7 Days Best of Rwanda Safari - One Week Tour
DESCRIPTION
Rwanda, the Land of a Thousand Hills, packs an extraordinary range of safari experiences into a small, easy-to-navigate country. This 7 Days Best of Rwanda Safari takes you through the country’s three flagship national parks — Volcanoes National Park, Nyungwe Forest National Park, and Akagera National Park — plus a cultural introduction to Kigali City. Along the way you’ll trek mountain gorillas, track chimpanzees through ancient rainforest, walk a canopy walkway above the treetops, and finish with Big Five game drives and a boat safari on Lake Ihema. This itinerary is ideal for travelers who want the complete Rwanda experience in one well-paced week, and it pairs naturally with our shorter 2 Days Volcanoes Gorilla Trek from Kigali or our 5 Days best of Rwanda Primate Safari if you’re comparing options before you book.
Tour Overview
- Duration: 7 Days / 6 Nights
- Start/End: Kigali International Airport (KGL)
- Destinations: Kigali City, Volcanoes National Park, Nyungwe Forest National Park, Akagera National Park
- Activities: Mountain gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking, chimpanzee trekking, canopy walk, Big Five game drives, boat safari, city/cultural tour
- Group size: Private and small group departures
- Style: Mid-range and budget-friendly, customizable to luxury
TRAVEL PLAN
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali
Your driver-guide from Pick and Transfer Safaris will meet you at Kigali International Airport and transfer you to your hotel in the city. Depending on your arrival time, enjoy a short orientation tour of Kigali, regularly ranked among Africa’s cleanest and safest capitals. A visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial offers important historical context for understanding Rwanda’s remarkable recovery and growth. Overnight in Kigali.
Day 2: Kigali – Volcanoes National Park
After breakfast, drive roughly two to three hours northwest to Volcanoes National Park in the Musanze region, set against the backdrop of the Virunga Mountains. This is Rwanda’s premier gorilla trekking destination and one of only three places on earth where mountain gorillas can still be tracked in the wild. Check in to your lodge and spend the afternoon at leisure, or visit the Dian Fossey gravesite or a local cultural village. Overnight near Volcanoes National Park.
Day 3: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
This is the highlight of the trip. After an early breakfast, head to the park headquarters for briefing before setting off with trackers and armed park rangers in search of a habituated mountain gorilla family. The trek can take anywhere from one to several hours through bamboo and rainforest, depending on where the gorillas are feeding, and rewards you with a full hour observing them up close in their natural habitat. In the afternoon, you have the option of golden monkey tracking in the same park. Overnight near Volcanoes National Park.
Day 4: Volcanoes National Park – Nyungwe Forest National Park
Drive south through Rwanda’s scenic hills and tea plantations to Nyungwe Forest National Park, one of Africa’s oldest rainforests and home to over 13 primate species. The journey takes most of the day, with stops for photos along the way. Arrive in time for dinner and an overnight stay at a lodge bordering the forest.
Day 5: Chimpanzee Trekking & Canopy Walk in Nyungwe
Set off early for chimpanzee trekking, following experienced guides through dense forest in search of one of Nyungwe’s habituated chimp communities. In the afternoon, walk the Nyungwe Canopy Walkway, a suspended bridge offering sweeping views over the forest canopy and a memorable way to appreciate the park’s biodiversity and birdlife. Overnight in Nyungwe.
Day 6: Nyungwe – Akagera National Park
A long but scenic drive takes you east across Rwanda to Akagera National Park, the country’s only savannah park and home to the Big Five — lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and both black and white rhino, all successfully reintroduced through Rwanda’s conservation programs. Arrive in the late afternoon for an evening game drive as the bush comes alive. Overnight inside or near the park.
Day 7: Akagera Game Drive & Boat Safari – Departure
Enjoy an early morning game drive through Akagera’s savannah, lakes, and woodland in search of lion, elephant, giraffe, zebra, and a wide variety of antelope. Optionally, take a boat safari on Lake Ihema to view hippos, crocodiles, and waterbirds at close range. Afterward, drive back to Kigali (roughly 2.5–3 hours), with a transfer to the airport for your evening departure flight, or connect onward to your next destination.
COST INCLUSIONS AND EXCLUSIONS
What’s Included
- Airport pick-up and drop-off
- All ground transportation in a 4×4 safari vehicle
- English-speaking driver-guide
- Accommodation as per itinerary (budget, mid-range, or luxury options available)
- Park entry fees for Nyungwe and Akagera
- One gorilla trekking permit and one chimpanzee trekking permit
- Game drives and boat safari as listed
- Bottled drinking water during the safari
What’s Not Included
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Golden monkey tracking permit (optional add-on)
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal travel insurance
- Meals not specified in the itinerary
Gorilla and Chimpanzee Permits — Good to Know
Gorilla trekking permits in Rwanda are issued exclusively by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and currently cost USD 1,500 per person for international non-residents, with discounted rates for foreign residents and East African Community citizens. Permits are limited to 96 per day across Volcanoes National Park’s habituated gorilla groups, so we strongly recommend booking your safari at least three to six months in advance, especially for travel in the June–September and December–February peak seasons. Chimpanzee trekking permits for Nyungwe are issued separately and are far more affordable. As your operator, Pick and Transfer Safaris handles all permit bookings on your behalf as part of your safari package.
Best Time to Travel
Rwanda is a year-round gorilla and chimpanzee trekking destination, but the dry seasons — June to September and December to February — offer the easiest trekking conditions. The long rains (March–May) and short rains (October–November) bring lower visitor numbers and lusher scenery, and are sometimes paired with promotional permit pricing for travelers combining Volcanoes with Akagera and Nyungwe.
Why Book This Safari With Pick and Transfer Safaris
We specialize in affordable, well-organized gorilla and wildlife safaris across Uganda and Rwanda, with a strong reputation for reliable self-drive and guided trips. This 7-day itinerary can be combined with our 3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Tracking and Cultural Tour or extended into our 10 Days Rwanda Wildlife Gorilla and Cultural Tour if you’d like more time in the parks. If you’d rather cross into Uganda for additional gorilla families, ask us about our 10 Days Uganda Rwanda Safari.
For more information on Rwanda’s national parks, gorilla permit policy, and entry requirements, you can also visit the official tourism authority at Visit Rwanda or the Rwanda Development Board.
Contact us to check availability, request a custom quote, or start planning your 7-day Rwanda safari today.