6 Days Rwanda & Tanzania Safari
September 14, 2026
6 Days Tanzania Highlights
September 14, 2026
6 Days Rwanda Wildlife & Gorilla Safari
Most Rwanda safaris are built entirely around gorilla trekking, which means travelers rarely see the other side of the country’s wildlife story. This 6 Days Rwanda Wildlife & Gorilla Safari corrects that by pairing Volcanoes National Park, home to the mountain gorillas, with Akagera National Park, Rwanda’s only savannah park and one of East Africa’s genuine conservation success stories.
In Akagera, expect classic savannah game viewing — lions, leopards, buffaloes, elephants, rhinos, Maasai giraffes, zebras, and several antelope species — plus a boat safari on Lake Ihema, where hippos and crocodiles share the water with elephant and buffalo herds coming down to drink. In Volcanoes National Park, the trip builds to its centerpiece: a trek to spend one hour in the presence of mountain gorillas in their natural forest habitat.
This itinerary suits travelers who want a complete Rwanda safari rather than a gorilla-only add-on, and who are comfortable with a longer overland journey between the two parks in exchange for seeing both sides of Rwanda’s wildlife.
Quick Facts
| Duration | 6 Days / 5 Nights |
| Start / End | Kigali |
| Destinations | Akagera National Park, Volcanoes National Park |
| Best For | Travelers wanting both savannah game drives and gorilla trekking in Rwanda |
| Accommodation Tiers | Budget, Midrange, and Luxury options offered throughout |
| Signature Activities | Lake Ihema boat safari, mountain gorilla trekking |
Highlights
- Day 1: Arrival in Kigali
- Day 2: Transfer to Akagera National Park and boat safari
- Day 3: Full day game drive in Akagera
- Day 4: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
- Day 5: Gorilla trekking
- Day 6: Departure
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival
On arrival at Kigali International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by our representative and taken to your hotel in Kigali City. Depending on your arrival time, you may have a short city tour, taking in the Kigali Genocide Memorial, local craft centers, and the Kandt National Museum. Enjoy dinner and an overnight stay.
| Tier | Accommodation |
| Budget | Step Town Motel |
| Midrange | Des Milles Collines |
| Luxury | Kigali Serena Hotel |
Meal Plan: Dinner
Day 2: Transfer to Akagera National Park and Boat Safari
After breakfast, meet your guide for the roughly three-hour transfer to Akagera National Park in eastern Rwanda, with stops en route for photos. On arrival, you will be greeted by sweeping views over the park as you head to your lodge to check in for lunch and a few hours of rest.
In the afternoon, head to Lake Ihema for a boat safari. As you sail across the calm water, you will see hippos and crocodiles, along with large herds of elephants and cape buffaloes gathering along the shore to drink and cool off. The seasonal and perennial papyrus swamps around the lake also host a wide range of water birds, including ibis, jacanas, herons, plovers, sandpipers, malachite kingfishers, and hawks — bring your camera. With a short game drive on the way back, return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
| Tier | Accommodation |
| Budget | Akagera Transit Lodge |
| Midrange | Akagera Game Lodge |
| Luxury | Ruzizi Tented Camp |
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Full Day Game Drive
Wake early for breakfast, then head into the park for a full day of morning and afternoon game drives in search of Akagera’s larger mammals — elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, several antelope species, and lions.
Most game drives in Akagera take place in the northern sector of the park, where you will spend the bulk of the day before returning to the lodge in the late afternoon. Lunch is taken at one of the park’s picnic sites. Spend the evening relaxing at the lodge, with dinner and an overnight stay to follow.
| Tier | Accommodation |
| Budget | Akagera Transit Lodge |
| Midrange | Akagera Game Lodge |
| Luxury | Ruzizi Tented Camp |
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
After breakfast, check out and begin the journey to Volcanoes National Park in northern Rwanda — home to the endangered mountain gorilla and one of the best places in the world to trek them.
Volcanoes National Park sits near Musanze and Kinigi, approximately two to three hours from Kigali. The drive from Akagera passes back through Kigali City and a number of villages with expansive views, giving you a fuller sense of Rwanda’s nickname — the land of a thousand hills. You will stop for photos at several viewpoints along the way.
Lunch is taken en route, and you will arrive at the park in the evening. Check in at your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
| Tier | Accommodation |
| Budget | Hotel Muhabura |
| Midrange | Le Bambou |
| Luxury | Five Volcanoes |
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Gorilla Trekking Safari
Wake early for breakfast before heading to the park headquarters in Kinigi for a briefing on the rules and etiquette of trekking in the presence of mountain gorillas. You will be assigned a gorilla family to trek, in groups of eight, and set off with armed rangers and guides.
Gorilla in Volcanoes National Park
The trek into the forests of Volcanoes National Park takes anywhere from thirty minutes to six hours, depending on where the gorilla family settled the previous night. Once you find them, you will spend one hour in their presence, watching them care for one another, play in the trees, and go about their day — photography is welcome, as long as your flash is switched off. Afterward, trek back to the headquarters to collect your certificate, meet your guide, and return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
| Tier | Accommodation |
| Budget | Hotel Muhabura |
| Midrange | Le Bambou |
| Luxury | Five Volcanoes |
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: Departure
After breakfast, check out and head back to Kigali. Depending on your flight schedule, you will be dropped at the airport for your journey home, with plenty of memories to look back on.
Meal Plan: Breakfast
End of Safari
