Journey Overview
Embark on an adventurous trip to Rwanda and experience incredible encounters with two of the world’s great primate species mountain gorillas and chimpanzees. Journey into the heart of Nyungwe National Park to search for the resident chimpanzee community. Then, head up to the misty forests of Volcanoes National Park to witness a gorilla family feed and play among the lush green ferns. You will also take on the challenge of trekking to see the endangered and adorable golden monkeys in the same jungle.
Highlights
Explore Nyungwe National Park and discover chimpanzees, a variety of bird species, and other primates in their natural habitat
Experience the famous canopy walkway in Nyungwe National Park and take a tea tour at Gisakura Tea Factory
Embark on a gorilla trekking experience and come face-to-face with the endangered mountain gorillas.
360-degree theatre augmented and virtual reality experience at the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.
Trek to see the endangered and adorable golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park
Visit the Gorilla Guardians Village, a community-based tourism initiative located near Volcanoes National Park
Experience the lush, natural beauty of Rwanda and the warmth of its friendly people.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival – Kigali
Upon arrival in Kigali International Airport, you will proceed to complete your immigration and entry requirements. Once done, you will be handed over to and warmly welcomed by our representative outside the customs and immigration hall. Transfer to your hotel in the city. Arrive and check-in assistance. Tour briefing will take place in the lobby. Dinner will follow and overnight stay.
Accommodation and meals: 5-Star Kigali Marriott Hotel (Accommodation here is based on half board) deluxe room.
Day 2: Transfer to Nyungwe National Park and visit Rwanda’s Cultural Heritage Corridor
After having breakfast at the hotel and settling any outstanding expenses, you will be picked up and driven south to Nyanza, the historical seat of the Rwandan Kingdom. There, you will visit the ancient King’s Palace Museum (Rukali). The drive from Kigali to Nyanza takes approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Rwanda has rich that precedes colonial time, and a tour of museum will reveal just that. Located in Rwanda’s Southern Province, this region showcases a number of Rwanda’s important cultural and historical sites. A replica of the traditional royal residence, the King’s Palace Museum is a beautiful-crafted thatched dwelling shaped like a beehive. In the olden days, Nyanza was the heart of Rwanda. For a long time, the monarchy was mobile, moving the court between various locations and when it eventually settled in one place, Nyanza was the obvious choice.
This museum offers a detailed look into the Rwandan traditional seat of the old monarchy. It was restored to its 19th century state and made entirely with traditional materials. The back of the museum houses a few long-horned Inyambo cattle, descended from the king’s herd, whose keepers carefully tent and sing to them, keeping alive a unique tradition. The elegant cows, derived from the wider Ankole breed, played an important role during ceremonies in honor of the King. They were decorated with rich jewelry and were taught to listen to a trainer’s songs and follow his movements in a stately parade.
In Huye District lies the Ethnographic Museum, an impressive exhibit of Africa’s finest collections of pre- and post-colonial ethnographic, artistic, and archaeological pieces. After this amazing experience, continue your journey to Nyungwe National Park. Upon arrival at Mantis Kivu Marina Bay Hotel, which will be your home for the next two nights, you will be greeted by the resort staff who will guide you to the reception and assist you with the check-in process. Dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation and meals: Mantis Kivu Marina Bay Hotel (Accommodation is based on full board) Deluxe room.
Day 3: Chimpanzee trekking & Canopy walk experience
Wake up early to go chimpanzee trekking in the Nyungwe National Park. After a short briefing by your guide, walk through stunning tea plantations before entering the luscious thick forest. There are over 13 species of monkey found in the forest and excellent birding opportunities with over 100 species of butterflies and the occasional chameleon.
The excursion can last from one to four hours, but you will hear the chimpanzees from the moment you enter the forest. Once found you will stay for an hour with the chimpanzees, watching them play, fight, and eat in the atmosphere forest. Once you’ve completed your morning tour, return to your hotel for lunch and refresh.
