8 Days Rwanda Best Adventure Safari

The 8 Days Rwanda Best Adventure Safari is an exciting journey designed for travelers who want to experience the country’s remarkable landscapes, wildlife, culture, and history in one unforgettable trip. From the vibrant streets of Kigali to the misty mountains of Volcanoes National Park and the ancient forests of Nyungwe, this safari combines adventure with meaningful cultural encounters.

During the journey, you will have the opportunity to trek mountain gorillas and golden monkeys, search for chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest, explore Lake Kivu, walk along the Congo Nile Trail, experience local fishing traditions, and discover important historical and cultural sites.

With Experiya Tour Company, you will travel in the company of an experienced safari guide who will help you make the most of every destination while ensuring that the journey remains comfortable and enjoyable.

Day 1: Arrival in Kigali and Transfer to Your Hotel

Your Rwanda adventure begins when you arrive at Kigali International Airport. After completing immigration and customs formalities, an Experiya Tour Company representative will meet you and welcome you to Rwanda, famously known as the Land of a Thousand Hills.

You will then transfer to your hotel in Kigali. Depending on your arrival time, you can relax and recover from your journey while your guide briefs you about the safari, including the activities planned for the following days.

In the evening, enjoy dinner and spend the night at your hotel.

Accommodation: Quiet Haven Hotel, Chez Lando Hotel, or Kigali Serena Hotel, depending on your preferred comfort level.

Meals: Dinner.

Day 2: Kigali Genocide Memorial and Transfer to Volcanoes National Park

After breakfast, begin the day with a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial, one of Rwanda’s most significant historical sites. The memorial provides an important insight into the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and the country’s journey toward reconciliation and recovery.

After the visit, leave Kigali and travel north toward Musanze, the gateway to Volcanoes National Park. The drive takes approximately two to three hours, depending on road and traffic conditions.

Along the way, enjoy Rwanda’s beautiful rolling hills, agricultural landscapes, and rural communities. After arriving in Musanze, have lunch and, time permitting, make a few scenic stops before proceeding to your lodge.

Spend the evening relaxing and preparing for the following day’s gorilla trekking adventure.

Accommodation: La Palme Hotel, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, or Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Day 3: Gorilla Trekking and Twin Lakes Experience

Today is one of the major highlights of your Rwanda safari: mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park.

After an early breakfast, proceed to the park headquarters for a briefing from the Rwanda Development Board guides and rangers. You will then enter the forest in search of one of the habituated mountain gorilla families.

The trek can take several hours depending on the location of the gorillas. As you walk through the volcanic forest, your guide will explain the vegetation, wildlife, and conservation efforts that protect these endangered primates.

Once you locate the gorillas, you will spend the permitted viewing time observing them as they feed, rest, groom, and interact with one another. The encounter offers an extraordinary opportunity to see these magnificent animals in their natural environment.

After returning from the trek, have lunch and relax before visiting the beautiful Twin Lakes of Burera and Ruhondo. A boat excursion provides an opportunity to appreciate the surrounding volcanic scenery and rural communities from the water.

Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: La Palme Hotel, Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, or Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Day 4: Golden Monkey Trekking and Lake Kivu Adventure

After breakfast, head back toward Volcanoes National Park for another fascinating primate experience: golden monkey trekking.

These lively and beautifully marked primates are endemic to the Albertine Rift and are known for their energetic behavior. Your trek takes you through the bamboo forest as you search for a habituated troop.

After the trek, enjoy lunch before continuing toward Rubavu and Lake Kivu. Along the way, experience aspects of Rwanda’s local culture through traditional performances and community interactions.

Later, explore parts of Rubavu town and, where time allows, visit a local women’s cooperative such as the Atelier de Poupee. These community initiatives provide visitors with an opportunity to learn about local entrepreneurship and traditional crafts.

In the evening, enjoy the Lake Kivu fishermen experience. Watch local fishermen head onto the lake in traditional boats and learn about fishing practices that have supported lakeside communities for generations.

Spend the night around Lake Kivu.

Accommodation: Paradis Malahide Hotel, Kivu Paradise Resort, or Lake Kivu Serena Hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Day 5: Congo Nile Trail and Lake Kivu Boat Excursion

After breakfast, continue your adventure along part of the Congo Nile Trail. This experience takes you beyond the major tourist attractions and into Rwanda’s countryside, where you can see farms, local homes, plantations, and communities going about their daily activities.

