Your guide will pick you up early in the morning from your hotel or Kigali International Airport to begin the journey south to Nyungwe Forest. Before departure, you will receive a safari briefing, then set off on a scenic drive of about five hours. Along the way, you will enjoy beautiful views of Rwanda’s countryside and understand why it is called the “Land of a Thousand Hills.”
On arrival at Nyungwe, you will check in at your lodge for refreshments, relaxation, dinner, and an overnight stay.
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After an early breakfast, you will head to the Nyungwe Forest headquarters for a briefing on chimpanzee tracking. Your guides will share the rules and guidelines before leading you into the forest. Once you locate the chimpanzees, you will spend up to one hour in their presence, observing their behavior and taking photographs.
Chimpanzee trekking in Nyungwe also offers the chance to see other primate species, butterflies, and birdlife. Some routes include waterfalls and striking rocky escarpments. After the trek, you will return to the lodge for lunch.
In the afternoon, you will go on the famous canopy walk, one of Nyungwe’s highlights. From the suspension bridges, you can enjoy panoramic forest views and spot more monkeys and birds from above.
Afterwards, you will return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
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After breakfast, you will check out and drive north to Lake Kivu, Rwanda’s largest freshwater lake, which extends to the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. The lake is also known for its unique underground methane reserves.
On arrival, you will check in at your hotel for lunch overlooking the lake. In the afternoon, you will enjoy a boat ride to explore some of the lake’s islands.
Later, you may choose to swim in the lake or simply relax by the shore and watch daily life unfold around you.
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After breakfast, you will take a short tour around Lake Kivu, including a visit to fishing villages. Birdwatchers will enjoy spotting both resident and migratory species, and you may also see primates in the forests along the lakeshore. You will also have the opportunity to interact with local communities as they go about their daily activities.
In the afternoon, you will transfer to Musanze, the gateway to Volcanoes National Park. Upon arrival, you will check in at your lodge, enjoy dinner, and rest in preparation for gorilla trekking the following day.
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After an early breakfast, you will head to the Kinigi Park headquarters for a briefing at 7:00 am. The rangers will provide guidance on what to expect during the trek and how to behave in the presence of gorillas. You will then be assigned a gorilla family and offered the option to hire a porter.
The trek may take between 2 and 5 hours or longer, depending on the gorillas’ movements. Once you reach them, you will spend one hour observing their behavior—watching them feed, play, and care for their young. This is one of the most memorable wildlife encounters in the world. After the trek, you will return to your lodge for lunch.
In the afternoon, you will visit the Gorilla Guardians Village (formerly Iby’iwacu Cultural Village). Originally created as a community project for former poachers, the village is now a cultural center where visitors can learn about Rwandan traditions through dance, music, and storytelling. You will also have the chance to purchase locally made crafts.
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After breakfast, you will return to the park headquarters for a briefing on golden monkey trekking. Accompanied by guides, you will enter the forest to track these rare and endangered primates. You will spend time observing them as they play in the treetops and forage on the ground.
After lunch at your lodge, you will visit the scenic twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo, known for their stunning views of the Virunga Volcanoes.
In the evening, you will return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
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After breakfast, you will drive back to Kigali. On arrival, you can enjoy on a city tour including the Kigali Genocide Memorial, the central market, the former Presidential Palace, and artisan shops.
After the tour and lunch, you will be dropped off at either your hotel or Kigali International Airport for your departure flight.
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