









5 Days Rwanda Safari & Lake Kivu Safari
Tour Overview of 5 Days Rwanda Safari & Lake Kivu Adventure
The 5 Days Rwanda Safari & Lake Kivu Safari combines the best of Rwanda’s wildlife, nature, and leisure experiences in one unforgettable journey. From thrilling encounters with the Big Five in Akagera National Park to the serene beauty of Lake Kivu, this tour perfectly balances adventure and relaxation. You’ll explore Rwanda’s diverse landscapes — from the rolling savannah plains of Akagera to the tranquil shores of Lake Kivu — and discover why Rwanda is called the Land of a Thousand Hills.
This safari is ideal for travelers seeking both excitement and tranquility. You’ll enjoy a scenic Kigali City Tour, spot elephants, lions, and giraffes on thrilling game drives, cruise on Lake Ihema to see hippos and crocodiles, and unwind with a relaxing stay along Lake Kivu. The combination of wildlife and water makes this itinerary one of Rwanda’s most rewarding short safaris.
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali – Kigali City Tour
Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you’ll be warmly welcomed by your guide from Rwanda Safaris Gorilla Trekking. Begin with a Kigali City Tour, visiting historical and cultural landmarks such as the Kigali Genocide Memorial, Kimironko Market, and Inema Arts Center. Learn about Rwanda’s remarkable history, art, and modern development. After the tour, enjoy dinner and an overnight stay in Kigali.
Accommodation: Hôtel des Mille Collines / Heaven Boutique Hotel / Lemigo Hotel
Meal Plan: Lunch & Dinner
Day 2: Transfer to Akagera National Park & Afternoon Boat Cruise
After breakfast, drive east toward Akagera National Park, Rwanda’s only savannah park and home to the Big Five. The 2.5-hour drive offers scenic views of rural life and rolling landscapes. Upon arrival, check into your lodge, have lunch, and later embark on an afternoon boat cruise on Lake Ihema. You’ll spot hippos, crocodiles, and various bird species such as kingfishers and African fish eagles. In the evening, relax at your lodge with dinner overlooking the savannah.
Accommodation: Akagera Game Lodge / Mantis Akagera Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 3: Full Game Drive in Akagera National Park
Start your day early with a sunrise game drive across Akagera’s open plains, wetlands, and woodlands. This full-day adventure offers the chance to spot elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes, zebras, giraffes, antelopes, and even rhinos. Your experienced guide will help you identify different species and take you to scenic lookout points for photography. After a picnic lunch inside the park, continue exploring the northern circuits before returning to the lodge in the evening.
Accommodation: Akagera Game Lodge / Mantis Akagera Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 4: Transfer to Lake Kivu (Gisenyi)
After breakfast, depart Akagera and drive west toward Lake Kivu, one of Africa’s most beautiful freshwater lakes. Enjoy the scenic journey through Rwanda’s countryside, passing through tea and coffee plantations. Arrive in Gisenyi by afternoon and check in at your lakeside lodge. Spend your evening relaxing on the sandy shores, enjoying a sunset walk, or watching local fishermen prepare for their night on the lake.
Accommodation: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel / Paradise Malahide / Inzu Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 5: Lake Kivu Adventure & Departure
Begin your morning with a peaceful boat ride on Lake Kivu, exploring small islands and meeting local fishing communities. Visit Napoleon Island or Amahoro Island, known for their scenic views and birdlife. Depending on time, you can also tour a nearby coffee plantation or the Niramba Hot Springs before driving back to Kigali for your onward flight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch
Included in 5 Days Rwanda Safari & Lake Kivu Adventure
- All accommodation and meals as per itinerary
- Professional English-speaking driver/guide
- Transport in a 4×4 safari vehicle
- All park entry fees and permits
- Kigali city tour
- Boat cruise on Lake Ihema and Lake Kivu
- Bottled drinking water throughout the safari
Excluded in 5 Days Rwanda Safari & Lake Kivu Adventure
- International flights and visas
- Travel insurance
- Optional activities not mentioned
- Personal expenses (drinks, tips, laundry, souvenirs)
- Porter or guide gratuities
End of 5 Days Rwanda Safari & Lake Kivu Adventure
Your 5 Days Rwanda Safari & Lake Kivu Safari ends with unforgettable memories of Rwanda’s wildlife, landscapes, and hospitality — from Akagera’s Big Five to the tranquil charm of Lake Kivu. A journey that perfectly captures the spirit of adventure and peace in Rwanda, the Land of a Thousand Hills.
