6 days · Rwanda
6-day Rwanda gorillas and Akagera safari
Mountain gorillas in the north, savannah wildlife in the east. This trip pairs a Volcanoes gorilla trek and golden monkeys with game drives and a boat trip at Akagera.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1
Your driver-guide meets you at Kigali airport. After you rest, visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial, which tells the story of 1994 with care and dignity. Allow a quiet couple of hours there. Later, walk through a craft market or a coffee house to see the modern city. Overnight in Kigali.
Day 2
Drive north to Musanze, which takes about two to two and a half hours in normal traffic. The road climbs through terraced hills, and the volcanoes appear on the horizon. In the afternoon, you can visit the Twin Lakes of Burera and Ruhondo, or rest for tomorrow. Read the road from Kigali to the park for the drive, and our Musanze lodging guide for the stay.
Day 3
Rise early and meet the rangers at the park headquarters in Kinigi. Guides assign groups and brief you on the rules. You then walk through farmland and bamboo to find your gorilla family. At the end of the walk, you spend one hour with the family at a distance of 7 metres. Eight visitors at most join each family. Return to your lodge for a late lunch.
Day 4
Spend the morning tracking golden monkeys in the bamboo forest. They move quickly and play in the canopy, and the trek is shorter than a gorilla trek. Read the golden monkey guide for what to expect. After lunch, set out for Akagera. The drive is long, about four to five hours, with a stop in Kigali or on the road. You arrive at your lodge in the late afternoon.
Day 5
Start with an early game drive, when the light is soft and the animals are active. Akagera has savannah, lakes and wetlands, and guides know where each species is likely to be. After a rest, take a boat trip on Lake Ihema in the afternoon, to see hippos, crocodiles and water birds. The Akagera guide explains what lives there.
Day 6
Take a short morning game drive, if you like, then drive back to Kigali, which takes about two and a half hours. We time the drive for your flight. If you leave late in the day, we can arrange a day room for you to rest and freshen up.
What is included
- Gorilla permit for your date
- Golden monkey permit for day four
- Lodging and meals as set out in your quote
- Private vehicle with driver-guide
- Park entrance fees, game drives and the boat trip listed in the itinerary
- Kigali memorial visit with a guide
- Bottled water on the road
Not included
- International flights
- Extra nights before or after the trip
- Travel insurance and visa fees
- Personal items and tips
Your quote lists every inclusion for your dates and group size.
How to book this trip
- Send your dates. Use the request form or WhatsApp.
- We check for you. Our office confirms your permit date with the park, normally within 24 hours.
- You receive one quote. Then we secure your permit and plan the rest.
Why pair gorillas with a savannah park
Rwanda is small, so you can see two very different habitats in a single week. The Virunga volcanoes hold the mountain gorillas, and the eastern plains of Akagera hold elephants, giraffes, zebras and many other animals. The change of scenery makes the trip feel richer than its length suggests.
A second reason is balance. Gorilla trekking is physical, and game drives are not. After a day in the volcanoes, a morning on the plains lets your legs recover while you keep watching wildlife.
For a Rwanda-only overview, read our Rwanda gorilla guide. It explains permits, rules and the main alternatives.
The Volcanoes trek in more detail
The headquarters at Kinigi is the starting point. Trackers have already located the family, so rangers can send each group toward the right trail. Some walks take about an hour, and others take several hours. Slopes are steep, the ground is often wet and stinging plants are common, so gloves help.
The Volcanoes National Park guide explains the park, the families and the extra activities. Our Dian Fossey grave hike guide describes another full-day option, if you add a day.
For the rules, see the Rwanda Development Board at rdb.rw. Our rules and etiquette guide summarises them for both countries.
Akagera: what to expect
Akagera lies in the east of Rwanda, on the border with Tanzania. African Parks, with the Rwanda Development Board, manages the park. You can read about the park on the African Parks website.
Game drives cover open savannah and woodland. The boat trip on Lake Ihema gives a very different view, with hippos, crocodiles and many water birds. A guide helps you read each landscape, and the lodge staff know the latest sightings.
Sightings change from day to day. Rather than promise any animal, our team explains what is likely and how long each drive lasts.
Best months for this trip
Rwanda has two drier seasons, from about December to February and from June to September. Trails and roads are easier then, and Akagera's animals gather near water. The wetter months are greener and quieter, and the volcano trails become slippery.
Gorilla permits are limited, so the dry months fill earlier. Send us your dates early. Our month-by-month guide shows what each month feels like in both countries.
Who this trip suits
This trip suits couples, families with teenagers and friends who want a compact itinerary. It also suits travellers who have already seen the Big Five elsewhere and want something new. The minimum age for gorilla trekking is 15, so families with younger children should read our age limit guide.
If you start in Uganda or want to continue there afterwards, read Uganda or Rwanda for gorillas to compare the two countries.
Planning notes before you book
Send us your dates and group size. We check the gorilla permit first, because it decides the rest of the plan. Then we confirm the golden monkey day, the lodges and the vehicle.
Check your documents in good time. Many travellers can use the single regional visa described in our visa guide, depending on nationality. Our travel documents page links to the official sites.
Pack warm layers for the volcano mornings and light clothes for Akagera. See our packing guide for a full list.
Frequently asked questions
Is the gorilla permit included in this Rwanda trip?
Yes. Our team buys the permit for your date once we have confirmed it with the park. The golden monkey permit is also arranged by us.
Why is day four so long?
The drive from Musanze to Akagera is long. We start after the golden monkey trek, and you arrive for a late afternoon rest. If you prefer, we can split the journey with a night in Kigali.
Can I see rhinos and lions at Akagera?
Both have been reintroduced in recent years, but sightings are never guaranteed. Guides explain which species they have seen recently. See the Akagera guide.
What is the viewing distance for gorillas in Rwanda?
Rangers keep visitors 7 metres from the gorillas, and each family receives at most eight visitors a day. You spend one hour with the family.
Can we combine this with Uganda?
Yes. See how to combine Uganda and Rwanda for border routes and timing.
Is the gorilla permit included?
Yes. We buy your permit for your chosen date once we have confirmed it with the park.
Can the dates and lodges be changed?
Yes. Every trip is a starting point, and we adapt it to your dates, group and comfort level.
Ready to trek? Ask for your quote.
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