Rwanda’s compact beauty and transformative conservation story make it a bucket-list gem. This 6-day journey blends primate encounters, savannah safaris, and cultural immersion in Africa’s “Land of a Thousand Hills.”
Kigali, Rwanda’s capital and biggest city stretches across lush undulating hills surrounded by towering mountains, the largest of which is Mount Kigali, rising 1850 metres above sea level.
Kigali is the country’s financial, commercial and cultural hub, served by an international airport and featuring a wide range of accommodation options.
It also offers a collection of restaurants and points of interest, including the Kigali Genocide Centre, an atmospheric market and numerous craft shops.
With its interesting architecture, busy streets, meandering boulevards, and green hillsides, Kigali is said to be one of the most attractive cities in Africa and is definitely worth a visit.
Day Itinerary
- Arrival at Kigali International Airport.
- VIP Meet & greet assistance through immigration.
- Pick up from Kigali International Airport for a 25-minute transfer to your hotel.
- Check-in at the hotel
- TBA: Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
- Overnight: Kigali Marriott Hotel
- Alternate: Kigali Serena Hotel
Day 2 The Bishops House Rwanda , Musanze
The bustling city of Musanze, also referred to as Ruhengeri, is situated in northwest Rwanda. Musanze is the hub of Rwanda’s gorilla trekking tourism route, offering many cafes, bars, and restaurants. It serves as the gateway to the spectacular Volcanoes National Park and is encircled by a number of attractions including the towering Mount Karisimbi, one of five impressive volcanoes in the park; the bat-filled Musanze Caves; and the beautiful twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo - set against a spectacular backdrop of rolling green hills.
Musanze is known as one of the best places in East Africa to track mountain gorillas and visitors flock here to view these majestic mountain apes.
Day Itinerary
- 0800: Begin the day with breakfast.
- 0900: Transfer to Kigali Genocide Memorial Museum for a visit
- 1030: Transfer to Volcanoes.
- 1300: Estimated time of arrival and check-in
- 1320: Lunch at the hotel.
- 1500: Take part in complementary activities at the Lodge.
- 1800: Dinner and Overnight stay at your Lodge.
- Overnight: The Bishops House Rwanda
The Bishop’s House is located in Musanze in the Northern Province of Rwanda. All rooms are furnished with large, antique handcrafted four-poster beds on a wooden floor that envelopes the occupant in warmth and grandeur.
In the en-suite bathrooms, guests will be met with hot showers and bathrobes. The rooms have cable programming, Wi-Fi, minibars and tea and coffee facilities. Guests can enjoy a delicious breakfast each morning and sumptuous dinners.
All meals include the availability of unlimited soft drinks, local beers and house wines with the exclusion of all premium drinks.
Alternate: Virunga Inn Resort & Spa
Located in Kinigi, Rwanda, Virunga Inn Resort & Spa offers stylish accommodations with beautiful views of the mountains. The property features beautifully appointed rooms equipped with comfortable bedding, a private bathroom, a flat-screen TV, a safety deposit box, and a seating area.
Activities
Kigali Genocide Memorial & Museum
Located just outside of Kigali City Centre in the Gasabo district, Kigali Genocide Memorial & Museum was created by a joint partnership of the Kigali City Council and the UK-based Aegis Trust. The centre is an extremely moving, challenging, educational and ultimately inspiring as well as a great place to understand the cause, tragedy and successful rebuilding post-genocide.
The memorial hosts a tour which is transparent and educational but very sombre and humbling when guests realise that over 250,000 deceased are buried on the site of the memorial.
Day 3 The Bishops House Rwanda , Musanze
Day Itinerary
- 0600: Begin the day with a morning breakfast.
- 0630: Transfer to the park headquarters for gorilla trekking briefing.
- 0800: Start the gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park.
- 1200: Estimated time of returning from the jungle.
- 1230: Transfer back to the Lodge.
- 1300: Lunch at the Lodge.
- 1500: Afternoon visit Ellen De Genrous Gorilla Fund Museum.
- 1800: Dinner and overnight stay at your lodge.
Activities
Gorilla Trekking Volcanoes National Park
The Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund
Gorilla Trekking Volcanoes National Park
Gorilla Trekking in the Volcanoes National Park offers visitors the unique opportunity of discovering the 10 families of gorillas that live within the national park.
Visitors can enjoy a cup of coffee before the trek starts and will be separated into groups of 8 depending on their physical abilities. Each group is guided by a guide and two scouts who are well trained in emergency situations.
The amount of time set aside per trek is different depending on where the gorilla family is situated. Some trips may take as little as half an hour and some taking the better part of the day.
The Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund
The Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund is an expansive, 12-acre property that rests adjacent to the Volcanoes National Park in northern Rwanda.
