6 Days Rwanda Culture & Wildlife Safari

Day 1: Arrival in Kigali – Welcome to Rwanda

Arrive at Kigali International Airport, where your private guide will meet and transfer you to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, enjoy a Kigali city tour, visiting the Kigali Genocide Memorial, Kimironko Market, and Inema Arts Centre to experience Rwanda’s art and resilience.

In the evening, enjoy dinner at a fine local restaurant and rest as you prepare for your adventure.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: The Retreat by Heaven / Kigali Serena Hotel

• Mid-range: Heaven Boutique Hotel / Hotel des Mille Collines

Day 2: Kigali – Drive to Akagera National Park

After breakfast, depart for Akagera National Park, located in the eastern part of Rwanda. The scenic drive takes about 2.5 hours through rolling hills and villages, revealing the country’s beautiful countryside.

Arrive at your lodge in time for lunch, followed by an afternoon game drive across Akagera’s savannah. Expect to see elephants, zebras, giraffes, buffaloes, and antelopes, with the possibility of spotting lions and rhinos introduced through Rwanda’s successful conservation program.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: Magashi Camp / Ruzizi Tented Lodge

• Mid-range: Akagera Game Lodge

Day 3: Full-Day Game Drive & Boat Cruise on Lake Ihema

Rise early for a sunrise game drive, when wildlife is most active. Capture breathtaking scenes of giraffes silhouetted against the dawn and elephants strolling through the golden grasslands.

Return to your lodge for breakfast and relaxation, then head out for a boat cruise on Lake Ihema in the afternoon. Spot hippos, crocodiles, and colorful birdlife, including African fish eagles, herons, and kingfishers.

Enjoy a scenic sundowner as the day draws to a close.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: Magashi Camp / Ruzizi Tented Lodge

Day 4: Akagera – Return to Kigali & Cultural Tour

After breakfast, enjoy a relaxed game drive as you exit Akagera, spotting more wildlife along the way. Return to Kigali for lunch and spend the afternoon exploring Rwanda’s cultural side.

Visit the Niyo Arts Gallery and Ivuka Arts Centre to discover contemporary Rwandan creativity. Later, enjoy an interactive traditional cooking experience or drumming performance led by local artisans.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: The Retreat by Heaven / Kigali Serena Hotel

• Mid-range: Heaven Boutique Hotel

Day 5: Kigali – Drive to Volcanoes National Park & Cultural Encounter

After breakfast, travel north to Volcanoes National Park, a region rich in both wildlife and heritage. The drive offers stunning views of the Virunga Volcanoes and terraced hillsides.

Upon arrival in Musanze, visit the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village (Gorilla Guardians Village), where former poachers have transformed their lives through cultural tourism. Participate in traditional dances, learn about ancient Rwandan customs, and meet local artisans.

Later, check in to your lodge and enjoy an evening surrounded by the beauty of Rwanda’s mountain landscapes.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: Bisate Lodge / Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge

• Mid-range: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel / Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge

Day 6: Optional Gorilla Trek / Cultural Exploration – Return to Kigali

After breakfast, you may choose between two unforgettable experiences:

• Optional Gorilla Trekking Experience: For those with permits, embark on a once-in-a-lifetime trek to see mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park. Spend an hour observing them in their natural habitat.

• Cultural Exploration: Visit a local market, banana beer makers, or take a nature walk around Musanze to discover daily life in rural Rwanda.

After lunch, begin your drive back to Kigali, stopping at scenic viewpoints along the way. Depending on your flight schedule, you’ll be transferred to Kigali International Airport for your onward flight.

Your 6 Days Rwanda Culture & Wildlife Safari ends with lasting impressions of Rwanda’s warmth, resilience, and breathtaking natural wonders.