7-Day Rwanda Grand Safari

7-Day Rwanda Safari Itinerary 2026 — The Complete Rwanda Experience

This 7-day Rwanda safari is the definitive Rwanda trip — covering every major wildlife destination in one efficient private route. Gorilla trekking, Big Five safari, chimpanzee trekking, Africa's highest canopy walk, and Lake Kivu. This is what Rwanda was made for.

Complete 7-Day Rwanda Itinerary

Day 1 — Kigali Arrival

Arrive Kigali International Airport. Kigali city tour: Kigali Genocide Memorial, Kimironko Market, Inema Arts Centre. Overnight Kigali.

Day 2 — Kigali to Akagera, Afternoon Game Drive

Drive to Akagera National Park (2.5 hours). Afternoon game drive. First wildlife: elephants, zebra, impala, hippos, giraffes. Overnight Akagera lodge.

Day 3 — Full Day Akagera Big Five

Full day Big Five game drives. Morning lion and leopard drive, boat trip on Lake Ihema for hippos and crocs, afternoon rhino tracking. Akagera is Rwanda's only Big Five park.

Day 4 — Akagera to Nyungwe Forest

Cross Rwanda to Nyungwe Forest National Park (4.5 hours). Nyungwe is the oldest forest in Africa — 970 km² of ancient rainforest. Afternoon: registration and lodge check-in.

Day 5 — Nyungwe Chimpanzee Trekking & Canopy Walk

Morning: chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe — Rwanda's 500 chimpanzees live in groups of up to 100. Afternoon: canopy walk — 160 metres of suspended bridges at 50m above the forest floor, one of the highest canopy walks in Africa.

Day 6 — Nyungwe to Lake Kivu

Drive to Rubavu (Gisenyi) on Lake Kivu (2 hours). Afternoon: Lake Kivu sunset boat cruise to Napoleon Island (home to 70,000+ fruit bats). Lake Kivu is one of Africa's Great Lakes. Overnight Rubavu lakeside hotel.

Day 7 — Lake Kivu to Volcanoes NP, Gorilla Trekking

Early morning drive to Volcanoes National Park (1.5 hours). Gorilla trekking — 1 hour with a wild mountain gorilla family in the Virunga forest. After trek: drive back to Kigali (2.5 hours). Airport drop-off for evening flight.

7-Day Rwanda Safari Cost

From $5,500 per person based on 2 people sharing mid-range lodges. Includes: private 4x4 for 7 days, expert guide, all permits (gorilla $1,500 + chimp + canopy walk), Akagera entry and game drives, Lake Kivu boat trip, 6 nights accommodation.