15-Day Rwanda Gorilla, Wildlife and Primate Safari
Experience Rwanda beyond gorilla trekking — Kigali, Akagera, Nyungwe, Lake Kivu and Volcanoes National Park combined into one private journey at a relaxed pace.
15-Day Rwanda Gorilla, Wildlife and Primate Safari
Experience Rwanda beyond gorilla trekking on this 15-Day Rwanda Gorilla, Wildlife and Primate Safari covering Kigali, Akagera National Park, Nyungwe National Park, Lake Kivu and Volcanoes National Park. This private Rwanda safari combines mountain gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, golden monkey trekking, Big Five wildlife viewing, a Lake Ihema boat cruise, Nyungwe Forest, the famous canopy walkway, Lake Kivu and Rwanda's cultural and historical attractions.
| Nights | Location | Recommended Lodge |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1–2 | Kigali | Hotel des Mille Collines or comparable |
| Days 3–4 | Akagera | Akagera Safari Camp or comparable |
| Day 5 | Kigali | Kigali Serena Hotel or comparable |
| Days 6–8 | Nyungwe | Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel or comparable |
| Days 9–10 | Lake Kivu (Kibuye) | Moriah Hill Resort or comparable |
| Days 11–14 | Volcanoes NP | Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel or comparable |
Accommodation can be upgraded to luxury properties on request. Accommodation is subject to availability; a comparable alternative will be proposed if the preferred property is fully booked.
Detailed 15-Day Itinerary
From Kigali through Akagera, Nyungwe, Lake Kivu and Volcanoes National Park, then back to Kigali. Follow the day-by-day timeline below.
Welcome to Rwanda. Your Tarec Gorilla Safaris guide will meet you at Kigali International Airport and transfer you to your hotel.
Depending on your arrival time, begin your Rwanda experience with a guided Kigali city tour. Visit some of Kigali's important landmarks, explore local neighborhoods and markets, and enjoy your first introduction to Rwandan culture. If your flight arrives late, the city tour can be shortened and the remaining activities moved to Day 2.
After breakfast, continue exploring Kigali. A major part of the day will be dedicated to the Kigali Genocide Memorial, where you can learn about Rwanda's history and the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
You can then visit local markets, craft centers and other cultural attractions depending on your interests. Kigali provides an important introduction to Rwanda before heading into the country's national parks. In the evening, return to your hotel and prepare for the journey to Akagera National Park.
After breakfast, depart Kigali and travel east toward Akagera National Park. The journey takes several hours, after which you will enter the park and begin your first wildlife experience.
Depending on arrival time, enjoy an afternoon game drive through Akagera's savannah, woodland and wetland landscapes. Akagera is Rwanda's principal savannah safari destination and supports wildlife including elephants, lions, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, hippos and other species.
Wake early for a full-day wildlife safari. The morning game drive is one of the best opportunities to search for wildlife while temperatures are cooler and animals are active. Depending on the route and sightings, you may encounter elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, lions and other wildlife.
After lunch, continue exploring the park. Akagera has a varied landscape of open plains, woodlands, lakes, swamps and low mountains, creating different habitats for wildlife. Return to your lodge in the evening.
After breakfast, enjoy another short game drive before continuing toward Lake Ihema. Take a boat cruise on Lake Ihema. The boat experience provides a different perspective of Akagera and offers opportunities to see hippos, crocodiles and waterbirds around the lake.
After the boat cruise, leave Akagera and return to Kigali.
After breakfast, begin the journey south-west toward Nyungwe National Park. The road passes through Rwanda's beautiful countryside, with opportunities to stop for photographs and local experiences along the way.
Continue toward the Nyungwe Forest area. Nyungwe is one of Rwanda's most important rainforest ecosystems and is particularly famous for chimpanzees and other primates.
Wake early for chimpanzee tracking. Chimpanzee tracking begins early because the animals move through the forest while searching for food and socializing. The trek takes you into the rainforest, where you may also encounter other primates and forest bird species.
Chimpanzee tracking in Rwanda takes place in Nyungwe and the activity can last from around an hour to several hours depending on where the chimpanzees are located. After the trek, return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation.
After breakfast, explore more of Nyungwe Forest. The highlight today is the Nyungwe Canopy Walkway, a suspension bridge approximately 160 metres long and 70 metres above the forest floor. The walkway provides panoramic views across the forest canopy and is accessed through guided forest trails.
After the canopy experience, continue with a guided forest walk or another suitable nature trail. The forest is home to numerous primate species, birds, butterflies and other wildlife.
After breakfast, leave Nyungwe and travel toward Lake Kivu. Lake Kivu provides a relaxing contrast to the forest and safari sections of the journey.
Arrive in the Kibuye area and enjoy views across the lake. Depending on your arrival time, take a boat ride or enjoy a relaxed lakeside experience. The evening is intentionally slower, allowing you to rest after several days of wildlife and forest activities.
Spend the morning exploring Lake Kivu. Enjoy a boat trip across the lake and visit some of the nearby islands or lakeside communities where practical.
You can also choose a more relaxed day involving lakeside walks, photography and cultural interaction. Lake Kivu provides a different experience from Rwanda's wildlife destinations. In the afternoon, relax at your accommodation.
After breakfast, continue north toward Musanze and Volcanoes National Park. The landscape changes as you approach the Virunga Mountains. The volcanoes dominate the horizon and create the spectacular setting for Rwanda's mountain gorilla habitat.
Volcanoes National Park protects the steep slopes of the Virunga range and contains montane forest, bamboo forest, grassland, swamp and heath habitats. Arrive at your lodge and spend the afternoon relaxing. You will receive a briefing about your gorilla trekking experience and prepare your hiking equipment.
