










7 Days Wildlife and Primate Safari Rwanda
Tour Overview 7 Days Wildlife and Primate Safari Rwanda
The 7 Days Wildlife and Primate Safari Rwanda is an unforgettable journey that brings you face-to-face with Rwanda’s stunning wildlife, rich culture, and breathtaking landscapes. From the open savannah of Akagera National Park to the misty mountains of Volcanoes National Park, this safari combines the best of Rwanda’s natural treasures — offering the perfect mix of game drives, gorilla trekking, and cultural experiences.
You’ll begin in Kigali, Rwanda’s clean and vibrant capital, before heading east to Akagera National Park for thrilling game drives and a scenic boat cruise on Lake Ihema. Then, travel north to Musanze for cultural tours and the highlight of your adventure — a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with endangered mountain gorillas. End your safari with optional hikes to Mount Bisoke or a visit to the Dian Fossey Tomb, followed by a relaxing boat ride before returning to Kigali. This7 Days Wildlife and Primate Safari Rwanda itinerary is perfect for nature lovers, photographers, and adventure seekers who wish to experience the very best of Rwanda in one incredible trip.
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali – City Tour
Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you’ll be met by your guide from Rwanda Safaris Gorilla Trekking. Begin your journey with a Kigali City Tour, visiting key landmarks such as the Kigali Genocide Memorial, Kimironko Market, and the Inema Arts Center. Learn about Rwanda’s transformation and cultural heritage. Dinner and overnight in Kigali.
Accommodation: Hôtel des Mille Collines / Heaven Boutique Hotel / Lemigo Hotel
Meal Plan: Lunch & Dinner
Day 2: Transfer to Akagera National Park – Half Game Drive & Boat Cruise
After breakfast, depart Kigali for Akagera National Park, located in Rwanda’s eastern region. Upon arrival, enjoy a short game drive through the park’s rolling hills and woodlands. Check in at your lodge for lunch, then head for an afternoon boat cruise on Lake Ihema, where you’ll spot hippos, crocodiles, and numerous bird species. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Akagera Game Lodge / Mantis Akagera Safari Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 3: Full Game Drive & Return to Kigali
Rise early for a sunrise game drive, exploring Akagera’s northern plains where large herds of elephants, buffaloes, zebras, giraffes, lions, and leopards roam. With luck, you may also spot the recently reintroduced rhinos. After a picnic lunch, begin your drive back to Kigali for an evening at leisure.
Accommodation: Hôtel des Mille Collines / Heaven Boutique Hotel / Lemigo Hotel
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 4: Transfer to Musanze & Cultural Tour
After breakfast, drive north to Musanze, the gateway to Volcanoes National Park. The 2.5-hour drive offers stunning views of the Virunga Mountains. Upon arrival, check into your lodge and enjoy lunch. In the afternoon, visit the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village, where you’ll experience Rwanda’s traditions through dance, drumming, and local storytelling. Dinner and overnight in Musanze.
Accommodation: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel / Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge / Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 5: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
After an early breakfast, head to Kinigi Park Headquarters for a briefing on mountain gorilla trekking. Set off into the forest with experienced rangers to track one of Rwanda’s habituated gorilla families. The trek may take between 2–6 hours depending on the gorillas’ movements. Once found, spend an unforgettable hour observing their behavior, taking photos, and marveling at their presence. Return to the lodge for a relaxed evening.
Accommodation: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel / Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge / Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 6: Dian Fossey Tomb Visit or Hike Mount Bisoke
Today, choose between two incredible activities based on your fitness level and preference.
Option 1: Visit the Dian Fossey Tomb, where you’ll hike through the forest to the site where the famous primatologist is buried beside her beloved gorillas — a moving experience in Rwanda’s conservation history.
Option 2: Take on a Mount Bisoke hike, a challenging but rewarding trek that leads to a stunning crater lake at the summit, offering panoramic views of the Virunga Volcanoes.
Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
Accommodation: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel / Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge / Mountain Gorilla View Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 7: Boat Ride & Return to Kigali
After breakfast, drive to Lake Ruhondo or Lake Burera for a peaceful boat ride, enjoying the mountain views and local village life. Later, start your drive back to Kigali, stopping at local markets for souvenirs or Rwandan coffee. Arrive in Kigali in time for lunch and your transfer to the airport for your onward flight.
Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch
Included in 7 Days Wildlife and Primate Safari Rwanda
- 1 Gorilla trekking permit per person ($1,500)
- All ground transportation in a private 4×4 safari vehicle
- Professional English-speaking driver/guide
- Accommodation and meals as per itinerary
- Akagera Park entry fees and game drives
- Boat cruises on Lake Ihema and Lake Ruhondo/Burera
- Cultural village visit
- Bottled drinking water during the trip
Excluded in 7 Days Wildlife and Primate Safari Rwanda
- International flights and visa fees
- Travel and medical insurance
- Optional activities not mentioned
- Personal expenses (drinks, tips, laundry, souvenirs)
- Porter or guide gratuities
End of Tour
Your 7 Days Wildlife and Primate Safari Rwanda concludes with incredible memories — from the roaring lions of Akagera to the peaceful gorillas of Volcanoes and the vibrant culture of Musanze. This 7 Days Wildlife and Primate Safari Rwanda safari offers a true taste of Rwanda’s wild heart, where adventure, wildlife, and culture come together in harmony.
Starting from US $ 4,600 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 | – | $ 4600 |
| 2 | – | $ 4300 |
| 3 | – | $ 3800 |
| 4 | – | $ 3500 |
| 5 | – | $ 3040 |
| 6 | – | $ 2780 |
| 7 | 15 | $ 2600 |
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.
