5 Days Rwanda Wildlife and Gorillas

DESTINATION

Uganda: Akagera & Volcanoes National Park

DURATION

5 Days | 4 Nights

COST

From $4,300 Per Person

DESCRIPTION

This 5-day itinerary brings together Rwanda’s two flagship wildlife experiences: open savannah game drives and a boat safari in Akagera National Park, followed by a face-to-face encounter with mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park. It’s a complete introduction to Rwanda’s wildlife, from the open plains in the east to the misty Virunga volcanoes in the northwest.

Trip Overview


Duration	5 Days / 4 Nights
Starting Point	Kigali
Destinations	Akagera National Park & Volcanoes National Park
Activities	Game drives, Lake Ihema boat safari, gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking
Best Time to Visit	June – September & mid-December – mid-February (dry season, best for both parks)
Accommodation	Budget, mid-range, or luxury (your choice)
Minimum Age	15 years for gorilla trekking, 12 years for golden monkey tracking

TRAVEL PLAN

Day 1: Kigali – Akagera National Park

After an early breakfast, your driver-guide picks you up from your Kigali hotel for the drive east to Akagera, roughly two and a half to three hours on good tarmac roads. Check in at your lodge, have lunch, then head out for an afternoon game drive across the Kilala Plains. Look out for buffalo, zebra, topi, giraffe, and elephant on the open grassland, with a good chance of spotting lion. Dinner and overnight at your lodge inside or near the park.

Day 2: Full Day in Akagera – Game Drive & Lake Ihema Boat Safari

Start with an early morning game drive, the best time to find predators before the heat sets in, with good chances of lion and, with patience, black or white rhino moving through denser bush. Return to the lodge for breakfast and a break through the warmer hours. In the afternoon, take to the water for a boat safari on Lake Ihema, drifting past pods of hippos, basking Nile crocodiles, and papyrus-fringed shores alive with birdlife. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.

Day 3: Akagera – Volcanoes National Park

After breakfast, depart Akagera for the drive northwest to Musanze, at the foot of the Virunga Mountains. This is the longest transfer of the trip, crossing through Kigali and up into Rwanda’s cooler, terraced highlands. Depending on your arrival time, the afternoon can be spent settling into your lodge or, if time allows, visiting the Gorilla Guardians’ Village, a cultural village run by former poachers now working in conservation, near the park entrance. Dinner and overnight at your lodge in Musanze.

Day 4: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park

Wake early for the briefing at park headquarters in Kinigi at 7:00am, where you’ll be assigned to one of the park’s habituated gorilla families based on fitness level and trekking difficulty for the day. The hike itself can range from a relatively easy walk to several hours through bamboo forest and volcanic slopes, but the reward is the same: a full hour spent in the presence of a wild mountain gorilla family, watching silverbacks, mothers, and playful youngsters at close range. Return to your lodge in the afternoon to rest, with the rest of the day free. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.

Day 5: Golden Monkey Tracking – Return to Kigali

Spend your final morning tracking Volcanoes National Park’s playful golden monkeys through the bamboo forest, a shorter and more energetic activity than gorilla trekking, and a great complement to the previous day’s experience. After returning to your lodge for breakfast and check-out, begin the drive back to Kigali, around two to three hours on paved roads, arriving in time for your onward flight or city plans. Drop-off at your hotel or Kigali International Airport.

COST INCLUSIONS AND EXCLUSIONS

- - What’s Included
    - Transport in a 4×4 safari vehicle with an English-speaking driver-guide
    - Akagera National Park entrance fees
    - Game drives as per the itinerary
    - Lake Ihema boat safari
    - Gorilla trekking permit
    - Golden monkey tracking permit
    - 4 nights’ accommodation (budget, mid-range, or luxury — based on your preference)
    - Meals as specified (full board while in the parks)
    - Bottled drinking water during the safari
    What’s Not Included
    - International flights and Rwanda visa fees
    - Travel insurance
    - Tips and gratuities for guides, trackers, and lodge staff
    - Porter fees during gorilla trekking (optional, typically USD 15–20)
    - Personal expenses and items of a personal nature
    Permit Costs to Know
    Gorilla trekking permits in Rwanda are set by the Rwanda Development Board at USD 1,500 per person, covering park entrance, trackers, armed ranger escort, and one hour with the gorillas. Golden monkey tracking permits cost considerably less and offer a shorter, more accessible trek through the bamboo forest. Travelers visiting during the low season (November to May) and spending at least two nights in Akagera or Nyungwe National Park may qualify for a 30% discount on the gorilla permit, bringing it down to roughly USD 1,050 — a detail worth knowing given this itinerary already includes two nights in Akagera. Permit availability is limited and books out months in advance during peak season, so early booking is strongly recommended.
    When to Go
    The dry seasons (June–September and mid-December–mid-February) offer the most comfortable conditions for both parks — drier trails for gorilla trekking and better wildlife concentration around Akagera’s water sources. The wetter months bring lush scenery and quieter lodges in both parks, though trekking conditions become muddier and a 4×4 remains essential in Akagera. For more detail on each park, see our Akagera National Park and Volcanoes National Park destination guides.
    Extend Your Trip
    This itinerary covers Rwanda’s savannah and primate highlights in a tight five days, but many travelers add a third chapter with chimpanzee tracking and the canopy walk at Nyungwe Forest National Park, or extend their stay in Kigali City before or after the safari. Browse our Rwanda primate safaris or full destinations page to build a longer itinerary around this trip.
    Useful Official Resources
    - Akagera National Park – official tourism site for current activity schedules and lodge bookings
    - Visit Rwanda – Gorilla Tracking, the Rwanda Development Board’s official page on permits, gorilla families, and what to expect
    - Visit Rwanda Booking Portal (RDB) for official permit information and online booking
    Ready to Book?
    Gorilla permits sell out months in advance, especially in peak season, so early booking matters more on this itinerary than most. Contact our travel experts to secure your dates and customize this 5-day Rwanda wildlife and gorillas tour, or browse our full range of safaris to add Nyungwe or extra time in Kigali.