Quintessential Rwanda: Gorillas, Chimps & the Big 5
9 nights • 4 Destinations • From $16,890 per person
Experience Rwanda’s raw beauty as you track majestic mountain gorillas in the Volcanoes mist, seek Akagera’s lions across golden savannahs, and discover the ancient, chimpanzee-filled canopy of Nyungwe’s emerald rainforest.
9 Nights
4 Destinations
Full Trip Itinerary
Day 1-2 Kigali, Rwanda | Kigali Serena
Day 2-5 Akagera National Park, Rwanda | Magashi
Day 5-7 Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda | Bisate Lodge
Day 7-10 Nyungwe Forest National Park | Rwanda Nyungwe House
Day 10 Depart Kigali, Rwanda
Highlights
Discover the Big Five at Akagera through exclusive night drives and boat safaris at Magashi, tracking lions, leopards, and rhinos along the wildlife-rich shores of Lake Rwanyakazinga
Experience Mountain Gorilla Trekking into the prehistoric volcanic mist of the Virungas for a soul-stirring, life-changing encounter with Rwanda’s majestic mountain gorillas in their natural habitat
Join Chimpanzee Trekking and Canopy Walks at Nyungwe House to explore the heights of Africa’s oldest rainforest before unwinding with a traditional tea ceremony set within the estate’s lush, emerald plantations
Travel Itinerary: Day 1-2
DESTINATION
Kigali, Rwanda
Many visitors use Kigali for a one-stop on their way to a gorilla trek and see only the airport or their overnight hotel. If you venture out, you will be rewarded with the cleanest and most progressive city in Africa, where there is a complete ban on plastics and monthly community clean-ups. Artistic expression by local craftspeople and artists is abundant in a blast of African color, with art galleries, designer shops, and excellent restaurants and cafes.
ACCOMMODATION | 1 NIGHT
Kigali Serena Hotel
On one of Kigali's most charming boulevards, this five-star hotel showcases Rwandese cultural art, creating a relaxed yet elegant feel, attractive to international visitors, diplomats, and executives. It's a lush city retreat with pool, restaurants, spa, concierge, and business services.
Travel Itinerary: Day 2-5
DESTINATION
Akagera National Park, Rwanda
Akagera National Park offers a striking contrast to Rwanda’s misty volcanic highlands, revealing a landscape of rolling savannah, open plains, papyrus-fringed lakes, and wooded hills along the country’s eastern border. Once severely depleted by poaching, the park has undergone an extraordinary revival through a pioneering partnership between the Rwanda Development Board and African Parks. Today, Akagera is once again home to the Big Five, along with large herds of plains game, giraffe, and more than 500 species of birds. Game drives wind through diverse habitats where lion and leopard roam the grasslands and elephants gather along the lake shores, creating a safari experience that feels both wild and remarkably uncrowded. Its scenic network of lakes—particularly Lake Ihema—adds another dimension to the ecosystem, attracting hippos, crocodiles, and prolific birdlife.
ACCOMMODATION | 3 NIGHTS
Magashi
Perched on a private concession in Akagera, Magashi offers Rwanda’s premier Big Five safari. Overlooking Lake Rwanyakazinga, this eco-luxury camp combines thrilling boat safaris with exclusive sightings of lions and leopards.
Travel Itinerary: Day 5-7
DESTINATION
Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
The world’s last remaining gorillas inhabit the forested peaks of the Virunga Mountain. One of Africa’s most enriching and memorable wildlife encounters entails procuring a coveted permit, then trekking 2 to 6 hours into the jungle in order to meet the gorilla face to face on their home turf. Living amongst the area’s extinct volcanoes are also golden monkeys, bush duikers, and buffaloes.
ACCOMMODATION | 2 NIGHTS
Bisate Lodge
Nestled within an eroded volcanic cone, Bisate Lodge features iconic, forest-side villas offering dramatic views. This world-class retreat provides the ultimate base for life-changing gorilla encounters in the heart of Rwanda.
Travel Itinerary: Day 7-10
DESTINATION
Nyungwe Forest National Park
One of Africa’s oldest rainforests, this biodiverse wonderland is a haven for thirteen primate species, including wild chimpanzees. Its ancient canopy and misty valleys offer breathtaking hiking and world-class birdwatching.
ACCOMMODATION | 3 NIGHTS
Nyungwe House
Bordering the ancient forest on a working tea plantation, this lodge offers absolute luxury. Guests enjoy farm-to-treatment spa rituals and primate trekking before unwinding amidst the estate’s emerald-green tea ridges.
Travel Itinerary: Day 11 | Departure City Kigali, Rwanda
Quintessential Rwanda: Gorillas, Chimps & the Big 5
9 nights • 4 Destinations • From $16,890
Accommodation & Pricing Information
Your custom safari is always tailored to your preferences, which is why we offer three tiers of accommodation. Location, amenities, game viewing opportunities, dining experiences, property size, and service levels are all factors to consider when planning your safari. Pricing is per person, Double Occupancy.
Classic
From $16,890
Offers stylish authenticity and includes all your basic comforts (clean sheets, private bathrooms, delicious food, and a hot shower) so that you can experience nature without roughing it.
Classic Plus
From $18,480
Adds a higher level of luxury so you can enjoy all your creature comforts in premier accommodation. Adventure by day and comfort by night. By industry standards, this is generally 5-star in coveted locations.
Premier
From $21,751
The ultimate 6-star experience in the most sought-after locations for the ultimate wildlife sightings. Expect daily gastronomic delights produced by top chefs, attentive staff, and the most knowledgeable professional guides.
INCLUSIONS Domestic African airfare, accommodations, game drives, meals on safari, park entrance fees, naturalist guides, porterage of one soft-sided bag, medical evacuation insurance.
EXCLUSIONS International airfare, personal expenses, excess baggage fees, gratuities, airport departure and security tax, passport and visa fees, trip cancellation insurance.
Share this expedition with your friends and family