Luxury Rwanda Family Safaris With Kids, Teens & Adults Only
Rwanda offers exceptional family safaris centered around its national parks, including Volcanoes National Park for gorilla trekking, Akagera National Park for savanna wildlife, and Nyungwe Forest National Park for chimpanzee tracking and canopy walks. Family activities also include cultural village visits, boat trips on Lake Kivu, and exploring the Musanze Caves, with many tour operators providing all-inclusive, family-friendly packages and accommodation.
Rwanda Family Safari with Kids is a wise and wonderful choice on an East African family safari. Rwanda is a small country relatively smaller than Scotland, however beaming with all nature’s beauty, culture has wonderfully hospitable people and has a wide range of wildlife which includes the most endangered primate species; the mountain gorillas where you and your family will have a great time during the gorilla trekking. Rwanda is situated in East-Central Africa and is remarkably one of the growing destinations, famously known for its historical sad stories and home to the most endangered primate species, the Mountain Gorillas.
A Rwanda Family Safari With Kids, Teens & Adults Only will offer a great opportunity for children to experience and open their minds to a new part of the world. Rwanda is the best destination to unleash your child’s imagination and explore unique Africa, with the country habituating the mesmerizing flora and fauna, and the culture of Rwanda will offer you and your family a great experience of the wilderness family safari. A family safari to Rwanda with children aged 15 years and above will only be awful with lots of outdoor activities to do on your safari.
Rwanda Family Safari Packages
Rwanda family safari packages offer diverse adventures including gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe Forest, and wildlife viewing in Akagera National Park.
Rwanda Safari Packages can be customised by duration, from short 2-day trips to longer 10-14 day adventures, with prices varying based on accommodation and included activities.
Family-friendly options, even for young children, focus on other activities like cultural tours, boat cruises, and, for older family members, gorilla trekking.
1 Day Akagera National Park
A one-day trip to Akagera National Park from Kigali is a feasible but long and early start, involving a 2-3 hour drive to the park, a ~4-6 hour game drive to see the “Big Five” (elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes, rhinos) and other wildlife like zebras, giraffes, and hippos, a picnic lunch, and a drive back to Kigali by evening. The experience focuses on a game drive to witness the diverse savannah, wetland, and lake ecosystems, with options to add a boat cruise on Lake Ihema if time permits.
2 Day Akagera Wildlife Safari
A 2-day Akagera wildlife safari offers a concise adventure in Rwanda’s sole savannah park, featuring game drives and a boat cruise on Lake Ihema for a chance to see the Big Five (lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, buffaloes), plus zebras, giraffes, and diverse birdlife, including the rare shoebill stork. The typical itinerary involves an early morning departure from Kigali, a boat cruise and lodge check-in on Day 1, and a morning game drive and departure back to Kigali on Day 2.
3 Days Akagera National Park Safari
A 3-day Akagera National Park safari in Rwanda is a short, wildlife-focused tour beginning and ending in Kigali, featuring game drives for encounters with the Big Five (lions, elephants, buffaloes, rhinos, leopards) and other animals, a scenic boat cruise on Lake Ihema to see hippos and crocodiles, and often a cultural visit or Kigali city tour. The trip typically includes private transfers, accommodation, meals, and a professional driver-guide in a safari vehicle, offering a diverse experience of Rwanda’s landscapes, wildlife, and culture.
4 Days Akagera National Park Safari
A 4-day Akagera National Park safari in Rwanda typically includes game drives to see the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, rhino) and other wildlife, an evening boat cruise on Lake Ihema to view hippos and crocodiles, and potentially a Kigali city tour before or after the park. Safaris often involve accommodation within or near the park, with activities like nature walks or community visits available.
Rwanda Wildlife Safaris
Rwanda wildlife safaris offer unique wildlife viewing, particularly gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park and chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe Forest National Park. For a more traditional safari experience, visit Akagera National Park to see the “Big Five” such as lions, elephants, and buffalo. Safari durations vary from 1-day trips to 10-day comprehensive tours, and many are combined with cultural experiences and visits to memorials.
Kigali City Tour
A Kigali City Tour in Rwanda offers a cultural and historical immersion, highlighting the capital’s transformation and resilience. Tours typically include visits to the poignant Kigali Genocide Memorial, Kimironko Market for local crafts and produce, the Kandt House Museum (Natural History Museum), and panoramic views from Mount Kigali. You can expect private transport, a traditional Rwandan lunch, and opportunities to engage with local life through milk bars and art galleries.
1 Day Rwanda Gorilla Trekking
A one-day Rwanda gorilla trekking experience is an extremely early-start activity that involves a 2-hour drive from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park, a morning briefing at the park headquarters, followed by a trek into the forest to observe a habituated gorilla family for one hour. After the trek, you’ll return to the park headquarters for a certificate, have lunch, and then be driven back to Kigali. This short tour is ideal for travelers with limited time in Rwanda but requires a gorilla permit, which costs US$1,500 per person, and ideally, an overnight stay in Rwanda the night before the trek.
2 Day Gorilla Trek Rwanda
A 2-day gorilla trek in Rwanda is a short but intensive safari to Volcanoes National Park to see mountain gorillas in their natural habitat. The tour starts with a transfer from Kigali, includes the gorilla trekking permit and experience, and concludes with a transfer back to Kigali. Along the way, you can visit other local attractions like the Kigali Genocide Memorial, the beautiful Twin Lakes of Burera and Ruhondo, or the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village.
Long Rwanda Safaris
Long safaris in Rwanda, typically lasting 7 days or more, offer in-depth experiences beyond just gorilla trekking, including chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe National Park, wildlife viewing and game drives in Akagera National Park, a canopy walk, Lake Kivu holidays, and cultural excursions. These extended itineraries are designed to provide a comprehensive insight into Rwanda’s natural beauty, diverse wildlife, and rich culture by visiting multiple destinations and allowing more time to explore.
Double Gorilla Trekking Rwanda
Double gorilla trekking in Rwanda involves two separate gorilla trekking expeditions on different days, each with its own permit, in Volcanoes National Park. This immersive experience allows you to observe and study two distinct gorilla families, gaining a more comprehensive understanding of their unique behaviors and family dynamics. The treks typically take place over 3-4 days, offering a chance to visit other attractions like the Ibyi’wacu cultural village or the Dian Fossey Center.
5-Day Luxury Gorilla Trekking
Embark on the Rwanda Luxury Gorilla Trekking Safari, a remarkable journey into the verdant, mist-laden jungles of the Virunga Mountains, where you will have the extraordinary chance to encounter the captivating mountain gorillas. The apex of this Luxury Gorilla Trekking Safari occurs as you engage in tranquil reflection on the forest floor, only meters from Africa’s magnificent dark-furred big apes. Upon encountering the loving gaze of the mountain gorilla.
3 Day Gorilla Trekking Rwanda
A 3-day gorilla trek in Rwanda offers a time-efficient opportunity to see mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park. The typical itinerary involves a transfer from Kigali to the park, an early start for the trek to find a habituated gorilla family, and a return to Kigali the following day. The trek can be physically demanding, and the park also offers opportunities for golden monkey tracking and cultural visits, providing a comprehensive yet concise experience of Rwanda’s unique primate and cultural offerings.
Rwanda Family Safaris & Vacations
Rwanda is not particularly family-centric. No attractions are specifically intended for minors, and gorilla tracking, the most popular activity for adults, is forbidden for children under 15 years old.
The threat of malaria may deter families with young children. The majority of children will derive enjoyment from several days of safari in Akagera National Park or from leisure on the shores of Lake Kivu.
Highlights
The main draw for most travellers is gorilla tracking in Volcanoes National Park, followed by chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe National Park. This is applicable to families, if all members are at least 15 years old and demonstrate an acceptable level of fitness and a preference for outdoor activities. Children will enjoy safaris in Akagera National Park, which includes all the Big Five and offers boat trips as an alternative to game drives.
Rwanda Family Travel Tips
- Avoid travelling to malarial areas with children who are not developed enough to properly take preventive drugs or accurately communicate any malaria symptoms to their carers.
- Parents with young children should ascertain whether their hotel offers babysitting services and/or child-friendly activities.
- Individuals engaging in gorilla and chimpanzee tracking, along with most forest excursions in Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Parks, must be a minimum of 15 years of age.
Rwanda Family Safari Destinations
Visiting Akagera National Park, a savanna park situated in eastern Rwanda, encompassing approximately 1,112 square kilometres. Akagera National Park derives its name from the Akagera River, which supplies water to Lake Ihema and other lakes within the park. Akagera National Park, created in 1934, is one of Africa’s oldest parks and features numerous lakes, including Lake Mihindi, Lake Hago, Lake Shakan, Lake Ihema, and Lake Rwanyakizinga, among others, which provide stunning vistas within the park.
Akagera National Park hosts diverse wildlife, providing you and your family an excellent opportunity to observe various creatures on your game drive while relishing the refreshing wind from the renowned Lake Ihema. A visit to Akagera National Park is gratifying and valuable, as it provides young visitors the opportunity to observe wildlife, including the Big Five, giraffes, zebras, topis, Cape elands, bushbucks, impalas, and a diverse array of avian species.