The campus showcases the best in sustainable architecture, local resourcing, and environmentally responsible practices and will offer state-of-the-art laboratories, a scientific conservation library, and meeting space for large groups.
The goal of the campus is to inspire everyone who visits, to cherish gorillas and encourage a lifetime of conservation.
Day 4 One & Only Nyungwe House, Nyungwe Forest National Park
Nyungwe Forest National Park
Situated in southwestern Rwanda, the Nyungwe Forest National Park is known for its exceptional biodiversity and its wide range of endemic species. The park is composed of lush tracts of rainforest set high up on fertile mountain slopes.
It is one of Africa’s most ancient forests and the home of Rwanda’s sole remaining chimpanzee population, as well as 85 additional mammal species, 43 reptile species, nearly 300 bird species and over 1000 plant species.
Visitors can enjoy spotting colobus monkeys and chimpanzees hiding in the trees, hiking on a well-maintained network of trails passing through lush equatorial rainforest and catching a glimpse of a beautiful array of colourful birdlife.
Don’t miss the thrilling Canopy Walk; it is one of its kind in Africa and offers impressive views of the forest.
Day Itinerary
- 0600: Begin the day with a morning breakfast.
- 0630: Transfer to the park headquarters for the Golden Monkey trekking briefing.
- 0800: Start the Golden Monkey trek.
- 1100: Return from the Jungle.
- 1130: Drive to Nyungwe with a Lunch break in Gisenyi.
- 1400: Drive to Nyungwe Forest
- 1730: Estimated arrival time at your Lodge.
- 1800: Dinner and Overnight stay at your Lodge.
- Overnight: One & Only Nyungwe House
Nestled on the edge of the vast and ancient Nyungwe rainforest, within the lush green expanse of a working tea plantation, One&Only Nyungwe House in Rwanda offers guests the opportunity to go where few have gone before, with once-in-a-lifetime experiences in one of the world’s most exceptional natural locations.
Immersed in wild beauty surrounded by awe-inspiring jungle views, every element of the resort has been carefully considered, with inspired farm-to-table dining, spa, and wellness offerings that embrace nature and local traditions, and curated, authentic experiences to discover.
Alternate: Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel
Nyungwe Top view hill hotel is the elegant place; a heaven on earth, idyllically situated on top of one of the hills of Nyungwe forest area; the largest single forest block in East Africa and the biggest water reservoir for Rwanda.
Nyungwe Top view hill hotel offers most beautiful and tranquil accommodation facility comprises of 12 self-contained with 4 twin and 8 queen size bed apartments having a sitting room with a fire place to warm you up and a balcony with picturesque view of sunrise or sunset from all the rooms including incomparable view of part of the Nyungwe National Park, Kahuzi Biega National Park, Tea plantations, Lake Kivu, the volcanoes and Idjwi Island right from the top of the hill. The accommodation is offered as bed and breakfast, half board or full board facility.
Day 5 One & Only Nyungwe House, Nyungwe Forest National Park
Day Itinerary
- 0500: Begin the day with a morning breakfast
- 0530: Prepare for transfers to Park headquarters for Chimpanzee trek briefing.
- 0530: Start the Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe forests.
- 1230: Estimated time to return from the jungle.
- 1330: Lunch at the Lodge and an entire day relaxing and winding at the Lodge.
- 1500: Take on a Canopy Walk experience
- 1800: Special Dinner arrangement in the Tea Plantation.
Activities
Nyungwe Forest National Park Cyamudongo Forest Chimpanzee Trekking
Canopy Walk
Nyungwe Forest National Park Cyamudongo Forest Chimpanzee Trekking
Located within the Nyungwe National Park, the Nyungwe Forest National Park Cyamudongo Forest Chimpanzee
Trekking provides visitors with a unique chimpanzee experience. Visitors will follow a path through the lush
vegetation to a point where they will be able to witness the chimpanzees acting out their daily activities, such as waking up, eating and socialising within their natural environment.
Canopy Walk
Suspended above ravine amidst the lush vegetation and montane forest of the Ngungwe National Park, Canopy Walk offers participants an exhilarating perspective atop the ancient treetops and wildlife.
The 160 meters long suspended bridge is accessible as apart of a guided hike along the Igishigishigi trail or those hiking the Imbaraga and Umuyove trails.
Day 6 End of Itinerary
Day Itinerary
- 0800: Begin the day with a morning breakfast.
- 0830: Relaxing and chilling at the hotel.
- 1200: An early lunch at the Lodge.
- 1300: Prepare for a return transfer back to Kigali.
- 1400: Visit the Ethnographic Museum.
- 1420: Return to Kigali at your convenience
- 1700: Proposed time of arrival in Kigali and transfer to Kigali International Airport.
- 1730: Check in for your outbound flight to your next destination.
