This route starts in Kigali, moves southwest into Nyungwe’s montane rainforest for primates and canopy walking, then crosses the country to Akagera, Rwanda’s only savanna park and home to the Big Five. It’s a good balance of forest and plains, and the drives are scenic rather than punishing.

Quick Overview

Day 1: Kigali to Nyungwe (approx. 5 to 6 hours)

Depart Kigali early, around 7:00 am, heading southwest along the scenic Huye road. Stop in Huye (Butare) to visit the Ethnographic Museum, widely considered the best museum in Rwanda, for a grounding in the country’s culture and history. Lunch can be taken in Huye before continuing through increasingly dramatic hill country.

The final stretch climbs through the Nyungwe tea estates, where emerald terraces give way to the edge of the forest. Arrive at your lodge by mid to late afternoon, check in, and rest. If energy allows, take a short guided walk near the lodge or simply enjoy the forest views from the terrace. Early to bed is wise, since tomorrow starts before dawn.

Day 2: Chimpanzee Trekking

Nyungwe is one of Africa’s oldest rainforests, with roughly 13 primate species, and its chimpanzee trekking is among the most rewarding in East Africa.

Meet at the trailhead around 5:00 to 5:30 am for a briefing. Trekkers are assigned to a habituated community, often the Mayebe group near Uwinka or the Cyamudongo group in the forest fragment to the southwest. Trekking takes anywhere from two to six hours depending on where the chimps have nested. Terrain can be steep, muddy and humid, so sturdy boots, long trousers, gaiters and a light rain jacket are essential.

Once you locate the chimps, you get one hour in their company. You may see them feeding in fig trees, grooming, or crashing through the canopy with impressive speed and noise. Photography without flash is allowed, but keep a 10 metre distance.

Return to the lodge for a late lunch and a well-earned rest. In the late afternoon, consider a short guided bird walk; Nyungwe hosts over 300 bird species, including many Albertine Rift endemics such as the Rwenzori turaco.

Day 3: Canopy Walk and Colobus Monkeys

After yesterday’s early start, begin a little later. Head to the Uwinka Visitor Centre for the Canopy Walkway, a suspension bridge roughly 70 metres above the forest floor and about 160 metres long. It’s East Africa’s only canopy walk, and the views over the treetops are spectacular, especially in the morning mist. Guides on the trail often point out birds and monkeys at eye level.

Next, choose one of the following:

• Colobus monkey tracking (Gisakura area): follow a troop of up to several hundred Angolan colobus, one of the largest groups in Africa.
• Waterfall hike (Isumo): a more strenuous half-day trail ending at a pretty waterfall.
• Tea plantation tour: visit the Gisakura Tea Estate, see the leaves processed, and taste the final product.

Spend the evening relaxing at the lodge. Many properties offer a fireside dinner, and you may hear the forest come alive after dark.

Day 4: Nyungwe to Akagera (approx. 8 to 9 hours total)

This is the longest travel day. Leave early, around 6:30 am, retracing your route to Kigali, a drive of about 5 hours with a lunch stop. From Kigali, continue east for another 2 to 2.5 hours to Akagera National Park. The landscape changes from highland to rolling savanna as you approach the park.

Arrive at your lodge by early evening, in time for sundowners overlooking the park. If you’d rather split the journey, consider spending a night in Kigali, though this adds a day or compresses the Akagera portion.

Day 5: Akagera Full-Day Game Drive

Akagera was once devastated by poaching and conflict, but a long-running conservation partnership between the Rwanda Development Board and African Parks has brought remarkable recovery. Lions and black rhinos were reintroduced, and the park is now home to all of the Big Five, including a growing leopard presence.

Start with a dawn game drive at 6:00 am, when predators are most active and light is best. Typical sightings include:

• Elephants, buffalo and giraffe
• Zebra, topi, impala, waterbuck and eland
• Hippos and crocodiles at the lakes
• Lions, often resting near the southern plains
• Black and white rhinos, with luck

Return to the lodge for a leisurely breakfast and midday break, then head out again at 3:30 pm for an afternoon drive through the northern and central sectors. Aim to be back as the sun sets.

Day 6: Boat Safari and Night Drive

Spend the morning on Lake Ihema, one of the park’s largest lakes. The boat safari gets you close to one of Africa’s densest hippo populations, plus Nile crocodiles, fish eagles, pelicans, kingfishers and the elusive shoebill stork, which is occasionally spotted in the papyrus swamps. Boats are quiet and give excellent photo opportunities.

After lunch and downtime, consider a cultural visit or short guided bush walk if available. Then, in the evening, take a guided night drive, one of the park’s highlights. Spotlights reveal nocturnal species such as civets, genets, bushbabies, porcupines, and sometimes hyenas or leopards. Night drives are led by park rangers and need to be booked in advance.

Day 7: Akagera to Kigali and Departure

Enjoy one last early morning game drive for a final chance at any species you missed, then return to the lodge for breakfast. Depart for Kigali (2 to 2.5 hours), arriving around midday. Depending on your flight, you could squeeze in a stop at the Kigali Genocide Memorial for a respectful and moving final reflection, or browse the Kimironko Market and craft shops for souvenirs.

Transfer to Kigali International Airport (Bugesera International Airport, if your airline has moved operations there; confirm in advance).

Midrange Lodge Options

Nyungwe

• Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel (Gisakura): Comfortable rooms, good local food, and nice forest and tea views. Often a budget-friendly midrange choice, roughly $100 to $150 per room.
• Nyungwe Nziza Ecolodge (Kitabi): A smaller eco-oriented property near the Kitabi side of the forest, with a quieter feel and community links. Roughly $120 to $180.
• Gisakura Guest House (Gisakura): Simple but friendly, close to the tea estate and the colobus trails. Often $60 to $100, a good lower-midrange option.
• Nyungwe House is a luxury option if you want to upgrade, but it’s well above midrange, at $500+ per night.

Akagera

• Karenge Bush Camp: A tented camp on the park’s edge with a rustic safari feel, solid food and good guides. Roughly $150 to $250.
• Ruzizi Tented Lodge (Lake Ihema): Elevated tents with wonderful lake views and plenty of hippo sounds at night. Roughly $200 to $350, upper midrange.
• Akagera Rhino Lodge: A budget-to-midrange option near the park’s southern entrance, with straightforward rooms and a pool. Roughly $80 to $150.
• Magashi Camp sits at the luxury end, so consider it only if you want to splurge.

Prices are approximate and fluctuate by season; confirm current rates and availability before booking.

Practical Tips

• Permits: Book chimpanzee trekking permits well ahead through the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) or your tour operator, as slots are limited. Permits for Nyungwe are considerably cheaper than gorilla permits, but costs change, so verify current rates.
• Best time to visit: The dry seasons, June to September and December to February, offer easier trekking and better game viewing. The forest is wet year-round, so pack rain gear regardless.
• Packing: Neutral-coloured clothing, layers (Nyungwe is cool, Akagera hot), insect repellent, binoculars, a headlamp and a good camera with spare batteries.
• Transport: Hiring a private driver-guide is the most practical option for this route. Self-driving is possible, but Akagera requires a vehicle with decent clearance, and the Nyungwe roads wind considerably.
• Health: Consult a travel clinic about malaria prophylaxis (Akagera is lower altitude and a higher-risk zone) and routine vaccinations.
• Park fees: Akagera charges separate fees for entry, vehicles, boat trips and night drives, so budget for these on top of lodging.

This itinerary gives you the best of both worlds: the intimacy of a primate encounter in ancient forest and the thrill of classic savanna wildlife viewing, all within a compact, easily managed route.