5-Day Volcanoes Gorillas & Akagera Park Wildlife Safari

Rwanda’s two flagship parks sit at opposite ends of the country and offer two entirely different kinds of safari — and this five-day trip is built to give you both without compromise. It pairs the open savannah and Big Five wildlife of Akagera National Park, in Rwanda’s far east, with the misty volcanic forests and mountain gorillas of Volcanoes National Park in the northwest, finishing with a second primate encounter: golden monkey trekking through the park’s bamboo forest.

The trip opens in Akagera, Rwanda’s only savannah park and one of Africa’s great conservation comeback stories, with a full day of game drives and a boat cruise in search of elephant, hippo, giraffe, buffalo, and — with luck — the reintroduced lion and rhino that make Akagera a genuine Big Five destination. From there, the safari crosses the country to Volcanoes National Park for the trip’s undisputed highlight: a morning spent tracking a wild mountain gorilla family through the forested slopes of the Virunga volcanoes. A final day of golden monkey trekking rounds out the primate experience before the transfer back to Kigali for your departure.

It’s an ideal itinerary for travelers who want to see both faces of Rwanda — savannah and rainforest, big game and great apes — in a single, well-paced week. If you’d like to add chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest as well, our 15-Day Rwanda–Uganda Primate & Big-Five Safari Adventure builds on a similar foundation; if Akagera alone is your focus, our 3-Day Akagera Game Drive Safari covers that park in more depth. Or get in touch and we’ll tailor the pace, dates, or accommodation level to suit you.

Trip Highlights

Game drives across Akagera’s savannah, woodland, and wetland habitats
The chance to spot Big Five wildlife, including reintroduced lion and black rhino
A boat cruise in Akagera, bringing you close to hippo, crocodile, and abundant birdlife
A profoundly moving morning of mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Golden monkey trekking through the park’s bamboo forest, with sightings of rare giant lobelia and diverse birdlife along the way
Sweeping views of the Virunga volcanoes throughout the second half of the trip

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival & Transfer to Akagera National Park

On arrival, your Kenlink Tours representative will meet you and transfer you toward Akagera National Park in Rwanda’s far east — a scenic drive of around two to three hours from Kigali. We generally recommend an overnight in Kigali first if your flight lands later in the day, so you’re fully rested before setting out. On arrival at the park, settle into your lodge for a two-night stay, with dinner and a relaxed evening amid Akagera’s natural surroundings. Overnight: Akagera National Park

Day 2: Game Drive & Afternoon Boat Cruise

After an early breakfast, head out on a game drive in an open-roofed safari vehicle for the best possible wildlife viewing, with good chances of hippo, elephant, impala, giraffe, buffalo, zebra, and waterbuck. Return to the lodge for a hot lunch before heading back out for a scenic boat cruise — one of Akagera’s signature activities. A further short game drive on the way back to the lodge rounds out an active, wildlife-filled day. Overnight: Akagera National Park

Day 3: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park

After breakfast, enjoy a game drive on your way out of Akagera before beginning the journey across Rwanda to Volcanoes National Park, travelling via Kigali with lunch en route. Arrive at your lodge in the late evening, with time for a short walk around the grounds or a community visit if you’re not too tired, or simply time to rest ahead of tomorrow’s trek. Overnight: Volcanoes National Park

Day 4: Mountain Gorilla Trekking Experience

Start the day with a hearty breakfast before driving to park headquarters with a packed lunch for a 7 am registration. Rangers will brief you on gorilla trekking etiquette before leading you into the forest. Trekking time can run anywhere from one to eight hours depending on where the gorilla family is that day, with birdsong and sightings of other primates along the way. Once located, you’ll spend a full hour observing the gorillas before returning to your lodge to relax and reflect on the experience. Overnight: Volcanoes National Park

Day 5: Golden Monkey Trekking & Transfer to Kigali

After breakfast, head to park headquarters with your luggage and trekking gear for a pre-trek briefing before setting off on a golden monkey trek, which can take anywhere from one to seven hours depending on where the group is foraging. Along the way, look out for rare plant species such as giant lobelia and a wide variety of birdlife, alongside the golden monkeys themselves. Afterward, transfer to Kigali Airport for your onward flight, bringing this five-day Rwanda adventure to a close.

What’s Included

Park fees (for non-residents)
All entry permits (one per person, non-resident rate)
All activities (unless labeled as optional)
All accommodation (unless listed as an upgrade)
A professional driver/guide
All transportation (unless labeled as optional)
All taxes/VAT
Roundtrip airport transfer
Meals and drinks as specified in the day-by-day itinerary

Not Included

International flights (from/to home)
Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
Tips (guideline: US$10 per person per day)
Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
Government-imposed increases in taxes and/or park fees
Some meals (as specified in the day-by-day section)

Good to Know

Permits: Rwanda’s gorilla trekking permit currently costs USD 1,500 per person and golden monkey trekking permits are separate, both issued by the Rwanda Development Board. Akagera is jointly managed by the Rwanda Development Board and African Parks. All permits are secured on your behalf as part of your booking, but should be arranged well ahead of your travel dates given limited daily availability.

Best time to go: This trip can be done year-round, but the dry seasons (June–September and December–February) offer the best conditions for both gorilla and golden monkey trekking, as well as for game viewing in Akagera.

Fitness level: Game drives and boat cruises are easy and suitable for all fitness levels. Gorilla and golden monkey trekking both involve uneven, sometimes steep forest terrain, so a reasonable level of fitness is recommended.

Rwanda entry requirements: Most visitors need a visa, obtainable in advance through the Rwanda Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration, and proof of yellow fever vaccination is required for entry.

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Useful External Resources

Rwanda Development Board — official Rwanda tourism authority and issuer of gorilla and golden monkey trekking permits
African Parks – Akagera National Park — conservation partner managing Akagera
Rwanda Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration — for Rwanda visa applications

Ready to book, or want us to tailor the pace, dates, or accommodation level? Request a quote and our team — Africa safari experts since 2010 — will build your Volcanoes and Akagera adventure around you.