Starting from US $ 2,200 per person
Discounted prices per person as the number of people rises. Prices for children are fixed as $ 150 per child.
| No of People | Up To | Price per person |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | – | $ 2200 |
| 2 | – | $ 1980 |
| 3 | – | $ 1750 |
| 4 | – | $ 1680 |
| 5 | – | $ 1520 |
| 6 | – | $ 1490 |
| 7 | 15 | $ 1410 |
Posted on Tripadvisor patty eVerified 100% recommended I was originally in Tanzania for a safari but decided to add the gorilla trek at the end of my trip because the flight was too long to fly to Africa from California again at my age. I booked through Viator. From the beginning, communication with Universal Adventures was positive. They were prompt to answer any questions. And a few days before the excursion, they sent me my driver's name and WhatsApp number. His name is Christian.We communicated through WhatsApp, and he was very prompt to reply back. He was early to pick me up at 4:30am. I had another person in the car. The car was clean. Its a long drive to the meeting place. We stopped for breakfast pastries at a local shop( they take credit cards and had a clean breakfast. We then drove to the meeting place where we met up with our group. There they had hot drinks like coffees, lattes, teas, etc. We then had to drive to the beginning of the mountain. It was a long drive as the roads are not paved. My group was assigned the Isimbi gorilla family and our guide was Jolie. My porter was Adolf. I was the least active one in the group but the crew never made me feel bad. After what I thought was a 4 hr hike (it was really 1 hr and 26 minutes) we found our gorilla family. We had plenty of time to take pictures with them. After we were done, Christian took us to a rooftop restaurant. The food was delicious! I recommend this excursion 100%. The company is awesome and very professional.Posted on Tripadvisor Juliet KVerified Gorilla Experience in Rwanda! Easy ride, the trip was one in a life time experience. The driver (Christian) was very nice and kind and made the trip smooth! Everything was great.Posted on Tripadvisor zoe457Verified Amazing experience seeing the gorillas of Rwanda! Amazing experience seeing the gorillas. Dodos picked me up in Kigali and was very helpful through the whole process. He even had cold drinks when I finished the gorilla trekking. Highly recommend!Posted on Tripadvisor Trevor BVerified Great way to see Kigali! Our guide Christian was knowledgeable and kind. He showed us all the highlights including the moving Genocide Memorial. His personal stories and insights into Rwandan society were invaluable. It was truly a pleasure to spend the day with him in Kigali.Posted on Tripadvisor Destination709424Verified Gorilla Trekking Me and my partner have always dreamed of doing gorilla trekking so when Christian helped this come to life it was surreal! As tourists we felt incredibly safe and welcomed with Christian he was super knowledgable and happy to share lots of description and reasoning with all our questions to help us learn and understand the culture. We also did a cultural village visit, Golden Monkey Trek, Diane Fossey Museum and women’s centre. All suggested and planned with Christian from Universal Ventures Rawanda. Any requests we had were never too much for Christian he was always happy to help. I would 110% recommend Christian to all my friends and family who I know want to come to Rawanda. Thankyou for making our dreams come true!Posted on Tripadvisor Geti LVerified 100% would recommend Amazing team and guide. I didn’t have to think about anything since they planned everything from airport pick up till drop off. Best value for buck but also great attitude and support. Got permission to visit the Pablo family thanks to our guide!Posted on Tripadvisor Yanis RVerified Thanks Kim for that wonderful day Kim was my guide for my experience with the gorillas. He made the day so comfortable. Everything was perfect! We also had many conversations about everything. I definitely recommend traveling with him!!Posted on Tripadvisor Aglaia OVerified Amazing Rwanda gorilla trek! Playful babies, calm silverback, great guides. Book permits well in advance. My gorilla trekking experience in Rwanda was absolutely incredible. We found the gorillas within about an hour of hiking, and seeing them up close was unforgettable. The baby gorillas were especially playful and entertaining to watch, constantly moving around and interacting with each other. In contrast, the silverback was calm, quiet, and completely self-focused — somehow both powerful and peaceful at the same time. The gorillas were not scary at all, and we never felt threatened during the experience. The guides were fantastic: experienced, knowledgeable, and very entertaining throughout the trek. One of our guides even shared stories about crossing paths with Dian Fossey, which made the experience feel even more special and connected to Rwanda’s conservation history. One important tip: make sure to secure your trekking permit well in advance, as spots are limited and can sell out quickly. A truly once-in-a-lifetime experience that I would highly recommend.Posted on Tripadvisor MARCELLE EVerified Gorilles Kigali Nous avons choisis la parcours long mais ca valait le coup. Nous en avons pris pleins les yeux les guides étaient top le trajet depuis Kigali pas trop long avec le chauffeur de l'agence , NEZA qui a vraiment été super du début à la fin . Il nous été d’une grande aide.le responsable de l’agence et était super et disponible il nous a aidé pour toutes les démarches.Posted on Tripadvisor Teresa BVerified The trek was perfect! We saw a beautiful family of gorillas including two Silverbacks! The best experience of my life! Seeing gorillas in their natural habitat was incredible! A truly serene experience. The tour was well planned and could not have been more perfect. The entire team guided with professionalism and love. My porter, Jacqueline, was wonderful and took great care of me. My personal guide/driver, Kim, was a delight! I learned much about Rwanda from him on the drive. I was surprised he greeted me with champagne toast! The day could not have been better.
