A 7-day Rwanda gorilla safari fits the country’s three signature experiences into one week: a Big Five game drive in Akagera National Park, mountain gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, and a rest day on Lake Kivu. Rwanda is one of the few safari destinations where this is possible without internal flights: every stop on this route is within about 2.5 hours of Kigali on paved roads. Expect to pay from roughly $4,500 to $5,500 per person at mid-range lodges, including the $1,500 gorilla permit set by the Rwanda Development Board (RDB). This is the itinerary we run most often at Rwanda Eco Company, refined over hundreds of departures since 2008. Here is the week, day by day.
Day 1: Arrive in Kigali
Land at Kigali International Airport, meet your guide, and settle into the capital. Kigali is clean, safe, and easy to enjoy on foot, and how you spend the afternoon depends on your arrival time. If you have a half day, visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial, an essential and moving introduction to modern Rwanda, then browse the Kimironko market or the craft cooperatives at Caplaki. Dinner options range from Rwandan buffets to some of East Africa’s best coffee culture.
Overnight: Kigali. Drive time: airport transfer only.
Day 2: Kigali to Akagera National Park
After breakfast, drive about 2.5 hours east to Akagera National Park, Rwanda’s Big Five savanna reserve along the Tanzanian border. Akagera is one of conservation’s great comeback stories: lions were reintroduced in 2015 and black rhinos in 2017, restoring the park to full Big Five status. Spend the afternoon on a game drive through the southern lakes region, then take a sunset boat safari on Lake Ihema, where hippos, crocodiles, and some of Africa’s densest waterbird life crowd the shoreline.
Overnight: Akagera (inside or beside the park). Park fees: about $100 per person per day.
Day 3: Full morning in Akagera, return toward Kigali
Set out early, when lions and leopards are most active, and work north through the park’s open plains: elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffalo, and, with luck, a rhino sighting. After a picnic lunch, exit the park and drive back to Kigali for the evening, positioned for the transfer to gorilla country the next morning.
Overnight: Kigali.
Day 4: Kigali to Musanze, gateway to the gorillas
Drive about 2.5 hours northwest through Rwanda’s terraced hills to Musanze, the base town for Volcanoes National Park. The afternoon is deliberately light ahead of trek day: visit the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund to understand the science behind gorilla conservation, walk the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo, or simply rest at your lodge with the Virunga volcanoes on the horizon.
Overnight: Musanze/Kinigi area, near the park headquarters.
Day 5: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
The centerpiece of the week. Report to the Kinigi park headquarters by 7:00 am for briefing and assignment to one of the park’s habituated gorilla families, in groups of no more than eight visitors. The hike to your assigned family can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 4 hours or more through bamboo and open meadow at 2,500 to 3,000 meters. Then come the 60 minutes that justify the whole trip: an hour with a wild mountain gorilla family, often within a few meters of a silverback. Roughly 1,000 mountain gorillas remain on Earth, and the Virunga massif shelters the majority of them alongside Bwindi in Uganda, so this hour is one of the rarest wildlife encounters anywhere.
Read our full guide to what to expect on gorilla trek day for the hour-by-hour rundown, packing list, and rules.
Permit: $1,500 per person, booked months ahead. Porter (recommended): $10 to $20.
Day 6: Golden monkeys or Dian Fossey hike, then Lake Kivu
Two excellent morning options in the same park. Golden monkey tracking (about $100) is a shorter, easier trek to see the endangered, strikingly photogenic monkeys found only in this region. Alternatively, hike to Dian Fossey’s Karisoke research site and grave ($75), a pilgrimage for anyone moved by her work. Either way, you are done by midday, and the afternoon is a scenic 1.5-to-2-hour drive to Lake Kivu at Gisenyi (Rubavu), where the pace finally slows: swim, kayak, or take a boat ride past fishing villages as the sun drops.
Overnight: Lake Kivu.
Day 7: Lake Kivu morning, return to Kigali, depart
A relaxed final morning on the lake, perhaps a coffee-farm tour on the shore (Rwanda’s lakeside coffee is exceptional), then the 3-hour drive back to Kigali for an afternoon or evening flight. If your flight leaves late, there is time for last souvenir shopping in the capital.
What this week costs
| Item | Typical cost per person |
|---|---|
| Gorilla permit (RDB) | $1,500 |
| Golden monkey or Fossey hike permit | $75–$100 |
| Akagera park fees (2 days) | ~$200 |
| Mid-range lodges, private guide/vehicle, meals | $2,500–$3,500 |
| Total, mid-range | ~$4,500–$5,500 |
Luxury lodges such as those bordering Volcanoes National Park raise the total to $8,000 or more per person. For a full cost breakdown, including where to save and where not to, see our Rwanda gorilla trekking cost guide, and for a comparison of lodge tiers, our guide to luxury vs budget gorilla safaris.
