Rwanda is a very small country but quite big in terms of tourism. As small as it is, it is the best gorilla trekking destination in the whole world.
This 12-day Rwanda safari package highlights most of the destinations and activities in this remarkable tour and travel destination.
12-Day Rwanda Tour Highlights
- Day 1: Arrival at Kigali International Airport
- Day 2: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
- Day 3: Mountain Gorilla Trekking & Ibyi’Wacu Cultural Visit
- Day 4: Golden Monkey Tracking and Dian Fossey Grave Visit
- Day 5: Full Day at Lake Kivu
- Day 6: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park
- Day 7: Chimpanzee Trekking and Canopy Walk
- Day 8: Transfer to Kigali City
- Day 9: Transfer to Akagera National Park
- Day 10: Full Day Game Drive at Akagera National Park
- Day 11: Transfer to Kigali for a City Tour
- Day 12: Departure
Detailed 12-Day Rwanda Tour Itinerary
This 12-day Rwanda tour features all the tour destinations in Rwanda. These include Volcanoes National Park, Lake Kivu – Gisenyi, Nyungwe Forest National Park, Akagera National Park, and Kigali City.
The 12-day package also highlights all the awesome safari activities at each tour destination. See the day-by-day plan below:
Please see the day-by-day schedule of this 12-day Rwanda tour for a detailed overview of what your safari experience will be like.
Day 1: Arrival at Kigali International Airport
Depending on your arrival time, you will be received by our tour guide, introduced to Rwanda with a brief city tour, and then transferred to your accommodation for an overnight stay.
You will be transferred early enough so that you have enough time to rest and recover from your journey.
Day 2: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
Around noon, you will be transferred to Volcanoes National Park in the northern province of Rwanda.
The drive is approximately 2 hours by road. Upon arrival, you will visit the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo before transferring to your accommodation for an overnight stay.
Day 3: Mountain Gorilla Trekking & Ibyi’Wacu Cultural Visit
This is one of the highlights of the 12-day Rwanda holiday. Wake up early in the morning and head to the ORTPN offices for registration and a briefing.
After the briefing, you will be assigned to random groups of 8 and then head into the jungles to search for gorillas.
The activity can last up to 8 hours, including a full hour encounter with the gorillas. If lucky, your trek can be as short as 2 hours.
In the afternoon, you will experience a cultural visit at Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village before returning to your accommodation for an overnight stay.
Day 4: Golden Monkey Tracking and Dian Fossey Grave Visit
This morning, you have another primate experience on your 12-day Rwanda safari, this time trekking golden monkeys.
Set off early in the morning to locate these primates before they become active. Spend approximately 1 hour with them before returning to the starting point.
In the afternoon, visit Dian Fossey’s grave, a woman who was instrumental in the conservation of mountain gorillas.
After visiting Dian Fossey’s grave, transfer to Lake Kivu in Gisenyi.
Day 5: Full Day at Lake Kivu
Start the day with an early breakfast and embark on a boat trip to the famous coffee-growing island on Lake Kivu.
Learn about coffee planting and enjoy clear views of Mount Nyiragongo – the world’s deadliest active volcano that last erupted in 2002. This mountain is part of the 8 Virunga Volcanoes.
After the boat ride, return to Gisenyi and explore the towns of Kibuye and Gisenyi, visiting landmarks and places of interest.
Day 6: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest National Park
Depart early in the morning for Nyungwe Forest National Park, the largest montane rainforest in East Africa known for its high concentration of primates, especially chimpanzees.
Arrive late in the afternoon or early evening.
Day 7: Chimpanzee Trekking and Canopy Walk
Today, head into the forest early in the morning to track chimpanzees before they become active.
Chimpanzees move quickly when awake, making it best to locate them while they are still sleeping and spend time with them before they start moving.
In the afternoon, experience a canopy walk, a unique opportunity only available in East Africa.
Enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the forest from a high elevation, one of the highlights of your 12-day Rwanda safari holiday.
Day 8: Transfer to Kigali City
After breakfast, begin your journey back to Kigali City with brief stopovers at the Botanical Gardens and the Butare Cultural Museum, founded by the Belgian government in 1989.
Visit the traditional palace of Rwanda’s former monarch in Nyanza before completing your drive to Kigali City, arriving late in the evening.
Day 9: Transfer to Akagera National Park
Transfer to Akagera National Park, known for its diverse ecosystem and home to Rwanda’s Big Five game animals.
Enjoy a boat ride on Lake Ihema in the afternoon, where you can see crocodiles, hippopotamuses, and numerous bird species.
Day 10: Full Day Game Drive at Akagera National Park
Today, embark on a full-day game drive through various regions of Akagera National Park.
In the morning, explore the northern part of the park for exceptional wildlife viewing, including buffaloes, elephants, antelopes, and other wildlife species. Drive through Mutumba Hill, an area rich in wildlife, before returning to the lodge.
Day 11: Transfer to Kigali for a City Tour
Enjoy an early morning game drive as you exit Akagera National Park and drive back to Kigali City.
Upon arrival, embark on a city tour visiting famous monuments such as the Genocide Memorial Monuments and Caplaki Crafts Village. Have lunch at the Kigali Convention Center before transferring to your accommodation.
Day 12: Departure
Today marks the end of your 12-day Rwanda tour. Depending on your flight time, our tour guide will transfer you to the airport for your journey back home.
End of 12 Days Rwanda Safari.