After lunch you will drive through the beautiful Nyungwe Forest to Uwinka park office for the adventure of Canopy Walk which is a very exciting experience but not for the faint hearted. The canopy walkway is accessible from the Igishigishi trail, and visitors are accompanied by guides.
The canopy walk consists of three bridges and three towers, the bridge leading to the first tower is 37 meters long and 20 meters high, the main bridge has length of 86 meters and a height of 60 meters, the final bridge is 25 meters long and a height of 15 meters. The total length of the canopy walk is 150 meters. Nyungwe forest has about 280 bird species, 25 of which are endemic, Nyungwe is one of the most important and still undiscovered bird watching destinations in Africa.
After this amazing experience at Nyungwe National Park, your driver-guide will transfer you back to the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation and meals: Mantis Kivu Marina Bay Hotel (Accommodation is based on full board) Deluxe room.
Day 4: Colobus monkey Trekking – Gisakura Tea Factory
Breakfast at your hotel and then drive to the park headquarters for briefing at 07:00 am before starting your Colobus monkey trek walk at 08:00 am. Embark on your trek with your guide, who will lead you through the lush forest in search of the Colobus monkeys. The trek can be between 2 to 4 hours depending on the location of the monkeys. These black and white monkeys are truly amazing to observe in their natural habitat. As you track them through the forest, you will be astounded by the size of their group, which comprises over 350 to 400 individuals. This is the largest group of Angolan Colobus Monkeys in Africa. The trek of these monkeys is not as tireless as that of chimpanzees, and although there are many of them in the treetops, the chatter of this group delights guests. Their messy eating habitats also help to spread the seeds of the fruit they consume throughout the forest.
After returning to the hotel, you will have lunch. Following lunch, you will take a guided tour of the Gisakura Tea Plantation and Factory. Tea is Rwanda’s largest export and is visible in the landscape, as tea leaves cover the mountains and provide a dark green contrast to the blue skies, dirt roads, and sunshine.
Accommodation and meals: Mantis Kivu Marina Bay Hotel (Accommodation is based on full board) deluxe room.
Day 5: Transfer to Musanze, Volcanoes National Park
After having breakfast at the hotel, check-out, and say goodbye to the wonderful team here at Mantis Kivu Marina Bay Hotel. You will then drive to Volcanoes National Park, Musanze. The drive from Mantis Kivu Marina Bay Hotel to Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel is approximately six hours. Along the way, you will pass through Kibuye and Karongi and enjoy spectacular views of Lake Kivu. Upon arrival at your hotel, you will be able to check in, and have lunch. The rest of the day at leisure.
Situated 10 minutes from the headquarter entrance of the majestic Volcanoes National Park, on the road to Kinigi in Musanze, is the Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel. A beautiful mid-range vacation accommodation with tiled roofs and colonial-style structures, the hotel has lovely gardens with a variety of trees, shrubbery, and colorful flowers. The lounge is housed in a lovely cottage with a fireplace and deep patio furnished with comfortable chairs.
Enjoy the picturesque vistas of the volcanic Virunga peaks of the park from your vantage point or head out to the swimming pool for a relaxation dip. Get a relaxing massage in the hotel spa to soothe away the aches and pains from your treks. Napping in hammocks scattered across the property is yet another way to revel in the serenity and views of the Volcanoes National Park. Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel offers a total of 13 rooms to adventure holidaymakers.
Dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation and meals: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel (Accommodation is based on full board) deluxe room.
Day 6:Gorilla Trekking & Visit the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund
You will wake up early, have breakfast and then head to the park headquarters for a briefing on the gorilla trekking rules and regulations. After briefing, you will be assigned a gorilla family to trek and a park guide to lead you. The trek can take anywhere from 1 to 5 hours, depending on the location of the mountain gorilla family you are visiting.
