Rwanda Wildlife & Gorilla Trekking 4-Days Safari

Upon arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be welcomed by a professional Rwanda Wildlife & Gorilla Trekking 4-Days Safari guide from Deks Safaris & Tours Ltd. After a brief orientation and luggage loading, you’ll depart on a scenic 2.5-hour drive to Akagera National Park, located in eastern Rwanda near the Tanzanian border. Along the way, you’ll pass through rolling hills, terraced farms, and rural communities offering a glimpse into the daily life of Rwandans.

Arrive at your luxury lodge or tented camp inside or adjacent to the park, check-in, and have lunch or refreshments depending on your arrival time. In the late afternoon, set out on your first evening game drive, when the soft golden light makes wildlife viewing and photography especially rewarding. Akagera is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos, buffaloes, antelopes, and a wealth of birdlife. As the sun dips below the horizon, you’ll likely spot hippos emerging from the water and hyenas beginning their nightly patrol.

Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay, where the sounds of the African bush provide the perfect natural lullaby.

Overnight: Ruzizi Tented Lodge / Magashi Camp / Akagera Game Lodge
Meal Plan: Dinner

Start the day early with a half-day game drive through the northern sector of Akagera National Park, known for its open plains and high wildlife density. As the park comes alive with activity, your Rwanda Wildlife & Gorilla Trekking 4-Days Safari guide will navigate through various ecosystems – from savannah to wetlands – offering excellent chances to see giraffes gracefully roaming, buffaloes grazing, and predators like lions or hyenas on the hunt. Bird enthusiasts will appreciate Akagera’s over 500 recorded bird species, including the elusive shoebill stork and various raptors.

After the morning safari, return to the lodge for a hearty breakfast or brunch before beginning your road transfer to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda’s northwest. The drive takes approximately 5-6 hours, with beautiful landscapes of Rwanda‘s famed “thousand hills” unfolding before you. Stop for lunch en route and enjoy scenic vistas, tea plantations, and colorful roadside markets.

Arrive in Musanze (Ruhengeri) – the gateway to Volcanoes National Park – in the late afternoon or early evening. After check-in at your luxury lodge, enjoy dinner and settle in for the night, preparing for the incredible gorilla trekking adventure the next day.

Overnight: La Paillotte Gorilla Place Kinigi
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today is the highlight of your Rwanda Wildlife & Gorilla Trekking 4-Days Safari – gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park. After an early breakfast, drive to the Kinigi Park Headquarters, where you’ll receive a briefing from park rangers about gorilla behavior, trekking protocols, and group assignments based on fitness levels.

Led by an experienced tracker and an armed ranger, venture into the forest to begin your gorilla trek, which may take 2 to 6 hours depending on the location of the assigned gorilla family. The trek itself is an exhilarating experience through bamboo forests, steep hillsides, and dense undergrowth. Once the gorillas are found, you’ll spend a full hour in their presence, observing them as they feed, rest, groom, or interact in their natural habitat.

This up-close encounter with critically endangered mountain gorillas is often described as one of the most emotional and unforgettable wildlife experiences on earth. Photography is permitted (without flash), so be sure to capture the moment – though many travelers find it hard to put the camera between themselves and these majestic creatures.

After the trek, return to your lodge for lunch and an afternoon of leisure and relaxation. Optional activities include a spa treatment, community walk, or a visit to the nearby Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund Museum.

Overnight: La Paillotte Gorilla Place Kinigi
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

On your final morning, enjoy a golden monkey tracking experience, another of Volcanoes National Park’s signature primate encounters. These playful and photogenic primates, endemic to the Virunga region, are found in the lower bamboo zones and are easier to track than gorillas. Watch as they swing between branches, feed on bamboo shoots, and curiously observe their human visitors. The trek typically lasts about 2–4 hours.

Return to the lodge for a quick refresh and an early lunch or packed meal before embarking on your return drive to Kigali. If time permits, you may stop at the Kimironko Market for souvenir shopping or visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial for a moving insight into Rwanda’s resilient history.

Arrive at Kigali International Airport in the late afternoon or early evening for your onward flight, marking the end of your unforgettable Rwanda Wildlife & Gorilla Trekking 4-Days Safari with Deks Safaris & Tours Ltd.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch

End of Rwanda Wildlife & Gorilla Trekking 4-Days Safari