The trail offers beautiful views of Lake Kivu and the surrounding hills. Your guide will provide information about the communities and landscapes you encounter along the way.

Continue toward Kibuye, now officially known as Karongi, where you will have lunch.

In the afternoon, enjoy a boat excursion on Lake Kivu. Cruise across the calm waters while admiring the dramatic hills and exploring some of the lake’s islands. The experience provides a relaxing contrast to the previous trekking activities.

Afterward, continue toward the Nyungwe area for your overnight stay.

Accommodation: Gisakura Visitors Centre, Emeraude Kivu Resort, or a comparable comfortable lodge.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Day 6: Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe Forest

Wake up early, have breakfast, and prepare for one of Rwanda’s most exciting wildlife experiences: chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe National Park.

Nyungwe is one of Africa’s oldest forests and provides habitat for a remarkable variety of primates, birds, and other forest species. With your ranger and guide, enter the forest in search of habituated chimpanzee communities.

Chimpanzees are highly intelligent and active animals, making every trek different. You may watch them feeding, calling to one another, moving through the trees, or travelling across the forest floor.

After the trek, return for lunch and relax before visiting a nearby tea plantation and processing facility. Learn how tea is cultivated, harvested, processed, and prepared for the market while enjoying the beautiful green plantations.

Return to your accommodation for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Gisakura Visitors Centre, Emeraude Kivu Resort, or a comparable lodge.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Day 7: Nyungwe Canopy Walk and Return to Kigali

After breakfast, prepare for the spectacular Nyungwe Canopy Walk. Suspended high above the forest floor, the canopy walkway provides a completely different perspective of Nyungwe Forest.

As you cross the suspension bridge, enjoy panoramic views of the forest canopy and surrounding hills. Keep your eyes open for birds and primates that may appear among the trees.

After the experience, begin your journey back to Kigali. The drive takes several hours, so enjoy the changing scenery along the way and stop for lunch en route.

Upon reaching Kigali, visit the King’s Palace Museum to learn more about Rwanda’s traditional monarchy and cultural heritage. If time allows, you can also visit Kimironko Market for local shopping and souvenirs.

Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Quiet Haven Hotel, Chez Lando Hotel, or Kigali Serena Hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Day 8: Kigali City Tour and Airport Transfer

Your final day begins with breakfast before embarking on a Kigali city tour. Visit the Nyamirambo Women’s Centre, where you can learn about community initiatives and the work being done to empower local women.

You may also revisit the Kigali Genocide Memorial if it was not included on Day 2, allowing you to gain a deeper understanding of Rwanda’s history and transformation.

After lunch, your guide will transfer you to Kigali International Airport in time for your scheduled flight home.

Your 8 Days Rwanda Best Adventure Safari comes to an end with wonderful memories of Rwanda’s wildlife, culture, scenery, and welcoming communities.

What Is Included in the Safari?

The package includes transportation in a comfortable 4×4 safari vehicle, accommodation and meals according to the itinerary, one gorilla trekking permit per person, one golden monkey trekking permit per person, the Nyungwe canopy walk, chimpanzee trekking, tea plantation experience, Congo Nile Trail excursion, museum visits, the Twin Lakes boat experience, Lake Kivu boat excursion, Kigali city tour, the fishermen experience, and visits to selected cultural and community sites.

The safari also includes the services of an English-speaking professional driver-guide and drinking water during the safari.

What Is Not Included?

The package excludes international and domestic airfares, visa fees, personal expenses, alcoholic and additional drinks, laundry, tips, porter fees during trekking, travel insurance, personal shopping, telephone expenses, and other services not specifically mentioned in the itinerary.

Important: Gorilla and other activity permits are subject to availability and should be secured in advance. Gorilla trekking in Rwanda currently requires a US$1,500 permit per foreign non-resident visitor, subject to applicable regulations and pricing at the time of booking.

Book Your Rwanda Adventure with Experiya Tour Company

From close encounters with mountain gorillas and chimpanzees to golden monkey trekking, Lake Kivu experiences, forest adventures, cultural encounters, and Kigali city exploration, this eight-day itinerary offers a diverse introduction to Rwanda.

Experiya Tour Company can help you organize your accommodation, permits, transportation, guiding services, and activities so that you can concentrate on enjoying your journey through the Land of a Thousand Hills.