23-Day Rwanda Gorilla and Wildlife Safari

23-Day Rwanda Gorilla and Wildlife Safari: a 23-day private safari with Afrisites, starting from Kigali. The route is Kigali, Volcanoes National Park, Lake Kivu, Gishwati Mukura National Park, Nyungwe Forest National Park, Akagera National Park. Built around a Kinigi gorilla morning in Volcanoes National Park, chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe and Akagera’s lakes and savannah. Road days are the real west-Uganda or Rwanda distances, not padded shopping stops. Lodge class is mid-range unless you ask us to go simpler or higher. Gorilla and chimpanzee permits are collected in your name before you fly.

From US$10,700 per person sharing

23 days · Rwanda · private safari

Indicative for two people sharing, mid-range lodges (or the luxury tier if this trip is sold as luxury), current gorilla and chimpanzee permit rates. Your invoice names the lodges, the permit numbers and the season. Permit tariffs are set by the parks and can change.

At a glance

Rwanda gorilla trekking from Kinigi — permit booked before you fly
Nyungwe chimpanzee tracking and the canopy walkway
Akagera game drives and Lake Ihema boat
23 days private from Kigali

Day by day

Day 1 — Kigali

Meet at Kigali International Airport. City transfer, a short briefing, and — if time allows — the Kigali Genocide Memorial or a craft market before the road or flight to the first park. Overnight: The Retreat or a Kacyiru business hotel for late arrivals.

Day 2 — Volcanoes National Park

Rwanda gorilla trekking from Kinigi. Briefing, allocation of a habituated family, then the hike on the Virunga slopes. One hour with the gorillas. Golden monkeys can be added on a second morning. Overnight: Kinigi / Musanze lodge: Five Volcanoes, Ingagi Manor or similar.

Day 3 — Volcanoes National Park

Golden monkey tracking in the bamboo zone, or a Bisoke crater hike / Dian Fossey–Karisoke trail if you want a second mountain day without a second gorilla permit. Overnight: Same Musanze lodge as the gorilla night.

Day 4 — Volcanoes National Park

A second loop in Volcanoes National Park — different sector and a later or earlier start, so this is not yesterday copied. Briefing, allocation of a habituated family, then the hike on the Virunga slopes. One hour with the gorillas. Golden monkeys can be added on a second morning. Overnight: Kinigi / Musanze lodge: Five Volcanoes, Ingagi Manor or similar.

Day 5 — Volcanoes National Park

Stay on in Volcanoes National Park. We change the track and the vehicle loop rather than pad the day with a souvenir stop. Briefing, allocation of a habituated family, then the hike on the Virunga slopes. One hour with the gorillas. Golden monkeys can be added on a second morning. Overnight: Kinigi / Musanze lodge: Five Volcanoes, Ingagi Manor or similar.

Day 6 — Volcanoes National Park

Extra night at Volcanoes National Park so the main activity is not rushed against a transfer. Briefing, allocation of a habituated family, then the hike on the Virunga slopes. One hour with the gorillas. Golden monkeys can be added on a second morning. Overnight: Kinigi / Musanze lodge: Five Volcanoes, Ingagi Manor or similar.

Day 7 — Lake Kivu

A lakeshore night after the volcanoes or before Nyungwe — Gisenyi/Rubavu or Kibuye. Boat, coffee, and a pause in the road days. Overnight: Lake Kivu Serena or a Rubavu lakeshore hotel.

Day 8 — Lake Kivu

Stay on in Lake Kivu. We change the track and the vehicle loop rather than pad the day with a souvenir stop. Boat, coffee, and a pause in the road days. Overnight: Lake Kivu Serena or a Rubavu lakeshore hotel.

Day 9 — Lake Kivu

Extra night at Lake Kivu so the main activity is not rushed against a transfer. Boat, coffee, and a pause in the road days. Overnight: Lake Kivu Serena or a Rubavu lakeshore hotel.

Day 10 — Lake Kivu

A second loop in Lake Kivu — different sector and a later or earlier start, so this is not yesterday copied. Boat, coffee, and a pause in the road days. Overnight: Lake Kivu Serena or a Rubavu lakeshore hotel.

