Rwanda’s luxurious Big Five Safari and Gorillas

Kigali Serena provides a very comfortable stopover for travellers on their way to or from camps and lodges in Volcanoes National Park, with the option to take in a wealth of city attractions. The hotel is highly recommended for people seeking a first-rate stay on their way to Volcanoes – and it’s a great destination in its own right too.

After a night in Kigali, you’ll be transferred via road to Akagera National Park, for your Big Five game-viewing experience at Wilderness Magashi. Akagera is Rwanda’s only Big Five national park and is home to the largest protected wetlands in Central Africa. The park is one of the lesser-visited areas in Rwanda and offers an exceptionally quiet and off-the-beaten-track experience. The camp has tented suites, each with its own private deck and stunning views over the lakes. The service here is as you would expect from a Wilderness camp – in short, superb. Overall, Wilderness Magashi has found the balance between authenticity and luxury, which suits the adventurous nature of the park.

On Day 5, you’ll transfer to Volcanoes. Owned and run by a renowned luxury conservation company, Wilderness Bisate is perched in the forests on the edge of the national park and makes an ideal base from which to trek the gorillas! The guest accommodation here is every inch as elegant as the main building. The materials are the same and the style is similar, with just two domes in place of three. Inside, one dome houses the bedroom and the other contains the en-suite bathroom. Each bedroom includes a double bed, bedside tables and lighting, a desk and chair, a separate seating area, and a private veranda with sweeping vistas over the park. And every en-suite bathroom is a real treat, featuring flush toilet, twin washbasins below twin mirrors, a walk-in shower, and in the centre of the space a big bathtub too. A delightful place to wind down following a day out in the park trekking to see the gorillas!