5-Day Rwanda: Wildlife & Gorilla Trekking

Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by a representative from opportune safaris. Our team will assist you with your luggage and ensure a smooth and comfortable arrival.

You will then be transferred to Radisson blu hotel, one of Kigali’s renowned hotels, where you will check in and settle into your room. Take the rest of the evening to relax and recover from your journey.

Enjoy dinner at the hotel before retiring for the night.

After breakfast at approximately 9:00 a.m., begin your Kigali city tour with your professional driver-guide. Kigali is renowned for its cleanliness, safety, vibrant atmosphere, and beautifully organized neighborhoods, making it a fascinating introduction to Rwanda.

Your first visit will be to the Kigali Genocide Memorial, a significant historical site where you will learn about Rwanda’s history, including the events leading up to and during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, as well as the country’s remarkable journey toward healing and reconciliation.

After the city tour, depart Kigali and travel toward Akagera National Park, enjoying the changing landscapes and beautiful Rwandan countryside along the way.Upon arrival, your guide will assist with the park entry formalities before you proceed to your lodge for check-in. Enjoy lunch and spend some time relaxing at the lodge.

In the late afternoon, around 4:30 p.m., head out for a sunset boat cruise on Lake Ihema. Glide across the calm waters while observing hippos, crocodiles, and a variety of bird species. Keep your camera ready for sightings of colorful kingfishers, papyrus gonoleks, and other aquatic birds.

After the cruise, return to the lodge for dinner, relaxation, and overnight accommodation.

Wake up early and enjoy breakfast before setting off at approximately 7:00 a.m. for a full-day safari through Akagera National Park.

Named after the Akagera River, which flows along the park’s eastern boundary, Akagera is a spectacular landscape of rolling hills, open savannah, acacia woodlands, forests, wetlands, and beautiful lakes. These diverse habitats provide a home to an impressive range of wildlife.

Your game drive will take you from the southern areas toward the northern plains, covering approximately 5–6 hours within the park. Along the way, look out for the Big Five—lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhinoceros, as well as Maasai giraffes, zebras, impalas, topis, baboons, bushbuck, oribi, gazelles, bush babies, and many other species.

Akagera is also an exceptional destination for bird watching, with more than 525 recorded bird species, providing plenty of opportunities for bird enthusiasts.

Around midday, stop at a scenic picnic location within the park and enjoy lunch surrounded by the beautiful Rwandan wilderness. Afterward, continue exploring the park, taking in the changing landscapes and wildlife encounters.

As the afternoon progresses, enjoy the beautiful golden light and, weather permitting, capture stunning sunset photographs before returning to the lodge.

After breakfast, check out and begin your journey toward Volcanoes National Park in northwestern Rwanda.

The drive offers a wonderful opportunity to admire Rwanda’s famous rolling hills, green countryside, villages, and changing landscapes. Enjoy a leisurely lunch along the way before continuing toward Musanze and the Volcanoes region.Upon arrival, check in at the bishop’s house Rwanda and take some time to relax.

Later in the afternoon, visit the Iby’iwacu Cultural Village, where you will gain a deeper understanding of Rwanda’s traditions, history, and way of life. Explore traditional homes, discover local cuisine, experience traditional music and dances, and learn about skills such as basket weaving, carpentry, and traditional hunting techniques. This engaging cultural experience provides an opportunity to interact with the local community and appreciate Rwanda’s rich cultural heritage.

After the visit, return to your accommodation for dinner, relaxation, and overnight accommodation.

Volcanoes National Park is a stunning natural reserve in Rwanda, known for its lush rainforest, volcanic peaks, and diverse wildlife. It is home to the endangered mountain gorillas and offers visitors the chance to go gorilla trekking, hike volcanoes, and explore rich biodiversity

Early in the morning, after breakfast at 6:30 a.m., you will drive from the lodge to the Kinigi Park Headquarters to register for your gorilla trekking experience. After registration, you will be divided into small groups of up to eight participants and assigned a specific mountain gorilla family.

Following a detailed briefing by your park guide, you will depart at around 7:00 a.m. for the trailhead, where you will begin the guided walk in search of your designated mountain gorilla family. Accompanied by experienced trackers, you will hike through the forest as they use their expert knowledge of gorilla behavior and movements to locate the family’s whereabouts. upon sighting the gorillas, you stay with them for a magical hour, admire the behavior of the gorillas as they go about their daily lives feeding, youngster playing and picking open fruit and throwing it through the air, resting and raising their young. Occasionally one, often a playful youngster, will approach you with curiosity, sometimes coming so close that you’ll have to move away. After such a thrilling experience, you will head to the lodge for a lunch and later drive back to Kigali for your flight back home.

What to wear and carry: Wear long trousers, long sleeve and hiking waterproof boats (to minimize the impact on wildlife, it is recommended to wear shades of green or brown). Carry garden gloves, a rain jacket, and a camera.

Minimum age for gorilla trekking:15years