Day 11 — Gishwati Mukura National Park

Regenerating Albertine forest between Volcanoes and Nyungwe. Chimpanzee tracking when the trail is open; community canopy walks otherwise. Overnight: Gishwati lodge or a Kivu hotel used as a base.

Day 12 — Gishwati Mukura National Park

Extra night at Gishwati Mukura National Park so the main activity is not rushed against a transfer. Chimpanzee tracking when the trail is open; community canopy walks otherwise. Overnight: Gishwati lodge or a Kivu hotel used as a base.

Day 13 — Gishwati Mukura National Park

A second loop in Gishwati Mukura National Park — different sector and a later or earlier start, so this is not yesterday copied. Chimpanzee tracking when the trail is open; community canopy walks otherwise. Overnight: Gishwati lodge or a Kivu hotel used as a base.

Day 14 — Gishwati Mukura National Park

Stay on in Gishwati Mukura National Park. We change the track and the vehicle loop rather than pad the day with a souvenir stop. Chimpanzee tracking when the trail is open; community canopy walks otherwise. Overnight: Gishwati lodge or a Kivu hotel used as a base.

Day 15 — Nyungwe Forest National Park

Chimpanzee tracking in ancient rainforest, then the canopy walkway. Albertine Rift endemic birds for anyone with binoculars. Overnight: Nyungwe House or a canopy-road lodge near Uwinka.

Day 16 — Nyungwe Forest National Park

A second loop in Nyungwe Forest National Park — different sector and a later or earlier start, so this is not yesterday copied. Albertine Rift endemic birds for anyone with binoculars. Overnight: Nyungwe House or a canopy-road lodge near Uwinka.

Day 17 — Nyungwe Forest National Park

Stay on in Nyungwe Forest National Park. We change the track and the vehicle loop rather than pad the day with a souvenir stop. Albertine Rift endemic birds for anyone with binoculars. Overnight: Nyungwe House or a canopy-road lodge near Uwinka.

Day 18 — Nyungwe Forest National Park

Extra night at Nyungwe Forest National Park so the main activity is not rushed against a transfer. Albertine Rift endemic birds for anyone with binoculars. Overnight: Nyungwe House or a canopy-road lodge near Uwinka.

Day 19 — Akagera National Park

Rwanda’s Big Five savannah. Game drives for lion, elephant, giraffe and reintroduced rhino; boat on Lake Ihema for hippo and birds. Overnight: Ruzizi Tented Lodge, Magashi or a park-gate lodge.

Day 20 — Akagera National Park

Stay on in Akagera National Park. We change the track and the vehicle loop rather than pad the day with a souvenir stop. Game drives for lion, elephant, giraffe and reintroduced rhino; boat on Lake Ihema for hippo and birds. Overnight: Ruzizi Tented Lodge, Magashi or a park-gate lodge.

Day 21 — Akagera National Park

Extra night at Akagera National Park so the main activity is not rushed against a transfer. Game drives for lion, elephant, giraffe and reintroduced rhino; boat on Lake Ihema for hippo and birds. Overnight: Ruzizi Tented Lodge, Magashi or a park-gate lodge.

Day 22 — Akagera National Park

A second loop in Akagera National Park — different sector and a later or earlier start, so this is not yesterday copied. Game drives for lion, elephant, giraffe and reintroduced rhino; boat on Lake Ihema for hippo and birds. Overnight: Ruzizi Tented Lodge, Magashi or a park-gate lodge.

Day 23 — Return to Kigali

Return to Kigali for your outbound flight. Souvenir stop only if the group wants it — we do not pad the last day with shopping.

Included

Private 4×4 safari vehicle and English-speaking driver-guide (or light aircraft plus transfers on fly-in days)
Lodge or camp as named in the day-by-day, full board except on arrival/departure city nights (bed and breakfast)
Park fees for the reserves in this itinerary
Bottled water in the vehicle
Airport meet-and-greet
Gorilla permit (Uganda or Rwanda as this itinerary states) — collected before we hold the date

Not included

International flights
Uganda or Rwanda visa
Drinks, laundry and tips
Travel insurance (mandatory — you buy this yourself)
Optional activities not named in the day-by-day (second gorilla permit, golden monkeys, extra boat)

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