A 10 day Rwanda safari itinerary is the only length that covers all three of Rwanda’s national parks without anything feeling rushed: two gorilla treks in Volcanoes National Park, chimp trekking and the canopy walk in Nyungwe Forest, and two full days in Akagera National Park for Big Five game drives and boat safaris on Lake Ihema. Ten days transforms Rwanda from a gorilla-only destination into a complete safari circuit — one of East Africa’s most underrated. This guide covers the day-by-day route, lodge options at every budget and a full cost breakdown.
10-Day Rwanda Safari Itinerary: Overview
| Day | Location | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Kigali | Arrive, Genocide Memorial, city orientation |
| Day 2 | Kigali → Volcanoes NP | Drive north, Twin Lakes, pre-trek briefing |
| Day 3 | Volcanoes NP | First gorilla trek |
| Day 4 | Volcanoes NP | Second gorilla trek or golden monkey + volcano hike |
| Day 5 | Volcanoes → Nyungwe | Scenic drive south, canopy walkway |
| Day 6 | Nyungwe Forest | Chimpanzee trekking, colobus walk |
| Day 7 | Nyungwe → Kigali → Akagera | Drive east, afternoon Akagera game drive |
| Day 8 | Akagera NP | Full day game drives — Big Five |
| Day 9 | Akagera NP | Morning game drive, Lake Ihema boat safari |
| Day 10 | Akagera → Kigali | Return Kigali, depart |
Days 1–2: Kigali and Transfer to Volcanoes NP
Arrive Kigali and spend the first afternoon at the Kigali Genocide Memorial — essential context for understanding modern Rwanda. Drive northwest to Musanze on Day 2 (two hours), stopping at the Twin Lakes of Bulera and Ruhondo for a ridge walk with the five Virunga volcanoes as backdrop. Pre-trek briefing at your lodge that evening.
Day 1 overnight: Kigali. Day 2 overnight: near Volcanoes NP. Mid-range: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge, Gorillas Nest. Luxury: One&Only Gorilla’s Nest, Bisate Lodge, Singita Kwitonda.
Days 3–4: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes NP
Two mornings of gorilla trekking with Rwanda’s 12 habituated families — each trek assigned to a different family so no two experiences are identical. Permit cost: $1,500 per person per trek. On Day 4 afternoon, the golden monkey trek ($100) is the best add-on: fast-moving, bamboo-dwelling, endangered primates found only in the Albertine Rift. Alternatively, Mount Bisoke hike (4km crater lake at 3,711m, 6–8 hours) gives dramatic views across the Virunga chain into the DRC.
Overnights: same lodge near Volcanoes NP.
Day 5: Transfer to Nyungwe, Canopy Walkway
Four-hour drive south from Musanze through Kigali to Nyungwe Forest National Park. Arrive mid-afternoon. If you reach the park by 3:30pm, the canopy walkway ($60, closes 4pm) is worth doing today — suspended 50–70m above the forest floor on steel cables, with views across one of Africa’s oldest montane rainforests.
Overnight: Nyungwe Forest Lodge (luxury, restored colonial tea estate) or Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel (mid-range).
Day 6: Chimpanzee Trekking and Colobus Walk
Nyungwe’s chimpanzee trek departs at 5am ($150). The forest holds 500+ chimps across multiple communities. Afternoon: the Angola colobus walk targets Nyungwe’s enormous black-and-white colobus troops — groups of 300+ individuals crash through the canopy in one of the most spectacular primate displays in Africa. Nyungwe has 13 primate species total and 320 bird species including 29 Albertine Rift endemics.
Overnight: same Nyungwe lodge.
Day 7: Transfer to Akagera NP
Drive east from Nyungwe across Rwanda to Akagera National Park on the Tanzania border (five hours via Kigali). The landscape transitions dramatically from highland rainforest to savannah and papyrus wetland. Arrive Akagera by mid-afternoon for a first game drive (2–3 hours). Akagera is Rwanda’s Big Five park — lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and black rhino (reintroduced by African Parks in 2017, now breeding) are all present.
Overnight at Akagera. Mid-range: Ruzizi Tented Lodge. Luxury: Magashi Camp (Wilderness Safaris, on Lake Rwanyakizinga).
Days 8–9: Akagera National Park
Two full days in Akagera. The park covers 1,122km² of savannah, woodland, marsh and a chain of lakes along the Tanzania border. Day 8: full-day game drives in the northern and central sectors — the best areas for lion and elephant. Day 9 morning: game drive followed by a boat safari on Lake Ihema ($35 per person, 2 hours). Lake Ihema has one of the highest hippo densities in Africa and enormous Nile crocodiles on the banks. Shoe-billed stork, African fish eagle and hundreds of waterbirds line the shores.
Overnights: same Akagera lodge.
Day 10: Return to Kigali
Two-hour drive from Akagera to Kigali. Arrive in time for lunch and afternoon international departures. Kigali Airport has evening flights to London, Amsterdam, Dubai and Nairobi.
10-Day Rwanda Safari Cost
| Cost Item | Mid-Range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|
| Gorilla permits (×2) | $3,000 | $3,000 |
| Chimp permit + canopy walk | $210 | $210 |
| Golden monkey / volcano hike | $100–$150 | $100–$150 |
| Lodging (9 nights) | $2,200–$3,300 | $7,200–$14,400 |
| Private vehicle + guide (10 days) | $900–$1,300 | $1,300–$1,800 |
| Total per person | ~$6,410–$7,960 | ~$11,810–$19,560 |
Best Time and Frequently Asked Questions
Best time: June–September (long dry season) for all three parks in peak condition. December–January for the short dry season with fewer crowds. Nyungwe is accessible year-round; Akagera’s game viewing peaks in the dry season when animals concentrate near the lakes.
Is 10 days enough for all three Rwanda parks? Yes — ten days is the minimum comfortable duration for Volcanoes, Nyungwe and Akagera with two gorilla treks. Rushing it into seven days is possible but leaves no buffer days and skips the second gorilla trek.
Can I do two gorilla treks on consecutive days? Yes — permits allow trekking on consecutive days and you will be assigned to different families each day. Many visitors consider the second trek even better than the first as you know what to expect and can focus on photography and observation rather than logistics.
What is Akagera like compared to East African game parks? Akagera is smaller and less visited than Serengeti or Masai Mara but has excellent density of wildlife in its northern sector. The combination of savannah game drives and lake boat safaris is unique in Rwanda. African Parks’ management since 2010 has dramatically improved the park — lion and rhino were both reintroduced and are now self-sustaining populations.
For the full Rwanda planning guide, see our Rwanda Safari Guide 2027 and Rwanda safari cost guide.
