9-Nights Rwanda In-Depth from $21,150

Itinerary Details

Day 1 Welcome to Kigali, Rwanda
Upon arrival into Kigali Airport, you'll be greeted and transferred to your Kigali accommodation.

The Retreat
Meals: L

Day 2 Kigali to Akagera National Park
Today, you'll travel by road to Akagera National Park. Upon arrival, you'll change vehicles and continue to the camp on a shared game drive.

Akagera is rich with plains wildlife and now thrives with a healthy lion population, reintroduced in 2015 after a 20-year absence. Black rhino followed in 2017, marking another major conservation success. Magashi—the park's only exclusive-use area—also supports a strong density of leopard, offering excellent opportunities for sightings.

Magashi Camp
Meals: B, L, D

Day 3 Activities at Magashi
Set out on expertly guided game drives, walks, and boating trips in search of buffalo, lion, elephant, giraffe, spotted hyena, zebra, topi, roan, eland, and the elusive leopard. Akagera is also renowned as one of the best birding areas in the world, with more than 500 species recorded here.

Explore the area in an open 4x4 vehicle, where every seat offers unobstructed views. Magashi lies within the only private-access area of Akagera, allowing for exclusive night game drives in open 4x4s. You can also enjoy boating excursions in eight-seater swamp cruisers—an exceptional way to spot water birds and a variety of aquatic wildlife around Lake Rwanyakazinga.

Magashi Camp
Meals: B, L, D

Day 4 Akagera National Park to Kigali
This morning enjoy a shared game drive from the camp to the northern gate where you continue to Kigali by private vehicle. Enjoy a tour of the city before continuing to your accommodation.

Get an intimate view of Kigali on a city tour offering a thoughtful introduction to the places and stories that shape both the city and the country. Begin at Mt. Kigali for panoramic views before exploring a bustling neighborhood market. You'll also visit the Genocide Memorial, the final resting place for more than 250,000 victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. The memorial honors their memory and promotes education and peace-building through powerful audio-visual exhibits that recount the events of 1994.

The Retreat
Meals: B, L

Day 5 Kigali to Nyungwe National Forest
Today, you will travel by private vehicle from Kigali to Nyungwe National Forest via the Cultural Heritage Corridor. Along the way, visit the King's Palace Museum in Nyanza, featuring a reconstruction of the traditional royal residence—a beautifully crafted, beehive-shaped thatched dwelling. Once the heart of the Rwandan kingdom, Nyanza offers rich insight into the country's royal history. You will arrive at your Nyungwe accommodation in the afternoon.

One&only Nyungwe House
Meals: B, L, D

Day 6 Exploring Nyungwe National Forest
Your day begins bright and early at the park headquarters with an informative briefing on your upcoming chimpanzee trek. Then, set off into the Evergreen Forest on foot in search of chimpanzees. Once you locate them, you'll spend one unforgettable hour observing their acrobatics, feeding habits, and daily interactions—an exhilarating experience that offers a rare glimpse of chimpanzees living wild and free.

Afterward, experience the rainforest from an entirely new perspective on the famous Canopy Walkway. The only one of its kind in East Africa, this breathtaking suspension bridge hangs 197 feet above the forest floor, stretching between giant trees and revealing stunning views of the flora and fauna above and below—an iconic experience not to be missed.

One&only Nyungwe House
Meals: B, L, D

Day 7 Nyungwe National Forest to Volcanoes National Park
Travel by private vehicle from Nyungwe National Forest to the Virunga Volcano Range. This scenic transfer takes approximately six hours, including stops along the way.

Covering 14,826 acres in northern Rwanda, Volcanoes National Park forms part of the greater Virunga Volcano Conservation Region, which includes Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda. The park is one of only three habitats for the endangered mountain gorillas of the Virunga Mountains and is also home to golden monkeys, as well as a rich diversity of birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects.

One&only Gorilla's Nest
Meals: B, L, D

Day 8 Gorilla Trekking
This morning begins with a gorilla trek briefing at the park headquarters before you set off on your adventure. Gorilla trekking in Rwanda is often described as “life-changing,” and for good reason. With only an estimated 880 mountain gorillas remaining in the world, encountering these gentle creatures in their natural habitat is an extraordinary experience. Trek durations vary widely—anywhere from 30 minutes to over four hours—depending on the gorilla family assigned to your group and their location in the mountains.

One&only Gorilla's Nest
Meals: B, L, D

Day 9 Gorilla Trekking
Enjoy a second day of gorilla trekking. A gorilla family is led by a Silverback and includes several younger males, adult and juvenile females, and infants. In addition to providing protection to group members, Silverbacks maintain order and decide all activities within their troop. They schedule feeding trips, resting time, and travel. They also father the majority of young in the group.

One&only Gorilla's Nest
Meals: B, L, D

Day 10 Depart Rwanda
Enjoy breakfast at the lodge before you are transferred to Kigali Airport for your departure flight.

Meals: B