Overview
During the 8 days classic Rwanda safari, attention is drawn to exploring the major attractions. In this case, the wildlife species in Akagera National Park on a game drive and boat cruise, gorilla trekking in Volcanoes, and chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe. Kigali city, as a classic city, does not go unexplored on this 8 days safari. Rwanda prioritizes culture and heritage; thus, a cultural tour is worthwhile. Below is a detailed day-to-day plan for your 8 days classic Rwanda safari.
Detailed safari itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Akagera National Park
The first of your 8 long days of safari kicks off with a trip to Akagera National Park upon your arrival. The guide will welcome you and pick you up from Kigali International Airport, with an insight into your safari. The journey to Akagera is quite short, about 2 hours. Depending on your arrival time, you will have dinner at your booked lodge in the park and rest.
Day 2: Game drive and boat cruise
Head out of your lodge after breakfast for a game drive experience. This is the major activity in the park. Game drives open the park for exploration, where you spot wildlife species, with the notable ones being the Big 5: lions, leopards, buffaloes, rhinos, and elephants. Other species to spot include waterbucks, giraffes, warthogs, hyenas, etc. This game drive experience takes you until lunch as you head back to your lodge.
Explore the aquatic life of the park on a boat cruise as you spot animals like hippos and crocodiles, with buffaloes and antelopes on the shores. The boat cruise in Akagera National Park takes place on Lake Ihema. This is the biggest lake in the park and offers beautiful scenic views of the park and the best wildlife encounters. As the sun gives way to the night, return to the lodge for dinner and rest.
Day 3: Drive to Volcanoes National Park and cultural tour
In the morning, check out of the lodge after breakfast and drive to Volcanoes National Park. Traveling to Volcanoes National Park from Akagera takes about 5 hours. This means you will be at the park by noon. Check in at your lodge for lunch. Head for a cultural tour experience at the Iby’iwacu cultural village. Witness a cultural expedition where you are taken through the unique customs and traditions of Rwanda. Enjoy their cultural songs and dances. Return to the lodge by evening in time for dinner and rest.
Day 4: Gorilla trekking
In all the days of this 8-day classic safari, a gorilla trekking experience is among the top highlights. This experience begins with a briefing immediate arriving at the park after your breakfast at the lodge. The briefing brings visitors in line with the rules and regulations of gorilla trekking. Later, you are assigned a gorilla family and guided by a ranger to encounter them.
Navigate the forest with the help of the ranger guides to the gorilla habitat. The gorillas are always under constant conservation and protection. Therefore, there are trackers in the forest who guide your trek to the gorillas. You are awarded an hour in the presence of the mountain gorillas. Use this hour to take photos and videos of the primates for future memories. Later, head back to the lodge for your lunch. Spend the rest of the day relaxing after that long but exciting trek to the gorillas. Have dinner in the evening and rest.
Day 5: Travel to Nyungwe Forest National Park
Travel to Nyungwe Forest National Park south of the country immediately after your breakfast. This is quite a long journey that takes about 8 hours, with a quick en route lunch midway through the journey. Enjoy the spectacular scenic views of the countryside as you interact with the locals during the drive. Arrive later in the evening, have dinner, and rest for the night ahead.
Day 6: Chimpanzee trekking and canopy walk
Take on the day’s activities starting with breakfast to revamp your energy. Head out into the trails of the tropical rainforest of Nyungwe, ushered in by rangers at the headquarters. Participate in the briefing session with other visitors and learn about the activity you are set to take on. Note the specifics, like the dos and don’ts that guide you safely in and out of this jungle. Later on a grouped with 6-8 guests and assigned a chimpanzee group. Enter the forest and venture through to the chimpanzees. Spend an hour in their presence and experience their daily chores in the forest.
Return to the lodge for lunch after your time with the chimps. In the afternoon, head back into the forest for an experience you’ve never seen before: a canopy walk. This takes place on the high suspended canopy trail. It offers an incredible aerial view of the forest where you spot several bird species flying by. Retire with the day by evening, in time for dinner at your lodge and rest.
Day 7: Transfer to Kigali and city tour
Wake up to a delicious breakfast and check out of your lodge. Drive to Kigali, the cleanest city on the African continent. Arrive in the city slightly before noon and relax as you await your lunch in one of the local restaurants in the city. In the afternoon, embark on a city tour to uncover the untold stories of the hidden beauty of this city built after a period of resilience. Explore the genocide memorial center that tells a dark story of the Rwandan genocide of 1994. Venture through the streets to the heart of the busy trading life at the Kimironko market to grab a few souvenirs. Visit the Inema art studio and discover the creativity of the locals as they tell their stories through art. Head to your booked hotel in the city by evening for dinner and rest.
Day 8: Departure
Your last day starts like all the previous days with a sweet breakfast, only that this is the last one. Check out of your lodge and depart to the Kigali International Airport as you enjoy a last stroll on the beautiful streets of Kigali. Arrive in time for your flight back home. This marks the end of your 8 days classic Rwanda safari.