5 Days Rwanda Wildlife Safari
The 5 Days Rwanda Wildlife Safari is built for travelers who want to focus on Rwanda’s savanna wildlife in Akagera National Park, without necessarily adding gorilla or chimpanzee trekking to the trip. This itinerary offers extensive game viewing of Akagera’s savanna animals, followed by a relaxed stretch on the scenic shores of Lake Kivu.
If you’d rather combine this itinerary with primate trekking in Rwanda or neighboring Uganda, the route can be customized to fit your schedule; just let your operator know when planning.
Trip Snapshot
| Duration | 5 days / 4 nights |
| Starts / Ends | Kigali |
| Main destinations | Akagera National Park, Lake Kivu |
| Key activities | Kigali city tour, game drives, Lake Ihema boat cruise, Lake Kivu boat cruise and swimming |
| Physical level | Easy |
| Best for | Travelers who want savanna wildlife and lakeside relaxation without primate trekking |
Safari Highlights
- Kigali city tour, including Kimironko Market and the Genocide Memorial
- Lake Ihema boat cruise in Akagera National Park
- Museum visit in Musanze on Dian Fossey’s gorilla conservation legacy
- A full, relaxed day on the shores of Lake Kivu in Gisenyi
Summary Itinerary
| Day | Overview |
| Day 1 | Arrive in Kigali for a city tour |
| Day 2 | Transfer to Akagera National Park, Lake Ihema boat cruise |
| Day 3 | Transfer to Gisenyi, Lake Kivu |
| Day 4 | Full day in Gisenyi |
| Day 5 | Return to Kigali and departure |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Kigali for a City Tour
On arrival, you will be welcomed by your driver-guide and transferred to your hotel in Kigali. Depending on your arrival time, you may instead head straight into a city tour of Kigali, including Kimironko Market and the Genocide Memorial, before transferring to your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation: Step Town Motel
Meal Plan: Dinner
Day 2: Transfer to Akagera National Park, Lake Ihema Boat Cruise
After breakfast, transfer to Akagera National Park, arriving in time for lunch at the lodge. In the afternoon, take a boat cruise on Lake Ihema, where you’ll see hippo, crocodile and a wide variety of birdlife that inhabit the lake and its surrounding swamps. Dinner and an overnight stay at the lodge.
Accommodation: Akagera Game Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Transfer to Gisenyi, Lake Kivu
Wake up to a cup of coffee and visit the museum in Musanze, where you’ll learn about gorilla conservation and the pioneering work of the late Dian Fossey. Leaving Musanze, stop to see the local caves en route to Gisenyi. Continue to Gisenyi, arriving in time for lunch, then relax by the lakeshore. Dinner and an overnight stay.
Accommodation: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Full Day in Gisenyi
Enjoy breakfast in the morning, then spend a full day in the lakeside town of Gisenyi. Take a boat cruise to one of the islands on Lake Kivu, and visit the shoreline for swimming. In the evening, browse the local market and wander the streets, taking in the town’s old colonial-era buildings. Dinner and an overnight stay in Gisenyi.
Accommodation: Lake Kivu Serena Hotel
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: Return to Kigali and Departure
Enjoy breakfast at leisure, then transfer back to Kigali. If your city tour wasn’t possible on arrival, you’ll take a brief tour now before transferring to the airport for your onward flight, bringing your 5 Days Rwanda Wildlife Safari to a close.
Meal Plan: Breakfast
Safari Price Includes
- All boat cruise fees
- All accommodation as specified in the itinerary
- 4×4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof and fuel
- Full-time English-speaking driver-guide
- Park entrance fees
- Vehicle entrance fees
- Bottled mineral water while on safari
- All activities listed in the itinerary
Safari Price Excludes
- Tips
- Visa fees
- Flights
- Personal expenses such as laundry and phone calls
- Anything not listed in the itinerary
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this itinerary suitable if I don’t want to do gorilla trekking?
Yes, this itinerary is specifically designed for travelers who want to focus on Akagera’s savanna wildlife and Lake Kivu’s scenery, without primate trekking, though the route can be customized to add gorilla or chimpanzee trekking if you change your mind.
What can I see on the Lake Ihema boat cruise?
The cruise typically offers sightings of hippo, crocodile and a wide range of birdlife, including water birds that live around the lake’s shoreline and surrounding swamps.
Is swimming safe in Lake Kivu?
Yes, unlike many of the region’s lakes, Lake Kivu is free of bilharzia and generally considered safe for swimming, and it’s a popular activity during the Gisenyi portion of this itinerary.
Can this itinerary be combined with gorilla trekking in Rwanda or Uganda?
Yes, this package can be customized to include primate trekking in either country; discuss your preferences with your operator when booking.
Book Your 5 Days Rwanda Wildlife Safari
For travelers who want Rwanda’s savanna wildlife and lakeside relaxation without the cost or physical demands of primate trekking, this 5-day itinerary offers a genuinely restorative alternative safari experience.
Get in touch to check availability and start planning your 5 Days Rwanda Wildlife Safari.