10 Days Luxury Rwanda Escape

Day 1: Arrival in Kigali – Welcome to Rwanda

Arrive at Kigali International Airport, where you’ll be met by your private guide and transferred to your elegant city hotel. Depending on your arrival time, explore Kigali’s highlights, including the Kigali Genocide Memorial, Inema Arts Centre, and Kimironko Market, for a glimpse of Rwanda’s creative and resilient spirit.

In the evening, enjoy a fine dining experience featuring contemporary Rwandan cuisine.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Ultra Luxury: The Retreat by Heaven

• Luxury: Kigali Serena Hotel

Day 2: Kigali – Scenic Drive to Akagera National Park

After breakfast, journey east to Akagera National Park, a haven for Rwanda’s Big Five and diverse savannah wildlife. The three-hour scenic drive passes through picturesque hills and rural communities.

Arrive at your luxurious lodge overlooking Lake Rwanyakazinga and enjoy an afternoon game drive, spotting giraffes, zebras, elephants, and buffaloes against the golden plains.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Ultra Luxury: Magashi Camp by Wilderness Safaris

• Luxury: Ruzizi Tented Lodge

Day 3: Akagera – Big Five Game Drives & Lake Ihema Cruise

Spend a full day exploring Akagera’s vibrant landscapes. Begin with a sunrise game drive, a prime time for viewing predators like lions, leopards, and hyenas. Later, return for a gourmet bush breakfast at your lodge.

In the afternoon, embark on a boat safari on Lake Ihema, gliding past pods of hippos, crocodiles, and flocks of waterbirds. Return for sundowners overlooking the shimmering waters—a perfect end to your day in the wild.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Ultra Luxury: Magashi Camp

• Luxury: Ruzizi Tented Lodge

Day 4: Akagera – Return to Kigali

After breakfast, enjoy a relaxed game drive as you exit the park. Return to Kigali for lunch and spend the afternoon at leisure, shopping for high-end crafts and art pieces at local galleries.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Ultra Luxury: The Retreat by Heaven

• Luxury: Kigali Serena Hotel

Day 5: Kigali – Fly or Drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park

After breakfast, transfer by road or a short scenic flight to Nyungwe Forest National Park, one of Africa’s oldest rainforests. The drive winds through terraced hills and tea estates, offering panoramic views of the countryside.

En route, visit the King’s Palace in Nyanza and the Ethnographic Museum in Huye (Butare) to learn about Rwanda’s royal history and cultural heritage.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Ultra Luxury: One&Only Nyungwe House

Day 6: Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe Forest

Wake up early for a thrilling chimpanzee trek. Accompanied by expert rangers, enter the forest to track these energetic primates as they swing, feed, and communicate through echoing calls.

Return to your lodge for lunch and relaxation. Later, enjoy a guided tea plantation experience or a private sunset walk through the forest trails.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Ultra Luxury: One&Only Nyungwe House

Day 7: Canopy Walk & Waterfall Exploration

After breakfast, experience the famous Nyungwe Canopy Walk, a 160-meter suspended bridge that offers bird’s-eye views of the rainforest and surrounding valleys.

In the afternoon, embark on a nature hike to Isumo Waterfall, a stunning cascade hidden within the dense jungle. Return to your lodge for an evening of fine dining and relaxation beside the forest.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Ultra Luxury: One&Only Nyungwe House

Day 8: Nyungwe – Drive to Volcanoes National Park via Lake Kivu

After breakfast, drive north through the breathtaking countryside toward Volcanoes National Park, stopping at Lake Kivu for a lakeside lunch and a short boat cruise.

Arrive in Musanze, the gateway to the Virunga Mountains, by late afternoon. Check into your luxurious mountain lodge and enjoy a cozy evening overlooking the mist-covered volcanoes.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Ultra Luxury: Singita Kwitonda Lodge

• Luxury: Bisate Lodge

Day 9: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park

Today marks the highlight of your journey—mountain gorilla trekking. After an early breakfast, report to the park headquarters for a briefing before trekking into the bamboo forest in search of one of Rwanda’s habituated gorilla families.

Once found, spend an awe-inspiring one hour observing these gentle giants up close, capturing moments that stay with you forever.

Return to your lodge for a soothing massage or a private sundowner with panoramic volcano views.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Ultra Luxury: Singita Kwitonda Lodge

• Luxury: Bisate Lodge

Day 10: Volcanoes – Drive Back to Kigali & Departure

After breakfast, visit the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village to experience traditional Rwandan music, dance, and community life before heading back to Kigali.

Enjoy a farewell lunch at one of the city’s fine restaurants, followed by a transfer to Kigali International Airport for your outbound flight.

Your 10 Days Luxury Rwanda Escape concludes with unforgettable memories of gorillas in the mist, tranquil lakes, and the unmatched warmth of Rwanda’s people.