9 Days Rwanda Adventure Journey

Day 1: Arrival in Kigali – Welcome to the Heart of Africa

Arrive at Kigali International Airport, where you’ll be warmly welcomed by your guide and transferred to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, explore Kigali’s highlights—the Kigali Genocide Memorial, Inema Arts Centre, and Kimironko Market—for a cultural introduction to Rwanda.

Enjoy dinner at a stylish city restaurant before resting up for the adventure ahead.

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, begin your adventure with a scenic drive east to Akagera National Park, Rwanda’s only savannah park and home to the Big Five. The 2.5-hour journey offers views of terraced farmlands and rural villages.

Arrive at your lodge in time for lunch, followed by an afternoon game drive, where you might spot elephants, zebras, giraffes, and antelopes grazing across the plains.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: Magashi Camp / Ruzizi Tented Lodge

• Mid-range: Akagera Game Lodge

Day 3: Akagera – Sunrise Game Drive & Lake Ihema Boat Cruise

Rise early for a sunrise game drive, a perfect time to catch lions, leopards, and hyenas on the move. The park’s diverse landscapes—open plains, swamps, and lakes—create stunning backdrops for photography.

In the afternoon, enjoy a boat cruise on Lake Ihema, where you’ll see hippos, crocodiles, and flocks of waterbirds. End the day with a sundowner overlooking the shimmering lake.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: Magashi Camp / Ruzizi Tented Lodge

Day 4: Akagera – Return to Kigali & Transfer to Volcanoes National Park

After breakfast, take a final game drive as you exit Akagera and return to Kigali for lunch. Then continue north through Rwanda’s scenic countryside toward Volcanoes National Park, the gateway to the majestic Virunga Mountains.

Arrive in Musanze by late afternoon, with stunning views of Mount Karisimbi and Mount Bisoke along the way.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: Bisate Lodge / Singita Kwitonda Lodge

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

Day 5: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park

Today’s adventure is one of Africa’s greatest wildlife experiences—mountain gorilla trekking. After an early breakfast, head to the park headquarters in Kinigi for a briefing before setting off with experienced rangers into the forest.

The trek can take 2 to 6 hours depending on the gorillas’ movements, but the reward is unmatched—an intimate hour with these gentle giants in their natural habitat. Witness their social interactions, feeding behaviors, and emotional depth.

Return to your lodge for lunch and relaxation, or enjoy a nature walk around the lodge in the evening.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge / Bisate Lodge

• Mid-range: Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge / Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel

Day 6: Golden Monkey Tracking & Cultural Village Visit

After breakfast, head out for golden monkey tracking, a delightful experience as you follow these playful, endangered primates through the bamboo forests of Volcanoes National Park.

In the afternoon, visit the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village (Gorilla Guardians Village) to immerse yourself in Rwanda’s traditional music, dance, and storytelling, gaining insights into the country’s rich cultural heritage.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: Singita Kwitonda Lodge / Virunga Lodge

• Mid-range: Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge

Day 7: Volcanoes – Drive to Lake Kivu (Gisenyi)

After breakfast, enjoy a scenic drive to Lake Kivu, one of Africa’s Great Lakes and Rwanda’s most relaxing destinations. The journey offers spectacular views of terraced hills and local fishing villages.

Upon arrival in Gisenyi, take a boat cruise across the lake to Napoleon Island or Amahoro Island, where you can see fruit bats, waterbirds, and beautiful vistas. Spend the afternoon relaxing by the lake or swimming in the warm waters.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel

• Mid-range: Paradise Malahide

Day 8: Lake Kivu – Drive to Nyungwe Forest National Park

After breakfast, journey south along the picturesque Lake Kivu Belt Road toward Nyungwe Forest National Park. Stop for photos and local interactions in small lakeside communities.

Arrive in Nyungwe by afternoon, check into your lodge, and relax with views of tea plantations and misty forested hills.

Dinner and Overnight:

• Luxury: One&Only Nyungwe House

• Mid-range: Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel

Day 9: Chimpanzee Trekking & Canopy Walk in Nyungwe Forest – Return to Kigali

Rise early for an exciting chimpanzee trek in Nyungwe’s rainforest. Follow their loud calls through the forest and enjoy an up-close encounter with our closest relatives as they feed and play.

After the trek, experience the thrilling Nyungwe Canopy Walk, suspended high above the forest floor with sweeping views of the treetops and distant mountains.

After lunch, begin your return journey to Kigali, arriving in the evening for your onward flight or an extra night in the city.

Your 9 Days Rwanda Adventure Journey concludes with unforgettable moments—gorilla encounters, Big Five safaris, lake adventures, and the unmatched warmth of Rwandan hospitality.