4 Days Rwanda Gorillas & Wildlife Safari
Overview
Two of Rwanda’s most famous national parks are visited during this thrilling 4-day Rwanda Gorilla and Wildlife Safari. Go to Akagera National Park, Rwanda’s sole savannah park and the home of the fabled Big Fivelions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, and rhinosafter starting in Volcanoes National Park, the well-known refuge of the endangered mountain gorillas.
This itinerary, which was created as the ideal short Rwanda safari, is suitable for tourists who have a limited amount of time and want to see the country’s abundant wildlife and breathtaking scenery. Enjoy exhilarating game drives across the broad savannah plains of Akagera and climb along mist-covered volcanic slopes to meet your assigned gorilla family over the course of four days, all while admiring Rwanda’s distinctive rolling hills.
This well-balanced safari package promises once-in-a-lifetime experiences and unforgettable encounters with Rwanda’s outstanding natural beauty, regardless of whether you are returning as an experienced safari enthusiast or this is your first time visiting the country.
Highlights of the 4 Days Rwanda Gorilla and Wildlife Safari
- Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
- Game drives Akagera National Park
- Optional Boat ride on lake ihema
- Optional Kigali city tour
- Optional visit to twin lakes
Trip summary of the 4 Days Rwanda Gorilla and Wildlife Safari
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali – Transfer to Akagera National Park
Day 2: Akagera National Park – Morning Game Drive & Boat Safari
Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park – Twin Lakes Visit
Day 4: Gorilla Trekking – Transfer Back to Kigali
Detailed itinerary of the 4 Days Rwanda Gorilla and Wildlife Safari
When you arrive at Kigali International Airport, your skilled and informed driver-guide will greet you warmly and start your 4-day Rwanda safari. You can decide to take advantage of an optional city tour of Kigali if you arrive in the morning or early afternoon.
Some of Kigali’s main sites, including as the Kigali Genocide Memorial, Inema Arts Center, Kigali Convention Center, Kandt House Museum of Natural History, and the bustling Kimironko Market, are introduced to you during your city tour. After touring the city, have lunch at one of Kigali’s best eateries before beginning the picturesque 2.5-hour trip to Akagera National Park.
The trip provides a stunning change from the contemporary urban landscape to the tranquil countryside of Rwanda, allowing you to take in the famous “Land of a Thousand Hills” landscape.
When you first arrive at Akagera National Park, you could decide to go on an evening game drive to explore the wildlife-rich northern plains of the park. As you travel into the broad savannah, keep an eye out for a variety of antelope species, zebras, and graceful giraffes.
Get ready for a full-day game drive in Akagera National Park after starting the day with a substantial breakfast. A knowledgeable park guide will accompany you as you seek for the fabled Big Five. Along the trip, you might see lions sleeping under acacia trees, rhinoceroses, herds of elephants and buffaloes grazing close to waterholes, and, if you’re lucky, a glimpse of the elusive leopard.
Your guide will add dimension to the wildlife encounter by offering perceptive comments on animal behavior and the park’s ecosystems throughout the journey. Stop for a bush picnic at around noon and savor your packed lunch while taking in the expansive savannah scenery.
Enjoy a leisurely boat safari on Lake Ihema in the afternoon. Passing groups of hippos in the shallows, Nile crocodiles lounging on the banks, and an amazing array of birds may all be seen as you cruise through the serene waters. With more than 480 bird species, including the famous shoebill stork and the magnificent African fish eagle, Lake Ihema provides a tranquil respite from the morning’s bustle.
As dusk draws closer, head back to your lodge for a meal beneath the stars while exchanging tales and highlights from an absolutely remarkable day in Akagera.
Proceed to Volcanoes National Park, the well-known refuge for the endangered mountain gorillas, after breakfast at Akagera National Park. The trip, which takes roughly five to six hours, offers a beautiful drive through the stunning countryside of Rwanda.
Savor constantly shifting vistas of undulating terraced hills, vibrant towns, vibrant local marketplaces, and far-off volcanic peaks rising into the distance as you go. Before going on to the park, take a break for lunch at Musanze, the town that serves as the entry point to the Virunga Mountains.
Get to Volcanoes National Park early in the afternoon and make yourself at home. You have the option of exploring the stunning Twin Lakes of Burera and Ruhondo in the evening, going to the adjacent Cultural Village, or just lounging at your lodge and taking in the tranquil surroundings.
