10-Day Rwanda Safari Overview
This 10-day Rwanda safari is for travelers who want to see animals in different parks. It is good for people who want comfortable beds but do not want to spend too much money. Mid-range travelers will find this trip perfect. We focus on clear logistics and smooth travel between parks. You will not have to worry about long, hard drives. Every detail is arranged to make your trip easy and enjoyable. This trip is ideal for active people who like to walk in the forest. You need a basic level of fitness to track animals on steep hills. It is also great for photographers who want to take pictures of animals and green hills. Families with older children will enjoy this trip. Children must be fifteen years or older to track mountain gorillas. If you want to see many different animals in one country, this is the right trip for you.
Safari Highlights
Track endangered mountain gorillas in the dense forests of Volcanoes National Park.
Watch chimpanzees play and eat in the tall trees of Nyungwe National Park.
Walk on the high suspension bridge during the Canopy Walk in Nyungwe Forest.
Look for lions, elephants, and giraffes on game drives in Akagera National Park.
Take a boat trip on Lake Ihema to see hippos and crocodiles in the water.
Relax by the quiet shores of Lake Kivu in the town of Karongi.
Search for rare golden monkeys in the bamboo forests of the Virunga Mountains.
Visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial to learn about the history of Rwanda.
See traditional dances and learn about local culture at the Gorilla Guardians Village.
Stop at the Ethnographic Museum in Huye to see historical tools and houses.
Detailed itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Kigali
Your 10-day Rwanda safari begins when you land at Kigali International Airport. Our driver will meet 
you outside the arrivals hall. He will help you with your bags and take you to your hotel. The drive from the airport to the city center takes about twenty minutes. Kigali is a very clean and safe city. You will see green hills and paved roads as you drive. You can spend the rest of the day resting in your room. The weather in Kigali is usually warm and pleasant. If you arrive early, you can walk around the local markets. You can also visit local coffee shops to taste Rwandan coffee. In the evening, you will eat a good dinner at your hotel. You must rest well to prepare for the busy days ahead. Accommodation: Luxury: Kigali Serena Hotel. Mid-range: Heaven Boutique Hotel. Budget: Yambi Guesthouse.
Day 2 Kigali City Tour and Akagera Transfer
You will wake up early and eat breakfast at your hotel. After eating, your driver will take you to the Kigali Genocide Memorial. This place teaches visitors about the history of Rwanda. It is a very sad but important place to visit. You will see photographs and read stories about the past. You will spend about two hours there. After the memorial, you will eat lunch at a local restaurant in the city. Next, you will leave Kigali and drive to Akagera National Park. The drive covers about one hundred and ten kilometers. It takes about two and a half hours. The road is very good and smooth. You will see many small villages and farms along the way. You will reach the park gate in the late afternoon. You will check into your room and rest before dinner. Accommodation:Luxury: Magashi Camp. Mid-range: Mantis Akagera Game Lodge. Budget: Akagera Rhino Lodge.
Day 3 Morning Game Drive and Boat Trip in Akagera
You will start your day with a very early breakfast. Then you will enter the park for a morning game drive. Akagera National Park has lions, elephants, giraffes, and zebras. Your driver will take you to the 
best areas to find animals. The morning is the best time to see predators hunting. You will spend about four hours driving through the open savannah. You will take many photos of the animals in the tall grass. Around midday, you will return to your lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, you will go to Lake Ihema for a boat cruise. The boat ride takes about two hours. You will see many hippos in the water. You will also see crocodiles resting in the sun. Many birds fly around the lake. You will see the African fish eagle catching fish. After the boat trip, you will drive back to your lodge for dinner and sleep.
Day 4: Drive to Nyungwe National Park
Today you will have a very long drive. You will leave Akagera after breakfast and drive south to Nyungwe National Park. The drive takes about seven to eight hours. It covers more than two hundred kilometers. Your driver will make many stops so you can stretch your legs. You will stop in Huye to eat lunch at a local hotel. You will also visit the Ethnographic Museum in Huye. This museum shows how the old kings of Rwanda used to live. You will see traditional houses made of grass and wood. You will learn about old farming tools and clothes. After the museum, you will continue driving to Nyungwe. The road becomes very winding as you enter the forest. You will arrive at your hotel in the evening. You will be tired, so you will eat dinner and go straight to bed. Accommodation: Luxury: One and Only Nyungwe House. Mid-range: Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel. Budget: Gisakura Guesthouse.
Day 5 Chimpanzee Tracking and Canopy Walk
You will wake up at four in the morning. You need to be at the park office very early to trek chimpanzees. The local trackers will talk to you about the rules. Then you will walk into the forest. 
Finding the chimpanzees can take between two and four hours. The path can be steep and muddy. When you find the chimpanzees, you will spend one hour watching them play and eat. They make very loud noises as they swing through the trees.
After tracking, you will return to your hotel for lunch. In the afternoon, you will go back to the forest for the canopy walk. You will walk on a bridge that hangs high above the trees. The bridge is seventy meters above the ground. It is one hundred and sixty meters long. You will see monkeys and birds from the bridge. If you are afraid of heights, you might feel scared. But the bridge is very strong and safe. After the walk, you will go back to your hotel.
