Can I see the Big Five and chimpanzees on one Rwanda trip?

Yes. Akagera National Park has the Big Five and Nyungwe Forest has chimpanzees, so this 4-day safari covers both.

How far is Nyungwe from Akagera?

There is no direct road, so you return to Kigali first. Kigali to Nyungwe takes about 5 to 6 hours, so this itinerary breaks the journey with a night in Kigali.

Is this safari a good alternative to gorilla trekking?

Yes. It is a great-value option when gorilla permits are sold out or over budget, and it can easily be extended with a gorilla trek.

What is the best time for an Akagera and Nyungwe safari?

June to September and December to February are best, with drier roads in Akagera and easier trails in Nyungwe.

4 Days Akagera and Nyungwe Safari

This Akagera and Nyungwe safari brings together Rwanda’s savannah and rainforest in just four days.

Overview

Day by Day

Includes/Excludes

Safari Map

FAQs

Overview

This Akagera and Nyungwe safari brings together Rwanda’s savannah and rainforest in just four days. Start in Akagera National Park with a sunset boat cruise on Lake Ihema and a full-day game drive in search of the Big Five. Then head southwest to Nyungwe Forest National Park, where you will cross the famous canopy walkway and track chimpanzees in one of Africa’s oldest forests. With a private 4×4 and your own Divulge Adventures driver guide, it is a great-value way to see two very different sides of Rwanda, and a perfect choice if gorilla permits are sold out.

How much does the Akagera and Nyungwe safari cost?

Price on request. The cost depends on your travel dates, group size, the season and the lodges you choose, so we prepare every quote personally rather than showing one fixed price.

WhatsApp us on +254 706 223888, email [email protected] or send the enquiry form on this page, and we will share a detailed quote for your dates.

Safari Highlights

Akagera game drive and Lake Ihema boat cruise
Nyungwe canopy walk
Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest

Day 01 :

Kigali - Akagera National Park (Sunset Boat Cruise)

After pick-up from your Kigali hotel or the airport and commence your Akagera and Nyungwe safari, drive east to Akagera National Park, approximately 2.5 hours, with photo stops along the way. Check in at the lodge for lunch. In the late afternoon, enjoy a sunset boat cruise on Lake Ihema, where hippos, crocodiles and abundant birdlife await.

Return to the lodge for the evening. Dinner and overnight at Akagera Game Lodge | Akagera Rhino Lodge

Day 02 :

Akagera Full-Day Game Drive - Kigali

After an early breakfast, set out on a full-day game drive through Akagera's plains and woodlands, looking for the Big Five, including elephants, buffaloes, lions, rhinos, and leopards. In addition, giraffes, zebras, lions and rhinos, plus a wide variety of birds. This is the best park of your Akagera and Nyungwe safari for the savanna.

Enjoy a picnic lunch in the Akagera National Park before an afternoon drive to the gate and the journey back to Kigali. Dinner and overnight at Park Inn by Radisson Kigali | Hotel Chez Lando

Day 03 :

Kigali - Nyungwe Forest National Park (Canopy Walk)

After breakfast, drive southwest through terraced hills and tea estates to Nyungwe, approximately 5 to 6 hours, with a lunch stop on the way. On arrival, meet your park guide for a briefing and walk the canopy walkway, a 160-metre suspended bridge about 70 metres above the forest floor, for spectacular views of the rainforest.

This will be for best part of your Akagera and Nyungwe safari rainforest. Check in at your lodge for the evening. Dinner and overnight at Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel | Gisakura Guest House

Day 04 :

Chimpanzee Trekking - Kigali

Rise early with a packed breakfast for your chimpanzee trek. Follow your ranger guide through the forest and spend one hour with a habituated chimpanzee community, with chances to see other primates and forest birds along the way.

Return to the lodge, check out and drive back to Kigali, arriving in the evening for drop-off at your hotel or Kigali International Airport. Marking the end of your 4 day Akagera and Nyungwe safari.