$4,700 pp (USD)
2 travelers on Start dateArrival
Arrival
Day 1
Arrive in Kigali
Arrive in Kigali
Arrive at Kigali International Airport, where your driver-guide meets you for a private transfer to your hotel in the city center. The rest of the day is yours to rest after your flight, or join an optional afternoon city tour that includes the Kigali Genocide Memorial, a sobering and essential stop for understanding Rwanda's history and its remarkable recovery. Overnight at Hotel des Mille Collines, the hotel made famous by the film Hotel Rwanda.
- Main Destination:
- Kigali
- Accommodation:
- Hotel des Mille Collines
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 2
Kigali to Nyungwe Forest
Kigali to Nyungwe Forest
Depart Kigali after breakfast for the long but scenic drive south to Nyungwe Forest National Park, one of the oldest and most biodiverse rainforests in Africa. The road winds through Rwanda's terraced hillsides and tea plantations, with a stop in Huye for lunch along the way. Arrive at your lodge by late afternoon and settle in ahead of tomorrow's early start into the forest. All meals included tonight.
- Main Destination:
- Nyungwe National Park (Chimps)
- Accommodation:
- Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel
Wildlife in Nyungwe NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 3
Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe
Chimpanzee Trekking in Nyungwe
Set out at dawn with an experienced ranger guide to track one of Nyungwe's habituated chimpanzee troops through dense montane rainforest. Trek times vary depending on where the troop has moved overnight, expect anywhere from one to several hours of forest walking before you find them, followed by a precious hour observing their behavior up close. In
the afternoon, walk the Igishigishigi canopy walkway, suspended 200 metres above the forest floor, or simply rest at the lodge. All meals included.
- Main Destination:
- Nyungwe National Park (Chimps)
- Accommodation:
- Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 4
Nyungwe to Volcanoes National Park
Nyungwe to Volcanoes National Park
Head north from Nyungwe to Volcanoes National Park, home to the Virunga massif and Rwanda's mountain gorilla families. The drive takes you back through rolling hills and small towns, arriving at your lodge in the afternoon. Use the free time to prepare for tomorrow's trek, or add an optional visit to the Iby'Iwacu Cultural Village to learn about traditional Rwandan life, dance, and craft before your gorilla encounter the next morning. All meals included.
- Main Destination:
- Volcanoes National Park (Gorillas)
- Accommodation:
- Tiloreza Volcanoes Ecolodge
Wildlife in Volcanoes NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 5
Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
This is the day most travelers come to Rwanda for. Accompanied by armed rangers and expert trackers, hike through bamboo forest and volcanic slopes in search of one of Volcanoes National Park's habituated gorilla families. The trek itself can take anywhere from two to six hours round trip depending on where the gorillas are feeding, but once you find them you're rewarded with a full hour in their presence, watching silverbacks, mothers, and playful juveniles at close range. All meals included.
- Main Destination:
- Volcanoes National Park (Gorillas)
- Accommodation:
- Tiloreza Volcanoes Ecolodge
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 6
Volcanoes NP to Akagera National Park
Volcanoes NP to Akagera National Park
Transfer east across the country to Akagera National Park, Rwanda's savanna reserve along the Tanzanian border and a striking contrast to the misty volcanoes and forests of the past few days. After settling into your lodge, head out on an afternoon game drive in an open-sided 4x4, scanning the plains and lakeshore for elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, and the hippo pods that gather along the water. All meals included.
- Main Destination:
- Akagera National Park
- Accommodation:
- Ruzizi Tented Lodge
Wildlife in Akagera NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 7
Akagera Game Drives & Boat Safari
Akagera Game Drives & Boat Safari
Spend a full day exploring Akagera's wildlife. An early morning game drive gives you the best chance at spotting lion and the park's reintroduced black rhino, both now well established after Akagera's celebrated conservation turnaround. In the afternoon, swap the vehicle for a boat safari on Lake Ihema, drifting close to hippo pods, basking crocodiles, and some of the more than 500 bird species recorded in the park. All meals included.
- Main Destination:
- Akagera National Park
- Accommodation:
- Ruzizi Tented Lodge
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 8
Depart Kigali
Depart Kigali
After breakfast, transfer back to Kigali for your onward flight. Depending on your departure time, you may have a day
room or lounge access to freshen up before heading to Kigali International Airport. This marks the end of a week spent following Rwanda's wildlife from rainforest canopy to volcanic slopes to open savanna, an itinerary that showcases just how much diversity this small country packs into a single trip.
- Main Destination:
- No major destination visited
- Accommodation:
- No accommodation (End of tour)
- Meals & Drinks:
