Most travellers need 3 days in Rwanda for gorilla trekking alone, 5 days to add chimpanzees or a savannah safari, and 7 to 10 days to see all of the main national parks without rushing. Rwanda is small: Volcanoes and Akagera are each about 2.5 hours by road from Kigali, Lake Kivu 3 to 4 hours and Nyungwe 5 to 6 hours. Here is how to choose the right length for your trip, with sample itineraries and prices for each.
How many days in Rwanda: the short answer
| Trip length | What you can see | Sample journey (per person, 2 sharing) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 to 3 days | Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes, or Big Five in Akagera, or a rest on Lake Kivu | 3 Days Gorilla Trekking Safari, from US$2,650 |
| 4 days | Chimpanzees and the canopy walkway in Nyungwe | 4 Days Nyungwe Chimpanzee & Canopy Escape, from US$1,450 |
| 5 days | Gorillas and chimpanzees, or savannah and rainforest | 5 Days Gorillas & Chimpanzees, from US$3,550 |
| 6 days | Gorillas with Kigali culture, or two gorilla treks | 6 Days Double Gorilla & Golden Monkey Safari, from US$5,500 |
| 7 days | Kigali, Akagera, gorillas and Lake Kivu | 7 Days The Rwanda Grand Journey, from US$4,200 |
| 10 days | Every major park, including Nyungwe | 10 Days The Ultimate Rwanda Safari, from US$5,650 |
How far apart are Rwanda’s parks?
Distances are short, but roads wind through hills, so travel times matter more than kilometres. These are typical drive times by road:
- Kigali to Volcanoes National Park: about 2.5 hours. See our Volcanoes National Park guide.
- Kigali to Akagera National Park: about 2.5 hours. See our Akagera National Park guide.
- Kigali to Lake Kivu: about 3 to 4 hours, or about 1.5 hours from Volcanoes to Rubavu. See our Lake Kivu guide.
- Kigali to Nyungwe National Park: about 5 to 6 hours. See our Nyungwe National Park guide.
- Volcanoes to Nyungwe: most of a day, following the shore of Lake Kivu south.
Akagera is in the east, and Volcanoes, Lake Kivu and Nyungwe are in the west and south-west. A good route moves in one direction rather than doubling back through Kigali, which is why longer trips feel easy while very short trips that try to cover everything feel rushed.
2 to 3 days: gorillas, or one park done well
Three days is enough for a focused trip. On a gorilla trip you drive to Volcanoes National Park on day one, trek the next morning and return to Kigali on day three. A gorilla permit costs US$1,500 per person and you spend one hour with the family once you find them. See our 3 Days Gorilla Trekking Safari and our full gorilla trekking guide.
Three days also suits Akagera on its own, with game drives and a boat safari on Lake Ihema (3 Days Akagera Big Five Safari, from US$1,100), or a slow break on the shores of Lake Kivu (3 Days Lake Kivu Retreat, from US$850).
A gorilla trek in a single day from Kigali is possible, but it means leaving in the very early hours and returning in the evening. We recommend at least one night near the park so the trek is the highlight of the day rather than the middle of a long drive.
4 to 5 days: add a second landscape
With four or five days you can combine two very different parts of Rwanda. The most popular pairing is gorillas in Volcanoes with chimpanzees in Nyungwe, linked by a scenic drive along Lake Kivu: our 5 Days Gorillas & Chimpanzees journey, from US$3,550.
If you would rather see savannah wildlife, our 5 Days Savannah & Rainforest journey crosses the country from Akagera in the east, through the royal heartland of Nyanza, to Nyungwe in the south-west, from US$1,950. Nyungwe on its own needs four days because of the drive, as on our 4-day Nyungwe escape. Read more in our chimpanzee trekking guide.
6 to 7 days: the classic Rwanda journey
A week is the length we most often suggest for a first visit. It allows Kigali, Akagera’s savannah, the mountain gorillas and a relaxing finish on Lake Kivu, travelling from east to west without backtracking. See 7 Days The Rwanda Grand Journey, from US$4,200.
Six days works well if the gorillas matter most. You can trek twice, usually to two different families, with golden monkey tracking in between (6 Days Double Gorilla & Golden Monkey Safari, from US$5,500), or spend more time in Kigali before the trek (6 Days Kigali Culture & Gorillas, from US$3,700). For a more refined stay, our 5-day luxury gorilla safari is priced on request.
8 to 10 days: all of Rwanda
Ten days lets you see every major park at an unhurried pace: game drives in Akagera, gorillas and golden monkeys in the volcanoes, time on Lake Kivu, the drive south along the lake and chimpanzees in Nyungwe. It suits travellers who want to see the whole country once, properly. See 10 Days The Ultimate Rwanda Safari, from US$5,650.
How to decide how long you need
- Gorillas only: 3 days.
- Gorillas and chimpanzees: 5 days.
- Gorillas and savannah wildlife: 6 to 7 days.
- Every park: 9 to 10 days.
- Rest at the end: add 2 to 3 days on Lake Kivu after any safari.
- Culture: add a day in Kigali at the start or end.
Things that add a day
- Late arrivals. Many international flights land in Kigali in the evening, so the first day is often just the transfer to your hotel.
- Fixed permit dates. Gorilla and chimpanzee permits are issued for a specific day, so the rest of the route is planned around them.
- Nyungwe’s distance. It is the furthest park from Kigali, so it adds more time than its place on the map suggests.
- Rest after trekking. Treks can take most of a morning on steep ground. A slower day afterwards makes the next long drive more pleasant.
- Season. In the rainy months, roads and trails are slower. See the best time to visit Rwanda.
Prices are per person based on 2 people sharing, mid-range lodges, with permits included where listed. Solo travellers, larger groups and luxury lodges are priced on request. For a full breakdown, see how much a Rwanda safari costs. Permit prices are set by the Rwanda Development Board and may change.
How many days in Rwanda: frequently asked questions
Is 3 days enough for Rwanda?
Three days is enough to trek mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park, or to see one other park such as Akagera or Lake Kivu. It is not enough to see several parks without long days on the road.
How many days do I need for gorilla trekking in Rwanda?
Plan for at least 3 days: one to reach Volcanoes National Park, one for the trek and one to return to Kigali. Volcanoes is about 2.5 hours by road from Kigali.
Can I see gorillas and chimpanzees in 5 days?
Yes. Our 5 Days Gorillas & Chimpanzees journey visits Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Parks, with a drive along Lake Kivu between them. It starts from US$3,550 per person, 2 sharing.
Is one week enough for Rwanda?
Yes. A week covers Kigali, Akagera, the mountain gorillas and Lake Kivu at a comfortable pace. Add two to three days if you also want chimpanzees in Nyungwe.
Can I do a gorilla trek as a day trip from Kigali?
It is possible, but it means leaving in the early hours and returning in the evening. We recommend at least one night near Volcanoes National Park.
How many days do I need for Akagera National Park?
One or two nights is ideal. Akagera is about 2.5 hours from Kigali, and two nights allow morning and afternoon game drives and a boat safari on Lake Ihema.
Related guides: golden monkey tracking, safety and health in Rwanda and Rwanda visa requirements.
Written by the Epic Rwanda Safaris team in Kigali. Prices and drive times checked October 2026; permit fees are set by the Rwanda Development Board and may change.
Let us shape the right length for you
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