12 Days Rwanda Safari Tour – Overview

The 12 days Rwanda safari tour features gorilla trekking in  Rwanda in Volcanoes National Park, Chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest National Park, wildlife in Akagera National Park, historical sites, Kigali city tour, Bisoke hike, and so many others.

The 12 days safari in Rwanda package involves chimpanzee trekking, colobus monkey tracking and canopy walk in Nyungwe National Park, recreational; water encounters on Lake Kivu, gorilla trekking, Dian Fossey encounter, and Bisoke volcano climbing in Volcanoes National Park, game drive and boat cruise in Akagera National Park, rewarding culture and heritage encounters in Nyanza palace, Butare museum, Iby’wachu cultural village, and Kigali city with its Gisozi memorial site.

12 Days Safari in Rwanda Tour – Safari Highlights

Day 1: Arrive in Kigali

Day 2: Transfer to Nyungwe National Park via Butare

Day 3: Do Chimpanzee trekking & community walk

Day 4: Do colobus monkey tracking & Nyungwe canopy walk

Day 5: Transfer to Gisenyi

Day 6: Encounter Gisenyi & transfer to Volcanoes National Park

Day 7: Do gorilla trekking & visit Iby’wachu cultural village

Day 8: Hike Dian Fossey Center & take a nature walk to Ruhondo and Bulera.

Day 9: Hike Bisoke Volcano & transfer to Kigali city

Day 10: Transfer to Akagera National Park & do a boat cruise

Day 11: Do a game drive & transfer back to Kigali

Day 12: Do a Kigali city tour.

12 Days Rwanda Safari Tours – Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Kigali

Arrive in Rwanda through its main gateway where you will find the guide waiting for you. You will be transferred to your respective hotel for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Kigali Serena Hotel (Luxury/upmarket), Hotel Chez Lando (Midrange/standard) or Discover Rwanda Youth hostel (Budget/basic).

Day 2: Transfer to Nyungwe National Park via Butare

Depart from Kigali city in the morning to Nyungwe Forest National Park. The scenic drive en route is combined with a visit to the Nyanza Palace, the Butare Museum, and the Murambi Memorial. It is over 268 km approximately 6 hours drive to Nyungwe forest excluding stops en route.

Accommodation: Dinner and Overnight: Nyungwe Hill Top (Midrange/standard), Gisakura guest house (Budget/basic) or Nyungwe View Lodge (Luxury/upmarket).

Day 3: Do Chimpanzee Tracking & Community Walk

Wake up for an early breakfast before embarking on the Chimpanzee tour at 08:00 am. It will be a half-day activity seeing Chimps feed, play, and hunt before returning to the lodge.

In the evening, you will take a community tour to the adjacent community tea plantations and explore the traditions of Rwandese including impressive music dance drama, and handicrafts.

Accommodation: You will have dinner and overnight at your lodge

Day 4: Do Colobus Monkey Tracking & Nyungwe Canopy Walk

After breakfast, embark on the colobus monkey trek to encounter the largest grouping of colobus monkeys in Africa.

You will be mesmerized by their black and white skin color and their enormous numbers as they swing through the branches of this ancient forest of Nyungwe.

The experience is quite rewarding and will create memories on this Rwanda safari. Other monkey species like Vervet and Lhoest monkeys can be spotted.

Return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation and in the afternoon you will do the canopy walk, the first of its kind in East Africa where you will be able to spot a range of species swinging in the tree top branches mostly primates and a variety of birds.

Accommodation: Spend an overnight at your previous lodge.

Day 5: Transfer to Gisenyi

After breakfast, embark on the transfer to Lake Kivu (Gisenyi area) driving through impressive scenic landscapes marked by Rwandan hillsides and the views of Lake Kivu as it stretches from Cyangungu in the south through Kibuye eventually to Gisenyi.

You will have a lunch stop in Kibuye and continue to arrive in Gisenyi in the afternoon for relaxation and overnight.

