famous rolling hills to the open plains, wetlands and woodlands of eastern Rwanda.

After arriving at your lodge and enjoying lunch, head out for a boat safari on Lake Ihema.

Keep an eye out for hippos, crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes and a variety of waterbirds along the lake’s shoreline.

The peaceful boat ride offers a different perspective of Akagera and provides excellent opportunities for wildlife photography.

Return to your lodge in the evening for dinner and relaxation.

Overnight: Akagera National Park
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

The Big Five Safari Experience

Wake up early and prepare for a full-day game drive through Akagera National Park.

Akagera’s combination of savannah, woodland, wetlands and lakes supports an impressive variety of wildlife.

With your experienced guide, search for lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhinoceros, along with giraffes, zebras, antelopes, hippos and numerous bird species.

Your guide will help you understand the park’s wildlife, habitats and conservation story while searching for memorable animal encounters.

Enjoy lunch during the safari before continuing your exploration into the afternoon.

Return to your lodge later in the day.

Overnight: Akagera National Park
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

From Savannah to the Virunga Mountains

After breakfast, leave Akagera and travel north towards Volcanoes National Park.

The scenery changes dramatically as the open savannah gives way to lush farmland, rolling hills and Rwanda’s spectacular volcanic highlands.

As the Virunga volcanoes appear on the horizon, you enter one of Africa’s most famous regions for mountain gorilla and golden monkey conservation.

After arriving at your lodge, enjoy lunch and relax.

Your guide will brief you about the following day’s gorilla trek, including what to expect, what to carry and responsible gorilla-viewing practices.

Overnight: Volcanoes National Park area
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

An Unforgettable Encounter in the Virunga Forest

Today is one of the highlights of your Rwanda safari.

After an early breakfast, head to the park headquarters for your gorilla trekking briefing.

Ranger guides will explain the trekking guidelines before you enter the forest in search of your assigned gorilla family.

The trek can take several hours depending on the location of the gorillas and the terrain.

Once you locate the family, spend your permitted viewing time observing these remarkable animals in their natural habitat.

Watch them feed, groom, communicate, play and care for their young.

After the trek, return to your lodge for lunch and relaxation.

Later, depending on availability and opening arrangements, visit the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund’s Ellen DeGeneres Campus to learn more about gorilla research and conservation.

Overnight: Volcanoes National Park area
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Golden Monkeys & Rwanda’s Great Lake

After breakfast, head into the Volcanoes region for golden monkey tracking.

Follow forest trails and bamboo-covered slopes in search of these distinctive primates.

Golden monkeys are known for their striking golden-orange coats and energetic behaviour. Their movements through the bamboo forest can create excellent wildlife photography opportunities.

After the trek, return for lunch before continuing towards Lake Kivu.

Enjoy the scenic drive through Rwanda’s beautiful countryside before arriving at the lake.

Check into your accommodation and spend the evening relaxing beside the water.

Overnight: Lake Kivu
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

From Rwanda’s Great Lake to Ancient Rainforest

Begin the morning with a relaxing boat experience on Lake Kivu.

Enjoy views of the surrounding hills and explore the peaceful waters of one of Africa’s Great Lakes.

Depending on the selected experience and weather conditions, you may explore nearby islands, communities and sections of the shoreline.

Afterwards, continue south towards Nyungwe Forest National Park.

The journey passes through Rwanda’s scenic highlands, tea plantations and rural communities before reaching the ancient rainforest.

Check into your lodge and relax ahead of tomorrow’s chimpanzee tracking and canopy walk.

Overnight: Nyungwe Forest area
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Into the Rainforest and Above the Treetops

Rise early and prepare for one of Rwanda’s most exciting primate experiences: chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest.

With your ranger guide, follow forest trails while listening for chimpanzee calls and watching the trees for movement.

Once the chimpanzees are located, observe their social behaviour as they feed, communicate, climb and interact with one another.

Nyungwe is also home to numerous other primates, birds and plant species, making every forest walk an opportunity for discovery.

After lunch, continue to the spectacular Nyungwe Canopy Walk.

Walk high above the rainforest floor on a suspended walkway offering panoramic views across the forest canopy and surrounding hills.

Keep watch for birds and primates moving through the treetops before returning to your lodge.

Overnight: Nyungwe Forest area
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Culture, Royal Heritage & Departure

After breakfast, begin your journey back towards Kigali.

Your final day adds an important cultural dimension to your safari with a visit to the King’s Palace Museum in Nyanza.

Explore the reconstructed traditional royal residence and learn about Rwanda’s monarchy, royal traditions and cultural heritage.

Continue towards Kigali through Rwanda’s beautiful countryside.

Depending on your departure time, enjoy lunch in Kigali or have time for souvenirs and local crafts.

Your Zamunda Travels guide will then transfer you to Kigali International Airport for your departure flight.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch