The cost of 15-Day Rwanda Gorillas & Burundi Culture
This 15-day Rwanda Gorillas & Burundi Cultural Experience blends high-impact wildlife encounters with deep, living culture, creating a journey that engages every sense from the moment you land in Kigali. You begin by discovering the city’s layered history at memorials and markets, then move into Akagera’s open plains where big mammals roam, and later enter the thick, misty forests of Nyungwe and Volcanoes to track chimpanzees and mountain gorillas.
As you cross into Burundi, the experience shifts beautifully to royal drumming sanctuaries, thundering waterfalls, and the confirmed source of the Nile River, adding rich cultural depth to an already spectacular journey. Together, these two neighbouring East African countries deliver a stunning blend of wildlife, history, and authentic culture that very few destinations on earth can genuinely match. This carefully crafted itinerary ensures you return home carrying memories that will stay with you for a lifetime.
The Cost of the 15-Day Rwanda Gorillas & Burundi Cultural Experience
Understanding your investment clearly from the start helps you plan this adventure with complete confidence and genuine peace of mind. The cost of the 15-Day Rwanda Gorillas & Burundi Cultural Experience ranges from $6,800 to $9,200 per person for Mid-Range accommodation, making it a well-structured and rewarding value for serious East Africa travelers. Your all-inclusive package actively covers every item listed below so you can focus entirely on the incredible experience that awaits.
What your tour package includes:
- Transportation: A dedicated private 4×4 Land Cruiser with an experienced professional guide and all fuel costs fully covered throughout every day of your journey
- Accommodation and Meals: All lodging and full meal plans as clearly specified for each individual day of your complete and carefully arranged itinerary
- Gorilla Trekking Permit: Your official government-issued permit granting you full access to habituated mountain gorilla families deep inside Volcanoes National Park
- Chimpanzee Trekking Permit: Full access to professionally guided chimpanzee tracking activities deep inside the ancient and biodiverse Nyungwe Forest National Park
- Boat Cruise: A guided boat safari on the wildlife-rich Lake Ihema inside Akagera National Park, offering thrilling close encounters with hippos and crocodiles
- Canopy Walk: A thrilling walk along the famous Igishigishigi Canopy Walkway, suspended 70 metres above the lush and ancient Nyungwe Forest floor
- Kigali City Tour: A fully guided exploration of Rwanda’s dynamic capital city, including a visit to the profoundly moving Kigali Genocide Memorial
- Burundi Cultural Experiences: All guided cultural site visits, royal drum sanctuary tours, traditional dance performances, and historical landmark explorations across Burundi
- Flight from Kigali to Bujumbura: A convenient one-way internal flight connecting your Rwanda experience seamlessly to the exciting start of your Burundi adventure
- Park Entrance Fees: All required national park entry fees across both Rwanda and Burundi for every park that features on your complete itinerary
- Government Taxes: All applicable government taxes and statutory levies remain fully included in your confirmed and transparent final tour price
- Bottled Drinking Water: Safe, clean drinking water actively supplied and replenished for you throughout every single day of travel
Detailed Day-By-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali
You will arrive at Kigali International Airport and transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon, you tour Kigali city. You visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial, which tells the story of the 1994 genocide and is an important and moving place to visit. You then go to Kimironko Market, the Presidential Palace Museum, and the lively Nyamirambo neighbourhood. The day ends with dinner at a local restaurant where you try Rwandan food.
Meal Plan: Half Board (Lunch & Dinner)
Accommodation: Onomo Hotel (Mid-Range Hotel)
Day 2: Kigali to Akagera National Park
After breakfast, you drive east to Akagera National Park. This is Rwanda’s only savannah park and is home to the Big Five – elephant, buffalo, rhino, lion and leopard. You check in and enjoy an afternoon game drive. You will also spot giraffes, zebras, hippos, antelopes and many more animals across the wide-open plains.
Meal Plan: Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
Accommodation: Akagera Game Lodge (Mid-Range Lodge)
Day 3: Full Day in Akagera National Park (Game Drives and Boat Cruise)
You spend the full day exploring Akagera’s different landscapes – savannah, woodland, and wetlands. Morning game drive gives you more chances to see any animals you may have missed on Day 2 or the ones you need to experience more. In the afternoon, you take a boat safari on Lake Ihema where you get very close to hippos and crocodiles. It is also a great place for bird watching. The day ends with beautiful sunset views over the lake.
Meal Plan: Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
Accommodation: Akagera Game Lodge (Mid-Range).
Day 4: Akagera to Nyungwe Forest National Park
You will wake up early, have breakfast, and begin the drive southwest to Nyungwe Forest National Park. The journey takes about 5 to 6 hours. Along the way, you pass through Rwanda’s famous terraced hills, which make for very beautiful scenery. Nyungwe is one of the oldest and most biodiverse rainforests in Africa. You arrive in the evening and spend a quiet night at the forest lodge.
Meal Plan: Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
Accommodation: Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel (Mid-Range).
Day 5: Chimpanzee Trekking and Canopy Walk
You will start early for chimpanzee trekking. Nyungwe Forest National Park is home to over 500 chimpanzees, one of the largest chimp populations on the continent. Walking through the ancient forest in search of these incredible animals is a truly special experience. In the afternoon, you walk the famous Igishigishigi Canopy Walkway, which hangs 70 metres above the forest floor. From up there, you get sweeping views over the treetops. Nyungwe is also home to 13 other primate species and over 300 types of birds.
Meal Plan: Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
Accommodation: Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel (Mid-Range).