Today is the highlight of your gorilla trekking adventure in Rwanda. After an early breakfast, head to the park headquarters for the pre-trek briefing at 7:00 a.m. Following this session, guests are split up into groups of no more than eight, each of whom is given a habituated gorilla family and escorted by a knowledgeable, armed park ranger who speaks English.
As you head approach the gorilla family, your ranger guides you through a variety of plant zones, including bamboo forests. Depending on the gorillas’ activity and the weather, the walk usually lasts two to six hours. You are rewarded with one fantastic hour to view the gorillas in their natural habitat after you have found them.
You will witness powerful silverbacks protecting their families, mothers tenderly tending to their young, and playful juveniles swinging through bushes and vines during this enchanted experience.
Your incredible Rwanda primate trip will come to an end when you return to your lodge for lunch and check-out preparations after the trek. From there, you’ll start the picturesque 2.5-hour drive back to Kigali city.
What’s Included in Your 4 Days Rwanda Gorilla Tour
Safari Inclusion
- Gorilla permit
- Park entrance fees
- Full-board accommodation
- English-speaking guide
- Transport in 4×4 vehicle
- Bottled water
- All park entrance fees and activity fees
- All government taxes
Safari Exclusion
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Personal expenses such as tips
- Optional activities
- Travel insurance
What to Pack for this Safari
- Sturdy hiking boots
- long trousers and long sleeved shirts for gorilla trekking
- Lightweight rain jacket
- Gardening gloves
- Insect repellent, sunscreen, hat
- Light clothings for game drives
Gorilla Trekking Information
- Rwanda gorilla trekking permits cost usd 1500 per person and are valid for 24 hours.
- Its is advisable that adventures book their gorilla permits atleast 3 months in advance of their trekking dates due to limited availbaility.
- Gorilla trekking in rwanda starts immediately after the briefing and each gorilla family is assigned 8 individuals for minimal impact.
- A gorilla permit can be acquired directly from the Rwanda Development board or though your trusted tour operator.
Wildlife Viewing in Akagera National Park
The only savannah park in Rwanda, Akagera National Park is a top spot for traditional animal viewing. Along with Maasai giraffes, Burchell’s zebras, hippos, impalas, and topis, it is home to an amazing array of wildlife, including the Big Five. With more than 400 bird species, the park is a birdwatcher’s paradise and one of Rwanda’s best places to go birdwatching.
Akagera is known as a photographer’s paradise because of its varied landscapes, which include lakes, wetlands, swamps, open savannah plains, and wooded areas. These environments provide countless opportunities for wildlife photography.
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Gorilla Tours
Top Silverback Gorilla Tours
This exhilarating 4 Days Rwanda gorilla and wildlife safari takes you through two major national parks of Rwanda that is volcanoes national park, home to the endangered mountain gorillas and Akagera national park country’s only savannah park where you can spot the big five animals — leopards, lions, buffaloes, rhinos and African elephants. It’s one of the perfect short Rwanda safaris for adventurers seeking to experience both the country’s wildlife and scenic beauty within just four days.
In this compact 4 days Rwanda itinerary with us, expect to trek through misty volcanic slopes to meet you allocated gorilla family and embark on thrilling game drives across savannah plains as you also soak yourself in the country’s rolling hills. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned safari enthusiast, this Rwanda safari package promises you unforgettable memories of a life time.
Highlights of the 4 Days Rwanda Gorilla and Wildlife Safari
- Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
- Game drives Akagera National Park
- Optional Boat ride on lake ihema
- Optional Kigali city tour
- Optional visit to twin lakes
Trip summary of the 4 Days Rwanda Gorilla and Wildlife Safari
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali – Transfer to Akagera National Park
Day 2: Akagera National Park – Morning Game Drive & Boat Safari
Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park – Twin Lakes Visit
Day 4: Gorilla Trekking – Transfer Back to Kigali
Detailed itinerary of the 4 Days Rwanda Gorilla and Wildlife Safari
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali – Transfer to Akagera National Park
Your 4 days Rwanda tour begins with a warm welcome from your experienced, well prepared driver guide at Kigali International Airport. If you arrive in the morning or early afternoon, you may enjoy an optional kigali city tour. this takes you to visit some of the popular attractions in the city including kigali genocide memorial, inema arts centre, Kigali Convention Centre, Kandt House Museum of Natural History and the vibrant kironko market .
