7-Day Best of Rwanda

One week, the whole story: Big Five savannah in Akagera, mountain gorillas in the Virungas, and a slow day on Lake Kivu to let it all settle. This is the itinerary we recommend when someone asks for 'the' Rwanda trip — it touches every landscape the country does best, and thanks to Rwanda's compact geography and excellent roads, no single drive exceeds five hours.

The route runs east to west: savannah sunrises and a boat among hippos first, then north to the volcanoes for the gorilla trek, finishing on the lake shore where the only item on the agenda is a sunset kayak. Luxury lodges and tented camps throughout, with the permit and park logistics handled entirely by your operator.