8 Days Rwanda Classic Safari

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Our 8 day Rwanda safari shows you the very best of the land of a thousand hills, from lively Kigali to misty mountain forests. You visit museums, markets and royal palaces, then track chimpanzees and monkeys in Nyungwe Forest. Afterwards, you relax on the shores of Lake Kivu and trek mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park. The tour starts and ends in Kigali, so it is easy to plan around your flights.

Trip overview

First, you spend a day exploring Kigali. Next, you travel south through Nyanza and Butare (Huye) to Nyungwe Forest National Park for two full days of primate walks and chimp tracking. After that, you head north-west to Kibuye on Lake Kivu. Then you take a boat to Gisenyi and continue to Volcanoes National Park for your gorilla trek. Finally, you return to Kigali for your flight home.

Highlights of this 8 day Rwanda safari

A Kigali city tour, including the Gisozi genocide memorial and Kimironko market.
Nyanza royal palace and the Ethnographic Museum in Butare.
An intore dance performance, one of Rwanda’s great cultural traditions.
Primate walks and chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest.
A relaxing stay at Kibuye on the shores of Lake Kivu.
A boat trip on Lake Kivu past fishing villages.
Mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park.
Views of the twin lakes, Burera and Ruhondo.

Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1: Hotel pick-up and Kigali city tour

Your 8 day Rwanda safari begins with breakfast in Kigali. Then you set off on a city tour. During the day, you visit a Batwa pottery and dance centre, the Gisozi genocide memorial, a handicraft village, the old town of Nyamirambo and Kimironko market. In the evening, you return to the hotel for dinner and the night.

Day 2: Nyanza, Butare and transfer to Nyungwe Forest

After breakfast, you head south towards Butare (Huye), Rwanda’s university city. On the way, you stop at Nyanza to visit the former royal palace of the Mwami (king), once the seat of the kingdom. Here, you can also enjoy a performance by the famous intore dancers. Many visitors call it one of the highlights of a Rwanda safari.

Next, in Butare, you visit the national Ethnographic Museum. It is one of the best places to learn about the cultural history of Rwanda and the wider region. After lunch, you visit the Murambi genocide memorial. Finally, you continue to Nyungwe Forest National Park for dinner and the night.

Day 3: Full-day primate walks in Nyungwe Forest

After a cup of coffee or tea, you head to the Uwinka visitor centre for a short briefing. Then you set off on a hike through Nyungwe Forest. Along the trails, you look for large troops of Angolan colobus monkeys, which can number in the hundreds, as well as many bird species. The walk can be tiring. However, your guide makes it fun and informative by explaining the plants and animals you see.

After a packed lunch, you continue on another beautiful trail. In particular, the Gisakura waterfall trail is one of the most rewarding. This afternoon walk may take two to three hours. It also offers more chances to see birds and other primates. Afterwards, you return to your lodge for dinner and the night.

Day 4: Chimpanzee tracking and the Bigugu trail

After breakfast, you attend a briefing on how to behave around chimpanzees. Then ranger guides lead you into the forest to find them. Once you do, you can spend up to one hour with our closest relatives and take photos. Around Uwinka, you may also meet blue monkeys and L’Hoest’s monkeys.

Later, you join the Bigugu trail, which climbs towards the highest peak in Nyungwe at around 3,000 metres. Bird lovers are in for a real treat here. Indeed, Nyungwe hosts many Albertine Rift endemics, and you may spot several along the way. In the evening, you return to your lodge for dinner and the night.

Day 5: Transfer to Lake Kivu at Kibuye

After a relaxed breakfast, you drive north-west to Kibuye. The road passes green tea plantations before reaching the shores of Lake Kivu. Overall, Kibuye is often said to be the prettiest of the three main towns on the lake.

After the treks in Nyungwe, you can spend the rest of the day at leisure. For example, you can relax on the beach, sunbathe, swim or chat with local people.

Accommodation options: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel, Hotel Paradise Malahide or Waterfront Resort.

Day 6: Lake Kivu boat trip and transfer to Volcanoes National Park

After breakfast, you take a speedboat trip along Lake Kivu to Gisenyi. On the way, you pass fishing villages and see Idjwi Island, one of the largest inland islands in Africa.

Notably, Gisenyi lies next to Goma in DR Congo. In January 2002, Nyiragongo volcano, which rises to about 3,470 metres, erupted and buried part of Goma under lava. The eruption destroyed the homes of more than 120,000 people and killed over 100. Learning about this event shows you the resilience of the people who rebuilt their lives here. Afterwards, your driver guide takes you to Kinigi for dinner and the night.

Day 7: Gorilla trekking and the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo

With your packed lunch, you head to the briefing point to meet the park rangers. Usually, the briefing takes less than 30 minutes. These forests are where the American zoologist Dian Fossey studied mountain gorillas and fought to protect them from poachers, work that may have led to her murder. Next, you set off to trek the gentle giants. Once you find them, you can stay with them for up to one hour and take photos.

Afterwards, you return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, you take a short trip to the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo. They lie at the foot of the Sabyinyo, Muhabura and Gahinga volcanoes. From here, you enjoy magnificent views of the Virunga chain. In the evening, you return to the lodge for dinner and the night.

Day 8: Transfer to Kigali International Airport

After breakfast, you drive back to Kigali for lunch and some last-minute shopping. Then you transfer to the airport for your flight home. This marks the end of your 8 day Rwanda safari.

Who this safari suits

This trip is ideal if you want to see the whole of Rwanda, not just its gorillas. In particular, it suits travellers who enjoy culture and history as much as wildlife. Since you trek chimps and gorillas and hike in Nyungwe, you need a reasonable level of fitness. However, the beach day at Lake Kivu gives you a chance to rest in the middle of the trip.

Gorilla trekking is open to travellers aged 15 and over. Permits for gorillas and chimps are issued by the Rwanda Development Board, and prices change from time to time. Therefore, book early, and we will confirm the current rates when you enquire. For more about the country, visit Visit Rwanda.

Best time to go

You can take this 8 day Rwanda safari all year round. Even so, the drier months from June to September and December to February are the most popular. During these months, forest trails in Nyungwe and the Virungas are less slippery. On the other hand, the wetter months bring lush green hills and fewer visitors.

Tips for your Rwanda safari

Dress respectfully. Cover your shoulders and knees at memorials and museums.
Wear sturdy boots. Forest trails can be steep and muddy.
Pack a rain jacket. Showers are common in Nyungwe and the Virungas.
Bring warm layers. Mornings in the mountains can be cold.
Avoid plastic bags. Rwanda has strict rules on single-use plastic.
Bring a swimsuit. You may want a swim in Lake Kivu.

Extend or combine your trip

If you want a shorter trip, look at our 3 day Rwanda gorilla safari. Alternatively, you can add savannah wildlife with our Akagera wildlife safari. You can also read our full guide to Rwanda national parks.

Every trip with Roots Tours & Travel is tailor-made. Just tell us your dates, group size and interests. Then, we will send you a clear itinerary for free.

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