Ultimate 7 or 10-Day Rwanda Itinerary
This 7-day itinerary circles around the Western part of the country to show you Rwanda's beautiful nature and history. At the end of this itinerary is an optional 3 day add-on to also visit the East and go on safari.
Day 1 - Kigali
Check out the Ultimate Kigali Guide to plan your day in the city - be sure not to miss the Kigali Genocide Memorial and do some shopping at Kicirwanda!
Day 2 - Explore Musanze
Drive North to Musanze town - the gateway to the volcanoes and gorillas (about 2.5 hours).
Do
Eat
Stay
Day 3 - Volcanoes National Park
Pick your adventure in Volcanoes National Park - just 40 minutes outside of Musanze.
General Tips
-For each hike, there are porters available to carry any bags for you, and to help you up/down any steep climbs. It's best to tip them at least $10 at the end of the hike.
-Don't forget, Musanze is very high altitude (~7,200 ft), so don't be surprised if you find yourself quickly out of break on these hikes!
-If it's rained recently, be prepared for a lot of mud! You can rent rain boots at the park headquarters when you arrive in the morning.
Gorilla Tracking
Costly, but one of the top 5 experiences of my life. The guides will sort everyone into groups based on your fitness level: the 'easy' group will track the closest gorilla family, and so on. Even the easiest hikes can be a bit difficult since you typically have to trek through the forest to find the gorillas. To protect them from diseases, guides will provide you with a face mask when you're approaching the gorillas. You'll get to spend 1 hour with them and then enjoy the amazing views on your way back down the volcano. Depending on which group you're in, and where the gorillas are, this activity can take between 3-8 hours.
Bisoke
Bisoke is one of the shorter volcanoes in the park with a crater lake on top, providing amazing views. The hike to the top can take between 3-5 hours depending on the fitness of the group.
Golden Monkeys
One of the easier hikes, since the golden monkeys are frequently found at the base of the volcanoes. This endangered species can only be found in this volcanic region of Rwanda, Uganda, and DRC!
Dian Fossey's Tomb
One of the easier hikes, since her grave is between two volcanoes (and so you don't have to summit one of them). Here's you'll visit the graves of Dian Fossey and some of her most beloved gorillas.
Day 4 - Lake Kivu
Drive to Kibuye (about 3.5 hours), where you'll be rewarded with amazing views of the rolling hills of Rwanda against the vast Lake Kivu. Either of these lodges will provide great accommodation, delicious food, and plenty of lake activities that you can arrange with them when you arrive.
Day 5 - Nyungwe Forest
Drive to Nyungwe Forest in time to do the Canopy Walk in the afternoon (about 2.5 hours).
Stay
Day 6 - Chimps and Tea Plantations
Book a chimp tracking tour at Nyungwe, and finish the day with a tour of a tea plantation, organized by your lodge.
Day 7 - History on the way back to Kigali
Drive back to Kigali (about 4 hours) and break up the long drive by stopping to learn about some history on the way!
Additional 3-Day Add-On
Day 8 - Unwind on Lake Muhazi
Drive around 1.5 hours to Lake Muhazi (on the way to Akagera National Park).
Day 9 - Safari at Akagera
If Rwanda is your only stop on the continent, then be sure to do a safari at Akagera. While not as large as many of the neighboring countries' safari parks, Akagera hosts the Big 5, an amazing diversity of birds, and beautiful landscapes.
Stay
Day 10 - Morning Game Drive then back to Kigali
Be sure to wake up early to see the animals when they're most active, then start on the drive back to Kigali (around 3 hours).
Getting Around
Kigali Car Rentals has many options for vehicles, either with or without a driver.
Self-driving is very feasible if this is what you choose - all of the roads that you would take in this itinerary are very good, paved roads. In Rwanda, we drive on the right side of the road, and you have to beware of the many motorcycles, bikes, and pedestrians sharing the road! The speed limit is never higher than 80 kph (50 mph) - be sure to stick to the speed limits or else you'll get caught by one of the dozens of speed cameras around the country!
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