After the kigali city exploration and lunch at one of the best restaurants in Kigali, you embark on a scenic 2.5 hour drive to Akagera national park. It’s beautiful to watch the landscape transition from urban to rural. This offers you an exceptional opportunity to see Rwanda’s famous Thousand Hills unfold.
When you reach the park, you may opt for an evening game drive. This takes you to explore the akagera national park northern plains teeming with wildlife including the graceful giraffes, zebras and various antelope species.
Day 2: Akagera National Park – Morning Game Drive & Boat Safari
On this day, you rise up early a warm breakfast and then prepare yourself to head out for a full day akagera national park game drive experience. While there, with the help of the park guide, you search for the big five animals. You encounter rhinoceros, herds of elephants and buffaloes grazing near the waterholes. You see lions louging under the acacia trees and hunt for the elusive leopards.
The park guide shares fascinating insights into the behaviours of these animals ensuring a truly rewarding experience. When lunch time arrives, you break for a bush picnic amid the vast savannahs and enjoy your packed lunch.
In the afternoon, switch gears with a relaxing boat ride on Lake Ihema. On lake ihema, you glide past pods of hippos yawning in the shallows, Nile crocodiles basking on muddy banks, and spot over 480 bird species, including the iconic shoebill storks and the majestic fish eagles. The wetlands offer a serene contrast to the morning’s adrenaline.
Return to the lodge for dinner under the stars, recounting the day’s sightings.
Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park – Twin Lakes Visit
After breakfast at Akagera national park, depart for Volcanoes National Park Rwanda home to the endagered gentle giants, the mountain gorillas. It is a 5–6 hour distance from akagera to this stunning national park. A scenic drive taking you through the breathtaking country side featured with terraced hills, vibrant villages and local markets, and distant volcanic peaks.
Pause en route for lunch in Musanze, the gateway town to the Virunga mountains. Then continue to the park, arriving by early afternoon.
You may choose to spend the evening exploring the stunning Twin Lakes, Burera and Ruhondo,visit the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village Rwanda or relax at your lodges.
Day 4: Gorilla Trekking – Transfer Back to Kigali
The pinnacle of your gorilla trekking in Rwanda awaits. Start with an early breakfast, then head to park headquarters for a 7:00 AM briefing. After this short briefing, you are divided into groups with each consisting of utmost 8 individuals. Each is assigned a specific gorilla family and an armed experienced English speaking park ranger.
He leads onto a hike taking you through a variety of vegetations including bamboo forests to your gorilla family. These hikes often last between 2–6 hours based on gorilla movement on that particulae day. Once encountered, you one magical hour of observing them going about their daily activities. Watch silverbacks protect their troops, mothers nurture infants, and juveniles swing through vines.
Then, Return to your lodges for lunch and prepare to check out. You are driven back to Kigali city whuch is about 2.5 hours from the par.
Safari Inclusions and Exclusions
Inclusions:
- Gorilla permit
- Park entrance fees
- Full-board accommodation
- English-speaking guide
- Transport in 4×4 vehicle
- Bottled water
- All park entrance fees and activity fees
- All government taxes
Exclusions:
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Personal expenses such as tips
- Optional activities
- Travel insurance
What to Pack for this Safari
- Sturdy hiking boots
- long trousers and long sleeved shirts for gorilla trekking
- Lightweight rain jacket
- Gardening gloves
- Insect repellent, sunscreen, hat
- Light clothings for game drives
Gorilla Trekking Information
- Rwanda gorilla trekking permits cost usd 1500 per person and are valid for 24 hours.
- Its is advisable that adventures book their gorilla permits atleast 3 months in advance of their trekking dates due to limited availbaility.
- Gorilla trekking in rwanda starts immediately after the briefing and each gorilla family is assigned 8 individuals for minimal impact.
- A gorilla permit can be acquired directly from the Rwanda Development board or though your trusted tour operator.
Wildlife Viewing in Akagera National Park
Akagera national park is the only savannah national park of rwand to spot an array of wildlife species and the common sighting include the big five animals, Maasai giraffes, Burchell’s zebras, hippos, impalas, and topis.
It is a home to over 400 bird species making it one of the top destinations for birding in Rwanda. Its diverse habitats including open savannahs, woodlands, lakes, and swamps makes it photographer’s paradise.