Accommodation: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel (Upmarket/luxury), Palm Beach (Budget/basic) or Hotel Gorillas Lake Kivu (Midrange/standard).

Day 6: Encounter Gisenyi and Transfer to Volcanoes National Park

Wake up as early as possible to have breakfast before converging at the Park Headquarters at Kinigi at 08:00 am for briefing and eventual commencement of the gorilla trekking encounter.

The activity of trekking can take 2 – 8 hours thus it is important to carry with you packed lunch. One hour will be allocated to you to interact physically with the gorillas and photos and questions are allowed during this historical encounter.

Return to the lodge after trekking for relaxation and in the evening you will take a cultural tour to the Iby’wachu Village to explore in to the Banyarwanda culture.

Accommodation: Spend a night at your previous lodge.

Day 7: Do Gorilla Trekking and Visit the Iby’wachu Cultural Village

Wake up as early as possible to have breakfast before converging at the Park Headquarters at Kinigi at 08:00 am for briefing and eventual commencement of the Rwanda gorilla trekking encounter.

The activity of trekking can take 2 – 8 hours thus it is important to carry with you packed lunch. One hour will be allocated to you to interact physically with the gorillas and photos and questions are allowed during this historical encounter.

Return to the lodge after trekking for relaxation and in the evening you will take a cultural tour to the Iby’wachu Village to explore in to the Banyarwanda culture.

 Accommodation: Spend a night at your previous lodge.

Day 8: Hike Dian Fossey Center and Take a Nature Walk to Ruhondo And Bulera.

Visit Karisoke Research Center after breakfast to witness the attempts of the leading gorilla conservationist – Dian Fossey an American Primatologist.

During this visit, you will also visit her grave and that of Digit – her admirable silverback after which you will return to the lodge for lunch after which you will take a walk to the twin lakes of Ruhondo and Bulera and the magical Russumo Falls. This will reward you with a great scenic experience.

Accommodation: You will spend dinner and overnight at your previous lodge.

Day 9: Hike Bisoke Volcano and Transfer to Kigali City

Hike the Bisoke Volcano one of the eight volcanoes that forms the great Virunga massif. The encounter takes about 7 hours for a round trip.

The hike generates impressive scenic views of the volcanoes and the Crater Lake at the top. After this activity, transfer to Kigali city for your overnight.

Accommodation: Kigali Serena Hotel (Luxury/upmarket), Hotel Chez Lando (Midrange/standard) or Discover Rwanda Youth hostel (Budget/basic).

Day 10: Transfer to Akagera National Park and Do Boat Cruise

After breakfast, embark on a transfer to Akagera National Park – the largest savannah Park in Rwanda 130km about 2.5 hours’ drive from Kigali city.

You will have lunch from the park and embark on the boat cruise on Lake Ihema in the afternoon where you will be able to spot water birds, Hippos, and Nile crocodiles among other species.

Accommodation: Ruzizi Tented Camp (Luxury/upmarket), Akagera game lodge (Midrange/standard) or Dereva Hotel (Budget/basic).

Day 11: Do a Game Drive and  Transfer Back to Kigali

Wake up for an early morning game drive to catch up with early risers and nocturnal getting back to their hiding places before dawn.

You will be exposed to a range of wildlife including; giraffes, elephants, buffalo, zebra, and a range of antelope.

Return to the lodge for relaxation from 11:00 am till lunchtime. In the afternoon, you will embark on the transfer back to Kigali overnight.

Accommodation: Kigali Serena Hotel (Luxury/upmarket), Hotel Chez Lando (Midrange/standard) or Discover Rwanda Youth hostel (Budget/basic).

Day 12: Do Kigali City Tour

After breakfast, undertake a Kigali city tour visiting the Gisozi/Kigali memorial genocide site, Nyamata church, Hotel Des Mille Collines, downtown Kigali, Presidential Palace Museum, and craft centers before retiring to prepare for your departure in the afternoon.

End of The 12 Days Rwanda Safari Tours

Getting There