6 days Akagera & Volcanoes National Park safari by Helicopter

Overview

A once-in-a-lifetime 6 day Akagera and Volcanoes National Park safari by helicopter is one of the best ways of exploring Rwanda. Your time in the ‘Land of a Thousand Hills’ will not go to waste once you track the critically endangered mountain gorillas and see the Big 5. On top of that, you will explore the Dian Fossey Museum, Iby’iwachu Cultural Village, and the tranquil Lake Ihema on a boat.

The trip starts and ends in Kigali city. Transfers to Volcanoes National Park and Akagera National Park are by air transport. Akagera Aviation offers luxury air transfers using modern helicopters. Driver guides from Standard Safaris will offer ground transfers. Our drivers are also knowledgeable and will offer insight about the national parks and the natural wonders found in them.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Fly to Akagera from Kigali and Boat Cruise in the afternoon

Our dedicated driver will meet you and brief you about the trip. You will be taken to board a helicopter and fly to Akagera National Park. Have some nice aerial views of Rwanda. Once you arrive at the airstrip, our dedicated driver will meet you to take you to your pre-booked lodge. Freshen up and have some lunch. In the afternoon, the driver will take you to Lake Ihema. A peaceful boat cruise experience will be your first activity.

Clear views of crocodiles and hippopotamuses will be there. Take photos of them and the aquatic birds around you. There are also plenty of attractive insects and swamp vegetation to identify. Enjoy the sunshine and the sounds of the water waves. You will then return to the shore, where your driver will take you back to your lodge. Relax in the lounge of your lodge while you wait for dinner. After having dinner, you will now have a peaceful overnight stay.

Day 2: Full day game drive

Wake up early enough to have breakfast. Get a packed lunch from the lodge. Your driver will take you to the savannah grasslands and woodlands of Akagera National Park. The Big 5 are available to be seen. Lions, leopards, rhinoceros, cape buffaloes, and savannah elephants. Other notable wild animals to see include hippopotamuses, crocodiles, zebras, eland, topi, and hyenas, among others. Later in the day, return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Day 3: Fly to Volcanoes National Park and Visit Dian Fossey Museum

Wake up and have a morning breakfast before checking out of the lodge. You will head to the airstrip to take off for Volcanoes National Park. For at least 40 minutes, you will get aerial views of Rwanda before arriving at Musanze Airstrip. At the airstrip, a Standard Safaris driver will meet you and take you to your pre-booked lodge. You will then freshen up and wait for a delicious lunch. In the afternoon, you will head to the Dian Fossey Museum.

The Dian Fossey Museum at Musanze is a great place to explore exhibits, research, and other things. It is named after Dian Fossey. She was a great researcher who contributed significantly to the literature on the Virunga Conservation Area Mountain gorillas. You can get some information about her life as well. You will then return to your lodge. Your delicious dinner will be available later in the evening. You will then have your overnight stay.

Day 4 Gorilla trekking and Iby’iwachu Village tour

Wake up from another comfortable sleep early in the morning. Have a delicious breakfast before your driver takes you to the trailhead. Arrive at the trailhead to meet the park rangers. After the briefing, they will lead you into the forest to look for a habituated gorilla family. As you enter deeper into the forest, you find the gorillas you have been looking for. Spend only one hour looking at them and taking photos as well.

After, return and find your driver at the trailhead. You will return to your lodge. As soon as you reach your accommodation, refresh and have lunch. Later in the afternoon, head to the Iby’iwachi Cultural Village. Like the name suggests, this is a place to get captivating cultural experiences. They are so unique to Rwanda and offer traditional dances and songs. You will also see various handicrafts, some of which you can purchase as your souvenirs.

Interact with as many locals as possible as you ask them heartwarming questions about their cultures and many other things. You also get a unique opportunity to see the various culinary delights of the Rwandan people. Your driver will bring you back to your accommodation. Your dinner will be served in the evening. You will then head to your bed to get a much-needed sleep for the night.

Day 5: Golden monkey trekking and relax

The sun will rise from the horizon. You will wake up and get a well-prepared breakfast. Your driver will take you back to the park headquarters. You will find the dedicated park rangers waiting for you. After the briefing, the experienced ranger guides will lead you into the forest to locate a habituated troop of golden monkeys. In the bamboo forest, you will find the golden monkeys. Watch them for an hour or less. Their cute golden fur looks remarkable in a photo.

After watching them in their natural home, go back to where the trek started. Your driver will meet you. You will be taken back to your lodge. Refresh and wait for a delicious lunch. You will spend the rest of the day relaxing. You can swim in the swimming pool of the lodge or spend time sundowning. In the evening, you will have your delicious lunch from the world-class chefs. You will have your overnight stay.