Today is the main highlight of your Rwanda safari. Wake early and travel to the park headquarters for registration and briefing. Your gorilla trek then begins in the Virunga Mountains.
The length of the trek depends on the location and movements of the gorilla family assigned to your group. Once you find the gorillas, you will spend a regulated period observing them while following the instructions of your guide and trackers.
Rwanda's gorilla tracking begins with registration at 07:00, has a minimum age of 15, and limits each visitor group to eight people. After the trek, return to your lodge for lunch and relaxation.
After breakfast, prepare for another primate experience. Today you trek through Volcanoes National Park in search of the endangered golden monkeys. Golden monkeys are found in the Virunga region and are known for their distinctive coloration and active behavior.
After the trek, visit a local cultural experience such as the Iby'Iwacu/Gorilla Guardians community. Learn about local traditions, conservation and the relationship between tourism and communities around Volcanoes National Park. Return to your lodge in the evening.
After breakfast, spend the day exploring more of the Volcanoes region. Depending on your interests and fitness level, choose between:
• Dian Fossey Memorial and Karisoke area experience
• Musanze Caves
• Buhanga Eco-Park
• Volcano foothill walks
• Local community experiences
• Relaxation at the lodge
This flexible day is particularly useful after two demanding trekking days.
Enjoy breakfast before beginning the drive back to Kigali. Depending on your international flight schedule, you can stop for lunch or a final shopping experience in Kigali.
Your Tarec Gorilla Safaris guide will transfer you to Kigali International Airport for your departure flight. This marks the end of your 15-Day Rwanda Gorilla, Wildlife and Primate Safari.
Rates & Pricing
Pricing for this 15-Day Rwanda Gorilla, Wildlife and Primate Safari depends on travel dates, gorilla permit availability, accommodation availability, number of travelers, room category, vehicle requirements, optional activities and current park and activity fees. Your personalized quotation will clearly show everything included.
| Number of Travelers | Suggested Price Per Person |
|---|---|
| 1 Traveler | US$9,200 |
| 2 Travelers | US$7,250 |
| 3 Travelers | US$6,650 |
| 4 Travelers | US$6,250 |
| 5 Travelers | US$5,950 |
| 6 Travelers | US$5,700 |
Important: These are marketing estimates rather than fixed quotations. The final price should be reconfirmed according to travel dates, permit availability, accommodation availability, number of travelers, room category, vehicle requirements, optional activities and current park and activity fees.
The gorilla permit is a major component of the price. Rwanda's official booking system currently lists the foreign visitor permit at US$1,500, and states that the promotional rates shown for residents and certain African categories do not apply during June–October 2026.
Gorilla permits are subject to availability, so travelers should provide their preferred travel dates as early as possible.
| Nights | Location | Property |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1–2 | Kigali | Hotel des Mille Collines or comparable |
| Days 3–4 | Akagera | Akagera Safari Camp or comparable |
| Day 5 | Kigali | Kigali Serena Hotel or comparable |
| Days 6–8 | Nyungwe | Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel or comparable |
| Days 9–10 | Lake Kivu | Moriah Hill Resort or comparable |
| Days 11–14 | Volcanoes | Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel or comparable |
What's Included in Your 15-Day Safari
We believe in full transparency. Below is exactly what is included in your 15-Day Rwanda Gorilla, Wildlife and Primate Safari — and what is not.
- Private safari
- Private 4×4 safari vehicle
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide
- Airport pickup and drop-off
- Accommodation for 14 nights
- Meals as stated
- Rwanda national park entry fees
- Akagera game drives
- Lake Ihema boat cruise
- Chimpanzee tracking permit
- Nyungwe Canopy Walkway
- Lake Kivu boat experience
- Mountain gorilla trekking permit
- Golden monkey trekking permit
- Kigali city tour
- Kigali Genocide Memorial visit
- Cultural experiences listed in the itinerary
- Bottled drinking water during safari
- Fuel and transportation
- Border/permit administration where applicable
- International flights
- Rwanda visa where applicable
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses
- Alcoholic drinks
- Laundry
- Tips
- Porter fees unless specifically included
- Additional activities not listed
- Luxury accommodation upgrades
- Medical expenses
- Items of a personal nature
Getting There
This 15-Day Rwanda Gorilla, Wildlife and Primate Safari begins and ends in Kigali. Most travelers arrive at Kigali International Airport (KGL) and are met on arrival. The safari travels east to Akagera, south-west to Nyungwe, north-west to Lake Kivu's Kibuye area, then north to Volcanoes National Park, before returning to Kigali on the final day.
Mountain gorilla trekking requires advance planning. Rwanda's official booking system states that the minimum age for gorilla tracking is 15 and that visitors must report at the registration centre at 07:00. It also states that visitor groups are limited to eight people.
Gorilla permits are subject to availability, so travelers should provide their preferred travel dates as early as possible.
Visitors who are sick with a contagious illness may be denied access because of the risk of disease transmission to gorillas.
Meet the Tarec Gorilla Safaris Team
We are a locally owned and operated safari company based in Kampala, Uganda. Our team of experienced driver-guides, primate trackers, and travel planners is passionate about sharing the beauty of East Africa with travellers from around the world. Every safari we run is personally designed by someone who has walked the trails, tracked the gorillas, and knows the lodges by name.
Tarec Gorilla Safaris
We are a full-service safari operator offering custom itineraries, group tours, and self-drive packages. Our fleet of well-maintained 4×4 vehicles and our network of trusted lodges ensure a safe, comfortable, and unforgettable safari experience.