Day 6: Nyungwe to Volcanoes National Park
After breakfast, you drive north through Rwanda’s hilly landscape to Volcanoes National Park, located in the Virunga Mountains near the border with Uganda and DR Congo. This drive takes you through some of Rwanda’s most dramatic scenery. You arrive in the afternoon, check in, and spend the rest of the day resting.
Meal Plan: Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
Accommodation: Ingagi Lodge (Mid-Range).
Day 7: Gorilla Trekking Experience
This is the highlight of the Rwanda section of your trip. You start with an early briefing at the park headquarters, then set off into the misty volcanic forests. You will spend one full hour with a habituated mountain gorilla family in their natural habitat. Seeing these gentle giants up close is a rare and deeply moving experience that many travellers describe as life-changing. In the afternoon, you have the option to visit the Dian Fossey Tomb at the Karisoke Research Centre or the Ellen DeGeneres Campus, both dedicated to gorilla conservation.
Meal Plan: Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
Accommodation: Ingagi Lodge (Mid-Range).
Day 8: Fly to Bujumbura (Burundi)
After breakfast, you drive back to Kigali for a short city stop if time allows. You then take a short flight to Bujumbura, the capital city of Burundi. This is where you cross into your second destination. You transfer to your hotel and rest as you prepare for the Burundi leg of your journey.
Meal Plan: Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
Accommodation: Botanika Hotel (Mid-Range).
Day 9: Bujumbura City Tour
This day you explore Bujumbura. You take a boat cruise through Rusizi National Park, visit the Unity Monument, and climb Belvedere Hill for wide views over Lake Tanganyika. You also visit the Explorers Memorial, which marks the famous meeting between explorer David Livingstone and journalist Henry Morton Stanley. The day also includes a stop to see Albert’s crocodiles, a popular local attraction.
Meal Plan: Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
Accommodation: Botanika Hotel (Mid-Range).
Day 10: Kibira National Park and Gitega
After breakfast, you head to Kibira National Park to walk through the Teza tea fields. You then visit the Kiganda Royal Gardens, a historical site connected to a treaty signed between the Germans and King Mwezi Gisabo during the colonial period. You also see the royal inauguration grounds where ancient Burundian kings were crowned. In the afternoon, you travel to Gitega, the country’s official capital.
Meal Plan: Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
Accommodation: Isango Hotel (Mid-Range).
Day 11: Gishora Drum Sanctuary
You visit the Gishora Drum Sanctuary, a royal cultural site founded by King Mwami Mwezi IV Gisabo. This is where traditional drumming practices linked to royal ceremonies — including enthronements and funerals – are kept alive and passed on to younger generations. You also visit the Burundi National Museum, the Catholic Village of Mushasha, old colonial buildings, and a local coffee factory
Meal Plan: Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
Accommodation: Isango Hotel (Mid-Range).
Day 12: Karera Waterfalls and Agasimbo Dancers
You drive to Rutana to see the stunning Karera Waterfalls, a series of beautiful cascades set in green surroundings. You then travel to Makamba to watch a performance by the Agasimbo dancers, who perform a traditional dance from Burundi’s southern region. The day ends at the lakeside town of Nyanza-Lac, where you spend the night.
Meal Plan: Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
Accommodation: Nyanza-Lac Hotel (Mid-Range).
Day 13: Hot Springs and Rumonge Reserve
The morning starts at the Nyanza-Lac fishing hamlet, where you also see the Burton-Speke Memorial. You then head to Rumonge Natural Reserve for monkey trekking and bird watching in the forest. Afterwards, you visit the Muhweza Hot Springs and take a tour of the local palm oil industry to learn how this important crop is processed.
Meal Plan: Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
Accommodation: Blue Bay Resort (Mid-Range).
Day 14: Source of the Nile River
This day, you make a truly remarkable visit to Rutovu, home to the confirmed source of the Nile — the world’s second-longest river. This woodland stream has been verified by several studies, including by the BBC. Standing at the starting point of a river that flows all the way to Egypt is a powerful moment. On the drive back to Bujumbura, you stop at a Mugamba family home for a warm and authentic glimpse into everyday Burundian life.
Meal Plan: Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
Accommodation: Botanika Hotel (Mid-Range).
Day 15: Departure
You enjoy your final breakfast before checking out. Depending on your flight time, you may have a chance for some last-minute souvenir shopping at a local market in Bujumbura. You then transfer to the airport for your departure flight, taking home wonderful memories of two extraordinary East African countries
Meal Plan: Half Board (Breakfast & Lunch)
Accommodation: None unless requested at extra fee.
Why Book with Iconic Africa Safaris
Choosing the right tour operator makes an enormous difference to the overall quality, safety, and depth of your East African adventure from beginning to end. Iconic Africa Safaris brings the following to the board
- Experienced Tour Consultants: Dedicated consultants personally design your safari itinerary based on your specific travel goals and preferences, ensuring every single day delivers exactly the experience you came all this way for
- Expert Local Guides and Comfortable Vehicles: Certified local guides share deep knowledge of wildlife behaviour, bird identification, cultural history, and conservation, while comfortable 4×4 Land Cruisers with pop-up roofs, charging points, and generous legroom make every long drive enjoyable and photographically rewarding
- Matched Accommodations: Working closely with a wide and trusted network of lodges and hotels, Iconic Africa Safaris selects properties that genuinely match your comfort expectations and personal travel style at every stop
- Flexible and Dependable Support: The operations team actively stays available throughout your journey to assist with unforeseen changes, delayed flights, or extension requests, giving you consistent and reliable support at every stage