Day 6: Fly back to Kigali

In the morning, you will wake up for a delicious breakfast. Check out of the lodge and head to Musanze airstrip. You will board a helicopter to Kigali International Airport. This flight takes around 25 minutes and offers aerial views that you will certainly enjoy. A Standard Safaris representative will meet you and wish you safe travel as you board a plane to depart back home. This marks the end of your 6 days Akagera & Volcanoes National Park safaris by helicopter.

Top Rwanda Gorilla Tours & Safari Packages 2026/2027

Known by many as the “Land of a Thousand Hills”, remarkable Rwanda is a beautiful country. A gorilla safari in Rwanda does not only come alone, but with a lot of other optional experiences including wildlife safaris in Akagera National Park, chimpanzee trekking tours in Nyungwe National Park and tours to Genocide Memorial Centers. See see some of our top gorilla tours in Rwanda and safari packages.

Sándor Jakubinyi

14:31 22 Feb 24

2019 megigazulás

12:45 21 Feb 24

We went on a two-week trip with my family, organised by Coleb from Standard Safaris.I had my concerns about organised trips, but this one didn’t justify any of those. Everything went very smoothly, even when some problems arose with one of the cars it got fixed by next morning, the accomodations were clean and comfortable, the programs were exciting and well-balanced - everything was done to a truly high standard.If you plan to visit Uganda and are looking for a guide, I warmly recommend Coleb and his team. In case you have a choice of drivers, go for Godwin, his presence made this trip even more enjoyable - cheerful, helpful, good sense of humour, generally a great person. Just look for the guy with a big smile and big heart:)

Bert Simoens

09:38 08 Jan 24

We recently embarked on a safari adventure with Standard Safaris in Uganda, which was truly exceptional. Our guide, Yonah, was outstanding - his kindness, knowledge, and discretion significantly enhanced our experience. He was the heart of our trip.The local company's planning was offering a tailor-made journey that matched our interests. We saw an array of wildlife in Murchison, enjoyed rafting at Jinja, and experienced mountain biking at Sipi. A visit to Kidepo National Park was a highlight and comes highly recommended.The vehicle provided was comfortable and reliable. We highly recommend Standard Safaris for anyone seeking an unforgettable safari in Uganda. Their professionalism and the exceptional guidance of staff like Yonah make them an great choice.

Michał Kostrzewa

00:41 15 Nov 23

We are all extremely grateful Standard Safaris for an incredible East Africa experience. I recently booked a custom trip for group of 8 people, including an 8-year-old boy, from Kampala through Queen Elizabeth National Park and on to Rwanda and Burundi. Coleb delivered on everything that was discussed and agreed upon beforehand.The car provided was in great condition and our driver Meddy went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable, informed, and had the best possible time. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. All local services were inlcuded in (reasonable) price that we agreed, so there was no need to worry about payments during the 6 day trip. Also Standard Safaris agreed took care about safety and security by helping us organize armed ranger while in the park.The whole trip was hassle-free and smooth. We saw amazing wildlife in Queen Elizabeth NP, took in the sights of Rwanda and Burundi, and made lifelong memories.I would happily book with Standard Safaris again in a heartbeat and recommend them wholeheartedly to anyone looking for the best East Africa trip. They provide top-notch service while ensuring you have an incredible, customized experience. If you want a hassle-free, flawlessly organized African adventure, Standard Safaris is the tour operator to book with.

Ivan Nammanda

18:31 27 Oct 23

Very organized travel operator who chose awesome guide to make our trip wonderful.We booked a nine days trip with Standard Safaris and all was perfect from start to finish. Coleb was very prompt at replying and easy to liaise with ahead of the trip. We had done a lot of research and had an itinerary in mind and Coleb helped us to put everything together to make this happen for a very reasonable price.  On the trip we had a private vehicle for the whole tour which was exactly what we wanted. Bryan was our driver and an amazing guide - really friendly and knowledgable, working hard to find the things that we wanted to see and quickly understanding what was of interest to us/how much information to give.Would highly recommend a trip to Uganda with Standard Safaris. We are definitely coming back soon!

MUGAIGA KENNETH

18:01 27 Oct 23

The company has very courteous tour guides with wide knowledge of fauna and frola in the whole of East Africa.The choice of safari Lodges is good with first class treatment.Game drive security is assured.Almost The whole of September I was traversing through DRC, Uganda,and Rwanda on a gorilla tour and wildlife expedition.Everything was arranged and booked perfectly by Standard Safaris.The owner, Coleb was always helpful whenever we needed to ask questions about this gorilla safari in Uganda and beyond.It was a complex expedition but Standard safaris and Coleb made it look amazingly easy.I’ll recommend Standard safaris 200%, for all gorilla safaris in Uganda, Rwanda and wildlife tours in east africa.

travel uganda

16:35 27 Oct 23

This is so far the best gorilla trekking company in Uganda, and africa, by far. I had a wonderful time with Standard Safaris as a solo traveler.My guide was excellent and our safari planner, Coleb was quick with responses and the prices were very friendly.I’ll definitely book with Standard safaris on my next gorilla tour in Rwanda and Uganda.