Overview
| Accommodation | Confirmed together with you — see the Rates tab for general comfort levels we work with. |
|---|---|
| Meals | Full board on safari days; meals as specified for any city/beach nights, per your final itinerary. |
Day by Day (6 days)
ARRIVAL IN KIGALI
You arrive at Kigali International Airport and are met by your driver-guide, who takes you through the city of a thousand hills to your hotel. Rwanda's capital is clean, safe and green, and a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial gives a respectful picture of the country's history and its recovery. If you have time, you can visit the Inema Arts Centre or a local craft market. Your guide briefs you on the permit and trekking rules for the days ahead. You stay at a clean, simple tented camp or guesthouse with shared facilities, hot meals and a comfortable bed after a full day in the field.
MOUNTAIN GORILLA TREKKING IN VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK
Volcanoes National Park lies in the Virunga mountains on the border with Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and is home to some of the best-studied mountain gorilla families in the world, including those first studied by Dian Fossey. After an early breakfast you report to the park headquarters for a briefing and are assigned to a family. The trek takes from one to five hours through bamboo and montane forest and farmland, then you spend one hour with the gorillas. You may see silverbacks, mothers with babies and young males playing at very close range. After the trek you return to your lodge for lunch and a rest. In the afternoon you can visit the Iby'Iwacu cultural village, or hike to the Karisoke Research Centre or the twin lakes of Burera and Ruhondo on another day. You stay at a clean, simple tented camp or guesthouse with shared facilities, hot meals and a comfortable bed after a full day in the field.
NYUNGWE FOREST AND CHIMPANZEE TRACKING
Nyungwe Forest is one of the oldest rainforests in Africa and holds thirteen primate species, including chimpanzees, L'Hoest's monkeys, Angola colobus and silver monkeys, and more than 300 bird species. The drive from Kigali takes about 5 to 6 hours through tea plantations and rolling hills. The next morning you track chimpanzees in the forest, which takes 2 to 5 hours on steep, muddy trails, or follow the colobus monkeys. In the afternoon you can walk the Canopy Walkway, 70 metres above the forest floor with views across the treetops. You stay at a clean, simple tented camp or guesthouse with shared facilities, hot meals and a comfortable bed after a full day in the field.
NYUNGWE FOREST AND CHIMPANZEE TRACKING
For a further day in the area, you explore a different part of the park with your guide. Nyungwe Forest is one of the oldest rainforests in Africa and holds thirteen primate species, including chimpanzees, L'Hoest's monkeys, Angola colobus and silver monkeys, and more than 300 bird species. The drive from Kigali takes about 5 to 6 hours through tea plantations and rolling hills. The next morning you track chimpanzees in the forest, which takes 2 to 5 hours on steep, muddy trails, or follow the colobus monkeys. In the afternoon you can walk the Canopy Walkway, 70 metres above the forest floor with views across the treetops. You stay at a clean, simple tented camp or guesthouse with shared facilities, hot meals and a comfortable bed after a full day in the field.
AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK GAME DRIVE AND BOAT CRUISE
Akagera National Park lies in eastern Rwanda along the Tanzanian border and is the only savannah park in the country, with lakes, papyrus swamps and rolling hills. The park has been restocked and now holds lions, black and white rhinos, elephants, giraffes, buffalo, zebras and hippos, so it is a rare Big Five destination in the region. A game drive covers the plains and the lake shore, and a boat cruise on Lake Ihema takes you close to hippos, crocodiles and a large population of water birds, including the shoebill with luck. The park also offers night drives and a guided walk. You stay at a clean, simple tented camp or guesthouse with shared facilities, hot meals and a comfortable bed after a full day in the field.
DEPARTURE FROM RWANDA
After breakfast you check out and your driver-guide takes you to the airport for your flight home, or to your next destination. Allow plenty of time for the transfer and for check-in, and your guide will help with your luggage and any last-minute shopping for souvenirs. We hope you leave with wonderful memories of your safari and look forward to welcoming you back soon. Please let us know if you would like to add a beach stay, a Kilimanjaro climb or a cultural experience to your next trip.
Rates Per Person
The Overview tab explains the accommodation and meal options. Send us your dates and group size for an exact price.
Next: Inclusions →Inclusions
Included
- Private vehicle with your own driver-guide
- Park entry and conservation fees
- Accommodation as specified in your itinerary
- Meals as specified per day (full board on safari days)
- Airport pickup and drop-off
Excluded
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal expenses and souvenirs
Getting There
Tour Start & End
This trip starts in Rwanda and ends in Rwanda.
Airport Information
Kigali International Airport (Rwanda) is the most common arrival point for this trip.
Transfer Information
We meet you at the airport and handle every transfer between destinations throughout your trip.
Accommodation Before/After
Want an extra night in Arusha, Moshi or Zanzibar before or after your trip? Just ask and we will arrange it.