After briefing, you will embark on a trek through the lush forest, guided by your experienced ranger. Once you find the gorillas, you will spend an hour observing them and their behaviors while taking photographs and videos. It’s important to follow the instructions of your ranger guide, maintain a safe distance of at least 7 meters from the gorillas, and keep your voices low. After your time with the gorillas, you will return to the starting point of the trek where you meet your driver guide and transfer back to your hotel. You’ll then enjoy a delicious lunch before experiencing your second activity.
At 3:00 pm: Visit the Campus, learn of the late Dian Fossey’s work to protect mountain gorillas in Rwanda. The Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund is a conservation and education center located in Rwanda near the Volcanoes National Park. It was established in collaboration with the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund and the Ellen DeGeneres Wildlife Fund to support gorilla conservation efforts in Rwanda.
The Campus is dedicated to the study, protection, and preservation of mountain gorillas and their habitat, as well as the empowerment of local communities. The Campus features a research center, a conservation laboratory, and facilities for education and community outreach. It is a hub for scientific research and conservation initiatives, and a destination for visitors to learn more about mountain gorillas and their conservation.
Accommodation and meals: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel (Accommodation is based on full board) deluxe room.
Day 7: Golden Monkey Trekking – Cultural Experience at Gorilla Guardians Village
You will wake up early, have breakfast and then head to the park headquarters for a briefing on the golden monkey trekking rules and regulations. After briefing, you will be assigned a golden monkey group to trek and a park guide to lead you. Trekking usually takes between 1 to 3 hours, and you will spend an hour with the golden monkeys, watching them jump and play in the trees.
The very beautiful Golden Monkey has a golden body, cheeks and tail with contrasting black limbs, crown, and tail-end. Not much is known about their behaviour; other than they live in social groups of up to 30 individuals and their diet consists mainly of leaves and fruit. It is thought they eat insects too. Restricted to the highland forest of the Virungas especially near bamboo, they share this habitat with their big brother the Mountain Gorilla, inhabiting a small area that overlaps the territory of one of the gorilla families together, they face the same threats; snares, human encroachment etc. And are listed on the IUCN Red List critically endangered species.
After this amazing experience, you will visit a nearby cultural village to learn more about Rwanda’s traditional way of life. This will give you the opportunity to interact with the locals and learn about their customs and traditions.
Gorilla Guardians Village is a community-based tourism initiative located in Kinigi, Musanze. The initiative was established to support local communities living around the Volcanoes National Park. The project aims to provide sustainable livelihoods to local communities while also promoting conservation efforts for the mountain gorillas. The Gorilla Guardians Village offers a range of activities and experiences, including traditional dance performances, handicraft workshops, and guided tours within the community. Once you complete this tour, you’ll drive back to your hotel and have lunch. The afternoon will be at leisure. Dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation and meals: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel (Accommodation is based on full board) deluxe room.
Day 8: Transfer back to Kigali – Kigali city tour – Departure
Relaxed breakfast at your hotel and check-out. You will say goodbye to the wonderful team here at the Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel, and drive back to Kigali. Upon arrival, begin your Kigali city tour which includes a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial, the art center, and a local market.
The history of Rwanda dates back centuries, Kigali has been a part of it for a hundred years. Founded in 1907 as a German settlement, Kigali did not become the capital until Rwanda’s independence in 19962 when it replaced the colonial seat of power in Butare. Since then, the city has seen major economic development resulting in what it is today; a vibrant African city of more than one million residents with wide boulevards, world-class hotels and restaurants, crafts & curio shops as well as a lively, cosmopolitan atmosphere.
Tour old Kigali and the craft markets, visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial to learn about Rwanda’s history, the Genocide against the Tutsi as well as other mass atrocities around the world. This tour will allow you to experience life in the country today and Rwanda’s remarkable recovery - a true testament to humankind’s resilience.
After this amazing tour, you will have lunch at Heaven restaurant. Thereafter, transfer back to Kigali International Airport, you will be assisted in checking in for your outbound flight and bidding farewell to your driver-guide.
Daily meal plan; breakfast and lunch.
