This comprehensive 8-day expedition takes you across Rwanda’s complete circuit, seamlessly connecting savannahs, crater lakes, and ancient rainforests. Your journey begins in Kigali before heading east to Akagera National Park for classical Big Five game drives and a Lake Ihema boat cruise. You will then cross the country west to Nyungwe National Park to walk high above the forest on the Canopy Walkway and trek for wild chimpanzees, followed by a scenic drive along Lake Kivu toward Volcanoes National Park for an unforgettable mountain gorilla trekking experience.
Your driver-guide welcomes you upon arrival at Kigali International Airport and transfers you to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, you will embark on a guided city tour featuring the Kigali Genocide Memorial, vibrant local artisan markets, and contemporary art galleries before enjoying dinner and a restful evening. Overnight in Kigali.
After breakfast, you drive east toward Akagera National Park, Rwanda’s premier savannah sanctuary. You check in to your lodge inside the park and enjoy lunch before taking to the waters of Lake Ihema in the late afternoon, where you will observe large pods of hippos, sunbathing crocodiles, and diverse waterbirds along the shore. Overnight in Akagera National Park.
You set out on an early morning game drive across the northern plains and central wetlands of Akagera. Your day is spent tracking lions, rhinos, leopards, elephants, and buffaloes alongside herds of giraffes and zebras as your guide shares insights into the park's remarkable ecological restoration. Overnight in Akagera National Park.
You depart Akagera and embark on a scenic cross-country drive heading southwest toward Nyungwe Forest, passing through the rolling hills, terraced farmlands, and tea estates that give Rwanda its famous landscape. You arrive at the edge of the ancient montane rainforest in the late afternoon to relax and prepare for your forest adventures. Overnight in Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Your morning begins at dawn as you enter the dense canopy of Nyungwe with expert trackers to locate wild chimpanzee troops and observe their lively behavior. In the afternoon, you walk suspended 70 meters above the forest floor on the famous Canopy Walkway, taking in aerial views of the forest and spotting various monkey species. Overnight in Nyungwe Forest National Park.
Following breakfast, you travel north along the shores of Lake Kivu, enjoying panoramic views of the water and terraced hillsides. You stop for lunch along the lake before continuing into the Virunga Mountains to reach Volcanoes National Park, checking in to your lodge nestled at the base of the peaks. Overnight in Volcanoes National Park.
You start early at park headquarters for a safety briefing before hiking into the bamboo rainforest with experienced park rangers. You spend a life-changing hour in the presence of a habituated mountain gorilla family, watching silverbacks and juveniles interact, before returning to your lodge and spending the afternoon visiting the nearby Iby'Iwacu Cultural Village. Overnight in Volcanoes National Park.
Your final morning takes you back into the bamboo zones of Volcanoes National Park to observe the active, bright-coated golden monkeys as they feed and leap through the trees. After returning to your lodge to freshen up and check out, your guide transfers you back to Kigali for your onward flight home.
Savor a final mountain breakfast before your private transfer downhill to Dehradun Airport (Jolly Grant) or Dehradun Railway Station for your onward journey home.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best time to go is during the dry seasons from June to September (long dry season) and December to February (short dry season). These months offer drier trails for mountain gorilla and chimpanzee trekking in the rainforests, as well as thinner vegetation in Akagera National Park, making wildlife easier to spot around waterholes.
Gorilla trekking takes place exclusively at Volcanoes National Park, starting with a mandatory 7:00 AM briefing at the Kinigi Park Headquarters. You are assigned to one of 12 habituated gorilla families based on your physical fitness level and age, ranging from short 30-minute walks on lower slopes to strenuous multi-hour hikes through steep bamboo terrain.
Gorilla permits in Rwanda cost USD $1,500 per person for international non-residents. Because the Rwanda Development Board strictly limits permits to 8 visitors per gorilla group per day to protect the animals, you should book your permit 6 to 10 months in advance, especially if you plan to travel during peak dry season months.
A moderate level of physical fitness is required, as treks involve walking on slippery, uneven, and steep rainforest terrain at altitudes over 2,500 meters. Essential gear includes sturdy waterproof hiking boots with good ankle support, thick gaiters, long-sleeved shirts, lightweight rain jackets, gardening gloves (to grip thorny vegetation), and a refillable water bottle.
Yes, Rwanda is widely recognized as one of the safest and cleanest countries in Africa. The main highways connecting Kigali, Akagera, Nyungwe, Lake Kivu, and Volcanoes National Park are well-paved, scenic, and well-maintained. A 4x4 safari vehicle with a professional driver-guide is required for comfortable long-distance travel and off-road driving inside national parks.
