What to Do on a One-Week Safari in Rwanda: Rwanda packs an extraordinary range of wild experiences into a small, accessible country. Within seven days, you can track mountain gorillas through mist-draped bamboo forests, follow chimpanzees through ancient canopy, spot lions and rhinos on open savannah, and unwind on the calm shores of one of Africa’s great lakes. Anthill Safaris has crafted this one-week itinerary to give you the very best Rwanda has to offer — seamlessly, comfortably, and memorably.
Kigali ➔ Akagera National Park ➔ Nyungwe Forest ➔ Lake Kivu ➔ Volcanoes National Park
Day 1: Culture in Kigali & Journey to the Savannah
Start your Rwanda adventure in the capital. In the morning, visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial. It is a sobering and important place that tells the story of Rwanda’s darkest chapter with honesty and dignity. Taking time here helps you understand the resilience behind the country you are about to explore.
After the memorial, your driver heads east toward the savannah plains. By evening, you arrive at Akagera National Park, where a sunset boat cruise on Lake Ihema welcomes you to the wild. Hippos surface at the water’s edge, crocodiles bask on muddy banks, and the golden light turns the lake into something truly spectacular. It is a fitting, gentle start before the bigger adventures ahead.
Day 2: The Big Five in Akagera National Park
Wake up early. Akagera rewards those who rise before the heat, and a morning game drive through the park’s open grasslands and wooded hills gives you the best chance of spotting lions, rhinos, leopards, giraffes, and elephants. Rwanda reintroduced lions and black rhinos to Akagera in recent years, so every sighting carries real weight. After your drive, enjoy a relaxed lunch at the lodge before your driver takes you south toward Nyungwe. The landscape shifts dramatically as the road climbs into the highlands — rolling tea estates replacing savannah as the country changes gear around you.
Day 3: Primates & Canopy Walks in Nyungwe National Park
What to do on a one-week safari in Rwanda: This is a day of firsts. Nyungwe National Park is one of Africa’s oldest and most biodiverse rainforests, and your morning begins with a guided chimpanzee trek into its dense interior. Trackers lead the way through the undergrowth, following calls and movement until you find a group feeding, playing, or moving through the trees above. However, Chimpanzees share roughly 98 percent of human DNA, and watching them up close is one of the most powerful wildlife moments you will ever experience.
In the afternoon, step onto the East African canopy walkway — a suspension bridge that carries you 60 metres above the forest floor. The views over the treetops are breathtaking, and the birdlife alone is worth the walk. Round off the day with a tour and tasting at the nearby Gisakura Tea Estate, where lush green rows of tea stretch as far as the eye can see. Sipping a fresh cup there, surrounded by that landscape, is one of Rwanda’s quieter pleasures.
Day 4: Relaxation at Lake Kivu
What to do on a one-week safari in Rwanda: After two active days, Lake Kivu offers a welcome change of pace. The drive west from Nyungwe winds along scenic roads above the Congolese border, with sweeping views dropping away on both sides. Once you reach the lake, the afternoon is yours. Take a boat out to Coffee Island, kayak along the quiet shore, or simply swim in the fresh, crocodile-free waters. Lake Kivu is one of Africa’s Great Lakes, and its calm, blue surface backed by green hills feels a world away from the forest and savannah you have just left. This is a day to breathe, rest, and prepare for what comes next.
Day 5: Volcanoes & History in Musanze
Today you travel north to Musanze, the small town that serves as the gateway to the Virunga Mountains and Volcanoes National Park. The drive offers some of Rwanda’s most dramatic scenery as the volcanic peaks come into view on the horizon. After settling in, spend the afternoon exploring two very different but equally fascinating sites.
The Musanze Caves stretch for over two kilometres beneath the earth and carry real geological and historical significance — they sheltered thousands of Rwandans during times of conflict. A guided tour is both interesting and moving. Alternatively, visit the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, which opened in 2022 and tells the story of the pioneering conservation work that helped save mountain gorillas from extinction. Either way, today builds the context and anticipation that make tomorrow all the more meaningful.
Day 6: The Gorilla Trekking Experience
This is the centrepiece of your Rwanda safari, and it more than lives up to the anticipation. In addition, the morning begins at the Volcanoes National Park headquarters, where rangers brief your small group and assign you to a gorilla family. Then you head into the forest. The trek itself varies — it could take one hour or several, depending on where the gorillas have moved — but your experienced Anthill Safaris guide and the park rangers ensure you travel at a comfortable pace.
When you finally reach the gorilla family and sit quietly among them, time stops. As a result, you spend one hour in their presence. On the other hand, Silverbacks move with calm authority. Juveniles play and tumble. Mothers nurse infants just metres away. It is an experience that is almost impossible to describe and entirely impossible to forget.
In the afternoon, visit the Gorilla Guardians Village, where former poachers turned conservation advocates now share their culture through traditional dance, archery, and storytelling. The connection between community and conservation that Rwanda has built is genuinely inspiring, and this visit brings it to life.
Day 7: Golden Monkeys & Departure
Your final months in the Virungas bring one more wildlife encounter. The golden monkey trek is lighter and shorter than gorilla trekking, making it a perfect farewell activity. Furthermore, these brilliantly coloured, endangered primates move fast and playfully through the bamboo foothills, and their energy is infectious. More so, it is a joyful way to close out a week of remarkable wildlife experiences.
After the three hours, your driver takes you back to Kigali in time for your international departure. In addition, the drive gives you a chance to reflect on everything you have seen — the gorillas, the chimpanzees, the lions, the canopy walkway, the tea estates, and the lake. Besides, Rwanda is a country that stays with you long after you leave, and with Anthill Safaris by your side, every moment of your week will have been handled with care, expertise, and genuine passion for this extraordinary destination.
Essential Safari Preparation
| Requirement | Details |
| Best Time to Travel | June to August or December to February — the dry seasons offer much easier trekking conditions. |
| Gorilla Permits | Standard permits cost $1,500 USD per person. Book yours months in advance through Anthill Safaris to secure your spot. |
| Packing Essentials | Sturdy hiking boots, gardening gloves for grabbing branches on steep slopes, long trousers, and a waterproof rain jacket. |
What to do on a one-week safari in Rwanda: Ready to experience Rwanda? Contact Anthill Safaris today to plan your perfect one-week safari — from gorilla permits to lakeside escapes, we handle every detail.