How to adjust this itinerary
- More gorillas, less savanna: drop Akagera and add a second gorilla trek (a second $1,500 permit) or chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest.
- Shorter trip: the core of this route condenses into our 3 Days Rwanda Gorilla Trekking Safari, which covers just Kigali and the gorilla trek.
- More comfort: the same route runs at top-tier lodges as our 7 Days Luxury Rwanda Safari.
- Different balance: our 7 Days Epic Rwanda Safari Adventure is the ready-made version of this exact week.
“Seven days is the sweet spot for Rwanda,” says Reginal Hakizimana, founder of Rwanda Eco Company and Safaris. “You trek the gorillas without rushing, you see lions in Akagera, and you still get a quiet morning on Lake Kivu before you fly home. Guests are always surprised that it all fits, but that is Rwanda: everything is close.”
Practical notes for the week
A few things that make this route run smoothly. Money: US dollars are widely accepted for permits, tips, and lodges, but bring bills printed 2009 or later and carry some Rwandan francs for markets and small purchases; ATMs are reliable in Kigali and Musanze. Packing: one bag covers the week, but keep a separate daypack for trek day with rain gear, gloves, and water, and note that single-use plastic bags are banned in Rwanda and may be confiscated at the airport. Connectivity: 4G coverage is good along this entire route, and lodges have Wi-Fi, so staying reachable is easy. Health: the gorilla-country stops sit at altitude and are essentially malaria-free, while Akagera and Lake Kivu are lower and warmer, so most doctors advise malaria prophylaxis for the full route. Driving: all transfers on this itinerary are on paved roads, one of the underrated luxuries of a Rwanda safari.
When to book
Gorilla permits drive the calendar. The RDB issues a maximum of 96 permits per day, and the June to September dry season sells out months ahead, so book 3 to 6 months in advance and let the confirmed trek date anchor the rest of the week. Our guide to booking gorilla permits covers the process step by step, and best time for gorilla trekking in Rwanda covers seasons in detail.
Rwanda Eco Company and Safaris is a Kigali-based operator founded by Reginal Hakizimana, guiding gorilla safaris since 2008, and a member of RTTA, ASTA, ATTA, and USTOA, with a 5.0/5 rating across 238 TripAdvisor reviews. Browse our Rwanda safaris or contact our team to build this week around your dates and permit availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 7 days enough for a Rwanda gorilla safari? +
Yes. Seven days is the ideal length for a first Rwanda safari. Rwanda is compact, with paved roads and short drives: Akagera National Park is about 2.5 hours from Kigali and Volcanoes National Park about 2.5 hours in the other direction. A week comfortably fits Kigali, a Big Five game drive in Akagera, gorilla trekking, golden monkey tracking, and downtime on Lake Kivu without long travel days.
How much does a 7-day Rwanda gorilla safari cost? +
A privately guided 7-day Rwanda gorilla safari typically costs from about $4,500 to $5,500 per person at mid-range lodges, and $8,000 or more per person at luxury lodges. The largest fixed cost is the gorilla permit at $1,500 per person, set by the Rwanda Development Board. Other permit costs include golden monkey tracking at about $100 and Akagera park fees at about $100 per day.
How far in advance should I book gorilla permits for a 7-day itinerary? +
Book gorilla permits 3 to 6 months in advance, and earlier for the June to September dry season, when the 96 daily permits for Volcanoes National Park regularly sell out. Your tour operator secures the permit through the Rwanda Development Board once you confirm your trek date, so the itinerary is usually built around the permit date first.
What is the best time of year for this itinerary? +
The long dry season from June to September is the best window: trails in Volcanoes National Park are drier, Akagera's wildlife concentrates around water, and Lake Kivu is at its sunniest. The short dry season from mid-December to early February is a good second choice. The itinerary runs year-round, though, and the long rains (March to May) bring lower lodge rates and greener scenery.
Can I do this itinerary in reverse? +
Yes. The route works in either direction because Kigali sits centrally between Akagera and Volcanoes National Park. Many travelers prefer ending with the gorilla trek as the finale, but scheduling is usually driven by the permit date. Your operator will arrange the week around whichever trek date the Rwanda Development Board confirms.
Do I need a visa and any vaccinations for Rwanda? +
Most nationalities, including US citizens, receive a 30-day visa on arrival at Kigali International Airport for $50, or can apply online in advance. A yellow fever certificate is required only if you arrive from a country with risk of transmission. Rwanda is malarial at lower elevations such as Akagera and Lake Kivu, so most doctors advise prophylaxis for this route.
How fit do I need to be for the gorilla trek on this itinerary? +
Moderately fit. The gorilla trek is the most physical day of the week: hikes range from 30 minutes to 4 hours or more each way at 2,500 to 3,000 meters of elevation. Rangers can assign nearer gorilla families to travelers who request an easier trek, and hiring a porter for $10 to $20 helps considerably. The rest of the itinerary involves game drives, boat rides, and optional short walks.
Updated August 5, 2026