Day 6: Transfer to Lake Kivu
You will sleep in a little later today. After breakfast, you will leave Nyungwe and drive to Lake Kivu. You will stay in a town called Karongi. The drive takes about three hours. The road goes up and down many green hills. You will see beautiful views of the water as you drive. You will see people riding bicycles loaded with bananas. When you arrive, you will check into your hotel. Lake Kivu is one of the largest lakes in Africa. It does not have crocodiles or hippos, so the water is safe. You can spend the afternoon swimming or reading a book by the water. You can also take a small boat to visit the nearby islands. You will see local fishermen preparing their nets for the night. In the evening, you will eat fresh fish and watch the sunset over the lake. Accommodation: Luxury: Cleo Lake Kivu Hotel. Mid-range: Moriah Hill Resort. Budget: Home Saint Jean.
Day 7: Drive to Volcanoes National Park
You will eat breakfast while looking at the calm lake. Then you will start your drive north to Volcanoes National Park. This drive takes about four hours. The road is very winding and has many sharp turns. 
If you get carsick, you should take medicine before you leave. You will pass by many tea farms and small towns. You will reach the town of Musanze in time for lunch. Musanze is the town right next to the park. It is cooler here because it is high in the mountains. In the afternoon, you will visit the Gorilla Guardians Village. Here you will learn about traditional Rwandan life. People will show you how to shoot a bow and arrow. They will perform traditional dances for you. You will go to your lodge in the evening to rest for the big day tomorrow. Accommodation: Luxury: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge. Mid-range: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel. Budget: Kinigi Guesthouse.
Day 8 Mountain Gorilla Tracking
Today is the most important day of your 10-day Rwanda safari. You will wake up very early and eat a 
good breakfast. You will drive to the park office in Kinigi. The park staff will check your permits. The Rwanda Development Board manages all tourism activities and issues these permits. A gorilla permit costs $1500 per person. It is very important to book this permit 6months early. A head tracker will put you in a group of eight people. You will walk into the forest to find the gorillas. The walk can take one hour, or it can take four hours. The ground is often wet and slippery. When you find the gorilla family, you will spend exactly one hour with them. You must stay seven meters away from them. You will take photos and watch them eat leaves. You will see the big silverback protecting his family. After the hour is over, you will walk back down the mountain.
Day 9: Golden Monkey Tracking
You will return to the park office early in the morning. Today you will track golden monkeys. These monkeys live in the bamboo forests near the bottom of the volcanoes. The walk to find them is usually 
much easier than the gorilla trek. You will walk on flat ground for most of the time. The hike takes about one hour each way. When you find the monkeys, you will notice they move very fast. They jump from tree to tree and eat bamboo leaves. You will spend one hour watching them. They are very playful and fun to watch. They have bright orange fur on their backs. After tracking, you will go back to your hotel for lunch. In the afternoon, you can rest or walk around the town of Musanze. You can buy souvenirs at the local markets to take home.
Day 10: Return to Kigali and Departure
This is the last day of your 10-day Rwanda safari. You will eat breakfast and then pack your bags. Your driver will take you back to Kigali. The drive takes about two and a half hours. The road is very smooth and goes downhill most of the way. You will see the beautiful rolling hills one last time. If you have time before your flight, you can do some last-minute shopping. You can visit local art centers to buy paintings or woven baskets. Your driver will drop you off at Kigali International Airport. You will check in for your flight and go home. You will carry many good memories of the animals and the people of Rwanda.
What to Pack for the Tour
Long trousers and long-sleeved shirts to protect your skin from bugs and branches.
Strong, waterproof hiking boots for walking in the mud.
A warm jacket or sweater for cold mornings and evenings in the mountains.
A waterproof raincoat or poncho because it rains often in the forest.
Garden gloves to protect your hands when you grab branches during the trek.
A good camera to take photos of the animals from a distance.
Sunscreen and a hat to protect your face from the sun during game drives.
Insect repellent to keep bugs away in the forest.
What is Included and Excluded
Included:
Transport in a safari car with a pop-up roof.
The services of a full-time, English-speaking driver.
All accommodation and meals as stated in the program.
All park entrance fees for Akagera and Nyungwe.
One gorilla permit per person issued by the Rwanda Development Board.
One chimpanzee permit and one golden monkey permit per person.
Drinking water in the car during drives
Excluded:
International flight tickets to and from Rwanda.
The cost of your Rwanda tourist visa.
Any extra drinks at the hotels, like alcohol or sodas.
Tips for the driver, hotel staff, and trackers.
Personal items like laundry or phone calls.
Travel insurance for your trip.
When Is the Best Time to Go
You can take this safari at any time. However, the dry months are the most comfortable. The long dry season runs from June to September. The short dry season is from mid-December to early February. During these months, the trails in the forests are less muddy. It is much easier to walk and track the gorillas. The rainy months bring heavy showers. The long rains happen from March to May. The short rains happen from October to November. The forests are very beautiful and green during the rain. Photographers often like the rainy season because the air is clear and the lighting is soft. But you must be ready to get wet. You must also know that the dirt roads can be slippery. If you travel during the rain, you will see fewer tourists in the parks
How to Secure Your Bookings
Booking your permits early is the most important step. The Rwanda Development Board only issues ninety-six gorilla permits every day. These permits sell out very fast. You should book your trip at least six months before you travel. Your tour company will buy the permits for you. They will need a clear copy of your passport to do this. Once the permits are bought, they cannot be changed or refunded. You must be sure of your travel dates before you pay the deposit. You will receive a receipt once the permits are secured. After that, your hotels will be booked and confirmed. You can then buy your flight tickets and prepare for your trip.
